Payment Processing for Businesses That Need More Than a Standard Merchant Account
CERF is a payment processor specializing in merchant accounts for businesses that require specialist underwriting. We build long-term processing relationships with merchants that mainstream processors walk away from
Who We Are
CERF is a high risk payment processor registered in Paris, working with merchants across Europe, the UK, the United States, and Latin America. We specialise in industries that require a more considered approach to underwriting: businesses with subscription billing models, complex regulatory environments, or products that sit outside the standard risk frameworks most processors apply.
We built CERF because we saw a real gap in the market. Many legitimate, well-run businesses were being approved by mainstream processors, growing steadily, and then losing their accounts without explanation after months or years of clean processing history. Not because they had done anything wrong, but because those processors had never built the infrastructure to support them properly in the first place.
Our approach starts with a proper underwriting review before we approve anything. That process takes longer than a standard online application. In return, our merchants get processing relationships that are built to last, with no unexpected terminations and a team that understands their industry from day one. As a high risk payment processor, we built our underwriting around the industries we serve rather than adding them as an afterthought
What We Offer / Why It Matters
Multi-bank acquiring across EU, UK, US and LATAM
Your processing does not depend on a single banking relationship. If one acquirer tightens its risk appetite, your account is not exposed. Banking relationships across the US, UK, EU and LATAM give you geographic redundancy and the stability that comes from not being tied to one bank’s risk policy.
Daily settlements
Most processors settle weekly or bi-weekly. We settle daily. Your revenue moves into your account the next business day, not at the end of someone else’s payment cycle.
Upfront underwriting, not approve-and-review
We review your business properly before approving your account. That takes longer at the start. It means we do not terminate accounts six months later because we never understood what we were underwriting.
Chargeback monitoring with proactive alerts
We monitor dispute ratios continuously and contact you before thresholds become a problem. Not after. Verifi and Ethoca alert integrations are available to intercept disputes before they become chargebacks.
Dedicated account manager
You have a named contact who knows your account, your vertical, and your processing history. Not a support queue.
Transparent terms from day one
Reserve structure, fees, and contract terms are explained before you sign anything. No surprises at onboarding, no changes six months in.
What We Process
We work with businesses across a wide range of complex and high-growth industries. What they have in common is that mainstream payment processors have declined them, terminated them without warning, or failed to build underwriting capable of supporting their model.
Our merchants operate in nutraceuticals and wellness, subscription and continuity commerce, financial services and trading, digital goods, and other sectors where standard processor relationships tend to be unstable. If your industry requires specialist underwriting, we likely already work in it.
Our Clients
- Average processing relationship length: 2+ years
- Merchants onboarded within 7-14 business days from application
- Processing volume supported across 12+ currencies
- 100% of merchants assigned a dedicated account manager from day one
Team
The CERF team works across payment operations, merchant onboarding, risk management, and compliance. We are based in Paris and work with clients across North America, Europe, and Latin America. Our team has direct experience in the industries we serve, which is why our underwriting process looks different from processors that treat every application as a checkbox exercise.
Trust & Compliance
Legal entity | CERF SAS |
SIREN | |
Registry | RCS Paris |
Address | 219 Boulevard Pereire, 75017 Paris, France |
Contact | info@thecerf.com |
Banking partners | UK, EU, US and LATAM acquiring banks |
Founded | 2022 |
CERF operates with banking partners in the United Kingdom, United States, European Union, and Latin America, enabling geographic diversification for merchant portfolios. We are registered in France and operate under applicable French and EU commercial law
If you are looking for a high risk payment processor that underwrites properly from day one, start with an application below
The Cerf
CERF — SAS
SIREN : 913 596 649
RCS Paris
219 Boulevard Pereire, 75017 Paris
© thecerf.com
CERF SAS is a company registered in France under SIREN number 913 596 649, RCS Paris. Registered office: 219 Boulevard Pereire, 75017 Paris, France. CERF SAS operates as a payment solutions provider and works with a network of licensed Merchant Acquirers across the US, Canada, UK, Europe and LATAM. These acquirers are responsible for the processing of card transactions on behalf of merchants. Merchants will be required to enter into and maintain a separate processing agreement with an acquiring bank nominated by CERF. Under the terms of that agreement, transaction fees, reserve requirements and other charges will apply as agreed during onboarding. Rates referenced on this website are indicative and representative of typical fees charged by our acquiring partners; final pricing is confirmed at the time of merchant approval