Merchant Services
E-commerce / Internet
To compete in the Internet and mobile commerce world, businesses need to process transactions quickly and securely. First Financial offers a host of payment solutions that ensure both speed and security.
  • Accept transactions from nearly anywhere in the world, 24/7.
  • Scalability -- Ability to grow with your business by supporting an unlimited number of transactions and almost any business model -- Internet, broadband, wireless and retail.
  • Unrestricted number of users with one account -- ideal for large sales forces.
  • Experienced technical support 7 days a week 365 days a year.
The systems First Financial offers helps more businesses process more transactions via the Internet than any other payment solutions provider in the world!

A Host of Services... under one Payment Gateway account:

Virtual Terminal

Authorize, process, and manage credit card transactions manually from any computer that has an Internet connection and a Web browser.

The Virtual Terminal is a secure, browser-based interface that enables businesses to authorize, process and manage credit card transactions from any computer that has an Internet connection and a Web browser. Virtual Terminal replaces standard authorization terminals or software, and provides an excellent solution for merchants who manually enter credit card transactions for mail or phone order sales.

Virtual Terminal suits businesses of all sizes because it reduces the complexity and expense normally associated with authorizing and processing credit card transactions. It's also much faster than standard dial-up authorization systems.

Businesses with an Virtual Terminal account may access the Virtual Terminal through the Web using any Web browser. After logging into their account using a unique user ID and a password, merchants can access the complete range of services -- authorizations for purchases, credits and returns, status and activity reports, and much more.

To authorize credit card transactions, the merchant must complete an electronic form that provides the system with the information it needs to complete the transaction. This information is encrypted using the latest 40 or 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) 3.0 technology and is sent to a host server. The server then sends the data through the authorization network to the appropriate card issuer's bank using a secure, proprietary connection. When the process is complete -- this usually takes around three seconds -- the merchant receives an authorization number, and the server stores the transaction. Transactions are automatically settled each day and are typically funded within two to three business days.

Merchants can also check the status of transactions and run a variety of reports right from the Merchant Interface.


For Your E-Commerce Website
Accept and process credit card transactions directly from your Website. Integrate your Website to a connected Payment.

First Financial offers two secure online payment-processing connection methods that allow Internet-based businesses to authorize, process, and manage credit card transactions directly and automatically from an e-commerce website.

Advanced Integration Method (AIM) is the preferred integration solution, and uses secure sockets layer (SSL) digital certificate technology to connect securely and directly to the Payment Gateway - achieving the highest security for the Internet connection between a merchant and the gateway. Simple Integration Method (SIM) optimizes the security, encryption, and authentication of transactions for merchants that do not have an SSL digital certificate.

When using AIM and SIM to connect to the Payment Gateway, a customer enters purchase information (e.g., name, credit card number, etc.) into a payment form on the merchant's website. This payment form is hosted either by the merchant, or the merchant may choose to use the payment gateway's securely hosted, customizable payment form.

When the customer clicks to submit his or her purchase information, payment information is encrypted using 128-bit SSL technology and sent to the transaction server. The server sends the data through the authorization network to the appropriate card issuer's bank, using a secure, proprietary connection. When the authorization process is complete - this takes around five seconds - the customer receives an approval or decline response, and the server stores the transaction. Approved transactions are automatically settled each day and are typically funded within two to three business days.

Merchants can check the status of current transactions submitted directly from their website or run reports on past transaction activity by going to the payment gateway's site and logging into their own password-protected Merchant Interface. Online businesses also can use the Virtual Terminal feature of their Merchant Interface account to enter payment information manually if customers prefer to call in their credit card information.