Checkout.com Launches Direct US Acquiring via Georgia MALPB Charter

Checkout.com has officially launched direct acquiring in the United States through its Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank (MALPB) charter in Georgia. This operational milestone allows the global processor to bypass third-party intermediaries, offering fintech professionals a more streamlined, resilient infrastructure for enterprise-grade payments in the world’s largest digital economy.

What was announced

The activation of the MALPB charter marks the completion of a three-phase journey for Checkout.com, progressing from initial application to regulatory approval and now active volume processing. By operating under this specific Georgia framework, Checkout.com gains direct access to major card networks. This structural shift is designed to reduce the complexity of the payment lifecycle, providing the company with greater control over transaction flow and operational execution.

The move is central to Checkout.com’s long-term strategy in North America, where it is scaling its presence across key hubs in San Francisco, Atlanta, and New York. The MALPB status allows for the integration of AI-powered payment optimization and provides a foundation for future product innovation tailored specifically to the US market. For enterprise merchants, this transition promises higher performance and increased flexibility. The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, which oversees the MALPB framework, noted that the charter requires significant governance and preparation, positioning Checkout.com as a regulated participant in the state's established payments ecosystem. This development follows years of investment into the region’s regulatory and operational infrastructure, strengthening its capabilities in the world’s largest digital economy as it begins processing volume through the charter.

"Going live on the MALPB is a defining step in our US journey. It reflects years of investment, regulatory rigor, and operational build-out to create a stronger acquiring foundation in the US. As we begin processing through the charter, we are bringing more control into the payment lifecycle, which will help us deliver stronger performance, greater resilience, AI-powered payment optimization, and more flexibility for enterprise merchants over time."

Jordan Reynolds, MALPB CEO and Head of North American Banking at Checkout.com.

The companies involved

Checkout.com is a leading global digital payments company that provides end-to-end payment processing for some of the world’s largest enterprise brands. Headquartered in London, the company has established itself as a major challenger to legacy merchant acquirers by offering a unified platform that handles everything from gateway services to risk management and settlement. FF News has tracked the company’s progress extensively, with 152 stories documenting its rise in the fintech space. Its entry into the US market as a direct acquirer places it in competition with established domestic incumbents, leveraging its global footprint to serve multinational clients.

The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance plays a critical role in this expansion through its Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank framework. Georgia has long been recognized as a hub for the payments industry, and the MALPB charter is a specialized regulatory path designed to foster innovation while maintaining strict oversight. By securing this charter, Checkout.com joins a select group of fintech entities that operate with the oversight of state regulators, ensuring that their growth in the North American market adheres to rigorous compliance and governance standards.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely tracked Checkout.com’s momentum in the enterprise sector. Just recently, the company announced that Best Buy Taps Checkout.com to Modernize Marketplace Payments Infrastructure, a deal that highlights its growing influence in US retail. This followed a major international win where Microsoft Taps Checkout.com to Power Digital Payments for Xbox, Azure, and Microsoft 365 in EMEA. Beyond traditional processing, the firm has explored emerging technologies, as seen when Checkout.com Partners with Coinbase to Launch Global Stablecoin Acceptance for Enterprise Merchants. The company’s focus on the future is also evident in its Checkout.com Research: 33% of Consumers Expect AI-Driven Shopping Within the Next Year, which aligns with its current push toward AI-powered payment optimization.

What this means

This move significantly shifts the competitive landscape for US merchant acquiring. By securing a MALPB charter, Checkout.com is moving away from the partner-dependent model that many international processors use to enter the US, instead opting for a vertically integrated approach. This puts pressure on traditional US banks and legacy processors that have long relied on their status as primary gatekeepers to the card networks. The industry is currently seeing a flight toward cleaner payment stacks that offer better data transparency and lower latency. As more global players seek direct regulatory status in the US, the value proposition of pure-play intermediaries is rapidly diminishing, raising questions about the sustainability of multi-layered processing fees.