Merchant applications requiring additional information

Merchants that require additional verification for onboarding move to the Needs Information status when the information can be collected via the Merchant Onboarding Component. However, it is possible that additional information is required that cannot be collected through the self-service Merchant Onboarding Component. When this occurs, Rainforest will reach out to the platform via the provided underwriting email we have on file. We've updated how this flow is represented in our API and Platform Portal to make it more clear we need additional information and have reached out to the platform.

Underwriting Review Reason

Merchant Details in Platform Portal

When an application is in the Needs Information status, the Underwriting Review Reasons in the Pending Application section will include the reason Other if Rainforest needs additional information that cannot be collected via the self-service flow. The Other review reason indicates that Rainforest support has reached out to the platform via the provided underwriting email.

Other Underwriting Review Reason in the API and Webhooks

In the get merchant application endpoint and merchant application webhook for the merchant_application.needs_information event, Rainforest will return the other underwriting review object in the the underwriting_reviews field.

{
    "merchant_application_id": "app_123",
    // ...
    "underwriting_reviews": {
        "business_verification": {
            "updated_at": null,
            "file_upload_ids": []
        },
+        "other": {
+           "updated_at": "2025-01-14T12:00:00.000000Z",
+       }
    }
}

Merchant Application Status

When the merchant re-submits their application from the Needs Information status, the application will move to the status of Processing and Rainforest will determine the next steps.

In Review

Rainforest will move this application to the In Review status if the application includes the underwriting review reason Other. The following webhooks will trigger upon re-submission of the application:

• merchant_application.processing
• merchant_application.in_review

The application moving to In Review lets the platform know we've reached out for additional information.

Processing

If Rainforest does not need additional information, then the flow stays the same as before and the application will stay in the status of Processing. Rainforest will review the application to determine if it can be approved.

Please contact support if you have any questions.