Merchant Acquirers
The Department of Banking and Finance regulates Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Banks (MALPBs) that are chartered by the State of Georgia.
An MALPB is a type of special purpose bank, chartered under the Georgia Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank Act, O.C.G.A. § 7-9-1 et seq. The law is intended to allow merchant acquirers, who qualify for and receive the special purpose charter, to enter card networks directly rather than operating through a financial institution sponsor.