Background
American Express OptBlue considers the following industry categories to be high-risk. Participants can sign merchants for the following categories but must obtain supporting documentation prior to signing. Participants must be ready to provide documentation within 48 hours of the request (additional documentation may be requested). This includes the Merchant Application, Merchant Financial Statements, and other credit due diligence documentation.
American Express maintains a list of prohibited industries in the American Express OptBlue Operating Rules. Participants must not sign any Merchants that fall into one of these categories. This list is effective April 2023 and is subject to change. Changes are communicated in the April and October Compliance Bulletins.
Merchant Exclusion
American Express maintains a list of Merchants that are not eligible to participate in the American Express OptBlue Program. Please refer to the Merchant Exclusion List of the April 2023 US Operating Regulations for the most current listing.
High-Risk Category |
MCC |
Supporting Documentation |
Bail/Bail Bond (Fee Only) |
9223 |
Ensure that the Merchant only submits transactions for the bail bond fee. American Express reserves the right to exercise chargeback(s) for transactions submitted for actual bail or bail bond payments. |
Charitable and Social Service Organizations (classified as non-profit, non-political charitable organizations and accepting payment for tax-deductible donations) |
8398 |
Provide proof of tax-exempt status with a regulating tax authority or local council in accordance with applicable law. |
Dating Services |
7273 |
Provide proof the Sponsored Merchant Prospect is a legitimate dating service and does not provide services that:
A Sponsored Merchant Prospect that provides services in either scenario is prohibited and must not be signed. In the event the Sponsored Merchant Prospect is an online dating service, the participant shall perform minimum verification and monitoring processes (such as using an automated web scanning service, capturing screenshot images upon acquisition, or conducting periodic and ongoing website reviews) to ensure compliance with these additional verification requirements are met.
|
Digital File Hosting (Cyberlockers) |
4816 |
|
Installment Payment Providers (also referred to as Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)) |
5999 |
Ensure that a BNPL Program Merchant Prospect meets the eligibility requirements prior to accepting the card under the program, in accordance with Section8.3, of the April 2023 US Operating Regulations. |
Online Pharmacy |
5912 |
|
Online Tobacco, including e-Cigarettes |
5993 |
Obtain attestation in the format provided in Appendix C, PA must retain notarized copies of the documents for 7 years. |
Massage Parlors |
7297 |
Obtain proof that the Program Merchant Prospect is a legitimate therapeutic massage parlor, possesses the necessary licensure specializing in providing therapeutic massage services, and does not provide services that:
A Program Merchant Prospect that provides services in either scenario is prohibited and must not be signed. |
Political Organizati0ons |
8651 |
Obtain proof that the Program Merchant Prospect is:
Required in compliance with all applicable laws. |
Securities Broker/Dealer |
6211 |
Ensure that the Program Merchant only submits transactions for the securities broker or dealer’s fee. America Express reserves the right to exercise chargeback(s) for transactions submitted for the purchase of securities, stocks, bonds, commodities, or mutual funds. |
Travel Agencies and Tour Operations |
4722 |
The participant is exempt from being required to (i) collect and provide evidence that such SMP is a member of a travel industry bonding organization (i.e., ARC, TCO, or IATA) and (ii) submit additional enhanced data reqs set forth in Sub Section 5.10, Travel/Cruise Industry Specific Transaction Advice Addendum (TAA) Record of the American Express Global Financial Submission Guide, provided that the Program Merchant is not identified as a High CV Merchant. |
Prohibited Industries
Prohibited Category |
MCC |
Description |
Airlines and Air Carriers (including Charter Airlines) |
|
All airline and air carrier Merchants, including charter airlines. |
Bail/Bail Bond |
9223 |
A sum of money paid by a criminal defendant to be released from jail under the condition that they appear for court appearances (this does not include a bail bond fee). |
Bankruptcy Services |
- |
A company or agency that is in the business of recovering money owed on delinquent accounts or supporting the bankruptcy process. |
Bullion |
- |
Bulk Metal in bars or ingot:
|
Car Rental Agencies |
3351 – 3441 |
Branded car rental agencies such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, etc. |
Cash at Point-of-Sale/Cash on Card |
|
Cash-like transactions from financial and non-financial institutions. |
Check Cashing/Guarantee |
- |
A business that provides customers with a way to turn a check into cash without having to rely on a bank account. |
Child Pornography |
- |
An individual or entity providing or associated with the visual depiction of a minor engaged in obscene or sexually explicit conduct, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means. |
Collection Agencies |
7322 |
A company that lenders use to recover funds that are past due. Examples include debt collection agencies, factoring companies, and liquidators. |
Commercial Leasing |
6513 |
A business that conveys land, real estate, equipment, or other property to another for a specified time in return for a regular periodic payment.
Examples include commercial real estate and commercial vehicles, such as trucks and marine vessels. This does not include residential real estate agents and managers for rentals. |
Credit Financing |
|
A merchant that provides financing to customers, earning revenue on that financing via fees or interest:
|
Credit Restoration |
- |
A service aimed at improving credit ratings by disputing errors and outdated claims with credit bureaus. |
Debt Repayment (past due or defaulted) |
7322 |
A company collecting payment of overdue debt. Some examples include a payment to a collection agency, factoring company, liquidator, or insolvency practitioner/lawyer. |
Door-to-Door Sales |
5963 |
Unsolicited individual (who might go door-to-door) selling goods or services with immediate payment expected. |
Escort Services |
- |
A business, agency, or person who, for a fee, provides or offers to provide a companion. |
Foreign Exchange |
6051 |
A business or financial institution that has the legal right to exchange one currency for another currency. |
Gambling |
|
The wagering of money or something of value on an event with an uncertain outcome, with the primary intent of winning money or material goods.
|
Indirect Acceptor Models |
- |
A payment intermediary that contracts with American Express to facilitate payments to multiple, eligible third-party End Beneficiaries.
The indirect acceptor accepts the card, but does not send the card information to the end beneficiary and pays eligible end beneficiaries using another method, such as bank transfer, check, or wire.
|
Investments |
- |
A purchase made for speculative purposes, or with the intent of future profit or appreciation.
|
Licensed Insolvency Practitioners |
- |
A professional intermediary in insolvency procedures. |
Lodging – Hotels, Motels, Resorts (including “branded” Central Reservation Services) |
3501- 3999 |
Branded lodging establishments (such as Best Western, Hilton, and Marriott). |
Marijuana-related Businesses |
- |
Any individual or entity that manufacturers, processes, distributes, or dispenses marijuana, or byproducts or derivatives of marijuana, whether for recreational or medicinal purposes, and whether or not subject to a governmental licensing regime. |
Multi-Level Marketing or Pyramid Selling (also referred to as Direct Marketing – Inbound/Outbound Telemarketing) |
|
A sakes system that uses one or more of the following practices:
|
Online Adult Entertainment |
- |
A business or entity that provides adult digital content. |
Payday Lending |
- |
A company that lends customers money at high-interest rates on the agreement that the loan will be repaid when the borrower receives their next paycheck. |
Person-to-Person Payments |
6538 |
A service that allows customers to transfer their funds from their bank account or credit card to another individual’s account via the internet or a mobile device. |
Postal Services – Government Only |
9402 |
Government-owned postal offices that provides a variety of services such as accepting and processing packages and mail for delivery and selling postage stamps. |
Prostitution |
- |
A person or business providing sexual services in return for payment. |
Real Estate Down Payments |
|
An initial payment when the real estate is bought on credit. |
Steamships and Cruise Lines (including onboard cruise shops) |
4411 |
Steamship and cruise line merchants. |
Telemarketing – Travel-related |
5962 |
A business that telemarkets travel-related products or services or other travel arrangements. |
Timeshares |
7012 |
Selling partial ownership of a property for use as a holiday home, whereby a cardmember can buy the rights to use the property for the same fixed period annually. |
Virtual Current/Crypto Currency |
6051 |
Digital money not authorized or adopted by a government issued and controlled by its developers, and used and accepted among members of a specific virtual community. |
Wire Transfers In-person (not online) |
4829 |
A business that specialized in the transfer of money from one location to another. |