by Ben Dwyer CPS Rewards 2 and Signature Preferred are Visa interchange categories that determine what a business pays when accepting a “rewards” credit card online or by keying it in.
Note: As of summer 2023, this interchange category is no longer listed in Visa’s published interchange table. We’re preserving this article for historical accuracy, but it will no longer be updated as these categories don’t exist anymore.
The categories only apply to consumer rewards cards. (That is, cards issued to an individual consumer, not a business, that produce “rewards” for the cardholder. Rewards can include cash back, points, airline miles, gift cards, and more.) There are actually four categories in this group, but two of them are simply classification differences. The categories will be labeled differently if you’re classed as a Travel & Entertainment (T&E) business, but you’ll pay the same rate.
When you qualify for CPS Rewards 2 or Signature Preferred interchange rates, you can expect to pay:
- CPS Rewards 2: 1.95% + 10 cents
- CPS Rewards 2 T&E: 1.95% + 10 cents
- Signature Preferred Card Not Present: 2.40% + 10 cents
- Signature Preferred Electronic: 2.40% + 10 cents
We do our best to keep the most up-to-date rate list. However, rates are subject to change at Visa’s discretion. These rates do not apply to debit cards, basic consumer credit cards, or business credit cards of any kind.
Not familiar with interchange fees? Start with our explanation of interchange.
Custom Payment Service (CPS)
Visa’s “custom payment service” (CPS) is the backbone of many of its interchange categories. CPS is a set of interchange categories that each have their own criteria. If you meet the criteria for that category, you receive the interchange rate associated with that category. CPS rates are often more favorable. If you don’t meet criteria to receive CPS interchange, you’ll end up paying more.
Fortunately, many businesses are easily able to meet CPS requirements.
CPS Rewards 2
Aliases: REWARDS2
The CPS Rewards 2 category is a little different because it’s not strictly an interchange category by itself. In that sense, it doesn’t have its own individual criteria. Instead, if you meet the criteria for one of several other categories, you’ll qualify for CPS Rewards 2 for any consumer rewards credit cards you accept online or by keying in the card details.
Businesses that fall under Travel and Entertainment (including some restaurants, airlines, hotels, etc.) can qualify for the same rates, you’ll just see a different interchange category name on your statement. Eligible businesses will receive the same 1.95% + $0.10 fee as non-T&E businesses that qualify for CPS Rewards 2.
To qualify, you’ll need to meet requirements for one of the following CPS programs:
- Restaurant
- Card Not Present
- E-Commerce Basic
- Hotel
- Car Rental
- Retail Keyed
Those qualifications typically include settling the transaction within one day of authorization, authorizing and settling for the same transaction amount, using Address Verification Service, and including contact information for your business with the transaction. Read more about CPS qualification.
Signature Preferred
Aliases: VSP CNP
Like CPS Rewards 2, Signature Preferred requires that you meet the criteria for a relevant interchange category. Once again there’s a separate classification (but not a different rate) for T&E businesses. In this case, it’s called Signature Preferred Electronic.
To receive Signature Preferred rates when accepting certain Visa rewards cards, you’ll need to meet requirements for one of the following CPS programs:
- Card Not Present
- E-Commerce Basic
- E-Commerce Preferred
Businesses that will receive Signature Preferred T&E interchange include T&E restaurants, hotels, car / truck rentals, travel agents, and passenger transportation businesses, including cruises, railways, and airlines.
Some specific merchant category codes include:
- 3351
- 3441
- 3501
- 3833
- 4722
- 5812
- 5814
- 7011
- 7512
- 7513
CPS Rewards 2 Interchange Rates
Assuming you meet the criteria for the CPS interchange programs, when you accept a consumer rewards credit card, you’ll pay:
| Volume Rate | Per-Transaction Fee | |
| CPS Rewards 2 | 1.95% | $0.10 |
| CPS Rewards 2 T&E | 1.95% | $0.10 |
| Signature Preferred | 2.40% | $0.10 |
| Signature Preferred Electronic | 2.40% | $0.10 |
If you don’t meet requirements, your transactions will “downgrade” to more expensive interchange categories, such as Visa Standard or EIRF. It’s normal to have some downgrades, but if a majority of your transactions downgrade, it’s worth digging deeper to find out why. You can usually fix the issue that’s causing excessive downgrades, which in turn saves you money.
