We got our merchant account from Chase Paymentech, and I wish we'd have just gotten it through PayPal directly. It's a two-step process. First, sign up for Website Payments Pro: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_wp-pro-overvie... That comes with something that looks like an internet merchant account. Then sign up for Payflow Pro (the former VeriSign gateway): https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_payflow-pro-ov...

Here's their FAQ on the matter: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_payflow-pro-fa...

PayPal won't support you against chargebacks, and they cost more, but if you want to get set up without the headaches of applying to a bank, they're a great option.