Adult merchant accounts

The category is lawful and heavily regulated by the card networks. We underwrite operators who verify age, moderate content and bill clearly.

Why banks decline adult

• The card networks apply specific rules to adult content, including age verification and content controls, and acquirers must monitor compliance.
• Membership rebills are a chargeback source when customers do not recognise the descriptor or cannot cancel.
• Reputational caution at the bank level means most general processors decline the category outright.

What we need from you

Underwriting reads the site before it reads the application. Have these ready and a complete application goes live in 24 hours.

• Age verification at entry and at checkout
• Content moderation with records of performer age and consent where the law requires them
• Membership terms with the rebill amount and date at checkout, and a cancellation path that works
• A billing descriptor that customers will recognise on a statement
• Formation documents and an EIN or your country's equivalent
• Owner identification (a passport is fine; no SSN needed for non-US owners)
• A voided check or bank letter for the settlement account
• Processing and chargeback history from your current processor, if you have one
• Published refund, shipping and privacy policies, and terms that match how you actually bill

What you get

• An account registered correctly for the category with the card networks.
• Routing across more than one merchant account, so one processor's decision is not your outage.
• 3-D Secure 2 by rule and fraud screening tuned to the category.
• A vault under your name for members' tokens and schedules.

What we cannot support

Saying it here saves you an application.

• Illegal content of any kind
• Sites without age verification
• Undisclosed rebills or memberships that cannot be cancelled

Questions adult merchants ask

Do you process adult content sites?

Yes, for operators who meet the checklist above. The category is lawful and the networks regulate it closely; we register and monitor it as they require.

What descriptor will customers see?

One that matches your brand, agreed at onboarding. A descriptor customers do not recognise is the biggest avoidable chargeback source in this category.

Will there be a reserve?

Usually, at the start. It is stated in the offer and releases on a schedule.

Can I take international cards?

Yes. Routing decides the best account per card and region.