---
title: "Risk and Compliance Underwriting Process"
slug: "risk-and-compliance-underwriting-process"
status: "update"
updated: 2026-01-02T21:05:19Z
published: 2026-01-02T21:05:19Z
canonical: "resource.payrix.com/risk-and-compliance-underwriting-process"
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://resource.payrix.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Risk and Compliance Underwriting Process

The Payrix Pro platform maintains and meets legal and regulatory requirements for all users and business types to ensure a safe and secure environment for merchant to process transactions and fund their accounts.

Underwriting is the process of validating aspects of an applying business (partner or merchant) and their personal owners' information. This validation process focuses attention on the following key elements of the merchant’s application and the data provided in their [signup form](/v1/docs/merchant-signup-form):

- **Validating the merchant’s business:** Ensures the merchant’s submitted business data (such as the address and website URL) is accurate and the scope of their goods and services is compliant with legal and regulatory guidelines.
- **Validating the owners:** Verifies the personal information (such as SSN and DOB) submitted by the merchant is accurate and that they aren’t flagged on any government sanctions or payment-industry watchlists.
- **Preventing illegal and fraudulent activity:** As the payment facilitator, Worldpay for Platforms is responsible for preventing any merchants from engaging in illegal or fraudulent activity while using our platform. Some common relevant scenarios include preventing money laundering (AML), identity theft, or fraudulent account takeover.
- **Validating the merchant’s bank account:** Confirm that the submitted banking information is valid and that the account is associated with the merchant’s business and/or owner. This validation process meets industry requirements and helps prevent fraudulent activity.

For maximum flexibility and white-labeling, two unique underwriting structures are available depending on your portfolio’s industry types and specific needs. You can read more about each below:

- [Manual Underwriting Process](/v1/docs/manual-underwriting-process)
- [Automated and Instant Underwriting Process](/v1/docs/automated-and-instant-underwriting-process)

## Underwriting Process Flow

While boarding new merchants, a two-step underwriting process is simultaneously triggered for each:

1. A new merchant entity is created within the Payrix Pro API and Portal.
2. The merchant’s application is submitted to the Payrix Pro Underwriting Team for review and approval.

Upon underwriting approval, a merchant will be able to begin processing payments.

### Review and Underwriting Service Level Agreement Response Time

This table outlines the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for the Payrix Pro Underwriting Team's response times across various review and underwriting activities.

| **Item** | **Description** | **SLA** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Partner Due Diligence | Timeframe for review and response to a partner application or subsequent information received | 2 business days |
| Merchant Underwriting | Timeframe for review and response to a merchant application or subsequent information received | 2 business days |
| Review Risk Hold | Timeframe to review and investigate held payments | 1 business day |
| Partner Questions | Time for Risk team to review and respond to inquiries from partners | 2 business days |

## Related Underwriting Articles

Simplicity and quick access are important to you and your merchants, and we are committed to providing instant approval for the majority of new accounts. You can find additional information about the underwriting process and the various customizations we offer on these pages:

- [Underwriting Documentation](/v1/docs/underwriting-documentation)
- [Automated and Instant Underwriting Process](/v1/docs/automated-and-instant-underwriting-process)
- [Manual Underwriting Process](/v1/docs/manual-underwriting-process)

A PayFac-as-a-service platform. Software companies can act as payment facilitators without taking on the associated risks, compliance burdens, and investment.

An entity that can process transactions and has been onboarded through a Payrix Pro partner.

The process of adding clients (merchants) to the Payrix Pro platform to use the Payrix Pro payment solutions. Also known as *onboarding*.

1. Any merchant or partner account operating on the Payrix Pro platform.
2. In API terms, the top-level resource for any merchant or partner account.

The date when a resource object was created.

The web portal offered by the Payrix Pro platform to accomplish tasks for their business through a web-based user interface rather than the API. The Payrix Pro portal contains general settings, payment processing options, reporting, fee settings, group assignments, user management, and much more.