Prohibited Categories

This Alacriti Prohibited Categories List governs your use of Alacriti’s digital payment services, related data, technology and analytics services, and other business services, including those services more expressly set forth in an order form that is signed or otherwise accepted by both parties and references the Alacriti Master Services Agreement (such order forms are “Orders,” and such services are collectively “Services”). Your use of the Services is subject to this document, as well as the Alacriti Master Services Agreement between Alacriti Payments LLC (“Alacriti,” “we,” or “us”) and the user of the Services (“Client,” or “you”). Unless otherwise provided herein, this document is subject to the terms of the Alacriti Master Services Agreement and capitalized terms will have the meaning specified in the Alacriti Master Services Agreement. We reserve the right to change the terms of this document in accordance with the Alacriti Master Services Agreement.

The following businesses and activities are excluded from the Services hereunder due to risks associated with dishonored payment presentments.

• Shell Banks
• Bribery/corruption
• Marijuana Cultivation/Distribution or Sales
• Cannabidiol (CBD)
• Unlicensed Hemp Growers
• Adoption agencies (non-profit or for-profit)
• Adult entertainment
• Airlines/charter services
• Bankruptcy attorneys
• Bail bondsmen
• Check cashing institutions
• Collection agencies/firms involved in collecting past due accounts
• Consulting firms operating in the following:
  • "Get rich quick" schemes
  • Real estate seminars
  • Investment programs/opportunities
  • Mortgage reduction services
  • Credit  repair and debt reduction
• Companion/dating services
• Drug paraphernalia
• Factoring
• Flea markets (operating from a booth, on a part-time basis with no lease or telephone line)
• Gambling establishments
• Gun sales
• Investment opportunities (stocks, options, securities, currency, metals, etc.)
• Mortgage companies
• Modeling/talent agencies
• Not-For-Profit organizations (defined as not recognized as such by the IRS)
• Outbound telemarketing
• Pawn shops
• Pharmaceuticals (unless a Verified Internet Pharmaceutical Practice Site [VIPPS])
• Protection services
• Pseudo-pharmaceuticals
• Pyramid or multi-level marketing
• Sale of real estate, resort land or timeshares
• Sports forecasting or odds making
• Telemarketing companies involved in the following products:
  • Psuedo-pharaceuticals
  • Chain letters
  • Vitamins
  • Any of the products/services listed otherwise listed as a Prohibited Category
• Telemarketing companies with the following methods of operation:
  • Free gift, prize, sweepstakes or winning of a contest as an inducement to purchase a product/service
  • In-bound calls in response to a post card, e-mail or similar technique.
• Telephone cards
• Third party processors
• Travel agencies
• Water purification

Prohibited Categories for ACH and RTP using Avidia.

The following Client types are “Prohibited.” Avidia Bank will not provide banking or payments services for such Clients.

• Any Client operating in an illegal, deceitful, predatory, abusive, hateful, or brand damaging manner
• Any Client that does not own the product at the time of sale, including drop shippers and forwarding brokers
• Any Client that is not domiciled in the U.S., as defined in Avidia Policy
• Any Client where the business entity and/or principal(s) appear on the TOD
• Adult Products and Entertainment: Pornography, Novelties, Book, Video, Toy Stores, Audio or Text Conversations, Gentlemen's Clubs, 900 Numbers, Sexual Enhancement, Strip Clubs Cannabis-Related Businesses (Tier 1)
• Cannabidiol (“CBD”)
• Check Cashing Businesses
• Crowd Funding
• Debt Consolidation and Credit Repair, including but not limited to credit repair agencies, loan/mortgage modification, credit card rate reduction, “document preparation” companies, and tax relief services
• Discount Membership Clubs (Non-Medical/Dental), including discount buying, coupon, upsell, or rebate-based clubs
• Escort Services
• Gambling and Related Activities, including non-state lotteries, non-state lottery tickets, sweepstakes, sports forecasting, odds making, casino gaming chips, off-track betting, daily fantasy sports, and race tracks (NOTE: Bingo, sweepstakes, and raffles for charitable purposes are not prohibited)
• Kratom (mitragyna speciosa)
• Listings or access to public or private grants and government funds to consumers
• Non-Financial-Institution eWallets, defined as certain open-loop digital wallets used by a consumer to purchase goods and services
• Outbound Telemarketing
• Pawn Shops
• Political Action Committees
• Pre-settlement Funding
• Psychic/Occult Products or Services
• Pyramid Schemes, defined any business whose model emphasizes the enrollment of other promoters of the business rather than the bone fide sales of goods or services to consumers
• Quasi-Financial Advice, including "Get Rich Quick" schemes (NOTE: Licensed professional brokerage firms are not prohibited)
• Sale-Incentive-Based Programs, defined as businesses whose profitability primarily relies on services paid for by the consumer that are never or rarely used
• Sales of "social media activity," including likes, positive reviews, elimination of negative reviews, followers, friends, or other criteria to artificially boost a business’s reputation
• Short-Term (less than 12 months) High-Interest Non-Financial-Institution Consumer Lending, including but not limited to payday loans and most title loans
• Third Party Collection Agencies, as defined in Policy
• Tribal Lending
• Virtual and Crypto Currencies (ex. Bitcoin), including sales, exchanges, and ATM’s
• Any other Client posing excessive risk to Avidia Bank, in the sole discretion of the Payment Risk Manager or higher ranking official

Clients doing business in the following categories are prohibited by Mastercard for enablement of Mastercard Send:

• Virtual Currency Companies (including Bitcoin)
• Dating and Escort Services
• Massage Parlors
• Detective/Protective Agency, Security Services, Armored Cars
• Political organizations
• Adult content (face- to-face or online)
• State lottery Merchants
• Skill games Merchants
• Pawn Shops
• Tobacco products and related paraphernalia sales
• Pharmaceutical and controlled substances sales
• Drugs and related paraphernalia (including but not limited to research chemicals and illicit herbal incense)
• Payday Lenders (Online and brick and mortar)
• Online gambling and/ or casinos (including but not limited to lottery, sweepstakes, horse and greyhound racing, sports betting, and virtual poker chips)
• Pre-adult content, such as pictures, videos, and so on, of individuals under the age of 18
• Adult entertainment businesses
• Sweepstakes
• Prepaid travel companies
• Government grants or will writing kits
• Any goods or services infringing intellectual property rights of a third party, including but not limited to streaming video/ audio, illegal downloads, modification chips, DVD and Blu-Ray Disc decryption devices
• Illegal downloads or any other goods and services infringing intellectual property rights of a third party, including streaming video/ audio
• Imitation and replica products, including but not limited to, clothing and accessories
• Credit card protection, credit repair services, applications for financial services, or loans and/or collection services
• Sites that promote hatred, racism, sexism, religious persecution, and/or any other prejudicial views
• Nazi war memorabilia
• Hazardous materials, combustibles, and/or corrosives sales
• Weapons (Including and not limited to firearms and ammunition) sales
• Stocks, bonds, securities, options, futures, or investments in any entity or property, including but not limited to corporations and partnerships
• Remote technical support services and computer virus software promoted using unsolicited emails or outbound telemarketing
• Gaming (brick and mortar)