Merchant Onboarding: Global Regulatory Update – February 2026

Early 2026 marks the shift from regulatory signalling to enforceable oversight. Stablecoins are moving into live operation under central bank approval, BNPL lenders are entering formal authorization regimes, AML/CTF frameworks are tightening verification controls, and supervisory perimeters are expanding to close fintech grey zones.

Across markets, regulators are reinforcing transparency, auditability, and accountability. Merchant onboarding sits at the centre of this shift. Licensing clarity is increasing. Delayed verification is being restricted. Personnel suitability is under review. For onboarding teams, the message is direct: structured merchant data, defensible decisions, and system-enforced controls are no longer competitive advantages, they are regulatory expectations.

In this update (for merchant onboarding & compliance teams)

• What changed: Stablecoins have entered regulated infrastructure, BNPL lenders are moving under formal credit authorisation, AUSTRAC reforms are tightening CDD and personnel due diligence, and supervisory perimeters are expanding across fintech and digital finance.
• Why it matters: Regulators are shifting from policy guidance to operational enforcement, increasing scrutiny on how merchant onboarding decisions are structured, evidenced, and governed in practice.
• Regulatory signals: Real-time payment rails are now regulated environments, delayed verification is being restricted, approval authority is under review, and AI-driven decisioning is moving into supervisory focus.‍
• What to do next: Standardise structured merchant data capture, enforce consistent KYB/KYC and AML controls at application stage, formalise approval governance, and ensure onboarding decisions are system-enforced and audit-ready from day one.

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Global

FSB Work Programme for 2026

Effective Date: 2026 (Ongoing Agenda)

Issued By: Financial Stability Board (FSB)

‍Applies to: National financial authorities, international standard-setting bodies, and financial sector participants subject to FSB-coordinated policy implementation.

Summary:

On 3 February 2026, the Financial Stability Board published its 2026 work programme, setting out the global regulatory priorities that will shape financial stability efforts over the coming year. For onboarding teams, this roadmap points directly to where compliance expectations are heading: cross-border payments, digital innovation, AI governance, and operational resilience will all demand sharper attention in your merchant workflows.

Key Changes:

• Cross-border payments: The FSB will continue coordinating the G20 Cross-border Payments Roadmap and encourage jurisdictions to adopt voluntary, time-bound action plans to implement its policy recommendations. 
• Digital innovation and AI: The programme explicitly calls out digital innovation and artificial intelligence as priority areas, signalling that regulators globally will be scrutinising how fintechs and PSPs govern AI-driven decisions, including risk scoring and onboarding approvals.
• Operational resilience: The FSB is pushing for stronger public-private collaboration on operational resilience, which will translate into tougher expectations around outage management, third-party risk, and business continuity for payment firms.
• Crypto-assets and stablecoins: The FSB will continue monitoring crypto-asset developments and examine potential vulnerabilities linked to stablecoins, including multi-jurisdictional stablecoins. Supervisory discussions will be organized.

What This Means for PSPs, ISOs, and Onboarding Teams:

While the FSB programme does not introduce direct onboarding rules, it signals where supervisory scrutiny is likely to increase. If you support cross-border activity, or onboard merchants with crypto exposure, you should expect closer review of your controls. You’ll need structured data capture, documented decision logic, and audit-ready onboarding workflows in place.

‍Recommended Actions:

• Audit cross-border flows: Review the countries you onboard merchants from and the payment corridors you support; identify where enhanced data requirements are likely to land first.
• Document AI decisioning: If you use machine learning for risk scoring or onboarding approvals, ensure you can explain and audit those decisions; transparency will become a regulatory requirement, not a nice-to-have.
• Review third-party dependencies: Map the critical vendors and partners in your onboarding chain. Operational resilience rules will expect you to know where your weak points are.
• Watch out for Crypto: Even if you don't touch crypto today, the FSB's continued focus suggests that regulated stablecoins will become a standard payment rail; start planning how your onboarding flows would adapt.

How OnBoard Helps:

OnBoard by MVSI embeds supervisory-grade governance directly into merchant onboarding workflows. Smart Forms standardize structured merchant data capture at application stage, supporting cross-border coordination and evolving global data frameworks. OnBoard AIQ™ validation and automated decision workflows document how onboarding approvals are reached, preserving explainability for AI-driven scoring and higher-risk merchant categories such as crypto. Audit-ready reporting maintains a defensible record of data sources, decision logic, and escalation paths aligned with increasing supervisory scrutiny.

Source: Financial Stability Board

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United Kingdom

FCA Regulation of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) / Deferred Payment Credit (DPC)

Effective Date: 15 July 2026 (updated: 11 February 2026)

Issued By: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Applies to: Third-party lenders providing Deferred Payment Credit (DPC) agreements under arrangements with merchants.

Summary:

On 11 February 2026, the FCA published its final rules for regulating Buy Now Pay Later (officially termed Deferred Payment Credit or DPC), confirming that the clock is now ticking toward a 15 July 2026 implementation date. Third-party lenders operating under arrangements with merchants will require FCA authorisation or entry into the Temporary Permissions Regime (TPR) and must comply with consumer credit rules. This brings BNPL lending businesses within the regulated credit framework, changing the regulatory status of lenders that merchants partner with at checkout.

Key Changes:

• BNPL becomes regulated credit: From 15 July 2026, deferred payment credit agreements provided by third-party lenders will be regulated by the FCA under the consumer credit regime.
• Tripartite arrangements: The rules apply where a lender and merchant have an arrangement, and the lender becomes the legal supplier of credit to the customer for goods or services.
• Authorization or temporary permission required: Lenders must either be fully authorized for consumer credit or enter the Temporary Permissions Regime (TPR) between 15 May and roughly 1 July 2026 to continue operating beyond regulation day.
• TPR eligibility criteria: To enter the TPR, firms must have been carrying on DPC activity on 15 July 2025, notify the FCA before regulation day, and pay the relevant registration fee.
  
• New conduct standards: Regulated lenders will need to provide clear pre-contract information, lend affordably and responsibly, and support customers in financial difficulty.

What This Means for Third-party Lenders, PSPs, ISOs, and Onboarding Teams:

If you are a third-party DPC lender onboarding merchants, your merchant onboarding processes now sit within the FCA perimeter and must reflect regulated consumer credit standards. Merchant arrangements must be formally documented, and compliance controls embedded before activation.

If you are a PSPs or ISOs supporting merchants that offer BNPL, you must treat the DPC lender as a regulated financial institution and verify authorization or TPR status as part of merchant onboarding due diligence. Activation should be contingent on documented evidence of the lender’s regulatory status.

Recommended Actions:

• Map BNPL exposure: Identify all merchants on your platform who offer BNPL at checkout and which lenders sit behind those arrangements.
• Verify lender status: From mid-May 2026, begin checking that your BNPL lending partners have either entered the TPR or are fully authorized.
• Update Your Onboarding KYB checks: Add a specific check for FCA consumer credit permissions when onboarding any merchant that operates as a lender or partners with one.
• Prepare for questions: Your merchants will have questions about whether their BNPL provider can continue operating—have clear answers ready based on the lender's regulatory status.

How OnBoard Helps:

OnBoard by MVSI embeds regulated credit verification directly into merchant onboarding controls. OnBoard ensures regulatory verification is embedded into merchant onboarding for both DPC lenders and PSPs supporting BNPL merchants.

Automated KYB workflows validate the DPC lender’s legal entity and regulatory permissions in real time, while decision rules prevent activation where authorisation is not confirmed.. Ongoing customer due diligence (OCDD) supports continued monitoring of lender regulatory status, and audit-ready reporting preserves documented evidence of verification within the merchant record for governance and supervisory review.

Source: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

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Mainstream Adoption of Pay by Bank / Open Banking Payments

Effective Date: February 2026

Issued By: Open Banking Limited 

Applies to: Regulated Payment Initiation Service Providers (PISPs), UK merchants offering Pay by Bank, and payment providers supporting account-to-account payments.

Summary:

On 20 February 2026, Open Banking announced that "Pay by Bank" has gone live on major retail platforms including Amazon and eBay, marking the moment open banking payments move from early adoption into the UK mainstream. Pay by Bank enables customers to initiate secure bank-to-bank payments at checkout using regulated open banking APIs and strong customer authentication through their banking app. Payments typically move instantly via the UK Faster Payments network..

Key Changes:

• Major retailers: Amazon and eBay now offer Pay by Bank at checkout, bringing open banking payments to millions of everyday shoppers and validating the model at scale.
• Consumer benefits: No card details to enter, biometric authentication via banking app, instant settlement via Faster Payments, and full visibility of spend before confirming payment.
• Merchant advantages: Lower processing costs compared to cards, elimination of chargebacks (authentication is done by the customer's bank), faster settlement improving cash flow, and no card expiry failures.
• Regulated PISPs: Behind every Pay by Bank transaction is a regulated Payment Initiation Service Provider, ensuring the payment is authorized, secure, and compliant.

What This Means for PSPs, ISOs, and Onboarding Teams:

If you onboard UK merchants, Pay by Bank becoming mainstream increases expectations for faster merchant activation and seamless payment enablement. Because transactions are initiated by regulated PISPs and settle instantly via Faster Payments, you need clear visibility of PISP integrations, documented third-party relationships, and onboarding controls that support real-time payment models. Delays, manual checks, or unclear documentation will become friction in a payment method designed for immediacy.

Recommended Actions:

• For Acquiring Banks: Strengthen onboarding risk controls for merchants using Pay by Bank by requiring clear PISP disclosure and documenting account-to-account payment structures upfront.
• For PISPs: Configure your onboarding forms to require Pay by Bank setup, regulated PISP details, and supporting due diligence before activation.
• Update merchant risk assessments: Pay by Bank eliminates chargeback risk, which changes your fraud and dispute profiles; update your scoring models accordingly.
• Maintain audit-ready onboarding documentation that evidences Pay by Bank payment flows, PISP relationships, and authentication model. 
• Educate onboarding teams: Make sure your sales and onboarding staff understand Pay by Bank well enough to explain its benefits and compliance requirements to merchants.
• Monitor variable recurring payments (VRPs): The next evolution, for subscriptions and recurring bills, is coming; start preparing your onboarding flows now.

How OnBoard Helps:

OnBoard by MVSI ensures Pay by Bank governance is embedded at the point of merchant activation. Configurable Smart Forms require merchants to declare Pay by Bank enablement, identify the regulated PISP involved, and confirm the account-to-account payment flow at application stage, so this information is captured before activation. Audit-ready reporting preserves this configuration within the merchant record, supporting oversight as Pay by Bank becomes a mainstream payment method.

Source: Open Banking Limited

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European Union

ESMA Vision for Digital Finance and Market Integration (Markets Integration Package)

Effective Date: Proposed, Legislative Process Underway

Issued By: European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA); Speech by Chair Verena Ross

Applies to: Crypto-asset service providers (CASPs), firms operating under MiCA, and participants using the DLT Pilot Regime within the EU.

Summary:

On 3 February 2026, ESMA Chair Verena Ross delivered a major speech outlining the EU's regulatory direction for digital finance, with direct implications for firms operating in crypto-assets, tokenisation, and cross-border payments. The proposals include strengthening EU-level supervision of crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) under MiCA and revising the DLT Pilot Regime to support more scalable tokenisation. The speech emphasizes that effective supervision and supervisory convergence will determine whether digital finance can scale safely across the EU single market.

Key Changes:

• ESMA to become direct supervisor of CASPs: The Markets Integration Package proposes making ESMA the direct supervisor of crypto-asset service providers, moving beyond national supervision to EU-level oversight.
• Pilot regime gets a refresh: A second iteration of the DLT Pilot Regime is proposed to make it more attractive and usable, with greater supervisory flexibility to support experimentation.
• Focus on scalability of tokenisation: ESMA signals that tokenisation must move beyond experimentation toward scalable deployment, requiring interoperability, legal certainty, and clarity around settlement infrastructure. 
• Market abuse surveillance: Crypto's cross-border nature challenges traditional surveillance; ESMA warns that data fragmentation prevents supervisors from seeing the full picture.

What This Means for PSPs, ISOs, and Onboarding Teams:

While the Markets Integration Package does not directly change merchant onboarding requirements, but the implications are clear. Stronger EU-level supervision of CASPs and increased focus on cross-border structures and market abuse mean that onboarding crypto-asset firms based solely on a national MiCA licence will no longer be sufficient. PSPs and ISOs should ensure their onboarding processes capture full group structures, cross-border operations, and key outsourcing arrangements to reflect heightened supervisory expectations.

Recommended Actions:

• Identify all crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) in your portfolio and confirm the exact licensed entity and scope of MiCA permissions.
• Expand onboarding due diligence to document group structures, cross-border operations, and key outsourcing arrangements for CASPs.
  Ensure the contracting entity and the licensed MiCA entity are clearly recorded within the merchant file.
• Flag complex cross-border or multi-entity CASP structures for enhanced review before activation.

How OnBoard Helps:

OnBoard by MVSI embeds EU-level supervisory defensibility into crypto-asset onboarding workflows.

Automated KYB workflows capture and validate CASP legal entities, group structures, and MiCA licensing details at application stage, ensuring cross-border and outsourcing complexities are documented before approval. The decision engine then routes higher-risk or multi-entity structures for enhanced review, embedding governance and supervisory defensibility directly into your onboarding architecture.

Source: European Securities and Markets Authority

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Australia

AUSTRAC AML/CTF Reforms

Effective Date: Various (from 31 March 2026 to 30 March 2029)

Issued By: Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)

Applies to: Existing reporting entities under the AML/CTF Act (including digital currency exchange providers transitioning to VASPs), newly regulated tranche 2 entities, and virtual asset service providers subject to travel rule obligations.

Summary:

On 22 January 2026, AUSTRAC released transitional rules providing existing reporting entities a three-year period (until 30 March 2029) to transition from the prescriptive applicable customer identification procedures (ACIP) framework to the reformed, risk-based initial Customer Due Diligence (CDD) regime. Ongoing CDD requirements will apply from 31 March 2026 without transitional relief. Newly regulated tranche 2 entities and certain virtual asset service providers must comply with reformed CDD and travel rule obligations from 1 July 2026.

Key Changes:

• Initial CDD deadline extended to 2029: Existing reporting entities may transition from the prescriptive ACIP framework to the new section 28 risk-based initial CDD obligations between 31 March 2026 and 30 March 2029.
• Ongoing CDD starts March 2026: The new ongoing CDD requirements are not deferred and will take effect on 31 March 2026 for all current reporting entities.
• New deemed and delayed CDD provisions: The reformed initial CDD regime introduces deemed compliance and new delayed CDD provisions, which are only available once an entity formally transitions. 
• Strict conditions for delayed CDD: Delayed initial CDD is permitted only where it is essential to avoid interrupting the ordinary course of business and where additional ML/TF risk is low, with AML/CTF policies required to mitigate associated risks.
• Completion deadlines and restrictions: Where delayed CDD applies, verification must be completed as soon as reasonably practicable (within 20 business days for services provided in Australia), and funds or virtual assets must not be transferred or made available before CDD is completed; civil penalties may apply for non-compliance.

What This Means for PSPs, ISOs, and Onboarding Teams:

Customer due diligence decisions will face greater regulatory scrutiny, particularly where verification is delayed or risk-based judgment is applied. Payment providers must ensure onboarding decisions are consistent, well-documented, and defensible, with clear evidence of how ML/TF risk was assessed and controlled. Weak justification for delayed CDD or inconsistent framework application increases supervisory and enforcement exposure.

Recommended Actions:

• Choose your CDD framework: Decide whether to stay on ACIP or move to the new risk-based CDD model, and align all onboarding processes to that decision.
• Control delayed verification: Put clear controls in place for delayed CDD, including documented risk justification and tracking to ensure completion within required timeframes.
• Build in ongoing monitoring: Update your onboarding systems to support ongoing CDD from 31 March 2026, not just initial checks.
• Document every decision: Ensure all onboarding approvals and risk assessments are clearly recorded to withstand regulatory scrutiny.

How OnBoard Helps:

OnBoard by MVSI operationalises AUSTRAC’s risk-based CDD reforms within system-enforced merchant onboarding controls.

Smart Forms align applications to your chosen CDD framework (ACIP or reformed risk-based), while automated rules prevent activation where verification is incomplete or delayed CDD conditions are not justified and tracked. Portfolio OCDD then continues monitoring merchants post-activation, ensuring ongoing CDD obligations are embedded into the full merchant lifecycle, not treated as a one-time onboarding check.

Source: AUSTRAC

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Personnel Due Diligence Requirements (AML/CTF Reform)

Effective Date: From 31 March 2026

Issued By: Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)

Applies to: Reporting entities under the AML/CTF Act that employ or engage individuals to perform AML/CTF-related functions.

Summary: 

As part of Australia’s broader AML/CTF reforms, AUSTRAC has strengthened personnel due diligence requirements for individuals performing AML/CTF functions, reinforcing that governance applies not only to customers but to the people making compliance decisions. These reforms align with AUSTRAC’s broader shift toward risk-based, outcomes-focused supervision under the reformed AML/CTF regime.

Reporting entities must formally assess competence and integrity before engagement, and on an ongoing basis. These procedures must be embedded within AML/CTF policies and supported by documented evidence  capable of withstanding supervisory review. As customer due diligence obligations become increasingly risk-based, regulatory scrutiny is expected to extend beyond merchants and customers to the suitability of the individuals making onboarding and compliance decisions.

Key Changes

• Initial and ongoing personnel due diligence required: Assessment of individuals performing AML/CTF functions must occur before engagement and throughout employment or engagement.
• Risk- and role-based approach: The level of assessment must reflect the ML/TF risk exposure and seniority of the role.
• Assessment of skills and integrity: Entities must evaluate AML/CTF knowledge, capability, and integrity, including background checks where appropriate.
• Policy integration: AML/CTF programs must define procedures, reassessment frequency, triggers and management of adverse findings.
• Documented evidence: All assessments and decisions must be recorded to demonstrate compliance.

What This Means for PSPs, ISOs and Merchant Onboarding Teams: 

Regulatory scrutiny will extend beyond merchant due diligence to the individuals responsible for onboarding decisions. Payment providers must be able to demonstrate that onboarding and compliance personnel are suitably qualified, formally authorised, and subject to structured oversight. Undocumented approval authority, inconsistent staff capability, or informal reassessment practices now represent measurable AML/CTF governance exposure rather than internal process weaknesses.

Recommended Actions

• Identify all personnel performing AML/CTF-related onboarding roles and conduct formal suitability assessments before they approve merchant applications.
• Embed documented personnel due diligence procedures into AML/CTF policies, including role-based risk assessment and integrity screening.
• Implement structured competency and integrity screening aligned to role risk.
• Define reassessment triggers and maintain evidence of periodic reviews.
• Ensure merchant onboarding approval authority is clearly assigned, controlled and auditable.

How MVSI Supports Compliance: 

As AML/CTF enforcement increasingly examines both customer due diligence and personnel suitability, governance must be system-enforced across the full onboarding control environment. 

TalentScreen by MVSI provides structured pre-engagement and ongoing integrity screening, including background and qualification verification for individuals performing AML/CTF functions.

OnBoard by MVSI embeds role-based approval controls within merchant onboarding workflows, ensuring that only authorised personnel can approve applications. Automated decision logic and audit-ready reporting preserve a defensible record of approval authority, activity, and decision governance.

Together, these capabilities strengthen defensibility under AUSTRAC scrutiny.

Source: AUSTRAC

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United Arab Emirates 

CBUAE Approves First Regulated Dirham-Backed Stablecoin (DDSC)

Effective Date: February 2026

Issued By: Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)

Applies to: Regulated financial institutions, institutional and government entities using DDSC for payments, settlement, treasury operations, and trade-related use cases through approved platforms.

Summary:

On 3 February 2026, the Central Bank of the UAE approved the operational launch of DDSC, a dirham-backed stablecoin. DDSC will operate on ADI Chain, an institutional Layer-2 blockchain developed by the ADI Foundation. It is approved for institutional and government-led use cases, including payments, settlement, treasury operations, and trade flows. 

Key Changes:

• First regulated stablecoin goes live: The CBUAE has granted operational approval for a dirham-backed stablecoin, creating a clear regulatory pathway for blockchain-based payments.
• Institutional infrastructure: The stablecoin will operate on ADI Chain, a purpose-built institutional blockchain designed to bridge traditional finance with digital asset ecosystems.
• Expansion of payment rails: DDSC is approved for payments, high-value settlement, treasury operations, and trade finance, making it a versatile tool for corporate clients.
• Bank adoption: First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) will make DDSC available to its customers, integrating the stablecoin into established banking channels rather than bypassing them.

What This Means for PSPs, ISOs, and Onboarding Teams:

While DDSC approval does not introduce new merchant onboarding rules, it changes the payment infrastructure merchants may operate within. As sovereign-backed digital currency becomes integrated into regulated banking channels, onboarding teams must be able to identify and document merchants using DDSC for settlement or treasury activity. Corresponding effects include increased expectations around transparency, structured data capture, and alignment with institutional-grade compliance standards.

Recommended Actions:

• Review your UAE merchant workflows: Assess whether your current onboarding flow can support merchants who wish to settle or transact using DDSC.
• Enhance KYB procedures to document banking relationships and approved platform access where DDSC is involved.
• Ensure onboarding risk assessments account for blockchain-based settlement flows within regulated environments.
• Maintain structured records of merchants using DDSC to support supervisory review and bank partner scrutiny.

How OnBoard Helps:

OnBoard by MVSI embeds sovereign-grade payment governance into merchant onboarding workflows.

Smart Forms capture merchant declarations regarding DDSC usage at application stage, ensuring transparency before activation. Automated KYB workflows validate entity information in real time, while the automated decision engine enforces risk-based approval controls aligned to regulated blockchain settlement activity. Audit-ready reporting preserves documented onboarding decisions to meet bank and regulatory expectations tied to sovereign-backed digital currency use.

Source: TradeArabia

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Kenya

Central Bank of Kenya Review of the Central Bank Act and Banking Act

Effective Date: Review Initiated, February 2026 (Consultancy Tender Issued)

Issued By: Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

Summary:

On 23 February 2026, the Central Bank of Kenya invited consultants to help review the Central Bank Act and the Banking Act, signalling what could become the most consequential regulatory shake-up for the country's fintech sector in years. The review aims to strengthen provisions for digital banking, fintech regulation, consumer protection, and cybersecurity, potentially resolving the legal grey zone that has left many fintechs operating without clear authorisation and exposed to enforcement actions.

Key Changes:

• Fintech regulation finally in scope: The review explicitly targets digital banking and fintech regulation, acknowledging that the current legal framework wasn't designed for today's payment startups, neobanks, and remittance platforms.
• Consumer protection and cybersecurity added: Beyond fintech licensing, the review will strengthen consumer protection rules and cybersecurity requirements, raising the compliance bar for all financial services providers.
• Grey Zone: For years, fintechs like Chipper Cash have struggled to obtain licences due to the absence of enabling laws. This review could create a clear authorisation pathway.
• International best practices: The CBK explicitly cites "international best practices" as a guide, meaning Kenya's new framework may align with global standards like FATF recommendations and Basel principles.

What This Means for PSPs, ISOs, and Onboarding Teams:

While the review does not introduce immediate onboarding requirements, alignment with international standards signals that merchant verification, documentation, and auditability expectations are likely to increase once reforms are enacted. Payment providers onboarding merchants in Kenya should prepare for clearer licensing checks, stronger transparency requirements, and more structured evidence of due diligence decisions. Onboarding processes must be capable of demonstrating traceable identity verification and defensible compliance controls under a potentially expanded supervisory regime.

Recommended Actions:

• Monitor the review process: The consultancy tender is just the start; track the review's progress and any draft legislation or public consultations that follow.
• Embed documented verification controls to evidence identity, authorization, and supervisory alignment at application stage.
• Implement system-enforced audit trails for all onboarding approvals to support transparency and traceability.
• Prepare to update KYB and AML workflows rapidly once changes are introduced.

How OnBoard Helps:

OnBoard by MVSI embeds structured merchant onboarding governance aligned to heightened transparency and auditability expectations under evolving international standards.

Smart Forms ensure merchant information including legal entity details, ownership structures, and regulatory disclosures is collected in a consistent structured format at application stage. Automated KYB and KYC workflows verify both the business and its beneficial owners, while integrated AML screening supports sanctions and risk checks before approval. The decision engine enforces consistent onboarding decisions under pre-defined compliance rules, and audit-ready reporting preserves a traceable record of collected data, verification outcomes, and approval authority.

Source: TechCabal

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Cross-Market Signals for Merchant Onboarding & Compliance Teams

Across jurisdictions, regulatory direction is converging around operational proof and enforceable controls:

• Structured merchant data at application stage, not remediation post-activation
• System-enforced CDD and verification controls, with limited tolerance for delayed checks
• Formal authorisation and licensing validation embedded into onboarding
• Governance over AI-driven decisioning and automated approvals
• Personnel suitability and approval authority under direct supervisory scrutiny
• Stablecoins, open banking and crypto moving into regulated infrastructure environments

Translating regulatory change into operational onboarding control requires more than policy updates. It requires system-enforced governance.

We work with payment providers, acquirers, PayFacs, lenders and banks to embed KYB, AML, CDD and approval governance directly into merchant onboarding workflows.

OnBoard by MVSI brings digital onboarding, verification, underwriting and ongoing due diligence together in a single controlled architecture designed for regulated payment environments.

Request a demo.

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This content is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice.