I am a CFO for a small restaurant chain and want to use the best
credit card processor (transparency (good reporting), low cost, fast,
reliabile, and good service).  Who does Starbucks, Panera Bread, and
Chipotle use for their credit card processing?  Who are the top 3
processors in the U.S.?  Who is the top processor for restaurants? 
Solid answers must be given with credible references.

---

Request for Question Clarification by jbf777-ga on 09 Feb 2006 09:09 PST

Hello -

I can tell you who processes for Starbucks, Panera, and Chipotle, and
who the top 3 companies are in processing, but finding the top
processor for restaurants *specifically* doesn't appear to be
something that's available.  However, I can tell you that I've spoken
to two of the large names, and both can spout off several names of
mega restaurants for whom they provide processing services.  The first
company on top 3 list handles about 50% of transactions in the US, so
there's a good bet that they're one of, if not the leading, provider. 
 Would this information work as an answer to your question?

jbf777

---

Clarification of Question by burleson-ga on 09 Feb 2006 13:02 PST

If you can't answer who the top processor for restaurants is that is okay.

However, I must have the rest of the questions answered.

Hello -

Answers to your questions are below:

1) Who does Starbucks, Panera Bread, and Chipotle use for their credit
card processing?

Starbucks uses Bank of America (Formerly National Processing Co. LLC (NPC)
See: http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2003/09/01/daily24.html

Bank of America also processes 250 locations for Panera bread, per
representative Robin at Bank of America, (800) 592-1591x57658.

First Data (http://www.firstdata.com) processes for Chipotle, per
company representative Dawn at 877-457-2615x6242.



2) Who are the top 3 processors in the U.S.?

According to the GSQ 2005 annual report, a service of "Green Sheet", a
leading source specializing in tracking this industry, the following
companies are listed as "the top 5."  This list incorporates
qualitative criteria such as trendsetting into the evaluation.  The
list is:

1) First Data
2) Chase Paymentech Solutions
3) BA Merchant Services
4) Fifth Third Bank Processing Solutions
5) NOVA Information Systems

See detailed information on this list at this PDF link; page 8 speaks
about the criteria used:
http://www.greensheet.com/gsq/Secured-/gsqv8n4.pdf

A 2003 sample graph from Nilson Reports, (a subscription to which
costs $995) a leading organization who tracks this kind of
information, essentially corroborates this list (on a strictly
numerical level), grouping First Data/Partners & Paymentech as #1; BA
America as #2 (written as NPC, but confirmed as #2 by ), and Nova as
#3 (different by one slot, negligible due to the 1 to 2 percentage
point differences between ranks under 3).  See
http://www.nilsonreport.com/charts.htm.


If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask for
clarification prior to rating this answer.  Thank you!

jbf777
Researcher


Sources/search strategy:
direct contact with companies


Additional link:
How to Greatly Reduce Your Fees with Your Credit Card Processing
Program Teleseminar CD
http://www.restaurantreport.com/teleseminar/credit_card.html
1-866-226-5551 or email robertbecker@merchantprocessing101.com

Solid and comprehensive answer.

Thank you for the kind words and rating. Please stop by again!

One correction: "...written as NPC, but confirmed as #2 by )" should
read "...confirmed as such by the company; written as NPC)"

jbf777