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What You Should Know About BankCard USA’s Payment Platform

Name: BankCard USA
Item: BankCard USA
Rating: 3
Author: Phillip Parker

Author: Phillip Parker

Updated: September 30, 2025

Maintained Since: May 17, 2012

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We take our role in providing guidance and education regarding the card payment industry very seriously. At our own expense, we have vigorously defended our right to continue expose unethical and predatory practices in the industry, successfully defeating every attempt to silence us. However, fending off frivolous lawsuits is costly. To sustain these efforts, one of the ways we generate revenue is through affiliate partnerships with ethical providers. This means that some of our outgoing links connect business owners to trustworthy, low-cost payment processors, which is what most of our readers seek. We see this revenue channel as a win-win-win for everyone involved. Business owners find good processors, processors get good clients, and we are able to continue to provide a valuable service to the small business community. We also recommend and link to many services that do not compensate us. Our priority is to guide you to the best solutions for your needs, regardless of potential revenue. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

All mentions of rate and fee costs are estimations based on publicly available information and client feedback. Actual costs may vary based on a variety of factors unique to your business.

BankCard USA

Rating

3/5

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Pros

Fast approval

Supports high-risk accounts

Direct bank processing

Cons

Equipment leasing costs

Contract cancellation penalties

Monthly and annual fees

Variable processing rates

Mixed online reputation

Overview

In this review of BankCard USA, we provide a detailed look at the company’s payment processing services, which include credit and debit card transactions, mobile payment options, and support for high-risk merchants. Our analysis covers security measures, contract terms, and fees, offering a balanced view of the pros and cons to help businesses gauge service quality. We also consider feedback from customers and employees to highlight performance and satisfaction levels, while examining BankCard USA’s use of the CyberSource payment gateway and how effectively it integrates with different payment systems. This review gives business owners a clear understanding of what to expect when working with BankCard USA.

About BankCard USA

Established in 1993, BankCard USA is a merchant account provider that specializes in credit card processing and electronic payment services. The company is a reseller of First Data (now Fiserv) that shares past ties with Maverick Bankcard, a relationship that is covered in our Maverick Bankcard review. According to a BankCard USA representative, these two companies no longer have any relationship besides being located on different floors of the same building, and each operates independently of the other. BankCard USA was purchased in 2021 by Quisitive. BankCard USA claims to provide processing for 400-1,000 new merchants per month and to have serviced over 100,000 merchants since its creation.

Screen Capture of BankCard USA Homepage — Bankcard USA Homepage

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Gateway

BankCard USA utilizes the CyberSource payment gateway for virtual payments, which supports global payment acceptance in over 190 countries and territories. CyberSource features include over 300 fraud detectors, recurring billing, SDKs in six programming languages, CRM integration, and round-the-clock support.

Wide Range of Payment Processing Options

BankCard USA offers various payment processing options, such as credit and debit card processing, ACH and e-check transactions, mobile payments, and virtual terminals. These services cater to businesses with physical locations, e-commerce platforms, or a combination of both.

Point-of-Sale System Compatibility

BankCard USA integrates with numerous point-of-sale (POS) systems, allowing merchants to use their existing POS hardware and software with BankCard’s payment processing services.

Support for High-Risk Merchants

BankCard USA offers tailored payment processing solutions for high-risk merchants across various industries.

Robust Security and Fraud Prevention

Security is a key focus for BankCard USA, employing advanced encryption and tokenization technologies to protect customer data during transactions. They also provide sophisticated fraud prevention tools to help businesses detect and prevent fraudulent activities.

Personalized Account Management

BankCard USA assigns a dedicated account manager to each merchant, assisting with the setup and ongoing management of their payment processing system.

Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics

Merchants with BankCard USA have access to detailed reporting and analytics tools, enabling them to monitor sales performance, track customer behavior, and optimize payment processing operations.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Moderate Complaint Total

Through this website and other consumer protection platforms, we have discovered over 40 negative reviews of BankCard USA within the last three years, with many customers labeling the company as a scam or engaging in ripoff practices. Clients primarily raised concerns about undisclosed fees, unauthorized debits, and challenges in contacting customer service representatives. A significant number of complaints highlighted frustrations with the company’s practice of placing holds on large transaction amounts deemed suspicious. While this holding policy is common to mitigate high-risk transactions, BankCard USA seems to lack effective communication with high-risk merchants regarding these policies prior to and throughout their service. If you have your own review of BankCard USA to share, kindly do so in the comments section below.

BankCard USA Customer Support Options

BankCard USA provides phone and email support, along with a form on their website. Businesses operating in high-risk industries are advised to explore partnerships with a top-rated high-risk specialist for specialized services.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop	1
BBB Rating	N/A
Trustpilot	2.8
Google Maps	2.5
Average Rating	2.65

PaymentPop Rating for BankCard USA

Negative Feedback

I didn’t even sign up with them. Went right through my bank for merchant services. I had to dig and research on my own to figure out who it was taking my money. They got ahold of my account info and have stolen nearly $4,000.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about BankCard USA on the PaymentPop website.

BankCard USA BBB Rating

The Better Business Bureau has received 5 complaints regarding BankCard USA Merchant Services within the past 36 months. The company has an “A+” rating and has been accredited by the BBB since 2002.

What Merchants Say

In addition to the 6 complaints, BankCard USA has also received 1 informal review to its BBB profile, describing aggressive sales tactics:

I was referred to BankCard USA by one of our banking partners to open a merchant account, however, I was unable to proceed due to John Curiale’s comment that made me feel uncomfortable in continuing the process. He asked for documents, which I was more than happy to provide, however, I mentioned I could not provide one as I had lost it and had requested a replacement. He instantly responded with “And I’m not processing this application until you call me directly at 818-XXX-XXXX. I’ve been doing this for 18 years so this isn’t my first rodeo. I know exactly what you are trying to do.” I asked him what he thought I was trying to do, which I was not quite sure what he was thinking. I have every document for both myself and my business. If I was trying to win some business, I would not assume things about people and jump to conclusions. I would not do business with them. He became very defensive with my reply.

Clients in this position are better off partnering with a top-rated merchant account provider.

A “B” Performance

In light of the company’s complaint total and resolution ratio, we have adjusted the BBB‘s rating to a “B.” This is in keeping with our philosophy that there are good reasons to be skeptical of the BBB’s rating system.

Trustpilot Rating for BankCard USA

BankCard USA has a 2.8 out of 5 star rating based on four user reviews on Trustpilot.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews on Trustpilot’s website.

Negative Feedback

While I did not complete the signup process with this company, the names and techniques listed in the other reviews were applicable to me. Their communications and proposals indicated they are not legit and after reading the other reviews, I realized I was being taken down the same path. Beware of these scammers.

Google Maps for BankCard USA

Bankcard USA has a 2.5 out of 5 star rating based on 59 user reviews on Google Maps.

Positive Feedback

Bank Card USA offers top-notch customer service and a user-friendly online platform, making banking a breeze. Their commitment to security and wide range of financial products make them an excellent choice for all your banking needs.

Negative Feedback

They are crooks even after you stop them they do recurring charges. Def a scam on the phone with my Bank to stop recurring charges -very difficult to stop them , Im not letting them get a way with it .

Processing Rates & Fees

Three-Year Agreement

Numerous public reviews of BankCard USA outline a standard contract duration of three years with an early termination fee ranging from $99 to $295. Additional reported charges include monthly minimum fees varying from $10 to $25, potentially contingent on business size and type. Multiple PCI compliance fees per annum are also cited, possibly totaling over $200. According to a company spokesperson, BankCard USA retains the right to withhold funds for risk assessment up to 180 days, a provision that has inconvenienced numerous high-risk merchants.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

Apart from its brick-and-mortar payment processing, BankCard USA promotes its virtual terminal and payment gateway services on its website without disclosing pricing. Such e-commerce services typically entail additional charges like gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and extra transaction rates.

Agent Flexibility

A company representative clarified that BankCard USA no longer imposes a termination fee on all accounts. Instead, merchants incur a $99 fee only if they received free equipment upon account activation. This fee is waived upon returning the equipment or if the client remains with the company for over a year. While preferable to a long-term contract with a fixed termination fee, this policy appears to be a recent development. Additionally, BankCard USA allows independent agents to set their lease terms and rates, resulting in potential variations in contract terms depending on the agent and merchant specifics.

BankCard USA uses its own payment gateway, CyberSource

Lawsuits & Legal History

No significant class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been identified against BankCard USA. Customers dissatisfied with the company and seeking non-litigious solutions are encouraged to consider reporting their concerns to the relevant supervisory organizations.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Outside Sales Team

According to BankCard USA reviews found on this site and elsewhere, the company appears to hire independent as well as in-house sales agents to market its services. The use of independent sales agents or resellers is a common practice within the industry that often results in elevated complaint rates among merchants. In the case of BankCard USA, numerous publicly available complaints report aggressive in-person sales tactics and nondisclosure or misrepresentation of fees at the point of signing.

BankCard USA Rate Quotes

At the time of an earlier update, the company’s home page quoted “the lowest rates in the industry at 0.23%.” We consider this type of rate quoting to be deceptive since the 0.23% figure shown was much lower than the effective rate for almost all businesses. BankCard USA has since removed the quote from its homepage, but clients may still encounter it in the company’s promotional materials. If you suspect that your rates were misrepresented, you can double-check your monthly bill with a third-party statement audit.

bankcard usa advertisement — An ad from the BankCard USA website that does not give specifics.

BankCard USA Competitors

Compare BankCard USA to competitors that earned top marks.

Pricing

Bottom Line

BankCard USA holds a middle-of-the-road position in the realm of credit card processing providers. Given its scale of operations, the company exhibits a moderate level of complaints, a metric that informs part of its average ranking. Client feedback frequently highlights issues with the terms of service stipulated in contracts, aggressive sales tactics, and lackluster customer service, which collectively detract from the company’s overall reputation.

To enhance its standing in the competitive market of payment processing, BankCard USA could benefit significantly from addressing these recurrent criticisms. Reducing the number of client grievances and making strategic adjustments to its sales approach would likely lead to better customer satisfaction and potentially uplift its ratings.

Read Actual User Reviews

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All user reviews have been moved to our partner, PaymentPop.com

Contact BankCard USA

Contact & Customer Support
CEO and President	Shawn Skelton
CEO	Scott Hardy
General Contact	(800) 589-8200
Fax	(818) 540-3712
Website	bankcardusa.com

About Us

CardPaymentOptions.com

Established 2009

My name is Phillip Parker, and I started this website back in 2009 as a simple blog to call out shady credit card processors that were taking advantage of small business owners. At the time, I had no idea this side project would grow into a leading voice pushing for transparency and integrity in the payment processing industry. I also didn't anticipate just how far some of these companies' owners would go to try to silence me.

I was recruited out of college for a sales role with a credit card processor. At the time, I didn't realize the “training” was really about tricking me... into selling business owners expensive processing with hidden fees and long-term service agreements. In my first few sales, I unknowingly cost friends and family thousands of dollars after they trusted me to switch their services. When it finally clicked that something was seriously wrong, I was furious. I quit immediately and made a promise to expose that company and any others operating the same way. That promise is what led to the creation of this website.

As I wrote about these processors, their tactics, and the people behind them, the articles started to spread among business owners. News organizations picked up the stories, readers shared them online, and traffic to the blog took off. Unsurprisingly, that also caught the attention of the companies and individuals I was exposing.

Over the last 17 years, I've received several anonymous death threats and defeated four lawsuits meant to intimidate me into taking my blog down. Their efforts to muzzle me only made my determination to expose them even stronger, leading me to work with state authorities to help shutdown some of the worst offenders.

I'm proud to say that of the millions of people who have read my work, thousands have taken the time to write and thank me for helping them narrowly avoid a very costly mistake. This blog has played a small role in pushing the industry toward more ethical practices - but there are still bad actors out there, which means the work isn't done.

If I can offer one piece of advice, it's this: get every promise in writing, and take the time to review contracts carefully. Tools like ChatGPT can help surface red flags and uncover expensive surprises buried in the fine print.

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. I truly appreciate you being here, and I wish you every success with your business.

Our Research Methodology

Pricing & Fees

We analyze all costs including rate structures (interchange-plus, tiered, flat-rate, etc), monthly fees, equipment costs, early termination fees, and hidden charges. This data is gathered from service agreements, statements and client feedback.

Features & Technology

Evaluation of POS systems, e-commerce integrations, mobile capabilities, reporting tools, recurring billing..., and developer resources. When possible, we directly test services and hardware. Otherwise, we rely on client feedback and public information.

Customer Support

We evaluate availability across phone, email, chat, and social channels. Measuring hold times, night and weekend availability, and client feedback regarding effectiveness, professionalism, and resolution rates.

Contract Terms & Conditions

We review service agreements and equipment contracts for reasonability, transparency, and fairness. We focus on uncovering any predatory clauses, such as unjustified early termination fees, hidden costs, and unclear cancellation policies.

User Experience

We comb the internet and interview current and former clients to evaluate the overall user experience and identify any common pain points that may impact the user experience.

Sales & Marketing Practices

We evaluate sales tactics, marketing materials, and client feedback to determine the level of transparency and ethical nature of the provider's approach. Does the provider publicly disclose pricing? Do they use teaser rates? We score based on these and other factors.

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