“Can a regional ISO and merchant services reseller become the go-to financial services partner for small businesses in the Michigan market by bundling payments, capital, and POS under one roof?”
Merchant Tree began as a Michigan-based merchant card-processing reseller and registered ISO of Fifth Third Bank, N.A., serving small businesses, franchises, and hospitality merchants. It expanded beyond pure payment processing to offer merchant cash advances by teaming up with third-party funding institutions, positioning itself as a broader small business financial services provider. The company also launched a co-branded payment services portal in partnership with Citizens State Bank, deepening its embedded finance distribution through community banking channels.
Merchant Tree Financial Services discloses Fifth Third Bank, N.A. as its sponsor bank, according to the Embedded Finance Index 2026.
Merchant Tree Financial Services does not disclose a bank charter of its own; its banking services are provided through Fifth Third Bank, N.A..
Merchant Tree Financial Services processes payments through Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (self-operated ISO).
The Embedded Finance Index 2026 maps 3 layers in Merchant Tree Financial Services's stack: Payments / PSP (Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (self-operated ISO)); Lending (Merchant Cash Advance and Small Business Funding); Sponsor bank (Fifth Third Bank, N.A.).
Merchant Tree Financial Services is headquartered in Madison Heights, MI.
Get a read on where your own stack stands against Merchant Tree Financial Services and the rest of its category — what they built versus bought, which providers they use, and where the gaps in your own strategy and competitive set actually are.