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Should You Trust National Bankcard with Your Payment Processing?

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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.

National Bankcard
Rating
C
3/5
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Pros

Good customer support
No termination fee
Competitive rates

Cons

Independent sales agents
Non-transparent fees
Deceptive rate quotes
Three-year contract
Monthly fee applicable

Overview

National Bankcard, founded in 2007 and based in Melville, New York, is a merchant account provider that resells services from iPayment and Total Merchant Services. Located on the same street as other processors like Evolution Bankcard, EVO Payments International, Pivotal Payments, and Bluefin Payment Systems, the company has a strong presence in the payment processing industry. It’s worth noting that National Bankcard is sometimes confused with National Bankcard Systems, a separate company based in Austin, Texas, but the two are not connected.

Screen Capture of National Bankcard Homepage
National Bankcard Homepage

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

National Bankcard handles transactions for all major debit and credit cards, accommodating a wide range of business types. Their services include Clover POS and mobile systems, EMV card readers and swipers, e-commerce solutions, cash discounts, gift and loyalty programs, check processing, data reporting and analysis, invoicing, and QuickBooks integration.

Online Payment Processing

National Bankcard provides essential online payment processing capabilities, catering to the growing shift towards digital platforms. Their secure online payment gateway allows businesses to accept and process payments over the internet safely and efficiently.

Mobile Payment Solutions

To support the rise in mobile commerce, National Bankcard offers mobile payment processing solutions. This service allows businesses to accept payments via mobile devices.

Point of Sale (POS) Systems

National Bankcard offers comprehensive Point of Sale (POS) systems that go beyond payment processing. These systems help businesses manage inventory, track sales, and generate detailed reports for business analysis.

Customer Loyalty Programs

National Bankcard provides customizable customer loyalty programs aimed at enhancing customer retention and promoting brand loyalty.

Security and Compliance

National Bankcard places a strong emphasis on security, ensuring their payment processing solutions comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Low Complaint Total

We are currently able to locate more than 10 negative National Bankcard reviews on consumer protection forums. One complainant cites a 90-day hold placed on several high-ticket transactions and difficulty resolving the issue through customer support, while another describes unauthorized charges and trouble canceling service, all complaints echoed elsewhere. In the comment section of this review, clients complain of poor customer service and undisclosed fees. If you have your own National Bankcard review to make, please do so below.

National Bankcard Lawsuits and Fines

We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against National Bankcard. Dissatisfied clients who wish to pursue a non-litigious course of action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
BBB Rating1.57
Trustpilot Rating4.9
Average Rating3.23

National Bankcard BBB Rating

National Bankcard currently maintains an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since 2007. The company has resolved 8 complaints to the satisfaction of the merchant, while the remaining 10 either were resolved to the dissatisfaction of the merchant or did not receive a final response from the merchant. National Bankcard has a 1.57 out of 5 star rating based on 7 user reviews on the Better Business Bureau website.

What Merchants Say

National Bankcard has also received 6 informal reviews, 4 of which are negative. One recent review describes poor customer service and unexpected charges:

It’s a big fraud company. The sales people promise you something else and make you signup but later you see so many different charges in end of month on your account. Pathetic customer support. Have to call several times and no one will call you back

Related: Learn why merchant account providers hold funds.

A “B” Performance

Given the company’s complaint total and resolution ratio, we have adjusted the BBB’s rating to a “B.”

Trustpilot Rating for National Bankcard

National Bankcard has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating based on 8,458 user reviews on Trustpilot.

Positive Feedback

Applying and setup were a breeze. Everyone I talked to was friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. I signed up for the rate but it the software and app are very user friendly, with plenty of very helpful features! I don’t know of anything that beats it!

Negative Feedback

Basically a “bait and switch.” Once i submitted the signed application, the terms changed. Not recommended!

Processing Rates & Fees

Three-Year Contract

According to merchant complaints and the company’s program guide the standard National Bankcard contract is a three-year agreement with no early termination fee, a monthly minimum fee of $25, a monthly statement fee of $7.50, an annual PCI compliance fee of $79, and either a tiered or interchange-plus pricing schedule. The company’s tiered pricing charges a swiped rate of 0.25% plus $0.19 for debit cards and 1.58% plus $0.19 for credit transactions. The company’s keyed-in rate charges 0.85% plus $0.19 for debit while a significantly higher rate of 1.99% plus $0.19 for credit. A company representative has stated that National Bankcard’s monthly service fee is $5 rather than $7.50 and that the company offers a free mobile card reader with a $4.99 monthly RoamPay account as well as an Authorize.net virtual terminal for $5 per month. In any case, these contract terms are better-than-average for the industry, and the company’s $0.00 cancellation fee is a merchant-friendly policy that doesn’t lock business owners into their agreements.

Virtual Terminal and Payment Gateway Pricing

In addition to its storefront payment processing services, National Bankcard also dedicates a portion of its website to advertising its virtual terminal and payment gateway services. However, pricing is not disclosed on either of those services. Additional National Bankcard rates and fees, including gateway fees, technical support fees, batch fees, and additional transaction rates typically apply to these e-commerce services

National Bankcard Free Terminal Policy

National Bankcard sells credit card processing equipment outright and also offers a free terminal placement program. Given the fact that there may be additional terms associated with free equipment, clients are advised to purchase their EMV terminals outright whenever possible.

We also encourage business owners to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant services.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Inside/Outside Sales Team

National Bankcard appears to utilize traditional advertising, search engine marketing (SEM), and independent sales agents to market its services. The use of independent agents (or, in National Bankcard’s terminology, a nationwide “referral program”) typically results in elevated complaint rates for the companies who employ them, as these agents operate with minimal oversight, support, or training. In the case of National Bankcard, we have found a low number of negative National Bankcard reviews related to the misrepresentation of rates, specifically with regard to debit card processing fees. Clients report being quoted an unrealistically low rate for debit transactions only to find out later that they actually pay much higher rates for the majority of cards.

This does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

National Bankcard Teaser Rates

This confusion is likely related to National Bankcard’s frequent use of “teaser” rates, which list the company’s Qualified debit rates but do not disclose the Mid-Qualified and Non-Qualified rates that businesses will pay on most transactions. At the time of this article’s publication, National Bankcard’s homepage promotes rates “from only 0.25%.” At the time of our previous update, the company’s “Rate Comparison” page listed a swiped debit rate of 0.25% plus $0.19 and a keyed debit rate of 0.85% plus $0.19. It also showed a swiped credit card rate of 1.58% plus $0.19 and a keyed credit card rate of 1.99% plus $0.19. These National Bankcard rate quotes may be accurate for each card type’s Qualified tier, but they make no mention of the higher rates that the company charges on these transactions. We consider this type of rate quoting to be deceptive, as these quotes could give business owners an unrealistic expectation of the rates they will pay.

Rated “B” For Now

The company’s grade has been lowered due to its legacy of misleading rate quotes, although its somewhat low complaint total and lack of a cancellation fee still keep it at an above-average grade of “B.” If you suspect that a National Bankcard representative misled you about your pricing, you can double-check your monthly bill with a third-party statement audit.

National Bankcard Competitors

Compare National Bankcard to competitors that earned top marks.

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Bottom Line

National Bankcard rates as a slightly better-than-average credit card processing provider according to our rating system. The company’s $0.00 early termination fee and low complaint rate outside of the BBB are the main factors raising its grade at this time, while its use of deceptive rate quotes and its complaint total through the BBB have lowered its overall rating slightly. National Bankcard can improve its overall grade by eliminating teaser rate quotes from its advertising material and resolving complaints in-house before they are taken to the BBB. For now, business owners are encouraged to compare the company’s pricing to that offered by top-rated credit card processors.

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Contact National Bankcard

Contact & Customer Support
CEOJonathan Monge
Headquarters538 Broadhollow Rd., Suite #213, Melville, New York 11747
Toll-Free Customer Service(877) 977-0598
Websitenationalbankcard.com