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What Businesses Should Know Before Signing with Money Tree Merchant Services

Updated: September 22, 2025

Maintained Since: March 2, 2012

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.

Money Tree Merchant Services

Rating

2.9/5

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Pros

Virtual terminal services

No annual fees

Offers free equipment

Cons

PCI compliance fee

Potential hidden fees

Inconsistent contract terms

Monthly minimum charges

Customer service complaints

Overview

In this review of Money Tree Merchant Services, we take a close look at the company to give you a clear picture of its operations and what merchants have reported. We cover their services, including credit and debit card processing, mobile and virtual terminal solutions, e-commerce integrations, merchant cash advances, gift and loyalty programs, and marketing tools. The review also examines how the company structures its fees, rates, and contracts, while highlighting customer feedback about issues such as hidden fees, equipment leasing, and the quality of customer support. By the end, you will have a balanced understanding of whether Money Tree Merchant Services offers the value and reliability your business needs for payment processing.

Multiple Locations

Money Tree Merchant Services is a difficult merchant account provider to review because there are several companies using the “Money Tree” brand name. At the time of this review, it is unclear if all the companies are related to one another or if they are completely independent. In all likelihood, Money Tree (which may be owned by Total Merchant Services) probably allows all of its independent resellers and agents to operate under its brand name, which would explain why there are several websites and business listings for “Money Tree Merchant Services.” Here are the websites we have located:

moneytreemerchantservices.com (Appears to be the parent company website)
moneytms.com
merchantpaymentsolutions4u.com
universalpaymentprocessing.com

Report: These Industries Were Found to Pay Less Than 2% in Processing Fees

Possible Affiliation With Global Payments

This review will focus on the information provided by what appears to be the parent company website, moneytreemerchantservices.com. It appears that Money Tree primarily resells the services of Global Payments, Inc., although we were unable to confirm this as of this update. In May 2017, Total Merchant Services was acquired by North American Bancard, making Money Tree a reseller of North American Bancard products.

About Money Tree Merchant Services

Screen Capture of Money Tree Merchant Services Homepage — Money Tree Merchant Services Homepage

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, Money Tree Merchant Services is a payment processing provider offering a range of financial services tailored to small and medium-sized businesses. Their offerings include credit and debit card processing, electronic check conversion, mobile payment solutions, virtual terminals, and e-commerce integrations. The company also provides merchant cash advances, gift and loyalty card programs, and marketing tools like Fanminder to enhance customer engagement. Money Tree Merchant Services emphasizes flexible funding options and claims a high approval rate for businesses seeking capital. They offer free credit card processing equipment and QuickBooks Pro software integration to streamline business operations.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

Money Tree Merchant Services provides payment processing for all major debit and credit cards across various business types. Their offerings include EMV card readers and swipers, mobile payment solutions, access to the (link unavailable) payment gateway, e-check processing, cash advances, gift and loyalty programs, viral marketing services, and QuickBooks integration.

Mobile Payment Solutions

Money Tree Merchant Services offers mobile payment options with the Hypercom M4230 wireless swiper and the Payment Jack cell phone swiper. These solutions are compatible with iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android devices, working across various networks.

Software Integration

The company provides free QuickBooks Pro software to assist businesses in managing invoices, tracking sales, and processing credit card transactions. This software integrates with point-of-sale systems to streamline business operations.

E-commerce Gateway

For online businesses, Money Tree Merchant Services offers a free (link unavailable) e-commerce gateway. This gateway supports secure online payments and is ideal for businesses conducting transactions online or through mail or phone orders.

Equipment Reprogramming

Money Tree Merchant Services provides free reprogramming of existing equipment and offers a rate comparison guarantee. If they cannot provide better rates, businesses can still benefit from their value-added services.

Additional Cashflow Services

The company offers electronic check processing and merchant cash advances ranging from $1,500 to $150,000. They also provide gift and loyalty card programs to enhance customer engagement.

Viral Marketing

Money Tree Merchant Services includes FanMinder viral marketing services to help businesses quickly attract new customers.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Overview of Money Tree Merchant Services Feedback

Money Tree Merchant Services, a company of considerable size, has surprisingly few negative reviews. This could be attributed to the distribution of complaints among various associated brands, complicating the direct attribution of feedback to Money Tree itself. The company’s connections with Global Payments and Total Merchant Services might also divert some complaints to these entities. Negative feedback that does directly mention Money Tree Merchant Services tends to be inconsistent and varies by location. We welcome your personal experiences with Money Tree Merchant Services; please share your review in the comments section below.

Assessing Money Tree Merchant Services Customer Support

Access to the “Online Merchant Statement” via the “Support” tab on Money Tree’s website redirects users to a Global Payments login page, suggesting that Global Payments may play a role in managing Money Tree’s customer support. Moreover, Money Tree offers a dedicated customer service hotline. Despite the scarcity of public complaints, the absence of detailed information about the company’s customer service practices makes it challenging to rank Money Tree alongside the best payment processors for customer service.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop	1
BBB Rating	1
Yelp Rating	1
Our Rating	2.9
Average Rating	1.63

PaymentPop Rating for Money Tree Merchant Services

Negative Feedback

They adversise via text-message spamming from disposable phone numbers, and get rude and hang up if you call to ask for the spamming to stop… they also lie through their teeth, making all sorts of bogus claims about where they get the numbers and who actually sent the text message and even claiming they screen the national do-not-call list even though they clearly have absolutely no idea how it works. Considering the number of blatant lies I was told over the course of a few minutes, I can’t imagine why ANYONE does business with these jerks!

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Money Tree Merchant Services on the PaymentPop website.

Money Tree Merchant Services BBB Rating

Money Tree Merchant Services is not accredited by the BBB and has a rating of 1/5 stars based on 1 customer review. The business has been operational for 18 years. There are no customer complaints but 2 negative reviews filed against the business.

Negative Feedback

I used their service for over 5 years. I switched bank accounts and had to give them my new checking account number. They kept $750 that had been deposited to them via credit cards from my customers. Will not pay me. – Review from September 28, 2021

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Money Tree Merchant Services on the BBB website.

Yelp Rating for Money Tree Merchant Services

Money Tree Merchant Services has a 1 out of 5 star rating based on 2 user reviews on Yelp.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Money Tree Merchant Services on Yelp.

Negative Feedback

This company is an absolute JOKE do not spend your effort or time, sales guys with phones that don’t work, no one at the office knows anything about a deal that allegedly got approved. Don’t fall for this one you will reject it.

Processing Rates & Fees

Variable Contract Terms

The standard Money Tree Merchant Services contract offers a month-to-month agreement with no termination fees or annual fees. However, it includes a $25 monthly minimum, a $5 monthly service charge, a monthly PCI Compliance fee of $4.95 after the first year, and a tiered pricing schedule. While these terms are appealing, variations may exist between different companies using the Money Tree name. Some online Money Tree Merchant Services complaints mention a termination fee, despite the absence of such language on the parent company’s site.

The merchant agreement also outlines equipment lease terms from Global Direct, the leasing arm of Global Payments. Nonetheless, Money Tree Merchant Services promotes “free equipment” options on its website, indicating no obligation to lease through Global Direct or another third-party provider.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

In addition to its in-store payment processing, Money Tree Merchant Services advertises its virtual terminal and payment gateway services via Authorize.Net. Standard Authorize.Net agreements feature a rate of 2.90% plus $0.30, a $25 monthly gateway fee, and a batch fee of $0.10.

However, as a reseller, Money Tree Merchant Services reserves the right to adjust these terms. Their e-commerce pricing schedule indicates a qualified rate of 1.89% plus $0.10 for debit or 1.89% plus $0.22 for credit transactions. Mid-qualified rates can reach 3.04% + $0.10 for debit or 3.04 plus $0.22 for credit transactions. Non-qualified rates are set at 3.69% plus $0.10 or 3.69% plus $0.22 for debit or credit transactions. Money Tree also imposes a $25 monthly minimum, PCI compliance, and service fees, along with a $10 monthly gateway fee, and a $2 monthly statement fee if requested by mail. Though their gateway fee is lower than Authorize.Net’s and there’s no batch fee, Money Tree Merchant Services rates may be considerably higher for many clients. Business owners dealing with resellers are advised to negotiate lower rates.

Be Sure to Read Your Agreement

Given the variability of Money Tree contracts and the limited available information, businesses are urged to carefully review any contract terms. It’s unlikely that Money Tree’s merchant agreements will compete with those of the cheapest merchant account providers. We also recommend business owners explore our list of the best merchant accounts.

Lawsuits & Legal History

No significant class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints have been identified against Money Tree Merchant Services. Individuals seeking non-litigious remedies to their grievances are encouraged to report their issues to relevant supervisory bodies.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Multiple Resellers

Money Tree appears to use independent sales agents to sell its services, although the exact nature of its agent/affiliates program is unclear. Generally speaking, this practice can result in a team of unregulated or untrained agents who often push costly contracts and fail to disclose contract terms. Additionally, the proliferation of smaller businesses that use the Money Tree name and logo indicates that the parent company may have numerous sub-ISOs. This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

Telemarketing Complaints for the New York Location

In the last two years, the Plainview, New York location of Money Tree has seen a spike in public Facebook complaints. These Money Tree Merchant Services complaints almost uniformly cite persistent, unwanted phone calls to businesses. Clients claim that the calls continue even after the company has been asked to stop calling them. This is a fairly common complaint in negative Money Tree Merchant Services review, and it likely stems from the company’s use of independent sales reps.

Mixed Reviews

The unclear structure of Money Tree’s operation and its possible use of independent sales agents inclines us to award it an average “B” grade in this category. If you suspect that you are being charged improperly disclosed Money Tree Merchant Services fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate hidden charges.

Money Tree Merchant Services Competitors

Compare Money Tree Merchant Services to competitors that earned top marks.

Pricing

Bottom Line

Money Tree, as a credit card processing entity, remains somewhat enigmatic due to the sparse details available about its operations. The company’s name and logo appear across numerous websites, suggesting a widespread use that could indicate a reselling arrangement with larger payment processors like Global Payments or Total Merchant Services. However, these potential affiliations are not clearly stated on any of Money Tree’s various platforms, adding a layer of uncertainty for potential clients.

Given the ambiguity surrounding its services and partnerships, businesses considering Money Tree for their processing needs should proceed with caution. It is crucial for merchants to thoroughly review any contract offered by Money Tree, paying close attention to the terms and conditions laid out. Comparing these terms with those from top-rated credit card processors is advisable to ensure that they secure the most favorable and transparent processing solutions available. This due diligence is essential to avoid entering agreements that may not align with their best interests or financial objectives.

Read Actual User Reviews

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Contact Money Tree Merchant Services

Contact & Customer Support
CEO and President	Lawrence Bruno
Headquarters	21650 Oxnard St, Suite 700, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Toll-Free Customer Support	(888) 361-0801
Sales Office	(800) 253-9679
Fax Service	(800) 398-1709
Additional Support Channels	Online Support Form
Website	moneytreemerchantservices.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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