| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| High-Risk Merchant | An identification by a Card Processor of a business that operates in a high-risk industry, sells products or services that experience a high level of chargebacks, is prone to fraudulent transactions, and/or receives stolen credit cards High-risk merchants pay high card processing fees and are often unable to open an onshore merchant account. |
| Holdback | A fixed amount held in reserve by an account holder to cover possible expenses or losses Holdbacks are frequently applied on new high-risk merchant accounts. A holdback is usually the sum of a percentage of all transactions. Holdbacks cover potential chargebacks, expenses, and/or disputed charges. According to the contractually-agreed time period, processors return holdbacks to merchants in good standing. |