In-person Payments
Overview of PCE in-person payment options and terminal-based flows.
In-person payments cover any scenario where the customer is physically present at your location. In PCE, these payments are usually processed through payment terminals, or through a custom app that calls the PCE APIs while the customer is in front of you. This page summarizes the supported payment methods and points you to the detailed implementation guides.
Prerequisites and limitations
- Prerequisites: Your merchant account and terminals must be provisioned for PCE, and your integration must be able to call the appropriate payment APIs (directly or via MX Merchant).
- Limitations: Some methods are terminal-only (swiped, EMV, NFC) and may not be available in all regions. Others (like keyed or ACH) can be used both in-person and for other contexts such as mail/phone or remote billing.
How In-Person Payments Work in PCE
From an API perspective, in-person payments generally follow one of these patterns:
- Terminal-driven flows: A certified terminal handles card-present data (swiped, EMV, NFC) and communicates with PCE. Your POS or app coordinates the flow but never directly handles sensitive card data from the magstripe/chip/tap.
- App-driven flows: Your application calls the PCE APIs directly for methods such as keyed card payments, cash, checks, or ACH. These can be used for walk-in customers at the counter as well as for non–in-person use cases.
Many of the payment methods below can be used in other contexts, but this page is focused on how they fit into in-person scenarios.
Card-Present Terminal Methods
Use these options when you’re processing payments on supported terminals with the customer and card physically present.
Magstripe transactions processed on supported terminals for in-person card payments.
Chip transactions using EMV-certified terminals for card-present, secure payments.
Tap-to-pay transactions using contactless cards or mobile wallets on compatible terminals.
Other In-Person Payment Methods
These methods can be used when the customer is present in-store, but many are also appropriate for mail/phone orders or other non–card-present flows.
Manually enter card details when a card can’t be tapped, dipped, or swiped.
Log cash payments at the counter so totals and reports stay aligned in PCE.
Record check payments taken in person and keep them visible in your transaction history.
Capture bank-account payments for walk-in customers who prefer direct debit.
Choosing a Method
- Use swiped, EMV, or NFC when you have a terminal and want full card-present support.
- Use keyed card as a fallback when the card can’t be read by the terminal, or for mail/phone orders.
- Use cash, checks, or ACH when customers prefer non-card payment options but you still want those transactions reflected in PCE reporting.
Updated about 1 month ago