Stripe Account Setup & Management FAQ

Identity Verification & Privacy

Why must I provide my Social Security Number to create a Stripe account?

The last four digits of your Social Security Number are required for identity verification to comply with FinCEN's anti-money laundering and fraud prevention requirements. These are the same requirements that apply when opening any bank account in the United States.

What is "Know Your Customer" (KYC)?

KYC obligations require Stripe to collect and maintain information on all account holders. These requirements come from Stripe's regulators and are intended to prevent abuse of the financial system. The information Stripe collects typically includes:

• The individual creating the Stripe account
• The business or organization associated with the account
• Individuals who ultimately own or control that organization (includes elected officers for fraternal groups and nonprofits)

How is my information protected?

• Stripe encrypts and securely stores all sensitive information. Learn more in the Stripe Privacy Center.
• Groupable does NOT store Personally Identifying Information (PII) like SSNs or Driver's License numbers. During account creation, the last four digits of your SSN are sent directly to Stripe and never stored on any Groupable server.
• Keep your Stripe Dashboard login credentials secure.

Additional resources:

• Stripe's "Know Your Customer" Obligations
• Why do I need to provide sensitive information?

Will this income be reported on my personal taxes?

No. The Stripe account collects dues, donations, and event payments for your organization—not your personal income.

Your personal information is used exclusively to verify your identity as the Account Administrator. This is required by federal KYC regulations to verify you are who you say you are and to reduce risks of fraud and money laundering.

If you were opening a bank account at a local branch, they would also collect this information for any authorized signers or organization representatives.

Why am I signing up as an "Owner" when fraternal organizations don't have owners?

The terms "management and owner" and "Know Your Customer" are standard regulatory and banking terminology required under federal law for any entity opening a payment processing account. These requirements apply to businesses, nonprofits, fraternal organizations, and all other entities. They do not imply:

• Personal ownership of the lodge or organization
• Personal liability for organizational funds
• Individual tax obligations for organizational income

Because fraternal organizations are unincorporated entities without shareholders or traditional ownership, federal law requires that an authorized officer with signatory authority be identified. The information collected, including your Social Security number, is used strictly for identity verification under federal KYC and anti-money laundering regulations.

Who can serve as the Account Administrator?

Any officer authorized to act on behalf of the organization. If you are uncomfortable setting up the Stripe account, another officer or member can be designated as assistant secretary for this purpose.

Related articles:

• Add Additional Local Users (Subordinate Roles) in groupable|m2
• I've just become a new officer, how do I get access to groupable?
• Stripe Accounts: Instructions to Create a Merchant Account to Process Payments

Account Setup

What are the address requirements for Stripe account setup?

Physical addresses only:

• No PO Boxes allowed
• Must use either the organization's physical business address or the administrator's residential address

Formatting rules:

• All abbreviations must include periods
• Directionals (N, S, E, W) must include periods

Examples:

• ✓ Correct: "1 Main St."
• ✗ Incorrect: "1 Main St"
• ✓ Correct: "1 S. Main St."
• ✗ Incorrect: "1 S Main St"

What happens during the Stripe account review process?

Your Stripe account will be reviewed for any immediate discrepancies or flags. If Stripe cannot automatically verify all information, a human will manually review it within 24-48 hours.

Stripe may request:

• Identity verification: Upload your federal or state ID
• Business tax ID verification: Upload your EIN documentation
• Website URL verification: Provide the Connect "MORE INFORMATION" URL that Groupable provided

If Stripe Risk requests additional information:

Contact us promptly at support@groupable.com so we can assist you. Account review issues can usually be resolved within a few days, but we must provide Stripe with very specific details in their required legal language.

Post-Setup Configuration

What should I do immediately after setting up my Stripe account?

1. Enable Stripe notifications

Stripe does NOT send payment notification emails by default. You must:

• Log in to your Stripe Merchant Account at stripe.com
• Opt in to account notifications
• Follow these instructions to set up notifications

2. Invite team members

Invite additional officers to your Stripe account for visibility and backup access.

3. Verify your account is active

Check your local group dashboard for the "Active Stripe Account" indicator before processing payments.

4. Send payment notices

Email dues notices to members or share your Groupable Connect link. When members sign in to Connect, they'll see their Dues Owed and can make payments.

Payment Tracking & Payouts

Where can I view payment details after processing my first payment?

Groupable Stripe Payments Dashboard: Shows transaction data received from Stripe

Income & Expenses → Officer Funds Transfers: Provides detailed information including:

• Member-specific information
• Itemized receipts (automatically generated)
• Expected payout details for the day

Filter for "ONLINE = YES" to view online payment details.

When will I receive my first payout?

First payout: 7-day waiting period (mandatory, cannot be waived)

Subsequent payouts: 2 business days

This delay is necessary for risk mitigation (anti-money laundering and account fraud prevention). Any updates made to payout timing or method during the waiting period will take effect after it ends. Check your estimated payout schedule on the Stripe Dashboard.

Extended waiting periods:

• Certain high-risk industries: up to 14 days
• Certain countries (e.g., Brazil): up to 30 days
• See full list of payout schedules by country

My payout is delayed beyond the waiting period. What should I do?

Common causes of delay:

• Bank-related delays: Weekends and holidays can delay bank processing. Funds will be deposited automatically once processing completes.
• Account verification issues: Check your Stripe Dashboard and email to see if additional information is required to verify your account.

If you still haven't received your payout after the designated waiting period: See Stripe's Where is my payout? FAQ for missing and late payouts

Payment Methods & Options

Are online payments mandatory for our organization?

No. Online payments are not mandatory or required, and Dues Billing in groupable|m2 is not dependent upon Stripe. Your organization can:

• Print dues notices without changing your records system
• Continue to record payments manually
• Maintain current paper-based processes

What payment methods does Stripe accept?

Credit and debit cards:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Discover
• Diners Club
• JCB
• China UnionPay

Digital wallets:

• Apple Pay