Payment gateway and card processing for precious metals and bullion dealers with a UK limited company

We review your existing checkout, target markets and desired payment methods to determine the right gateway and acquiring structure. For a UK bullion dealer, this typically means a gateway that can be layered over one or more specialist acquiring relationships and support alternative payment methods like open banking.

Our process involves defining the integration scope, ensuring correct 3-D Secure implementation and configuring fraud tooling from the outset. We then prepare a full onboarding file for submission to our network of providers. We manage the application and coordinate the technical go-live, ensuring that card processing is reliable and declines are routed effectively to minimise lost sales.

Underwriters and compliance teams focus on five key areas for a UK bullion business. They will assess your PCI DSS scope and integration method, review your marketing claims and traffic sources, and check your proposed transaction descriptors. They will pay close attention to your fraud controls, particularly your implementation of 3-D Secure, given the high-value nature of the products.

Crucially, they must be satisfied with your AML policies and the provenance of your metals. We ensure your file includes your dealer registrations, supplier contracts, and a comprehensive AML policy to address these specific risk drivers from the start.

Using a UK limited company provides a strong base for payment applications. The UK has a well-regarded corporate registry and a strong regulatory framework under the FCA. This provides confidence to acquirers. Providers will expect a UK registered office and will scrutinise the company to ensure management and control are substantially in the UK, especially if directors are non-residents.

While UK high street banks can be conservative, the UK's strong market of FCA-authorised EMIs provides excellent options for settlement accounts in GBP, EUR, and USD. Compared to a jurisdiction like Estonia, the UK offers a wider network of specialist acquirers familiar with this sector.

Gateway and acquiring applications for bullion dealers are often declined for weak AML controls or an inability to prove the origin of the metals. We prevent this by ensuring your supplier contracts, refinery agreements and internal AML policies are clearly documented in the file. Accounts can also be terminated for high chargeback ratios, which, while infrequent, can be significant in value.

Another common reason for failure is poor fraud management. We help you configure robust, industry-specific fraud rules and mandate Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) through 3-D Secure to minimise risk and demonstrate control to the acquirer, protecting your processing relationship for the long term.

Once any necessary acquiring accounts are in place, a payment gateway for a UK bullion dealer can typically be approved and integrated within one to four weeks. The key is a complete file that anticipates underwriter questions. We prepare your corporate documents, director IDs, proof of address, AML policy, and supplier contracts into a submission-ready package to accelerate this process.

Staying live involves maintaining the standards set during onboarding. This means keeping your AML policies current, adhering to your stated fraud-prevention practices, managing chargebacks proactively, and notifying your provider of any significant changes to your business model or corporate structure.