Note: As of spring 2025, Visa has made changes to the EIRF downgrade category. While EIRF still applies to debit and prepaid card transactions, it has been replaced by the "Non-Qualified" category for consumer credit. You can read more about that in our article Visa Non-Qualified Interchange. In credit card processing, interchange downgrades occ...

CPS Supermarket is the first part of several interchange categories that determine the fees a supermarket will pay for accepting debit or prepaid cards. There are CPS Supermarket categories for in-person debit and prepaid card transactions. There are no “card not present” categories. Additionally, there are no CPS supermarket categories for credit ...

Historically, Visa had categories for CPS Restaurant that applied to credit cards. However, as of 2023, none of those categories are listed in Visa's interchange tables. Only CPS restaurant for debit and prepaid cards remain. Let’s take a look at when the different categories apply, the costs, and other categories you might see as a restaurant o...

Note: As of summer 2023, Visa no longer utilizes these interchange categories. They have either been renamed or merged with other categories. We're leaving this page for historical accuracy, but will no longer be updating it. The rates and fees noted may or may not be relevant to your Visa interchange rates and fees for credit transactions.  &nb...

Note: As of 2023, Visa's published interchange table no longer lists the CPS Rewards 1 or Signature Preferred interchange categories. The rates that applied are found in other categories, which have either been renamed or merged with CPS Rewards 1 and Signature Preferred. We're leaving this article for historical purposes, but it will no longer be ...

Note: As of summer 2023, the CPS Card Not Present interchange categories for credit cards are no longer listed in Visa's interchange table. Only CPS Card Not Present Debit and Credit categories are still in use. We're leaving this article for historical purposes, but it will no longer be updated and the rate and fee information is not relevant to c...

Merit 3 is Mastercard’s way of referring to a card-present transaction for most restaurants and retailers. It can actually apply to several different interchange categories based on card type and other details. It does not apply to card-not-present transactions, which will typically qualify for Merit I interchange rates. This article explains sp...

There's a lot of confusion about American Express merchant services. We regularly field questions about discount rates, pricing models, and settlement. In this article, we'll explain everything you need to know about accepting American Express at a business. Just looking to see costs to take Amex cards? For the most up-to-date pricing, use our f...

Often shortened from “interchange reimbursement fees,” interchange refers to a set of categories that are used to determine the rates for individual card transactions. Every category has requirements for eligibility and a rate associated. Those rates change at the card brands' discretion, typically twice a year. Interchange can be a complex topi...