North (payment processing company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Payments, Fintech |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Marc Gardner |
| Headquarters | Troy, Michigan , United States |
Key people | Marc Gardner (CEO and President) |
| Products | Credit, debit, EBT, check conversion and guarantee services, ATM operations, gift and loyalty programs, online payment processing |
Number of employees | 1300+ (2024) |
North is a payments and fintech enterprise established in 1992 by Marc Gardner, who continues to serve as CEO and President. The company, previously known as North American Bancard, adopted the name North in 2024.
Based in Troy, Michigan, North has a workforce exceeding 1,300 employees and collaborates with over 3,000 sales partners, supporting more than 350,000 merchants across the United States. The organization works alongside top technology developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to provide customized payment solutions.
The company’s portfolio encompasses credit, debit, EBT, check conversion and guarantee services, ATM operations, gift and loyalty programs, as well as online payment processing. Annually, North manages electronic transactions exceeding $100 billion nationwide.
As one of the founding organizations of Automation Alley, North actively promotes business advancement through innovation and automation technologies.
History
From its founding, North has evolved into the sixth-largest independent merchant acquirer without bank affiliation in North America.
In 2008, the state of Michigan granted a $21.5 million tax credit to support North’s growth initiatives. The company then moved its headquarters in 2009 to a newly acquired 105,000-square-foot facility located in Troy, Michigan.
North’s growth strategy included multiple acquisitions: Point & Pay and CDI Tech in 2010; Velocity in 2013; Electronic Payment Exchange (EPX) alongside Rapid Capital Funding in 2014; Argus Payments (later rebranded as Inovio) also in 2014; Total Merchant Services in 2017; SALIDO in 2019; HMSKC in 2020; Signature Payments and B2B gateway provider PayTrace during 2021; followed by CardWorks Acquiring (CWA) in 2022.
Significant product introductions include the launch of the Payanywhere mobile payment system in 2011, followed by enhancements such as the Payanywhere Storefront platform in 2014 and a redesigned mobile credit card reader compatible with iOS devices released in 2015.
By the year 2016, North’s employee count had exceeded 1,000. The company unveiled its Developer Portal in 2021 to enable partners and clients to integrate custom software solutions more efficiently.
Recognition
Marc Gardner, founder and CEO, received Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2008.
In September 2023, North was acknowledged at Corp! magazine's Salute to Diversity Awards for its dedication to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.