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Is MinistryLINQ the Best Payment Processor for Churches and Ministries?

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Maintained Since: May 21, 2014

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MinistryLINQ
Rating
B
4.3/5
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Pros

Secure transactions
Real-time reporting
User-friendly interface
Customizable forms
Responsive customer support

Cons

Potential setup complexity
Transaction fees apply
Learning curve
Feature limitations
Contract commitments

Overview

MinistryLINQ, owned by Ministry Brands LLC, is a Spokane-based merchant services provider that specializes in payment processing for churches, ministries, and educational institutions. In this review, we examine its services including donation management, recurring giving, multi-site support, and church software integrations. We also review its pricing plans (including monthly tiers and security fees), contract terms, and fee transparency. Customer feedback is mixed, with praise for its custom forms and real-time reporting, and complaints around customer support, service speed, and unclear billing. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of what MinistryLINQ offers and whether it fits your nonprofit’s payment processing needs.

About MinistryLINQ

Screen Capture of MinistryLINQ Homepage
MinistryLINQ Homepage

MinistryLINQ, a company owned by Ministry Brands, LLC, is a Spokane, Washington-based merchant account provider that specializes in payment processing for ministries, churches, and schools. Prior to 2015, the company maintained a primary web presence as The CashLINQ Group and presented MinistryLINQ as one of its products, but it since appears to have fully rebranded as MinistryLINQ. In July 2015, the company sold its assets to Ministry Brands, but the MinistryLINQ website is still active and functional. It appears that Ministry Brands has allowed MinistryLINQ to continue operations under its original name.

Products & Merchant Services

MinistryLINQ offers payment processing services tailored specifically for churches. These services are designed to handle tithes, offerings, and other financial transactions securely and efficiently, catering to the unique needs of religious organizations.

Donation Management

MinistryLINQ provides donation management solutions that help churches track and manage contributions from their congregants.

Pledge Tracking

MinistryLINQ includes pledge tracking capabilities, allowing churches to monitor and manage pledged donations over time.

Automatic Deposits

MinistryLINQ offers automatic deposit services, enabling churches to receive donations directly into their bank accounts without manual intervention.

Software Integration

MinistryLINQ supports integration with various church management software systems. This compatibility ensures seamless data transfer and synchronization.

Recurring Donations

MinistryLINQ provides options for recurring donations, allowing church members to set up automatic, regular contributions.

Multi-site Support

MinistryLINQ includes multi-site support, making it suitable for churches with multiple locations. This service allows for centralized management of donations and financial transactions across all sites.

Security Features

MinistryLINQ emphasizes security in its payment processing and donation management services. Security features are in place to protect sensitive financial data and ensure the safe handling of transactions.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Mixed Complaints

We have found more than 10 negative MinistryLINQ reviews, with complaints ranging from slow service to poor account management. While none explicitly label the company as a scam or ripoff, one complaint alleges severe mismanagement of funds, where deposits were erroneously made into the wrong account, resulting in a significant financial loss for the client. Despite attempts at resolution, some customers report prolonged wait times and slow problem resolutions.

Legal Matters

No class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been filed against MinistryLINQ. Dissatisfied clients can explore reporting concerns to relevant supervisory organizations.

Customer Support

MinistryLINQ provides a customer support phone number during business hours. However, the adequacy of this support is questionable given the persistent complaints about poor service, which prevent MinistryLINQ from being recognized among our top-rated payment processors for customer service. While the company maintains a relatively low overall complaint count, the recurring issues have led to a lowered score in this category, earning a “C” rating.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
Paymentpop5
BBB RatingN/A

PaymentPop Rating for MinistryLINQ

Negative Feedback

There are no negative reviews published about MinistryLINQ on the PaymentPop website.

Positive Feedback

We switched to MinistryLINQ to simplify how we handle donations and event payments. Getting our online giving set up was surper easy, and their team was helpful walking us through everything without making it complicated. It works seamlessly, definitely recommend.

MinistryLINQ BBB Rating

The BBB currently no MinistryLINQ profile but does have one for CashLINQ, which has an “A+” rating CashLINQ has received 0 complaints in the past 3 years. MinistryLINQ (CashLINQ on BBB)

What Merchants Say

CashLINQ’s BBB profile has also received no informal reviews in the past 3 years. A previous review to the old MinistryLINQ profile was posted by the same commenter who left a complaint in the comment section below:

This company added another company to our bank account due to a typo and was adding funds into our account in small increments. Due to the number of streams of income into our accounts this was undetectable. After 6 months of service they send us an extremely vague email stating they had made a mistake and that they were going to debit our account almost 5K. The email was not addressed to anyone and was full of grammar and spelling errors. They left no contact numbers or contact names and the email had no name on it. I contacted the company responsible and they told me it was a bogus email and did not come from them. In 2 days they deducted the money from our account, almost 5K. The problem was the amount that they deposited in our accounts was less than the amount they deducted. It has been two weeks and we still do not have our money back and they avoid our phone calls. Please avoid this company at all cost unless you enjoy dealing with a very unprofessional organization with many unqualified people handling you money.

Clients who receive unprofessional or odd customer service emails should always be on the lookout for customer service scams.

An “A” Rating

Given MinistryLINQ’s clean complaint record, we agree with the BBB’s rating.

Processing Rates & Fees

$19 Pricing Plan

MinistryLINQ presents various pricing options, including a $19 monthly plan. This tier includes a card transaction fee of 3% plus $0.42, a monthly minimum fee of $10, an ACH transfer fee of 1% plus $0.42, and a monthly security fee of $10. All standard services of the company are incorporated in this plan.

$49 Monthly Plan

The $49 monthly tier at MinistryLINQ has a card transaction fee of 2.60% plus $0.42, a monthly minimum fee of $10, an ACH transfer charge of 1% plus $0.42, and a $10 security fee per month. It encompasses all features available in the $19 plan.

$69 Monthly Plan

MinistryLINQ’s $69 monthly plan mirrors the $49 plan in pricing and features but offers tiered card rates starting at 2.09% plus $0.30 for qualified transactions. An iPad POS system is available for an additional $19 per month plus hardware costs, and text donations can be added for an extra $5 monthly.

When to Opt for Tiered Pricing

While tiered pricing plans are generally not recommended, MinistryLINQ’s higher flat rates in its other plans may mean some merchants could benefit from the tiered plan. However, this plan is not currently promoted on the company’s website, so it’s advised to inquire directly about its availability.

Few Contract Complaints

The exact terms of MinistryLINQ’s contracts remain unclear, as the company advertises “no contracts” but hasn’t publicly disclosed its backend processor or sample contracts. This makes it difficult to ascertain specific policies on service duration or early termination fees. There have been no complaints regarding hidden fees or unfair pricing, suggesting that MinistryLINQ might align with other competitive merchant accounts. If you have insights about MinistryLINQ’s standard merchant agreement, sharing them in the comments would be appreciated.

Readers are also encouraged to explore our list of the best merchant accounts for comparison.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

In-House Sales Team

MinistryLINQ appears to utilize referral partnerships and a W2-employed inside sales staff to market its services. There is no indication that the company employs independent sales agents, and we have found no negative MinistryLINQ reviews that cite deceptive sales practices by the company’s sales team.

This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

No Deceptive Quotes

In addition, the MinistryLINQ website does not list misleading promotional rates or misrepresent the company as something it is not. We therefore award MinistryLINQ an “A” in this category. If you suspect that MinistryLINQ is overcharging you, you can double-check your monthly bill by obtaining a third-party statement audit.

MinistryLINQ Competitors

Compare MinistryLINQ to competitors that earned top marks.

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Bottom Line

MinistryLINQ currently rates as an average credit card processing solution based on our evaluation criteria. There is an increasing number of credible complaints across consumer protection websites, pointing to some concerns with the company’s customer service. However, detailed information about MinistryLINQ’s standard contracts remains scarce, which makes it essential for prospective clients to thoroughly review all terms and negotiate for better pricing when possible.

Given the limited data available, our rating for MinistryLINQ could change once additional insights into its contract terms and service quality come to light. Until then, clients are advised to proceed with caution and compare the company’s rates against top-rated providers in the market.

Read Actual User Reviews

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Contact MinistryLINQ

Contact & Customer Support
President and CEOFoster Chase
Headquarters14488 Old Stage Rd, Lenoir City, Tennessee 37772
Toll-Free Customer Service(800) 811-7826
Additional Support ChannelsOnline Contact Form
Websitehttps://www.ministrylinq.com/