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CompanyProfile

ISO/MLS contact:
Chris Kittler
Chief Executive Officer
406-585-7443 /1-866-651-3068
agents@frontlineprocessing.com
www.frontlineprocessing.com

An agent- and merchant-centric processor

hen Christopher "Chris" Kittler founded For Kittler, it all boils down to having a discussion with
Bozeman, Mont.-based Frontline Processing the merchant about his or her business model to ensure
Corp. in 1997, he adopted organizational it is being managed in accordance with card brand rules.
W values based on his experience as a mer- "I've taken a lot of merchants that started out with me
chant level salesperson (MLS). Since then, Frontline has doing $5,000 a month and, within two or three years, they
earned the trust of merchants from multiple sectors sup- were doing half a million to $1 million a month," he said.
ported by a customer service team tasked with answering
calls within three rings. As a former MLS, he understands the agent perspective
and strives for flexibility since no two portfolios are alike.
"We serve thousands of merchants," said Kittler, owner For example, if an MLS is unable to place a new merchant
and Chief Executive Officer at Frontline. "We're constantly with an existing processor, Frontline can usually accept
looking at improvements and new verticals for their that business either on a one-off basis or as a group,
viability. It comes down to handling your customers' depending on the agent's business needs.
issues and being a merchant advocate and understanding
full well that when a merchant has an issue, it's probably Agents also receive top priority at Frontline. "I understand
a pretty critical issue." what the agents' world looks like, and the fact is that agents
put a lot of hours into an application before they submit
Adding a personal touch, Frontline gets to know merchants it," Kittler said. "We make the difference there. It shouldn't
on a first-name basis, he said, noting that his company be looked at as just another application." For brick-and-
also provides free equipment, informational services, mortar retailers, turnaround happens "automatically,
free online card deposit, online chat and chargeback same day, we spit out an MID, and card-not-present, 48
notification, in addition to free access to Payment hours," he noted.
Card Industry Data Security Standard certification. To
keep merchants informed, Frontline issues monthly Kittler encourages MLSs to send one or two deals to
newsletters covering such topics as fraud risk, payments Frontline to determine whether it's a good fit. "There's
industry news and product information. no all-or-nothing commitment here," he said. "We want
to earn your business. We don't charge our merchants
The company offers a spectrum of programs geared termination fees, and we don't charge our agents either. If
toward fundraising, referrals, community banks and agents send us one account, it's lifetime."
convenience fee-based businesses, as well as traditional
and omnichannel clients. Advanced POS systems, In addition to having live customer support teams at
gateways, merchant cash advance, check processing, the ready, Frontline's corporate headquarters house
gift and loyalty programs, mobile payment acceptance, underwriting, risk management, IT and legal departments
and credit and debit card processing are included in its that all readily assist merchants and agents. Longevity
extensive suite. may be in the cards for Frontline, too, as the second
generation of Kittler's family takes on critical roles,
CNP merchants welcome such running the IT department, which his eldest son is
While much of Frontline's business is focused on physical actively involved in today.
retail locations, the company accepts what some consider
high-risk merchants: online merchants operating in card- In celebration of its 20th anniversary, through the end of
not-present environments. "I have 20 years' experience 2017 Frontline is offering monthly promotions that allow
managing these businesses and making suggestions for MLSs to qualify for bonuses and prize drawings, which
their business model that really reduce their chargebacks may include a vacation stay at Kittler's beach house in
and help them grow their business," Kittler said. Kauai, a destination he enjoys sharing with agents.

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