Effective Date: August 12, 2025
Acceptable Use Policy
This Acceptable Use Policy ("Policy") outlines prohibited uses of Bark Finance, LLC's ("Bark," "we," "us," or "our") services and platform. This Policy supplements and is incorporated into our Terms of Service. Violations may result in immediate suspension or termination of your account and services.
1. Business Eligibility Standards
1.1 Eligible Entity Types. Our services are available exclusively to:
- Corporations (C-Corp, S-Corp, B-Corp)
- Limited Liability Companies (LLC)
- Limited Partnerships (LP, LLP)
- Professional Corporations (PC)
- Registered Non-Profit Organizations (501(c) entities)
1.2 Ineligible Entities. We cannot provide services to:
- Individuals or sole proprietorships without business registration
- Unincorporated associations or partnerships
- Trust accounts or estate accounts
- Government entities (without prior approval)
- Entities without valid U.S. tax identification
1.3 Geographic Requirements. Your business must:
- Maintain a legitimate physical U.S. address (no PO boxes as primary)
- Conduct majority of operations within the United States
- Have authorized representatives legally present in the U.S.
- Not be primarily operated from sanctioned countries
2. Prohibited Business Activities
The following business types and activities are strictly prohibited from using our services:
2.1 Financial Services Restrictions
- Money Services Businesses: Money transmitters, currency exchanges, check cashing services, cryptocurrency exchanges operating as MSBs
- Unregistered Investment Services: Unlicensed investment advisers, unregistered securities brokers, pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes
- High-Risk Lending: Payday lenders, title loan providers, unlicensed lending operations
- Virtual Currency Exchanges: Businesses primarily facilitating cryptocurrency-to-fiat conversions without proper licensing
2.2 Regulated Substances
- Cannabis and Hemp: Marijuana dispensaries, THC products, CBD products (regardless of state legality)
- Controlled Substances: Any Schedule I-V controlled substances, prescription drug sales without proper licensing
- Tobacco and Vaping: E-cigarettes, vaping products, tobacco sales (with limited exceptions for established retailers)
- Alcohol: Direct-to-consumer alcohol sales without proper licensing
2.3 Adult and Restricted Content
- Adult entertainment services or content
- Escort services or dating services with transactional components
- Businesses promoting hate, violence, or discrimination
- Content that exploits minors in any way
2.4 Gaming and Gambling
- Online gambling, sports betting, fantasy sports with cash prizes
- Lottery or raffle services (except registered non-profits with proper permits)
- Casinos or gaming establishments
- Skill-based gaming with cash payouts
2.5 Weapons and Dangerous Items
- Firearms, ammunition, or explosive devices
- Weapons manufacturing or distribution
- Items designed to circumvent security measures
- Surveillance equipment for illegal purposes
2.6 Deceptive Practices
- Multi-level marketing or network marketing schemes
- Get-rich-quick schemes or deceptive income opportunities
- Sale of counterfeit goods or unauthorized replicas
- Businesses engaged in fraudulent or misleading practices
2.7 High-Risk Services
- Bail bond services
- Bankruptcy attorneys (without enhanced due diligence)
- Credit repair or debt settlement services
- Telemarketing or outbound call centers
- Travel agencies operating as money aggregators
3. Prohibited Uses and Conduct
You may not use our services to:
3.1 Violate Laws or Regulations
- Violate any applicable federal, state, local, or international law
- Facilitate illegal activities or transactions
- Evade taxes or assist others in tax evasion
- Violate economic sanctions or export control laws
- Engage in activities requiring licenses you don't possess
3.2 Financial Crimes
- Money laundering or terrorist financing
- Fraud, including check fraud, ACH fraud, or wire fraud
- Identity theft or account takeover attempts
- Structuring transactions to avoid reporting requirements
- Using accounts for personal expenses or commingling funds
3.3 System Abuse
- Attempting to breach or circumvent security measures
- Accessing accounts or data without authorization
- Reverse engineering or decompiling our software
- Using automated systems to create multiple accounts
- Overloading our systems with excessive requests
3.4 Misrepresentation
- Providing false or misleading information during onboarding
- Impersonating another person or entity
- Creating accounts under fictitious business names
- Concealing beneficial ownership or control
- Misrepresenting the nature of your business
3.5 Intellectual Property Violations
- Infringing copyrights, trademarks, or patents
- Selling pirated software or media
- Distributing content without proper licensing
- Violating trade secrets or confidential information
4. Transaction Restrictions
4.1 Payment Processing Limits. You may not:
- Process payments for third parties not directly related to your business
- Use accounts as pass-through or aggregation vehicles
- Accept payments for businesses not disclosed during onboarding
- Structure transactions to circumvent limits or monitoring
- Process transactions for prohibited businesses on behalf of others
4.2 International Transaction Restrictions.We may restrict or prohibit transactions involving:
- Countries subject to OFAC sanctions
- Entities on restricted party lists
- High-risk jurisdictions identified by FATF
- Transactions lacking clear business purpose
4.3 Card Usage Restrictions. Corporate cards may not be used for:
- Personal expenses unrelated to business
- Cash advances beyond approved limits
- Purchases from prohibited merchant categories
- Transactions that violate this Policy
5. Compliance and Monitoring
5.1 Ongoing Monitoring. We continuously monitor accounts for:
- Suspicious transaction patterns
- Changes in business activity
- Compliance with this Policy
- Regulatory red flags
- Fraud indicators
5.2 Information Requests. We may require you to provide:
- Updated business documentation
- Explanation of unusual transactions
- Source of funds documentation
- Beneficial ownership updates
- Financial statements or tax returns
5.3 Cooperation Requirements. You must:
- Respond promptly to our information requests
- Provide accurate and complete information
- Notify us of material changes to your business
- Cooperate with compliance reviews
- Maintain accurate records
6. Enforcement and Consequences
6.1 Enforcement Actions. For violations of this Policy, we may:
- Issue warnings or require remediation
- Impose transaction limits or restrictions
- Suspend access to specific services
- Freeze or hold funds pending investigation
- Terminate your account immediately
- Report activities to law enforcement or regulators
6.2 No Obligation to Disclose. We are not obligated to disclose:
- Specific reasons for account actions
- Details of our investigation methods
- Information that could compromise security
- Details that could interfere with law enforcement
6.3 Effect of Termination. If we terminate your account for Policy violations:
- You must immediately cease using our services
- We may hold funds as required by law
- You remain liable for all obligations
- We may share information with regulators as required
- You may be prohibited from opening future accounts
7. Reporting Violations
7.1 Report Suspicious Activity. If you become aware of any violation of this Policy, you should immediately report it to:
Email: compliance@bark.finance
Phone: 1-888-BARK-FIN
7.2 Whistleblower Protection. We maintain policies to protect individuals who report violations in good faith from retaliation.
7.3 False Reports. Knowingly making false reports or accusations is itself a violation of this Policy.
8. Exceptions and Waivers
8.1 Case-by-Case Review. We may, at our sole discretion, grant exceptions for:
- Businesses in restricted categories with proper licensing and controls
- Non-profit organizations with legitimate restricted activities
- Businesses undergoing transformation or restructuring
8.2 Enhanced Due Diligence. Exceptions may require:
- Additional documentation and verification
- Ongoing enhanced monitoring
- Transaction limits or controls
- Regular compliance reviews
- Additional fees or deposits
8.3 No Precedent. Any exception granted does not create a precedent and may be revoked at any time.
9. Updates to This Policy
9.1 Right to Modify. We may update this Policy at any time to:
- Reflect changes in laws or regulations
- Address new risks or business activities
- Improve clarity or correct errors
- Adapt to business or technology changes
9.2 Notice of Changes. We will notify you of material changes through:
- Email notification
- Platform notifications
- Website announcements
9.3 Continued Use. Your continued use of our services after Policy updates constitutes acceptance of the changes.
10. Contact Information
For questions about this Acceptable Use Policy:
Bark Finance, LLC
Compliance Department
Email: privacy@bark.finance
General Support: help@bark.finance
Phone: 1-628-333-2252
This Acceptable Use Policy was last updated on August 12, 2025. This Policy is incorporated into and supplements our Terms of Service. In case of any conflict, the more restrictive provision applies.