Merchant ID Number

Your merchant ID number is a fifteen digit bank account number associated with your merchant account. It is used to identify your business and is given to you when you open a new account for your company. Much like a social security number for an individual, merchant ID numbers are used to distinguish your company, manage transaction data, and secure your information.

The acronym MID is often used by payment processors in reference to a Merchant ID Number. If you are going to communicate with your processing provider, be sure to have your MID on hand recognize the term if they ask for it in reference to your account.

How Do I Find My Merchant ID?

Your merchant ID number can be found on your monthly statement. It is usually located in the top right of the document. Additionally it is located on credit card receipts. Look for the fifteen digit number after the word ‘terminal’.

Keep in mind that your MID is a private number just like a social security number. Therefore, it’s not open to the public to view or share with other businesses. Moreover, in order to obtain one you have to go through an application process with a merchant account provider and get approval for a new account.

Merchant ID Number Lookup

Looking up a merchant ID is something your bank can do, but it’s not available for anyone outside of the financial organization that houses the account. As mentioned above, MIDs are protected information. Yours is available on your bank statement, but you won’t be able to find other companies MIDs this way.

Multiple Merchant ID Numbers

Some companies may have more than one merchant ID number. There are a few reasons that this may be beneficial.

• High Risk Merchants – High risk merchants face the possibility of getting their account shut down. Many business owners who operate in regulated industries choose to hedge that risk by having a backup MID. This will allow them to continue accepting credit card payments if their main account gets shut down. It’s a good idea to have a backup account if you’re operating in unique or high risk verticals .
• Different Businesses Under an Umbrella – Some companies have multiple businesses under one umbrella corporation. For example, a hotel not only rents out rooms, but may have a bar, snack shop, and restaurant. Companies sometimes choose to separate each type of business they have to simplify their accountancy and better manage each one.