What is the difference between the TMF and MATCH list?

They are the same thing. TMF (Terminated Merchant File) is the old name for what Mastercard now calls MATCH (Member Alert to Control High-risk merchants). It is a database acquiring banks check before opening a merchant account, and it flags businesses that were terminated for cause.

How long do you stay on the MATCH list?

Typically five years from the date you were added. The acquiring bank that listed you controls removal, so you generally cannot take yourself off unless you can show you were listed in error and get that bank to remove it.

Can you get a merchant account while on the MATCH list?

Often yes, through a high-risk processor, depending on the reason code you were listed under. Some codes, like excessive chargebacks, are more workable than fraud-related ones. Structure Payments reviews the code first and tells you straight what your chances are.

You're on the TMF / MATCH List. Can You Still Get a Merchant Account?

By Patrick FelstedCEO, Structure PaymentsJuly 27, 2026

Yes, in a lot of cases you can still get approved while you are on the MATCH list. It comes down to why you were listed. Structure Payments underwrites MATCH-listed merchants every day, and the first thing we do is look at your reason code and tell you honestly where you stand. Here is what the list is and how we work around it.

What is the TMF / MATCH list?

TMF stands for Terminated Merchant File. MATCH stands for Member Alert to Control High-risk merchants. They are the same list, just old and current names for it, and Mastercard runs it. When an acquiring bank terminates a merchant for cause, it can add that business to MATCH with a reason code that says why.

Every acquiring bank checks MATCH before it opens a new account. That is why a business on the list gets declined again and again without a clear explanation. The bank sees the flag and stops there.

How long am I on the MATCH list?

Usually five years from the date you were added. The clock does not reset on its own, and it does not care whether the original problem is long fixed.

The bank that listed you is the only one that can remove you early, and it will generally only do that if you can show you were listed in error. In practice, most merchants ride out the five years, which is why the real question is not how to get off the list but how to get approved while you are on it.

Can I get a merchant account while I'm on MATCH?

Often, yes. This is the part most people do not know. A high-risk processor can underwrite a MATCH-listed merchant, and the deciding factor is the reason code you were listed under.

Some codes are workable. Excessive chargebacks, for example, describe a problem that can be managed and prevented going forward, so an underwriter can get comfortable with it. Fraud-related codes are harder, and we will tell you that plainly rather than string you along. The point is that MATCH is not an automatic no. It is a starting point for a conversation with an underwriter who knows how to read it.

How Structure Payments handles a MATCH-listed application

We start with the reason code, because that tells us what we are actually working with. Then we look at what happened, what has changed since, and which of our banking relationships is the right fit for your situation.

If you have a real chance, we go after it. If you do not, we say so instead of wasting your time. And once you are approved, we set the account up with the logging and alerts that keep you off the list for good next time.

If you can't get a merchant account, your best chance is with us, because we'll do everything possible to get it for you.

Talk to us about a MATCH-listed application

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the TMF and MATCH list?: They are the same thing. TMF (Terminated Merchant File) is the old name for what Mastercard now calls MATCH (Member Alert to Control High-risk merchants). It is a database acquiring banks check before opening a merchant account, and it flags businesses that were terminated for cause.
How long do you stay on the MATCH list?: Typically five years from the date you were added. The acquiring bank that listed you controls removal, so you generally cannot take yourself off unless you can show you were listed in error and get that bank to remove it.
Can you get a merchant account while on the MATCH list?: Often yes, through a high-risk processor, depending on the reason code you were listed under. Some codes, like excessive chargebacks, are more workable than fraud-related ones. Structure Payments reviews the code first and tells you straight what your chances are.