1.   American Express recently announced it was dropping all merchant accounts for online porn sites.

2.   Each time, the operation would apply with Visa for a new merchant account with a new name, the FTC said.

3.   For example, it compares prices for site-submission services and dozens of merchant account providers.

4.   Many of these pitches come from pyramid marketers or from credit-card merchant account brokers offering high-cost accounts to at-home merchants.

5.   Some of them also assist new businesses in setting up merchant accounts with banks, something all business must have to accept credit card payments.

6.   The company also moved into the local advertising market in a big way, lining up with Discover Financial Services to identify and pitch merchant advertising accounts.