Who We Are

Merchant Allies was founded with a simple mission: to deliver convenient, transparent, affordable, and secure payment solutions that empower businesses to thrive.

Our story is rooted in real small-business experience. Co-founder and Managing Partner Carmen Cilfone spent over 22 years growing up in his family’s restaurant, where he saw firsthand how complex, costly payment systems can slow businesses down. That early exposure fueled his passion for fixing the problem—leading him into the payments industry with a commitment to helping busy business owners get paid simply and reliably.

Joining him in this mission is Jim Fink, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, a respected financial services executive with more than 30 years of experience in the payments space. Jim has held senior leadership roles in business development, sales, and marketing, and has been a trusted voice across the industry—speaking at conferences, contributing to leading publications, and championing solutions that serve businesses from SMBs to middle-market organizations. He also served 17 years on the Board of Directors for the Northeast Acquirers Association (NEAA), supporting merchant services education and industry advancement.

Together, Carmen and Jim combine decades of hands-on experience, industry leadership, and a shared commitment to service. Backed by a team with over 25 years of payments expertise, Merchant Allies partners with businesses nationwide to deliver seamless, secure, and future-forward payment technology.

We cut through the complexity of payment processing so our clients can do what they do best—run, build, and grow their businesses.