This Privacy Policy explains how Bear Merchant ("Bear Merchant", "we", "us") collects, uses, discloses and safeguards information when you visit https://bearmerchant.com, apply for a merchant account, or use our payments services.
1. Information we collect
We collect information you provide directly, information generated through your use of our services, and information from third parties such as acquiring banks and identity-verification providers.
- Business & identity data: company details, beneficial owner information, government identifiers and documents used for KYC/KYB.
- Transaction data: payment amounts, tokens, network responses and settlement details (we do not store raw card numbers outside our PCI environment).
- Contact data: name, email, phone and messages you send us.
- Technical data: IP address, device and browser information, and usage analytics.
2. How we use information
- To provide, maintain and improve our payments services.
- To underwrite, onboard and monitor merchant accounts.
- To detect, prevent and investigate fraud and abuse.
- To comply with legal, regulatory and card-network obligations.
- To communicate with you about your account and, where permitted, marketing, including text messages if you have opted in (see SMS / text messaging).
3. Legal bases for processing
Where applicable law requires, we process personal data on the bases of contract performance, legitimate interests (such as fraud prevention), legal obligations, and consent (which you may withdraw at any time).
4. Sharing & disclosure
We share information with acquiring banks, card networks, identity and fraud-prevention providers, infrastructure vendors, and authorities where legally required. We do not sell personal information. None of the sharing described here includes mobile phone numbers collected for text messaging or SMS opt-in data and consent, which are never shared with third parties (see SMS / text messaging).
5. Cookies & similar technologies
We use strictly necessary, functional and analytics cookies to operate the site, remember preferences (such as light/dark theme) and understand usage. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling some cookies may affect functionality.
6. Data retention
We retain information for as long as needed to provide services and to meet legal, tax, accounting and regulatory requirements, after which it is deleted or anonymized.
7. Security
We maintain administrative, technical and physical safeguards including encryption in transit and at rest, tokenization of card data, access controls and continuous monitoring, consistent with PCI DSS Level 1 and SOC 2 practices.
8. Your rights
Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict or port your personal data, and to object to certain processing. To exercise these rights, contact us using the details below.
9. International data transfers
We operate globally and may transfer information across borders using appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses where required.
10. SMS / text messaging
If you check the SMS consent box on one of our website forms, Bear Merchant will use the mobile number you provide to send you recurring marketing and promotional text messages, such as special offers, discounts and product updates. Giving this consent is optional and is not a condition of purchasing any goods or services.
- No sharing of mobile information: We will not share or sell your mobile number or SMS opt-in data with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.
- Message frequency: Message frequency varies.
- Message and data rates: Message and data rates may apply.
- Opting out: Reply STOP to any message at any time to unsubscribe. You will receive one final message confirming your opt-out, and no further messages will be sent unless you opt in again.
- Help: Reply HELP to any message, or email support@bearmerchant.com.
Full program details are in the SMS Messaging Terms section of our Terms of Service.
11. Contact us
Questions about this policy or your data? Email support@bearmerchant.com.