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NMI Gateway

NMI is an external gateway. It does not process payments on its own; instead, it routes them to a backend processor. To use NMI with Payments AI, you must hold an account with one of NMI's connected processors.

NMI requires a backend processor:

NMI is a gateway, not a processor. You cannot process transactions through NMI without a merchant account at a supported backend processor (see the connected processors list).

Fees on this gateway:

Payments AI charges a 1% platform fee per transaction for NMI, on top of the backend processor's own fees. See Pricing and Fees.

How NMI works with Payments AI​

  1. You hold a merchant account with a backend processor.
  2. The processor authorises NMI to process through it. This authorisation is the VAR sheet.
  3. NMI configures your account using the VAR sheet and provides your login credentials.
  4. You connect NMI to Payments AI using those credentials.

VAR sheet​

A VAR sheet is the document that authorises NMI to process through a specific backend processor.

  • It is issued directly by the backend processor, not by NMI or Payments AI.
  • For any platform other than the Payments AI Gateway, Payments AI is not the processor and cannot issue a VAR sheet. If a VAR sheet is needed, it must come from that gateway's own processor.
  • The Payments AI Gateway is the only gateway for which Payments AI can issue a VAR sheet (see Supported Gateways).

Step-by-step setup​

  1. Choose a backend processor from the connected processors list.
  2. Open a merchant account with that processor.
  3. Request a VAR sheet from the processor for use with NMI.
  4. Deliver the VAR sheet to NMI.
  5. NMI configures your account and provides login credentials.
  6. In the Payments AI dashboard, go to Gateways → NMI and enter the credentials.
  7. Save and test the connection on stage.

Connected processors​

NMI is compatible with a large number of backend processors. The list is maintained by NMI and changes over time, so for the current set, see NMI Connected Processors.

Note:

Confirm current compatibility with your processor before opening an account.

Common errors​

ErrorResolution
Credentials rejected in the Payments AI panelVerify them by logging in directly to the NMI portal; check for trailing spaces.
VAR sheet not yet processedConfirm with NMI that the account is active before connecting.
Payment method unavailableCheck that your backend processor supports that method.