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Enhance Business Customer Relationships
Help commercial depositors discover payment acceptance and business tools that complement their existing banking services.
Bank Merchant Services Referral Partnerships
Merchant Services Referral Partnerships for Banks
Help your business banking customers explore payment processing, point-of-sale technology, and other business solutions through Valued Merchant Services.
Our bank merchant services referral program is designed for institutions interested in adding practical value for commercial customers while evaluating potential referral fees and ongoing revenue sharing under an approved agreement.
Serving businesses nationwide since 2006. Bank partnerships are subject to institutional review and written agreement.
Since 2006
VMS business experience
All 50 States
Nationwide reach
Multiple Solutions
Beyond processing
Bank-Focused
Relationship-first approach
The opportunity
What Is a Bank Merchant Services Referral Program?
A bank merchant services referral program allows a bank to introduce eligible business customers to an outside provider for merchant processing and related services. VMS can evaluate those businesses' payment and operational needs, while referral procedures, responsibilities, and any permitted compensation are established through the bank's approved agreement.
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Explore Noninterest Revenue
Discuss possible upfront referral compensation and recurring revenue-sharing arrangements for qualifying business relationships. Actual terms depend on approval and agreement.
✓
Establish a Clear Service Handoff
Define how referrals are introduced, how customers are contacted, and which merchant service responsibilities VMS will perform.
Who this is for
Merchant Services Partnerships for Banks of Different Sizes and Business Models.
A bank with three branches may have different referral goals than a regional institution with a dedicated commercial banking division. Therefore, VMS starts with your business customer base and preferred operating model.
Community Banks
Explore a straightforward referral relationship that complements personal service and local business banking relationships without building an internal merchant services operation.
Regional Banks
Discuss structured introductions across multiple branches, business banking teams, or geographic markets, with expectations tailored to the institution's capabilities.
Commercial Banking Teams
Give relationship managers a defined route for discussing payment acceptance and related solutions when business customers identify a need.
Solutions for business depositors
More Than Credit Card Processing.
Payment acceptance is the starting point for many merchant conversations. However, businesses may also need POS technology, ecommerce payment tools, ACH capabilities, or help understanding existing processing costs.
VMS provides or facilitates a broader range of business solutions, allowing your bank to explore a referral relationship that serves different types of commercial customers.
Merchant Processing
Point-of-Sale Systems
Ecommerce Payments
Mobile Payment Acceptance
ACH & Check Services
Processing Cost Reviews
Gift & Loyalty Programs
Business Funding Options
Payroll & HR Tools
Digital Business Services
Implementation approach
How a Bank Referral Partnership Works.
VMS begins with an exploratory conversation. If the potential relationship is a fit, the bank and VMS can establish roles, procedures, and documentation appropriate to the contemplated arrangement.
01
Review Fit
Discuss your business customers, branch network, commercial banking structure, and service goals.
02
Evaluate & Agree
Address due diligence, referral procedures, contractual responsibilities, compensation terms, and bank approval requirements.
03
Introduce Merchants
Your bank makes approved introductions through the established process, with applicable consent and disclosures.
04
Support & Monitor
VMS handles agreed merchant solution activities. Reporting, oversight, and ongoing coordination follow the signed agreement.
Bank governance considerations
A Referral Relationship That Respects Your Bank's Oversight Responsibilities.
Banks need to understand the risks and responsibilities of third-party relationships. That is why a meaningful partnership discussion should cover more than referral economics. The specific diligence and controls will depend on your bank's risk assessment and the services involved.
Due Diligence
Discuss the information your bank requires to evaluate VMS, the proposed services, key responsibilities, and other relevant third-party considerations.
Customer Communication
Agree on introductions, use of customer information, consent requirements, disclosures, and permitted marketing practices before launch.
Contracts & Compensation
Define eligible referrals, revenue calculations, payment terms, support responsibilities, reporting, termination, and related protections in a written agreement.
Ongoing Oversight
Identify appropriate contacts and review processes for performance, issue escalation, relationship changes, and ongoing monitoring.
Industry context:
Federal banking regulators provide
risk-management guidance for third-party
relationships, including planning,
diligence, contracts, ongoing monitoring,
and termination. For an authoritative
overview, see the
FDIC's Interagency Guidance on
Third-Party Relationships
and the
Federal Reserve's Community Bank Guide
.
These are independent regulatory resources,
not VMS approvals or certifications.
Each bank remains responsible for its
own risk and compliance determinations.
About your potential partner
Experience Matters When Your Bank Makes an Introduction.
Founded in Idaho in 2006, Valued Merchant Services serves businesses nationwide. The company is led by co-founders Sean Ruppel, CEO, and Chris Del Grande, President.
VMS emphasizes consultative service, practical payment and business solutions, and long-term merchant relationships. We understand that an introduction from a trusted banking professional matters.
Learn more about Valued Merchant Services and our broader Business Referral Partner Program .
Illustrative image. Not a photograph of a specific bank partnership.
Questions bank leaders ask
Bank Merchant Services Referral Program FAQs.
These answers explain the potential relationship at a general level. Final program responsibilities and eligibility depend on bank review and signed agreements.
What is a bank merchant services referral program?
It is a relationship in which a bank introduces eligible business customers to an outside merchant services provider. The parties establish an approved process, respective responsibilities, and any permitted referral compensation.
How can a community bank benefit from merchant services referrals?
A community bank may expand the business solutions available to its commercial customers and explore an additional noninterest revenue opportunity. The value depends on customer needs, the provider's services, and an acceptable partnership structure.
Does a bank need its own merchant acquiring platform?
Not necessarily for a referral-only arrangement. A bank and VMS can discuss a model where the bank introduces prospects and the provider handles agreed merchant service activities. The exact arrangement requires institutional review.
Does the bank have to provide merchant processing customer support?
Under a typical referral arrangement, VMS is responsible for support associated with the services it provides. However, the parties must define service roles, escalation procedures, and oversight expectations before implementing a program.
How are banks compensated for eligible merchant referrals?
An approved agreement may provide one-time referral fees, ongoing revenue sharing, or a combination. Actual compensation depends on qualifying merchant activity, defined revenue calculations, contractual terms, and applicable legal and institutional restrictions. Revenue is not guaranteed.
Can multiple bank branches participate in a referral program?
Potentially. VMS can discuss processes appropriate for a single branch, a community bank branch network, or a larger commercial banking team. Training, procedures, tracking, and reporting should reflect the bank's requirements.
What merchant services can referred customers explore?
Options may include card processing, POS systems, ecommerce payments, mobile payment acceptance, ACH services, processing cost reviews, and other available VMS business solutions. Eligibility varies with the business and service.
Must business customers switch from their existing processor?
No, not for every possible service. Some payment solutions require a processor or equipment change, while certain reviews or business services may be available without replacing an existing provider.
What should a bank evaluate before signing a referral agreement?
Depending on the arrangement, relevant topics may include third-party due diligence, the scope of services, protection of customer data, customer consent and disclosures, compensation, performance reporting, oversight, and contract termination. Each bank determines the appropriate controls under its own policies and applicable requirements.
Is the referral partnership available to small community banks?
VMS considers partnership inquiries from banks of different sizes, including community banks. A smaller branch network does not automatically exclude an institution, although commercial terms and fit are reviewed individually.
Is a bank partnership different from the VMS affiliate program?
Yes. Bank partnerships involve institution-level consideration of governance, agreements, and customer relationships. VMS's individual affiliate program is a separate referral opportunity with its own participation terms.
How can our bank begin a conversation with VMS?
Complete the partnership inquiry form on this page or call 208-243-0818. Share your bank's name, branch or commercial banking structure, and what you hope to accomplish. An initial discussion does not create a contractual obligation.
Explore a bank referral partnership
Let's Discuss the Opportunity for Your Bank.
Whether you represent a small community bank, a regional institution, or a commercial banking team, tell us a little about your organization. We'll explore the potential fit and what an appropriate next conversation could look like.
Form not appearing? Open the referral inquiry form directly.
Submitting an inquiry does not establish a bank referral partnership. All programs, fees, and revenue-sharing terms are subject to review and signed agreement.
Valued Merchant Services provides or facilitates services subject to eligibility, approval, provider availability, and applicable terms. Financing is subject to lender underwriting. Merchant savings and referral revenue are not guaranteed. This page is informational and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or compliance advice. Banks remain responsible for their own vendor assessments, applicable regulatory obligations, consumer and commercial customer protections, and program approvals. Any referral compensation depends on an approved written agreement.