Merchant services
EBT & SNAP Processing
Supermarket or c-store, we set you up the way that fits your counter: we can connect EBT into the POS you already run, or provide a free terminal that accepts both EBT Food (SNAP) and EBT Cash. We help you get set up with your FNS permit in hand, configure eligible-item handling, and train your staff on split-tender sales.
SNAP acceptance requires FNS authorization issued to your business. Availability and features vary by state agency and processor, and account setup is subject to underwriting approval.
Talk to a payments specialist
Tell us about your business and we'll follow up with next steps. No obligation.
What you get
EBT Food (SNAP)
Accept SNAP food benefits for eligible grocery items directly on your POS or on a standalone terminal.
EBT Cash benefits
Where your state issues EBT Cash, take those tenders and cash-back requests on the same device, PIN-verified like a debit sale.
Supermarkets & full grocers
Multi-lane setups with item-level eligibility, scale-priced departments, WIC-aware workflows and lane-by-lane reporting.
Convenience stores & c-stores
Most c-stores that stock staple foods qualify under USDA Criterion A. We keep the setup simple: one counter device, both EBT tender types.
Connect into your existing POS
Already running Clover or another system? In most cases we can enable EBT on it instead of replacing your hardware.
Free terminal option
Prefer a dedicated device? Qualified stores can be placed on a free terminal program that handles both EBT Food and EBT Cash. Subject to approval.
Eligible-item separation
Item flags let the POS split SNAP-eligible groceries from taxable and non-eligible items automatically.
Split-tender sales
Apply the benefit balance first, then finish the remainder on card or cash without re-ringing the order.
FNS permit guidance
The USDA FNS is the only entity that can authorize a SNAP retailer, and applying is free. We walk you through Form FNS-252 and confirm what your processor needs once the permit is issued.
Balance and reporting
Balance inquiries at the terminal, plus EBT settlement reported alongside your card batches.
Included in the setup
- Store-type review for supermarkets, combination stores, c-stores, markets and farm stands
- Either EBT enabled on your current POS or a free terminal placement for EBT Food and EBT Cash
- FNS number verification and processor enrollment paperwork
- Item-level SNAP eligibility setup in your product catalog
- Split-tender, PIN entry and EBT Cash cash-back configuration where permitted
- Cashier training on benefit, balance, void and refund handling
- Reconciliation walkthrough for EBT settlement and reporting
- Signage and receipt guidance so shoppers know you accept EBT
How the process works
- 1
Confirm FNS authorization
SNAP acceptance starts with an FNS retailer permit for your location. We confirm your status and explain what is needed if you do not have one yet.
- 2
Enroll and configure
Your merchant account is enrolled for EBT, then we set up eligible items, tender flags and receipts on your hardware.
- 3
Test and train
We run test tenders, review split-tender and refund steps with your cashiers, and confirm settlement reports read correctly.
EBT Food and EBT Cash transactions explained
An EBT card can carry two separate balances, and they do not behave the same way at the terminal. Your staff should know which is which before the first shift.
EBT Food (SNAP) transactions
- Covers USDA-eligible food items only: fruits and vegetables, meat and protein, dairy, breads and cereals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and seeds or plants that produce food.
- Cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco, lottery, hot prepared foods, pet supplies, paper goods or fuel.
- PIN-entered at the terminal, with a printed balance on the receipt so the shopper sees remaining benefits.
- No cash back and no tips on a SNAP tender — the balance applies to eligible items and the rest moves to a second tender.
- Refunds go back to the same EBT card rather than to cash.
EBT Cash transactions
- State-issued cash benefit programs (for example TANF and certain disaster or state supplement programs) that behave much more like PIN debit.
- Can be applied to non-food merchandise where your state and program allow it.
- Supports cash back and cash withdrawal at the terminal where the state program and your store policy permit it.
- Balance inquiry available at the device, so shoppers can check before ringing an order.
- Availability, cash-back limits and allowed item types vary by state agency.
Swipe, tap or insert — every entry method on one terminal
Our terminals and POS devices accept transactions the way your customer presents the card. Staff do not need a separate device or a different workflow for each method, and the same device handles EBT Food, EBT Cash, credit and debit. BSV Solution runs your credit card transactions as well, so benefits and everyday card sales are processed through the same merchant account and reporting.
Swipe
Magnetic stripe cards, including EBT benefit cards, are read with a standard swipe and PIN entry — the familiar flow most cashiers and shoppers already know.
Insert (chip)
EMV chip cards are inserted and read securely at the terminal, which keeps chip-present transactions handled the way the card networks expect.
Tap (contactless)
Contactless cards and mobile wallets are tapped at the reader for faster checkout lines, where the card or wallet supports it.
Available entry methods depend on the device model and card or wallet type. We confirm supported options during setup and walk your cashiers through each flow.
Set up by store type
Tell us what kind of store you run and we match the equipment and workflow to it. Supermarket, gas station, c-store, farmers market or specialty retailer — the EBT setup is different in each one.
Supermarkets & full-line grocers
Multi-lane stores need item-level SNAP flags across thousands of SKUs, department and scale-priced items, and consistent behavior on every register. We map eligibility into your catalog, enable EBT Food and EBT Cash on each lane, and make sure settlement reports separate benefit tenders from card batches so your bookkeeper can reconcile cleanly.
- Lane-by-lane EBT enablement on your existing POS
- Catalog-wide SNAP eligibility flags and department rules
- Split-tender at every register with one settlement view
Gas stations & convenience stores
Fuel itself is never SNAP-eligible, so a gas station's EBT setup is about the in-store side: staples, packaged groceries and snacks. Most c-stores and fuel-plus-store locations qualify with USDA authorization when they stock the required staple food categories. We keep the counter simple — one device handling EBT Food, EBT Cash, credit, debit and contactless.
- In-store SNAP items separated from fuel, tobacco and lottery
- Single counter device for benefits plus card and mobile wallets
- Fast cashier workflow for high-count, low-ticket baskets
Farmers markets & direct-marketing farmers
Market vendors and farm stands often check out anywhere in the lot, so cellular-capable handheld or mobile devices matter more than a countertop. Direct-marketing farmers can be authorized by the USDA, and many markets also run incentive or matching programs alongside SNAP. We configure a portable setup that works without fixed power or wired internet.
- Portable or cellular terminal for open-air and seasonal booths
- Battery-friendly setup for market days and pop-up locations
- Simple end-of-market batch and reporting
Pharmacies & specialty retailers
Specialty food retailers, butcher shops, produce stands, ethnic markets and pharmacies with grocery aisles frequently qualify as retail food stores. We review your product mix against the USDA staple-food criteria before you apply, so you are not guessing at whether your store qualifies.
- Product-mix review against USDA staple food categories
- Eligibility flags for mixed food and non-food inventory
- Guidance on OTC and healthy-benefit style programs where supported
Two ways to start accepting EBT
Whether you already have a POS or need a device, both benefit types can run on one setup.
Already have a POS? We connect EBT into it.
If you run Clover or another certified platform, EBT usually does not require replacing anything. We enroll your merchant account for EBT, add the benefit tender types, flag SNAP-eligible items in your catalog, and test EBT Food and EBT Cash on the lanes you already use.
- No rip-and-replace of working hardware
- EBT tenders appear beside credit, debit and wallets
- Same batch, same reporting, one reconciliation
No POS yet? Ask about a free terminal.
Qualified stores can be placed on a free terminal program with a device that accepts both EBT Food and EBT Cash, plus credit and debit. Countertop, portable and cellular options are available depending on whether you check out at a fixed counter, roam the store, or work a farmers market. Placement and program eligibility are reviewed individually and remain subject to underwriting approval.
- Countertop, portable or cellular device options
- Both EBT benefit types plus card acceptance on one terminal
- Setup, cashier training and reconciliation walkthrough included
SNAP acceptance requires USDA Food and Nutrition Service authorization for your location, and FNS is the only entity that can grant it — applying is free. Program features, EBT Cash availability and equipment placement vary by state agency and remain subject to underwriting approval.
Frequently asked questions
What is EBT processing?
EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) is how state agencies deliver benefits to recipients on a payment card. Retailers accept two types: SNAP food benefits, which only cover eligible food items, and EBT Cash, which behaves more like a debit tender where the state issues it.
What do I need to accept SNAP at my store?
You need an FNS authorization for your location, issued by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, plus a terminal or POS enrolled for EBT with your processor. We help with the equipment and enrollment side once your permit is issued.
Can EBT run on the same terminal as credit and debit?
Yes. Certified terminals and POS systems handle EBT tenders alongside credit, debit and digital wallets, so your staff uses one device and one settlement report.
How does the POS know which items SNAP covers?
Items are flagged in your product catalog as SNAP-eligible or not. When a customer pays with a food benefit, the system applies it only to eligible items and leaves the rest on a second tender.
What happens if the benefit balance does not cover the order?
The terminal applies the available balance, then prompts for the remaining amount as a split tender on card or cash. The order does not need to be re-rung.
What is the difference between EBT Food and EBT Cash?
EBT Food is the SNAP portion and can only be used for eligible food items. EBT Cash covers other state-issued benefits and behaves more like a PIN debit tender, so it can be used for non-food items and, where permitted, cash back. We can enable both on the same device.
I run a convenience store, not a supermarket. Can I still accept EBT?
In most cases, yes. The USDA authorizes retail food stores that meet its staple-food stocking or sales criteria, and many convenience stores and combination stores qualify under Criterion A by carrying vegetables or fruits, meat or protein, dairy, and breads or cereals. Supermarkets and full grocers typically qualify easily and are set up for multi-lane EBT instead.
Do I need new hardware, or can you connect EBT into my current POS?
Either way works. If your existing POS is on a certified platform, we can usually add EBT to it. If it is not, or you would rather keep EBT on its own device, qualified stores can be placed on a free terminal that accepts both EBT Food and EBT Cash. Placement is subject to underwriting approval.
Can a gas station accept EBT?
Fuel is never SNAP-eligible, but the in-store side often is. Gas stations with a convenience store that stocks the required staple food categories can be authorized by the USDA and accept EBT Food on eligible groceries, plus EBT Cash where the state issues it. We set the counter device up so fuel, tobacco and lottery stay separated from eligible items.
Can farmers markets and farm stands take EBT?
Yes. Farmers markets, market vendors and direct-marketing farmers can be authorized by the USDA. Because checkout usually happens away from a fixed counter, we configure a portable or cellular device so you can take EBT Food, EBT Cash and cards anywhere in the lot without wired power or internet.
Does it cost anything to apply for SNAP authorization?
No. Applying through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service is free, and FNS is the only entity that can grant SNAP retailer authorization. If someone offers to sell you SNAP authorization, treat it as a red flag. We assist with the equipment and processor enrollment side, not the permit approval itself.
Are EBT transactions priced like card transactions?
EBT tenders are handled differently from credit and debit, and your program is reviewed and quoted individually rather than published as a rate. We walk through your tender mix during the statement review.