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First American Merchant

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LAST UPDATED: June 3rd, 2020

First American Merchant Funding is a finance services company founded in 2010 in Thousand Oaks, California. The company offers credit card processing services for merchants and loans to small business owners. Fast funding within a day, and loans are available up to $250k.

First American Merchant Funding is best suited for small business owners who are unable to secure financing from traditional banking institutions, but need fast access to working capital for a variety of reasons. The finance services company works with all credit types and only requires proof of business income for at least three to six months in order to qualify for a small business loan. Consumers that choose First American Merchant should remember that they must have a credit score of 550 or higher.
 
Small business loans from First American Merchant are used for inventory and business equipment purchases, marketing, location expansion, and technology upgrades.

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The Good

  • Fast Funding
  • High-Risk Small Business Loans
  • Large Network of Lenders
  • Other Benefits

Fast Funding

First American Merchant works to provide companies with funds as quickly as possible so that they can start their operations without financial worry. The FAM team can actually provide some businesses who qualify funds within 24 hours of completing all required applications. Payments are then automatically held from your credit card transactions which means business owners do not need to worry about fixed monthly payments.

High-Risk Small Business Loans

First American Merchant assists small business owners who are unable to secure financing from traditional lenders for various reasons. The company has no credit history restrictions and only requires up to six months of bank statements proving business income to qualify. The amount a borrower is able to receive highly depends on generated revenue.

Large Network of Lenders

First American Merchant has a network of 315 lenders to help customers get the financing they need. The company can also assist its customers to obtain small business loans from traditional lenders as well. The company has an 80 percent approval rate for business owners unable to qualify for small business loans elsewhere. The company also features educational articles on its website blog to help consumers learn more about small business loans and how to qualify.

Other Benefits

Other benefits of First American Merchant include:

  • Fast approval
  • Funding within one day
  • Flexible financing options
  • No collateral required
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The Bad

  • Undisclosed Fees and Interest Rates
  • Lack of Customer Feedback
  • Low Amounts of Capital

Undisclosed Fees and Interest Rates

Interest rates vary by lender and the company does not disclose certain fees that might also apply on its corporate website. It is not clear if the company's network of lenders charge any prepayment penalties, origination fees, or closing costs. This makes it difficult for borrowers to determine whether or not they are getting the best possible deal compared to offers from competing lending marketplaces.

Lack of Customer Feedback

First American Merchant has been in the industry for six years, but there is no feedback regarding its customer service anywhere online. There are no testimonials on its website and the company does not disclose the total amount of funding it has secured for its customers.

Low Amounts of Capital

Small business owners are only able to apply for up to $250,000 in funding, which may not be enough for some business types. Many competing lenders in the marketplace offer up to $1 million or more in small business loans.

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The Bottom Line

First American Merchant provides high-risk loan options for small business owners through its network of affiliated lenders. The company has fewer application requirements than other online loan marketplaces. However, rates and fees vary by lender and are not publicly disclosed on its website, and there is no available customer feedback. We cannot recommend working with First American Merchant at this time.

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Jason Mazzullo Williamsport, PA

Sales person lied about no cancellation fee. Random fees kept showing up on statement. Spent hours on the phone trying to become PCI compliant only to be told that I dont need to be. 6 months later received charge again for non pci compliance. They transfer you around from one department to another. Sales manager Tammy M promised there would be no cancellation charge since her reps lied. Surprised by random $495 fee for cancellation showing up on bank statement. You better watch your statements every month. They sneak things in and then when you catch it they keep you on the phone for HOURS. They steal your money every chance they get.

4 years ago

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miko Ha Winter Haven, FL

The associate did not handle the case properly, poor services

4 years ago