North

What North does

North (legal entity NorthAB, LLC) is a Troy, Michigan-based payment processing and merchant services company founded in 1990 that delivers an end-to-end payments platform to SMBs, enterprises, and partner channels across the United States, with a satellite operation in Ireland. Its technology stack is anchored on PCI DSS-validated infrastructure with point-to-point encryption and tokenization, integrated across multiple payment gateways (EPX, Authorize.net, USAePay), and exposes developer-facing APIs through the North Developer portal and the Merchant Management API for portfolio-level merchant control. The product portfolio spans acceptance (in-person, online, mobile, hybrid, integrated, Tap to Pay on iPhone), a Payanywhere-branded hardware lineup of terminals and card readers, and a back-office suite covering billing, reporting, gift and loyalty, authorization optimization, fraud prevention, funding acceleration, inventory, and ATM services.

North generates revenue through a mix of transaction-based processing fees (flat-rate, interchange-plus, tiered pricing), hardware sales, recurring subscription fees for premium merchant portal features, and residuals/bonuses paid by ISVs, ISOs, and banking partners. Go-to-market is multi-channel: direct field sales for enterprise and government accounts; inside sales and self-serve online signup for SMBs; a registered ISO and ISV partner program; bank and credit union referral programs; and a developer marketplace. North serves diverse verticals including restaurant, retail, healthcare, government/utilities, and specialty/high-risk segments such as CBD, telemedicine, online pharmacy, gaming, and online dating, positioning itself as a full-stack alternative to fragmented point solutions.

Name

North

Legal name

NorthAB, LLC

Website

https://north.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

North (NorthAB, LLC) is a Troy, Michigan-based payment processor and merchant services provider offering unified payment acceptance, Payanywhere hardware, and back-office tools to SMBs, enterprises, and partner channels including ISVs, ISOs, and banks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payment Processing

NAICS

Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Credit Card Issuing (522210), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Finance Services (6199), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Payment Processors (PSP/Acquirer) (FSAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated POS Payments (ISVs & Vertical POS Platforms) (FSAMADAD), Card Issuing & Program Management Platforms (BPAMAFAH), Merchant Payment Gateways (API/Hosted Checkout) (FSAMACAA), POS, SoftPOS & In-Person Acceptance Infrastructure (FSAGABAO)

Keywords

• Payment processing
• Merchant services
• POS systems
• Integrated payments
• Payment hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Payment Processing Transaction Fees: Fees charged per transaction for processing credit/debit card payments. Supports multiple pricing models including flat rate, interchange-plus, and tiered pricing.
2. Hardware Sales: Sale of payment hardware including card readers, smart terminals, POS systems. Product lineup includes Payanywhere 3-in-1 Bluetooth Reader, Smart Terminal, Smart Terminal Mini, Smart Flex, Smart POS+, and PINPad Pro.
3. Subscription/Monthly Services: Monthly service fees for merchant account access, reporting tools, secure online merchant portal, and premium plan features. Basic plan offered free with premium paid tier.
4. Partner Program Fees: Revenue from ISV, ISO, and Financial Institution partner programs including referral fees and residuals from merchant accounts brought in by partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

North operates as a merchant services and payment technology provider offering end-to-end payment acceptance across in-person, online, mobile, hybrid, and integrated channels. The company sells a Payanywhere-branded lineup of POS hardware (smart terminals, Bluetooth readers, all-in-one POS systems), processes credit/debit card transactions on a PCI DSS-validated platform with point-to-point encryption and tokenization, and provides back-office tools including billing, reporting, gift & loyalty, fraud prevention, funding acceleration, inventory, and ATM services. It also distributes its platform through developer APIs/SDKs and partner programs for ISVs, ISOs, banks, and credit unions.

Product overview

North is a merchant services and payment technology company offering a comprehensive, unified payment platform with multiple integrated products. The core offering consists of Accept Payments (in-person, online, mobile, hybrid, integrated channels with associated hardware) and Run Your Business (back-office tools including billing/invoicing, reporting, fraud prevention, funding, inventory, and ATM). The product portfolio includes a hardware lineup of Payanywhere-branded terminals and card readers (Smart Terminal, Smart Terminal Mini, Smart POS+, Smart Flex, Smart PINPad Pro, 3-in-1 Bluetooth Reader) and software add-ons like North Billing Solutions, Gift & Loyalty, Authorization Optimization, and Payment Links. Developer capabilities are provided through North Developer, which offers APIs and SDKs for integrations, while the Merchant Management API enables CRM-level merchant portfolio control for ISOs and payment facilitators. Visa partnership brings Network Token Service, RTAU, and ANI for enhanced security. The Edge Program offers cash discount options. North positions itself as an end-to-end payment solution provider from front-door acceptance through back-office management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Payanywhere: Hardware brand for payment terminals and card readers including Smart Terminal, Smart Terminal Mini, Smart POS+, Smart Flex, and 3-in-1 Bluetooth Reader
• North Exchange
• North Developer
• Edge

Products and services

• Payment Processing Services Core merchant services enabling businesses to accept credit and debit card payments in-store, online, mobile, hybrid, and via integrated channels on a PCI DSS-validated platform. Supports flat-rate, interchange-plus, and tiered pricing models.
• Payanywhere Smart Terminal

Quantifiable outcome

• Merchants can be approved in as little as 5 minutes through VIP Instant Approval Program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• VisacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026North partnered with Visa to offer three enterprise-grade innovations: Visa Network Token Service (replaces PANs with tokenized identifiers), Visa Real Time Account Updater (RTAU) for automated card updates, and Visa Account Name Inquiry (ANI) for cardholder name verification to reduce fraud. Partnership makes these tools accessible to businesses of all sizes from small merchants to large enterprises.
• Payments Dive (Informa TechTarget)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 April 2026Collaborated on joint thought leadership playbook 'The Hidden Cost of Fragmented Payment Systems' authored by Payments Dive journalist Sylvie Tremblay with contributions from North experts Bryan Long and Nate Serianni. Positions North as payments technology thought leader through industry engagement.
• EPX (Payment Gateway)coreTechnology or IntegrationEPX payment gateway integration supported as part of North's comprehensive payment solutions ecosystem.
• Authorize.net (Payment Gateway)coreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorize.net payment gateway integration supported for seamless payment processing.
• USAePay (Payment Gateway)coreTechnology or IntegrationUSAePay payment gateway integration supported for flexible payment acceptance options.
• ISV PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent Software Vendor partners who integrate North payment capabilities into their software solutions using APIs, SDKs, and shopping cart extensions in a PCI DSS-validated package.
• ISO Partners (Independent Sales Organizations)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO partners receive one-stop payment processing and back-office solutions with Peak Bonus Program ($600 Activation Bonuses, 14X Profitability Multipliers), VIP Instant Approval, and residual income paid on 15th of every month.
• Banks and Credit UnionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinancial institution partners benefit from economies of scale on underwriting, servicing, operations, and marketing. Merchants can add North services to demand deposit accounts with co-branded marketing and quick onboarding.
• BMO Harris Bank N.A.coreOthersRegistered ISO sponsor bank for North payment processing services
• Citizens Bank N.A.coreOthersRegistered ISO sponsor bank for North payment processing services
• The Bancorp BankcoreOthersRegistered ISO sponsor bank for North payment processing services
• FFB BankcoreOthersRegistered ISO sponsor bank for North payment processing services
• Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.coreOthersRegistered ISO sponsor bank for North payment processing services
• PNC Bank, N.A.coreOthersRegistered ISO sponsor bank for North payment processing services

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Clover (Fiserv): Clover is a Fiserv-owned integrated POS + payments platform serving SMBs and mid-market merchants with hardware, software marketplace, and ISO/reseller channels — overlapping North's integrated POS and partner program strategy.
• Stripe: Stripe dominates online and integrated payments for SMBs and developers with APIs/SDKs comparable to North Developer; also pressures the integrated-payments and ISV segments where North plays.
• Paysafe: Paysafe specializes in integrated payments, eCash, and high-risk/regulated verticals (online gaming, digital goods) — directly comparable to North's specialty vertical coverage and global processing ambition.
• Square (Block): Square is the dominant U.S. SMB payments + POS platform with hardware (similar to Payanywhere), self-serve signup, and a giant software/financial-services ecosystem — the principal broad incumbent North competes with for SMB wallet share.

Direct peers

• Heartland Payment Systems (Global Payments): Heartland is a long-standing U.S. registered ISO/acquirer in SMB payments with similar multi-bank sponsorship, ISV/ISO partner programs, and POS hardware offerings — a near-direct comparable to North's business model and customer segments.
• PaymentCloud: PaymentCloud specializes in high-risk merchant categories (CBD, adult, nutraceuticals, online pharmacy) — directly comparable to North's specialty vertical exposure and high-risk underwriting model.
• Helcim: Helcim is a U.S./Canadian SMB payment processor offering flat-rate, interchange-plus, and tiered pricing with a self-serve signup model — directly overlapping North's pricing models and SMB onboarding approach.
• Stax (by Fattmerchant): Stax is a subscription-based SMB payment processor with interchange-plus pricing and ISV/ISO partner programs — a closely comparable business model and pricing structure to North's offerings.
• Wind River Financial: Wind River is a Wisconsin-based registered ISO/PSP with a similar SMB + enterprise mix, ISO/ISV partner program structure, and multi-bank sponsorship model — a like-for-like private-market comparable to North.

Emerging players

• Toast: Toast is a vertical-specific payments + POS platform focused on restaurants (QSR and full-service) — directly comparable to North's restaurant vertical solutions and a benchmark for vertical-payments SaaS economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZFOxoVZTaSb_3jSniV6TlA
• Facebookfacebook.com/northabpayments
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northpayments
• Instagraminstagram.com/northpayments

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North