Partner Guidelines

These guidelines help partners market Bead-enabled payment options in a way that is clear for merchants and consumers, and safe for all parties. Payment products are highly regulated. Unclear claims can create legal and reputational risk.

Quick Start

  • Use Approved Verbiage for promotional materials.

  • Only use payment-method names or logos that a specific merchant is enabled for.

  • Submit any custom merchant-facing marketing for review before you publish or send it.

  • Include the standard disclaimer footer on partner-created materials.

Submit the following for Bead review before distribution:

  • Partner-created merchant-facing marketing, landing pages, sell sheets, pitch decks, or FAQs that mention Bead.

  • Any mention of "crypto," "digital wallets," or "Buy Now Pay Later" (BNPL).

  • Any promotion tied to a payment method (e.g., discount for paying with BNPL).

  • Any use of third-party wallet or BNPL provider logos or trademarks.

Note: Internal-only enablement or training content that is not shared externally does not require review but must still follow these rules.

Use the copy blocks below as-is. Do not change the meaning.

Short Description:

"Bead provides payment orchestration technology that helps eligible merchants offer additional payment options through regulated financial partners."

Standard Description:

"Bead is a technology provider supporting payment acceptance and risk controls. Processing and settlement are provided by regulated financial partners. Availability varies by merchant."

FAQ Response:

"Supported payment options vary by merchant and eligibility. Merchants must confirm their enabled methods in the Bead portal (or via their integrator) before advertising specific payment types to customers."

Trust & Safety Talking Points:

  • "Merchants do not need to custody crypto. Crypto payments are converted and settled to the merchant's designated bank account."

  • "Some customers may be asked to complete identity verification (KYC) for certain crypto transactions."

  • "Transactions are subject to compliance screening, including sanctions screening and wallet-risk checks."

Do not use the following claims in any partner or merchant-facing materials:

  • No "Bank" Claims: Do not describe Bead as a bank, custodian, money transmitter, MSB, trustee, escrow agent, or fiduciary.

  • No "FDIC" Claims: Do not claim any funds are "FDIC insured" through Bead.

  • No Guarantees: Do not guarantee approval rates, conversion rates, settlement times, or "chargeback protection" unless Bead provides written substantiation for the specific claim.

  • No Evasion Language: Do not use "no KYC," "anonymous," "untraceable," "bypass the banks," or similar language.

  • No Over-Promising: Do not imply a merchant can accept every wallet/BNPL provider by default. Merchants must be enabled per method.

Third-party brand marks create two risks: (1) misleading advertising when a merchant is not enabled, and (2) trademark misuse.

The Rules:

  • Only use a payment method name or logo after the specific merchant is confirmed enabled for that method.

  • Use only approved logo files provided by the merchant or the applicable brand, and follow their brand guidelines.

  • Do not create "logo soups" that imply coverage you cannot substantiate.

  • When in doubt, use generic wording: "digital wallets" or "pay over time."

  • Never edit or recolor third-party logos.

If you run a promotion (e.g., "Save 10% when you pay with BNPL"), you must:

  • Clearly disclose all terms (dates, eligibility, exclusions, redemption limits).

  • Submit the full promotion and terms for Bead review prior to launch.

  • Avoid creating urgency claims you cannot support (e.g., "guaranteed savings").

  • Accuracy: If you assist with onboarding, ensure all merchant information is accurate and complete. Do not coach merchants to work around eligibility questions.

  • Privacy: Use merchant and consumer data only for onboarding, support, reconciliation, and compliance purposes. Do not use payor or transaction data for unrelated marketing.

  • Support: Support requests from merchants onboarded through a reseller/integrator should be directed to that reseller/integrator unless otherwise agreed in writing.

The following disclaimer must appear on all partner-created external resources that reference Bead-enabled payment methods:

"Partner resource. For informational purposes only. Payment method availability varies by merchant and is subject to eligibility and compliance review. Bead is not a bank."

Submit via your Bead Partner Strategy Team member or [email protected]. Please include:

  1. The merchant name (or segment) and intended audience.

  2. Where it will be used (website, email, deck, etc.).

  3. Which payment methods are enabled (list specific wallets/BNPL brands if naming them).

  4. Any promotion terms (if applicable).

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