Durango Merchant Services

Overview

Durango Merchant Services specializes in providing merchant accounts for businesses often rejected by mainstream processors. Acting as a placement specialist, they connect merchants with a network of domestic and offshore acquiring banks. Their focus is on high-risk industries and they are especially known for their high-touch support, flexible contract terms, and ability to secure stable, long-term processing for industries that typically struggle to get approved.

Supported Business Types

• E-commerce: High-volume stores, subscriptions, and digital goods like software and e-books
• Regulated Products: CBD, supplements, nutraceuticals, and smoke shops
• Adult Entertainment: Online adult content and products
• Travel & Tourism: Airlines, booking agencies, tour operators
• Gaming: Online gaming, fantasy sports, and skill-based games
• Subscription & Continuity: Recurring billing businesses
• Others: Collection agencies, high-ticket items, and international/offshore operations

Services

Durango offers a full suite of services designed for high-risk merchants:

Merchant Accounts

• Domestic (US) high-risk accounts
• Offshore/international accounts for global operations or industries requiring offshore banking (Canada, EU, Panama, Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands).

Payment Gateway

• Durango Payment Gateway (Durango Pay) with API integration (Direct Post, Collect.js)
• Recurring billing and tokenization (customer vault)
• Integrates with major platforms like WooCommerce and Magento
• Tap-to-Pay SoftPOS solution for NFC-enabled smartphones

Payment Methods Supported

• Credit & debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)
• ACH / eCheck processing

Risk Management Tools

• Chargeback alerts and dispute management
• Fraud prevention tools, including AVS, CVV verification, and 3D Secure

Contracts & Underwriting

• Contract Length: Flexible, including month-to-month options
• Early Termination Fee: Typically none
• Rolling Reserve: Standard practice (5%–15% of sales held for 90–180 days)

Application Process:

• Online application submission with required documents
• Underwriting review (website, policies, bank statements)
• Placement with the most suitable acquiring bank
• Approval in 24–72 hours if documentation is complete

* Required Documents: Government ID, EIN, 3–6 months of bank statements, 3–6 months of processing statements (if available), and a fully compliant website with refund/privacy policies.

Customer Support & Reputation

• BBB Rating: A+, accredited since 2006
• Support: High-touch, responsive customer service
• Account Managers: Dedicated managers for each merchant
• Availability: 24/7 support

3rd Party Reviews

Expert reviewers consistently rate Durango very highly — including a strong 4.8/5 from Merchant Maverick — and the company maintains a long-standing A+ accreditation with the BBB, which speaks to stability and complaint-free operation over many years. Peer-review platforms like Trustpilot do show a lower average score of around 2.6/5, though this is based on a relatively small pool of reviews, which can skew results. The gap between expert evaluations and crowd-sourced ratings suggests that while many merchants report excellent outcomes, others ran into friction points such as application denials or unclear expectations around pricing — issues that tend to surface more often in high-risk processing environments overall.

Final Word

Durango Merchant Services is a top-tier solution for merchants in high-risk or hard-to-place industries. While pricing isn’t the lowest, their combination of A+ BBB rating, zero setup fees, no early termination fees, and flexible contracts makes them a highly reliable choice. They are particularly well-suited for CBD, travel, subscription-based e-commerce, and other challenging industries that require a stable and long-term processing partner.