Constant Processing offers its merchants a wide range of high tech payment options so they can maintain an efficient, cost-effective operation while building customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
Electronic benefits transfer (EBT) acceptance is simple with Constant Processing, and an easy way to attract new customers and increase your retention of existing customers while supporting your community.
Electronic benefits from the government are administered via payment cards to tens of millions of recipients each month. Participating programs include SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps), Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) and general state-sponsored programs like unemployment and energy assistance benefits. Recipients make purchases with their card at participating merchants and can also receive cash back at businesses that accept TANF (cash back is prohibited with SNAP benefits).
Among the most common electronic benefit purchases are groceries, rent and mortgages, clothing, personal care, household items, utilities and transportation. As a result, many businesses can benefit from accepting EBT, including retail stores and supermarkets, residential landlords, public and private utility providers, laundromats and private transportation services.
Constant Processing can guide you through the process and help you get started. Take the first step by completing the form on this page, and a trained representative will respond quickly.
ACH Payments
The Automated Clearing House (ACH) is an electronic network for financial transactions in the United States that processes large volumes of credit and debit transactions in batches. ACH payment is a tool that electronically debits a customer’s bank account instead of using paper checks.
ACH processing services from Constant Processing complement traditional payment card processing services and can help generate an increase in sales revenue for businesses. We provide both traditional and Internet-based businesses the opportunity to offer their customers an additional payment option, which may mean the difference between making and losing a sale.
The ACH Option
Adding ACH payments to your business benefits you, the merchant, by opening up your payment acceptance options beyond credit and debit cards. ACH payments offer your non-payment card customers a hassle-free alternative that allows them to pay for their purchases directly out of their checking or savings accounts.
How ACH Payments Work
Think of an ACH transaction as an electronic payment directly from one bank account (the customer’s) to another (yours). Initiating the process is easy once you’re set up with the proper merchant account with Constant Processing.
When you settle the batch at the end of your business day, simply submit an ACH file containing all the bank routing (ABA) and account numbers to be debited, along with the corresponding transaction amounts. These transactions can be quickly and securely processed online using Transaction Express®, Constant Processing’s electronic payment gateway.
Once the transaction is authorized, the system debits the customer’s account and transfers the funds to your merchant account within seven days.
While ACH payments, like paper checks, take time to clear and may bounce, they can be a useful alternative for merchants who want to offer a comprehensive selection of payment options to their customers. To get started with ACH payments, fill out the form on this page and a Constant Processing representative will respond directly to you.
Prepaid Cards
Prepaid cards — also called open loop prepaid cards — are network branded (Visa® and MasterCard®), reloadable and can be used at any merchant location that accepts those brands. In addition to purchasing goods, consumers can also use these cards for withdrawing cash at ATMs and other bank-related activities.
Popular with consumers, personal-use prepaid cards complement the debit and credit cards already in their wallets, or they can be used as a readily-accessible and safe alternative to carrying cash. And since they carry the widely-accepted Visa and MasterCard logos, merchants can process them in payment just as they would a network-branded credit or debit card.
Gift and Loyalty Cards
Another category of card-based payment options is gift and loyalty cards. Also referred to as closed loop prepaid cards, they enable virtually any merchant to expand their capabilities and grow their business.
The closed loop gift card program offered to merchants by Constant Processing through Valutec® features pre-designed or custom cards, and targets virtually any retail or restaurant merchant. The loyalty card program features point-to-dollar conversion that works well for grocery stores, small retail chains, car washes and other retailers.
Because most cardholders spend more than the value loaded on their card, these programs can have the potential to represent increased sales and profitability for participating merchants.
Gift and loyalty cards are the same size, made of the same plastic material and process like credit, debit and prepaid cards, but there are some important differences.
Gift Cards
Gift cards aren’t just for holiday giving anymore. Birthdays, graduations, weddings, special celebrations like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and other milestones are all special occasions for giving gift cards.
Like credit and debit cards, gift cards come equipped with a magnetic stripe so they can be swiped through a cardreader at the point of sale. A customer purchases a gift card loaded with a specific amount of value and then gives it to someone who can use it to make purchases at your business. Some shoppers buy the cards for their own use and a convenient way to pay for future purchases.
This year-round gift card phenomenon is a ready-made market for merchants and businesses. Recent statistics reveal that:
- Prepaid cards, which encompass gift and loyalty cards, are the fastest-growing segment of the financial services market.
- Gift card displays are the most profitable square foot of selling space at many retail sites.
- Purchases made with a gift card tend to be between 20 and 50 percent higher than the average purchase price.
- Over half of all shoppers spend more than the initial value of the card. The average “uplift” is 133 percent of the stored value.
- Forty percent of gift card recipients do not use the full amount on their card; in fact, between 2005 and 2011, $41 billion in gift cards went unused. This “breakage” is pure profit for the merchant issuer.
Loyalty Cards
Loyalty cards — also referred to as rewards cards, discount cards or club cards — typically feature a barcode or magnetic stripe for scanning. A merchant loads a closed loop prepaid loyalty card with a specific value and gives it to a customer, providing them a strong incentive to continue frequenting the business to rack up more rewards by following the rules set by the merchant. The customer ultimately redeems the rewards, which are most often a monetary addition to the card or free merchandise, when the point accumulations reach a predefined threshold.
Adding loyalty cards to your prepaid card program enables you to track the buying behavior of your customers, converting sales to points to incentivize repeat purchases in your retail locations. They’re also a simple way to show your appreciation to loyal customers for their patronage and a great way to attract new customers. Loyalty cards should be a top priority for all businesses because they can help drive profits and improve cash flow.
Gift and Loyalty Card Options
Choose from generic, pre-designed cards customized with your business name, or create your own custom-designed cards and displays with your unique branding, logos and more. Depending on the option you choose, you can be selling or distributing gift and loyalty cards in as little as three business days after you place your order.
Consider the following benefits of gift and loyalty cards for your business:
- Potential for increased sales and revenue from new and existing customers.
- Custom-designed cards become part your overall marketing program to enhance your business’s credibility and visibility.
- Satisfied customers purchase and distribute more gift cards, driving additional new customers to your business.
- Gift card recipients may reload card for future purchases at your business.
- Loyalty card recipients are likely to shop more often to earn more rewards.
- Additional revenue possible from gift card balances that are never redeemed.
The gift and loyalty card programs offered through Constant Processing provide 24/7 customer support from Valutec to resolve any questions or issues you may have. User activation requirements and card security features minimize the risk of theft or fraudulent purchases.
Whether you’re ready to purchase 100 cards or thousands, Constant Processing can get you started in gift and loyalty card processing. Let one of our representatives facilitate your move today by completing the form on this page to learn more about how these cards can benefit your business.
Checks
Constant Processing offers check processing through CrossCheck®, which provides for electronic processing and settlement of checks at the point of sale. Check acceptance opens up a new transactional stream, allowing merchants to reach more customers. It also saves time by eliminating a trip to the bank.
This comprehensive program provides check verification and guarantee, electronic check conversion (ECC) with imaging, reimbursement for returned checks, business check conversion and multi-check acceptance with one of the highest approval rates in the industry.
Four CrossCheck programs are offered:
- Standard Verification — Check approval is available via a POS terminal equipped with a check reader or via a website and IVR. The merchant deposits the approved paper check at the bank and is responsible for lost funds on returned checks.
- Standard Guarantee — Check approval is available via a POS terminal equipped with a check reader or via a website and IVR. The merchant deposits the approved paper check at the bank. CrossCheck reimburses the merchant for lost funds on returned checks.
- Premium Verification — A paper check is electronically converted for deposit through a check reader. If the check is returned, the merchant is responsible for lost funds. No website or IVR processing is available due to the need to electronically convert the check.
- Premium Guarantee — A paper check is converted electronically for deposit through either a check reader or imager; if a reader is used, the merchant must send checks to CrossCheck weekly. CrossCheck reimburses the merchant for any returned checks provided they were processed correctly. No website or IVR processing is available as these services do not capture the necessary information for conversion.
To support these programs, Constant Processing offers both check readers and check imagers. Readers pull the DDA (Demand Deposit Account) and routing number from the check electronically; an imager stores a picture of the check for the merchant’s records.
Learn more about all the payment processing options available to Constant Processing clients by completing the form on this page. One of our trained representatives will get back in touch directly with you to answer your questions and help you set up a merchant account with us.
Credit Cards
Constant Processing knows that merchants who accept card-based payments — including credit and debit cards — benefit in a variety of ways. For starters, they meet their customers’ expectations to pay with plastic, thus building their loyalty. Accepting credit and debit cards also reduces the merchant’s expense and time spent billing and collecting, and the cards allow businesses to compete more effectively in the marketplace. All of these advantages can contribute to an improved cash flow, boosting the all-important bottom line.
Constant Processing offers a wide range of card-based payment options to our customers, including credit and debit card processing. Our merchants are able to accept most major credit cards including Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover®, American Express®, Diners® and JCB®. We also offer comprehensive point-of-sale PIN-based and signature debit card processing solutions, as well as EBT card acceptance, Wright Express® and Voyager® Fleet card acceptance, and open and closed loop prepaid debit card solutions.
When you’re ready to learn more about all these payment options, complete the form on this page and a trained Constant Processing representative will respond quickly.
Debit Cards
Debit cards have been around since the mid-1970s, introduced decades after credit cards came on the scene. For consumers, carrying a debit cards in their wallets is a simple and convenient alternative payment method to cash, checks and credit cards.
At Constant Processing, we believe that debit cards should be one of many payment options — including credit and prepaid cards — that merchants should offer their customers because of the many benefits they deliver on both sides of the counter.
Debit vs. Credit Cards
Debit cards can be used interchangeably with credit cards in most locations, but there are some significant differences between the two payment cards.
While credit cards basically offer the consumer a loan of the credit card issuer’s money that allows them to buy now and pay later, debit cards are linked directly to the cardholder’s bank account and an automatic deduction is made for each purchase made.
Another important difference between the two cards is that debit cards typically come in two different types. PIN debit cards require that the cardholder enter a personal identification number at the point of sale to complete the transaction. Signature debit cards, like credit cards, require the signature of the cardholder on the sales receipt to validate the purchase.
Benefits of Debit Cards
Accepting debit cards at your business has key benefits for your customers:
- Debit cards are a convenient alternative to carrying cash or a check book, and have become the first payment choice for many consumers.
- Debit cards can be used to shop online or in brick-and-mortar locations.
- Debit cards purchases are deducted directly from the customer’s bank account, making it easy for them to keep track of where and how they’re spending their money.
- Debit cards limit cardholders’ spending to the balance in their accounts, making it easier to stick to a budget.
Merchants who accept payment cards — including debit cards — also benefit in a variety of ways:
- By accepting debit cards, merchants are meeting their customers’ expectations to pay with plastic, which helps build a loyal following.
- Accepting plastic reduces the merchant’s expense and time spent billing and collecting, as well as trips to the bank.
- Debit and other payment cards enable businesses to compete more effectively in the marketplace.
- Accepting payment cards can contribute to an improved cash flow, boosting the all-important bottom line.
Get Started Accepting Debit Cards
A Constant Processing representative is standing by to answer all your questions about accepting debit cards. Just complete the form on this page and we’ll get back to you with information about the many payment solutions we offer to help you grow your business and achieve success in the marketplace.