When a customer hands you their credit card, they are giving you more than just a piece of plastic—they’re handing over their personal information and account details for the credit card, making them vulnerable to data breaches and identity theft if the transaction is not secure. Credit card fraud and identity theft cost US consumers $16 billion in 2016 alone.

Luckily for consumers, credit card companies take security just as seriously as they do and have measures in place to ensure that information is securely transmitted between their card and the processing bank. As the mediator between consumers and banks, it’s vital that your business plays its part in transmitting secure transactions. Here are a few things you should know to make sure of this.

PCI Compliance

PCI Compliance refers to the security standards set by the Payment Card Industry for electronic transactions and is mandated by card associations to ensure your business is accepting, processing, storing, or transmitting information securely. The steps to becoming PCI Compliant include a self-questionnaire that asks things like what equipment you use to process, what your connection is, and whether you store any of the information you receive. It also may require a scan of your connection to ensure it is secure. Merchant Service Group LLC can answer questions you may have about becoming compliant and also provides a hotline to assist you in completing the questionnaire.

EMV Compliance

This is one security measure you don’t have to think much about. Nearly all credit card processing equipment comes with an EMV chip reader now, and as more credit card companies are switching to EMV chip cards, more processors are making it mandatory to use the EMV chip when possible. You may have noticed this when you try to slide your card at other businesses and it asks you to insert the card instead. EMV provides added security through microchip technology that keeps data safe from identity thieves hoping to steal your customer’s credit card information.

Using EMV technology also provides greater protection for you against chargebacks and may help prevent fraud in this way.

Secure Online Payment Processing

Fraud is a much bigger issue when it comes to online credit card payments. In addition to being PCI Compliant you can also do the following to increase the security of your customers’ online payments:

·       Use SSL protocol. SSL certificates give your website greater security by encrypting the data being transferred from customers to the website. Customers can see this added security through a green address bar or padlock that is displayed on the address bar.

·       Tokenization. Tokenization replaces sensitive data with a randomly generated string of characters. Choosing a payment gateway with tokenization means you can reduce the risk of data breach.

Wireless Network

If your terminal runs through a wireless connection, it must be PCI Compliant like any other connection. There are also ways you can increase the security of your Wi-Fi such as selecting a strong password, allowing a restricted amount of people to use the Wi-Fi, and making sure your wireless network is encrypted and authenticated.

Merchant Service Group LLC offers peace of mind through a range of secure payment solutions including EMV compliant terminals and payment gateways with the proper security tools, along with support in becoming and maintaining your PCI Compliance. Our customer service is available 24/7 for any concerns you may have about the security of your account and transactions.

For more information, please email us at hello@merchantservicegroupllc.com

Fine jewelry is an industry that continues to grow every year, with over $17 billion in sales in 2018. Specialty jewelers account for more than 43 percent of the industry’s total sales, but despite these trends, many processors are hesitant to work with these businesses. However, Merchant Service Group LLC works with your business so that you can start accepting credit cards within days.

Fine jewelry merchant accounts may be considered high risk because of the high price per item and the tendency for buyer’s remorse after purchasing such big-ticket items. This may lead to a large number of returns and chargebacks in which the customer will dispute the transaction with their credit card company.

The prevalence of counterfeit products and fraud in the industry contributes to the high-risk status of jewelry businesses. This is especially true for businesses who sell their products online, where there is an increased risk for fraud and a higher incidence of chargebacks.

Unlike other processors who may decline your jewelry account based on these reasons, Merchant Service Group LLC provides a hassle-free boarding process for jewelry merchant accounts, including businesses who specialize in vintage, used, new, or made-to-order fine jewelry. We won’t treat your account as high risk because we know it’s your credit history and the financial health of your business that matters, not the classification of your account.

We offer a number of custom payment solutions to accept payments in store and online, such as gateway solutions and online shopping carts that can be integrated into your website. Our technology allows you to set up recurring billing if you wish to offer a payment plan to your customers. Our experienced technical team can help you choose the right solution and offer advice on how to maintain your account and avoid chargebacks.

For more information, please email us at hello@merchantservicegroupllc.com

With $6 billion spent on equipment, apparel, and supplies in 2016 alone and the number of new golfers rising in recent years—from 1.5 million in 2015 to 2.5 million in 2016—golf is a significant part of the US economy. While golf itself has been around for centuries, buying equipment online is a newer concept, and opening a merchant account to sell your products online is not always easy. This is where Merchant Service Group LLC can help.

Despite the influence of golf on the economy, online golf equipment sellers are still considered a high-risk venture to many large credit card processors because of a few factors; the high average price for each purchase brings liability, and it becomes riskier when customers experience buyer’s remorse because a golf club didn’t turn them into a pro like they had hoped it would. They may ask for a refund or even dispute the purchase with their credit card company. Additionally, processors are wary because golf equipment comes with a larger risk of shipping damage and fraud because of counterfeit items passed off as top name brands.

Despite all of this, Merchant Service Group LLC can board your online golf merchant account quickly and easily. We treat high-risk accounts like any other. We examine your credit history and the financial health of your business instead of scrutinizing your account based on the industry.

We offer a number of payment solutions to accept payments online and integrate with your website, including online shopping carts and gateway solutions. Our experienced technical team can help you choose the right solution for your business and even offer advice on how to maintain your account and avoid chargebacks.

For more information, please email us at hello@merchantservicegroupllc.com

Cigar and tobacco sales remain a significant part of the US economy. Cigars alone amounted to $8 billion in sales in 2017, and over 12 billion cigars are sold every year to consumers, with projections to increase over the next three years. Tobacco, as a whole, has grown over the last five years and accounted for over $120 billion in market value in 2018.

Despite the stability of the industry, tobacco merchant accounts are a difficult sell to many processors because they are labeled high risk. This is because of the large number of chargebacks in the industry, the age restriction on these products, and the strict regulations of the products on state and federal levels.

However, online tobacco accounts are even more challenging to board because it is difficult to verify the age of the customer buying the product when they are doing so online, which causes most processors to hesitate to work with these businesses because of the liability involved and the fear of increased regulation.

At Merchant Service Group LLC, we recognize that tobacco sales are still strong and that luxury cigars, custom pipes, and unique tobacco products are sought after in great numbers. Instead of paying attention to the four-digit code your business falls under, we treat your tobacco merchant application like any other and review your credit history and business’s financial health instead of your industry classification.

We offer gateway or online shopping cart solutions for businesses focused on online sales, numerous mobile and terminal solutions for those who conduct business at their store or over the phone, and a combination of solutions for businesses who take advantage of both. An experienced technical team is on hand to help customize a solution for your business along with a customer service team that provides 24/7 support.

For more information, please email us at hello@merchantservicegroupllc.com

The firearms industry is growing, with over 11 million firearms manufactured each year in the United States and more than 40 percent of US households owning a gun. With an annual economic impact of more than $50 billion, we understand that your business is a vital part of our country’s economy, which is why Merchant Service Group LLC is proud to offer fast, easy processing solutions to all firearms merchant accounts.

Typically considered high risk, many processors will not board firearms accounts because of federal and state regulations and the greater risk that firearms accounts have for fraud and chargebacks. This is especially true for businesses who conduct online sales—whereas face-to-face interactions tend to come with less risk, online transactions leave retailers open to fraud and chargebacks from customers who regret the high-price purchase or are unsatisfied with the product they received.

Other processors require additional underwriting, which means more hoops for you to jump through just to board your account. Once boarded, you may find your funds held or your account shut down for no reason and with little to no warning, like when Intuit closed nearly all of its firearms related accounts, forcing these businesses to find other processors or accept cash-only payments while their service was interrupted.

This is not the case with Merchant Service Group LLC. We specialize in approving high-risk accounts, so our process for approving firearms accounts is like any other merchant account—quick and painless. As with any other business, several factors will be examined when boarding your account, including the length of time your business has been in operation, your credit history, and the financial health of your business.

Merchant Service Group LLC boards online accounts just as easily, with options to sell your merchandise on your website or through a point of sale (POS) system. These accounts work like any other, with the exception of the shipping policy, which mandates that products be shipped to local, federally licensed firearms dealers instead of directly to customers.

For more information, please email us at hello@merchantservicegroupllc.com

Running a restaurant isn’t like other businesses. It comes with unique challenges and requires more than just a great product—you need a team that works together seamlessly, from the back of house to your front of house. Fortunately for you, payment technology can help. While terminals can be great for speed and ease of use, a more advanced POS system can help streamline your business, helping with everything from staff efficiency to inventory to customer service. Here are just a few ways how.

Back end operations

You may think of your payment system as part of the front of your restaurant, but it can be a great help in back end operations such as inventory management. ·

• Set low stock alerts and automatically create purchase orders to replenish
• Keep stock at ideal levels at all times
• Track shipments

Front End Operations

The right POS system will help streamline your front of store operations by helping manage your menus and waitstaff.

• Use visual floor plans and table management to seat guests faster and assign and transfer tables
  easily
• Build your menu right in the system
• Set menus for online and offline customers or for different subgroups
• Integrate happy hour pricing to help your wait and bar staff pay attention to customers instead
  of prices

Customer Experience

The service your customers receive is one of the most important parts of a successful restaurant, which
is why many POS systems contain features that directly impact the customer experience.

• Check and item splitting and tip pooling help your servers provide a more convenient experience
  for the customer
• Mobile payments for increased payment flexibility as well as the option to order ahead
• Input orders and finalize the bill at the customer’s table
• A rewards system to increase the customer experience and incentivize repeat business

Marketing

Advanced POS systems can track your sales and compile the information into reports that you can use to
grow your business.

• Use real-time metrics and historical data to identify trends and better understand your
  customers
• Identify peak times of business and best-selling items
• Separate anomalies and plan future operations based on real business data
• Optimize your workforce to ensure your restaurant has the coverage it needs

 

Merchant Service Group LLC supports numerous POS systems including Paysafe POS, Clover, Revel, and Aldelo. With our in-house technical expertise, we can help choose the optimal set up for your business along with payment solutions that integrate seamlessly into these systems. We offer easy boarding, free software upgrades, and 24/7 support.

For more information, please email us at hello@merchantservicegroupllc.com

Running a salon comes with its own set of challenges, and the last thing you should have to worry about is your payment processing. That’s why choosing the right equipment along with the right processor is so important. Whether you want to enhance your business through the latest technology or stick to something simple, Merchant Service Group LLC has 15 years of experience in boarding more than 10,000 salon accounts to help you choose the best option for your business.

Advantages to Terminals

Many salons opt for the ease of stand-alone terminals, which allow for a lower start up cost and fast processing so that employees can quickly move from one customer to the next. The right equipment may also allow for faster funding or lower rates such as the zero rate cash discount program offered through Dejavoo and PAX terminals. Merchant Service Group LLC is able to offer more features for standalone terminals than other processors, including online reporting through Foundry Insight, which allows you to track your business growth, monitor your competitors, and protect your online reputation as seen on various social media sites.

Advantages to Clover

If you’re looking for more features to streamline your business and increase your revenue, Clover comes with many added benefits through its popular Clover Station, which serves as an all-in-one tool to take customer payments, manage payroll, and keep track of sales. The Clover Mini or Flex can be used for more portability or alongside the Clover Station to allow multiple customers to be taken care of at once. Scheduling apps can be added for a monthly fee to help manage schedules for multiple employees, automatically send text reminders to customers for upcoming appointments, and manage customer contact information and appointment histories. Clover also features apps that allow you to run promotional campaigns, set up a loyalty program, and manage your customer contact list..

At Merchant Service Group LLC we know how important it is to keep costs low, which is why we use turnkey solutions to offer competitive pricing no matter how big or small your operation is. Our payment solutions are integrated seamlessly into the equipment of your choice, and our 24/7 support will keep your business running.

For more information, please email us at hello@merchantservicegroupllc.com

The EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) chip and pin standards become mandatory on October 1, 2015 for all United States businesses that accept card payments. Businesses have less than two months to comply, and recent reports indicate that not only are businesses lagging to meet the deadline, an unsettling amount of business owners do not even know about the deadline. In fact, more than half of small business owners in the United States are unaware of the change, according to Wells Fargo’s quarterly small-business survey.

To mitigate this problem, we decided to list the most common questions we have been receiving from our own merchants and agents about EMV. Use this article as your resource guide for whatever questions you may have about EMV compliance.

1. What are the EMV standards?

The new EMV standards are certain rules that regulate credit card transactions. To understand EMV, you have to first understand the purpose behind the new chip and pin cards.  

2. OK, what are chip and pin cards? How does EMV relate to them?

All consumers in the United States are now being issued or reissued credit cards that contain an EMV chip and pin security feature. You have probably seen a credit card with the chip on it already. The purpose of the chip and pin is to better protect against fraud and counterfeiting by storing card information in a microchip on the card. Previously, credit cards stored card information on the magnetic strip on the back of the card. The information was processed when the consumer swiped the credit card in a card terminal. This process, though, is fairly easy to compromise and steal the card information. The new chip and pin cards are safer because they process information by sending encrypted card information to a secure device in an EMV-compliant card terminal. Credit card terminals that are not EMV-compliant cannot process the new chip and pin cards.

3. Who created the EMV standards and who is enforcing them?

EMV stands for Eurocard, MasterCard, and Visa, the biggest names of the credit card world, and they are the organizations that designed these new specifications. The EMV standards have actually existed and been used in other countries for years; the U.S. is one of the last Western nations to adopt the standards. American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa along with major U.S. banks agreed to implement the standards and are the bodies issuing chip and pin cards. These entities determined that October 1, 2015 would become the deadline for U.S. business to comply with the new standards.

4. Why is this change happening now?

As mentioned earlier, this chip and pin technology has existed and been used for years in other countries. The long and short of it is that chip and pin transactions are much safer, and the U.S. is finally adopting them. If you are still dubious whether chip and pin transactions are that much safer, consider this: half of all credit card fraud occurs in the United States. This is particularly upsetting when you realize that only one quarter of all credit card transactions in the world occur in the U.S. So, while EMV compliance may be a bit of a hassle, it is a must to protect your customers against fraud and to protect your business against liabilities.

5. Who has to comply with EMV?

Any U.S. merchant who accepts card payments must be able to process chip and pin cards by October 1, 2015 to avoid liabilities for any fraudulant EMV transactions. 

6. How do I make sure my business is compliant with EMV?

If your business accepts card payments, then it must be able to process the new chip and pin cards. If your card machine cannot process a smart card when it is presented and you run it using the magnetic card reader, and if that transaction is fraudulent, you would then assume liabilities for that transaction. The easiest way to determine whether your machine accepts chip and pin cards is by testing it yourself with a chip and pin card. Place the card in the slot. If your machine does not have a slot for smart cards, then your machine definitely does not process chip and pin cards! If it does have a slot and rejects the card, then you know the machine cannot process chip and pin cards. You could also make a quick Internet search of your specific card machine to determine whether it is EMV compliant or not. If your machine is not compliant, then you must get one that is. Mostly newer machines are EMV-compliant.

7. How much does an EMV-compliant card terminal cost?

The cost for EMV-compliant machines generally starts at around $200 and goes up. If you have a merchant services provider, then you should contact them and discuss your options. Some processors, such as Merchant Service Group, LLC, offer their merchants free upgrades to EMV-compatible terminals. Others may have special deals or promotions as well.

8. What happens if I do not comply with EMV by the October 1 deadline?

It is understandable if you feel like the cost of compliance is a burden, but consider this: if you are not compliant by October 1, and your business continues processing cards, you could face steep liability costs. If your card machine cannot process a smart card when it is presented and you run it using the magnetic card reader, and if that transaction is fraudulent, you would then assume 100% liability for that transaction. While the cost of implementing an EMV-compliant machine at your business may be inconvenient, it is much cheaper than the cost of fraud liability.

9. How long does it take to setup an EMV-compliant machine, and do I still have time?

Yes, you definitely still have time! It only takes a few hours to get an EMV-compliant system set up, just like it does for any card processing system. What might take longer is obtaining the system itself, depending on where and how it is shipped. But those details are easy to discover once you speak with your merchant services provider or start shopping for a machine.

10. Do you have a list of EMV compatible terminals?

We do! This is not an exhaustive list, and we will continue to add to it!

EMV Compatible Machines

Clover

• Clover POS
• Clover Mini
• Clover Mobile

Dejavoo

• Dejavoo V8
• Dajavoo X5
• Dejavoo X8
• Dejavoo Z9

Equinox

• Apollo Ai0
• Apollo CFD
• Apollo MFD
• Equinox L4150
• Equinox L5200
• Equinox L5300
• Equinox M4230
• Equinox M4240
• Equinox P1300
• Equinox S9
• Equinox T4205
• Equinox T4210
• Equinox T4220
• Equinox T4230
• First Data
• First Data FD35
• First Data FD130
• First Data FD300
• First Data FD400
• First Data FD410

Ingenico

• Ingenico ICMP
• Ingenico ICT 220
• Ingenico ICT 250
• Ingenico IPP 220
• Ingenico IPP310
• Ingenico IPP 320
• Ingenico IPP 350
• Ingenico ISC 250
• Ingenico ISC 350
• Ingenico ISC 480
• Ingenico ISMP
• Ingenico IWL Series

Pax

• Pax S80
• Pax S90

Verifone

• Verifone MX 850
• Verifone MX 860
• Verifone MX 870
• Verifone MX 880
• Verifone MX 915
• Verifone MX 925
• Verifone VX 520
• Verifone VX 680
• Verifone VX 805
• Verifone VX 820

For more information, please email us at hello@merchantservicegroupllc.com

Merchant Service Group LLC would like to kick start the year by supporting Second Harvest in its fight to end hunger! We are proud to implement an Employee Matching Gift program and would like to extend this program to our sales partners! Every dollar that is donated will be going towards providing free meals to the less fortunate in Orange County, CA. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. 

The buzz surrounding the seemingly impromptu restoration of American and Cuban relations has been a constant, with the most recent update, as of April 2015, involving the official removal of Cuba from the US’s State Sponsors of Terror List. Businesses and consumers throughout the United States and Cuba are gearing up quickly to begin what is sure to be a mutually beneficial commercial relationship, as both countries’ businesses and governments can now conduct trade together, and US citizens can now travel to Cuba.

Building an Infrastructure for American-Cuban Commerce

Though technically Americans have been able to legally travel (under certain circumstances) to Cuba since December of 2014, the infrastructure, however, necessary to support an American-centric tourism industry in Cuba has not yet been established. For one thing, there is an issue of form of transactions. Most Cuban businesses are cash-based only, and, until very recently, American credit card companies could not and did not support US-issued card processing in Cuba. In March of 2015, MasterCard became the first credit card company to remove its block on US-issued cards in Cuba. AMEX, Citi, and JPMorgan have issued statements that they are still waiting for more details about US-Cuban relations before removing their blocks.

Furthermore, the major banks have yet to make a move regarding Cuba because bankers fear being tripped up in sanctions from the US government, despite the fact that Cuba is now off the Terror List. The US congressional embargo against Cuba still prohibits most investment and financial transactions in Cuba. Plus, Cuba currently has imposed a 10% surcharge against the US dollar, which is also a deterrent to US-Cuba tourism and commerce.

Another obstacle is Cuba’s extreme lack of Internet service, the platform by which a majority of Americans rely on for business and travel. According to the Internet freedom watchdog, Freedom House, only about 5% of the Cuban population have access to the Internet not controlled by the government.

Developments between the two nations are moving forward quite quickly and steadily when considering all that has happened in the last four months compared to the last 50 years of chilled relations. Check out some of the interesting facts about the history of Cuba and the United States and the American businesses that have already reached Cuba.

U.S. Companies Entering Cuba

Since the easing of the trade embargo, multiple American businesses have made moves to establish themselves in Cuba, though many of such moves are more symbolic in nature. There has been some hubbub concerning an overly American commercialized Cuba, that features McDonalds and Starbucks on every corner, however, this apprehension is far from coming to fruition anytime soon. In the meantime, the American companies listed below have made some moves in Cuba over the past few months.

Netflix announced it would begin streaming in Cuba, though since most of the nation does not have Internet access, Netflix’s proclamation is largely symbolic only.

Airbnb began listing local Cuban residents’ homes available to tourist rental, though as Airbnb is also a web-based service, and the majority of the country lacks the Internet, its service is likely quite limited at this point.

DT Corp, a telecoms company based in New Jersey, signed an agreement with Cuba’s government-owned phone company to establish the first direct, long-distance connection service between the US and Cuba. 

American Airlines and JetBlue have been operating charter flights to Cuba for years, and the airlines are eager to offer commercial flights, though no commercial flights are yet available between the US and Cuba. Delta and Southwest have also expressed interest in establishing commercial flights to Cuba.

US and Cuba Timeline

Interestingly enough, Cuba and the United States share a similar timeline in terms of European conquest, establishing independence, and country development. Below is a timeline of Cuba’s history as a country and the developments that led to a thawing of relations.

·         1492: Christopher Columbus claims Cuba for Spain during the expedition for which he was believed to have discovered America

·         1511: Diego de Velazquez begins Spanish conquest of Cuba

·         1512: Rebellion of Hatuey first recorded instance of native Cuban resistance against Europeans

·         1526: Spaniards begin importing slaves from Africa

·         1713: European cultivation of sugar and tobacco in Cuba begins

·         1754: The Seven Years’ War (aka the French and Indian War in the US) begins

·         1762: British forces capture Havana near the end of the Seven Years’ War

·         1763: Treaty of Paris ends Seven Years’ War and Britain returns Havana to Spain

·         1775-1783: The American War of Independence against Britain

·         1809: President Thomas Jefferson sends letter to James Madison about potentially acquiring Cuba

·         1863: President Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation

·         1865: US Civil War ends and slavery abolished

·         1868-1878: Cuba fights for independence from Spain during the Ten Years’ War

·         1878: The Ten Years’ War concludes in a truce with Spain promising reforms

·         1879-1880: The Smallest War revolution against Spain lasts less than a year

·         1886: Spain abolishes slavery in Cuba

·         1895-1898: Jose Marti leads a second war of independence against Spain

·         1898: US Congress recognizes Cuban independence from Spain, demands Spain relinquish authority over Cuba, and authorizes President William McKinley to use military force against Spain, beginning the Spanish-American War

·         1898: US defeats Spain and Spain gives up all claims to Cuba and cedes it to the US

·         1901: Cuba agrees to become an American protectorate and accepts Platt Amendment

·         1902: US ends its military presence in Cuba, and Cuba  becomes an independent nation with Tomas Estrada Palma as its first elected president

·         1903: US signs an agreement acquiring a naval station at Guantanamo Bay

·         1906-1916: US periodically reinvades Cuba due to continuous political unrest

·         1914-1918: World War I

·         1926: Fidel Castro is born

·         1933: Military coup replaces Cuban president

·         1933: Another coup replaces Cuban government

·         1939: World War II begins

·         1942: Cuba declares war on Germany, Japan, and Italy

·         1945: World War II ends

·         1948: Cuba’s last democratically-elected president takes power

·         1952: General Fulgencio Batista stages a coup and overthrows the government

·         1953: Castro leads an unsuccessful revolt against the Batista regime

·         1956: Castro, aided by Ernesto “Che” Guevara, wages guerilla war

·         1958: The US withdraws military aid to the Batista regime

·         1959: Castro overthrows Batista and becomes the leader of Cuba after leading an armed revolt

·         1960: The US implements an economic embargo against Cuba

·         1961: Cuban exiles trained by the CIA try to overthrow Castro’s dictatorship in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion

·         1961: The Kennedy administration implements Operation Mongoose to destabilize the Cuban government and economy, and assassinate Castro

·         1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis causes panic when Castro allows the Soviet Union to place missiles on Cuban soil

·         1980:  125,000 Cubans flee to the US after the Cuban government opens its coast for anyone to leave with a permit

·         1991: Soviet military advisers leave Cuba after the fall of the USSR

·         1993: Cuba legalizes the US dollar, privately owned business and services, and allows farmers to sell some produce privately rather than to the state only

·         1994: Cuba and the US make an immigration agreement that the US will accept 20,000 Cubans annually, contingent that the Cuban government controls the exodus of Cuban refugees

·         1996: Congress tightens the Cuban trade embargo further after Cuba shoots down two US civilian air force jets

·         1997: The Clinton administration approves licenses for US news organizations to open bureaus in Cuba

·         1998: President Bill Clinton signs executive order allowing for the sale of some food and agricultural products to Cuba

·         1999: Elian Gonzalez becomes the subject of an international custody battle between his relatives in Miami and his father and the Cuban government over where the boy should live

·         2001: US exports food to Cuba for first time in 40 years after Cuba hit by Hurricane Michelle

·         2002: first Afghan prisoners arrive at the US Guantanamo Bay Naval Station

·         2003: President George W. Bush initiates more robust campaign to end communism in Cuba

·         2008: Castro’s brother, Raúl Castro, officially becomes president of Cuba

·         2009: President Barack Obama lifts restrictions on family travel and remittances to Cuba

·         2011: Cuba passes law allowing individuals to buy and sell private property for the first time in 50 years

·         2011: US releases Cuban agent Rene Gonzalez from a Florida jail

·         2013: President Obama and Raul Castro meet at the Nelson Mandela memorial service

·         2014: US and Cuba swap more prisoners, including Alan Gross

·         2014: President Obama announces the US will normalize relations with Cuba

·         2015: President Obama removes Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terror List

·         2018: Cuban First Vice President Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, a civilian, is formally set to take over the presidency in 2018

For more information, please email us at hello@merchantservicegroupllc.com