Credit Card Merchant Fees

Amex OptBlue Rates & Interchange Qualification (2026)

Published: May 19, 2026

Close-up of a hand holding a blue KLM American Express credit card, with a travel brochure and magazine in the blurred background.

American Express OptBlue is a pricing program that lets small and mid-sized merchants accept Amex cards through their existing processor instead of entering into a direct agreement from Amex.

If you process less than $1 million annually in Amex volume, you’re eligible for the OptBlue rates.

The Amex interchange rates below are updated and effective as of April 2026.

How to Read Amex OptBlue Interchange Rates

OptBlue rates are determined based on four variables:

Industry (based on MCC code)
Ticket size
How the transaction is processed (swipe vs. keyed)
US-issued vs. non-US-issued

Within each industry, rates are tied based on the transaction amount. Typically, the interchange rate increases at each tier, meaning the higher the sale, the higher the rate.

Keyed (card-not-present) transactions also cost more because they carry a higher fraud risk. Non-US-issued cards also cost more because there are added costs on the backend for moving money.

So the cheapest Amex OptBlue rates are generally in-person (swiped) with lower transaction values. Whereas the most expensive rates are typically high-ticket sales, keyed, with foreign-issued cards.

Though there are some exceptions to this logic (like in Micro tiers, T&E, Services, Other, and Utilities) which you’ll see flagged in the relevant sections below.

Retail

Amex OptBlue retail interchange rates apply to merchants with Retail MCCs, which cover most general retail categories (clothing, electronics, grocery, hardware, sporting goods, home furnishings, drug stores, and similar storefronts).

If your business sells physical goods directly to consumers, you most likely fall into this bucket.

Tier 1 — transactions of $75.00 or less
Tier 2 — transactions of $75.01 to $1,000.00
Tier 3 — transactions greater than $1,000.00

Amex OptBlue Retail Rates

Retail Tier 1 — 1.45% + $0.10
Retail Tier 2 — 2.05% + $0.10
Retail Tier 3 — 2.50% + $0.10

Retail Tier 1 Non-Swipe — 1.75% + $0.10
Retail Tier 2 Non-Swipe — 2.35% + $0.10
Retail Tier 3 Non-Swipe — 2.80% + $0.10

Retail Tier 1 Non-US — 2.45% + $0.10
Retail Tier 2 Non-US — 3.05% + $0.10
Retail Tier 3 Non-US — 3.50% + $0.10

Retail Tier 1 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.75% + $0.10
Retail Tier 2 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.35% + $0.10
Retail Tier 3 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.80% + $0.10

Restaurant

Amex’s OptBlue program for restaurants applies to just four MCCs:

5811 — Caterers
5812 — Restaurants
5813 — Drinking places (bars, taverns, nightclubs, cocktail lounges, discotheques)
5814 — Fast food restaurants

But it has the most complex tier structure of any category:

Micro — transactions of $5.00 or less
Tier 0 — transactions of $5.01 to $15.00
Tier 1 — transactions of $15.01 to $30.00
Tier 2 — transactions of $30.01 to $150.00
Tier 3 — transactions greater than $150.00

OptBlue Restaurant Rates

Restaurant Micro — 1.60% + $0.04
Restaurant Tier 0 — 1.60% + $0.04
Restaurant Tier 1 — 1.85% + $0.10
Restaurant Tier 2 — 2.50% + $0.10
Restaurant Tier 3 — 2.85% + $0.10

Restaurant Micro Non-Swipe — 1.60% + $0.04
Restaurant Tier 0 Non-Swipe — 1.90% + $0.04
Restaurant Tier 1 Non-Swipe — 2.15% + $0.10
Restaurant Tier 2 Non-Swipe — 2.80% + $0.10
Restaurant Tier 3 Non-Swipe — 3.15% + $0.10

Restaurant Micro Non-US — 2.00% + $0.02
Restaurant Tier 0 Non-US — 2.60% + $0.04
Restaurant Tier 1 Non-US — 2.85% + $0.10
Restaurant Tier 2 Non-US — 3.50% + $0.10
Restaurant Tier 3 Non-US — 3.85% + $0.10

Restaurant Micro Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.00% + $0.02
Restaurant Tier 0 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.90% + $0.04
Restaurant Tier 1 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.15% + $0.10
Restaurant Tier 2 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.80% + $0.10
Restaurant Tier 3 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 4.15% + $0.10

Healthcare

The following MCCs fall into the healthcare category for Amex OptBlue:

0742 — Veterinary services
4119 — Ambulance services
8011 — Doctors
8021 — Dentists
8031 — Osteopaths
8041 — Chiropractors
8042 — Optometrists
8043 — Opticians
8049 — Podiatrists
8050 — Nursing and personal care facilities
8062 — Hospitals
8071 — Medical and dental labs
8099 — Medical services (not elsewhere classified)

The three healthcare tiers break at higher transaction amounts than most of the other Amex OptBlue categories, which reflects on how medical billing tends to have larger ticket sizes.

Tier 1 — transactions of $150.00 or less
Tier 2 — transactions of $150.01 to $2,000.00
Tier 3 — transactions greater than $2,000.00

Amex OptBlue Rates for Healthcare

Healthcare Tier 1 — 1.55% + $0.10
Healthcare Tier 2 — 1.85% + $0.10
Healthcare Tier 3 — 2.30% + $0.10

Healthcare Tier 1 Non-Swipe — 1.85% + $0.10
Healthcare Tier 2 Non-Swipe — 2.15% + $0.10
Healthcare Tier 3 Non-Swipe — 2.60% + $0.10

Healthcare Tier 1 Non-US — 2.55% + $0.10
Healthcare Tier 2 Non-US — 2.85% + $0.10
Healthcare Tier 3 Non-US — 3.30% + $0.10

Healthcare Tier 1 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.85% + $0.10
Healthcare Tier 2 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.15% + $0.10
Healthcare Tier 3 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.60% + $0.10

Travel & Entertainment

Travel & Entertainment (T&E) rates apply to a broad set of MCCs covering airlines, hotels, car rentals, cruise lines, passenger transportation, tour operators, theaters, sports venues, amusement parks, golf courses, and similar businesses.

The full list includes lodging (7011), airlines (4511, 4582), car rental (7512), taxis (4121), buses (4131), passenger railways (4112), theaters (7832), and recreation services (7999), among others.

Micro — transactions of $5.00 or less
Small Ticket — transactions of $5.01 to $15.00
Tier 1 — transactions of $15.01 to $100.00
Tier 2 — transactions of $100.01 to $1,000.00
Tier 3 — transactions greater than $1,000.00

Travel & Entertainment (T&E) Amex OptBlue Rates

T&E Micro — 2.00% + $0.02
T&E Small Ticket — 1.60% + $0.04
T&E Tier 1 — 2.25% + $0.10
T&E Tier 2 — 2.60% + $0.10
T&E Tier 3 — 3.00% + $0.10

T&E Micro Non-Swipe — 2.00% + $0.02
T&E Small Ticket Non-Swipe — 1.60% + $0.04
T&E Tier 1 Non-Swipe — 2.55% + $0.10
T&E Tier 2 Non-Swipe — 2.90% + $0.10
T&E Tier 3 Non-Swipe — 3.30% + $0.10

T&E Micro Non-US — 2.00% + $0.02
T&E Small Ticket Non-US — 1.60% + $0.04
T&E Tier 1 Non-US — 3.25% + $0.10
T&E Tier 2 Non-US — 3.60% + $0.10
T&E Tier 3 Non-US — 4.00% + $0.10

T&E Micro Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.00% + $0.02
T&E Small Ticket Non-Swipe / Non-US — 1.60% + $0.04
T&E Tier 1 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.55% + $0.10
T&E Tier 2 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.90% + $0.10
T&E Tier 3 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 4.30% + $0.10

Business to Business (B2B) / Wholesale

These Amex interchange rates apply to merchants with MCCs covering wholesale distribution, commercial supplies, professional services targeted at other businesses, and similar B2B categories.

This also includes computer equipment wholesalers (5045), industrial supplies (5085), commercial equipment (5046), construction materials (5039), advertising services (7311), management consulting (7392), accounting and bookkeeping (8931), legal services to businesses, and many others.

Tier 1 — transactions of $400.00 or less
Tier 2 — transactions of $400.01 to $7,500.00
Tier 3 — transactions greater than $7,500.00

American Express OptBlue Rates for B2B and Wholesale

B2B Tier 1 — 1.65% + $0.10
B2B Tier 2 — 1.90% + $0.10
B2B Tier 3 — 2.35% + $0.10

B2B Tier 1 Non-Swipe — 1.95% + $0.10
B2B Tier 2 Non-Swipe — 2.20% + $0.10
B2B Tier 3 Non-Swipe — 2.65% + $0.10

B2B Tier 1 Non-US — 2.65% + $0.10
B2B Tier 2 Non-US — 2.90% + $0.10
B2B Tier 3 Non-US — 3.35% + $0.10

B2B Tier 1 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.95% + $0.10
B2B Tier 2 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.20% + $0.10
B2B Tier 3 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.65% + $0.10

Services & Professional Services

Services & Professional Services interchange rates apply to a wide range of consumer-facing service businesses, including: auto repair, dry cleaning, beauty salons, funeral services, tax preparation, dating services, photo studios, legal services, towing, exterminators, computer services, and many more.

This is the broadest catch-all industry category, covering MCCs that involve providing a service rather than selling a physical good.

Micro — transactions of $5.00 or less
Tier 0 — transactions of $5.01 to $15.00
Tier 1 — transactions of $15.01 to $150.00
Tier 2 — transactions of $150.01 to $3,000.00
Tier 3 — transactions greater than $3,000.00

Amex OptBlue Rates for Services / Professional Services

Services Micro — 2.00% + $0.02
Services Tier 0 — 1.60% + $0.04
Services Tier 1 — 1.60% + $0.10
Services Tier 2 — 2.10% + $0.10
Services Tier 3 — 2.50% + $0.10

Services Micro Non-Swipe — 2.00% + $0.02
Services Tier 0 Non-Swipe — 1.60% + $0.04
Services Tier 1 Non-Swipe — 1.90% + $0.10
Services Tier 2 Non-Swipe — N/A on standard schedule
Services Tier 3 Non-Swipe — 2.80% + $0.10

Services Micro Non-US — 2.00% + $0.02
Services Tier 0 Non-US — 2.60% + $0.04
Services Tier 1 Non-US — 2.60% + $0.10
Services Tier 2 Non-US — 3.10% + $0.10
Services Tier 3 Non-US — 3.50% + $0.10

Services Micro Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.00% + $0.02
Services Tier 0 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.60% + $0.04
Services Tier 1 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.90% + $0.10
Services Tier 2 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.40% + $0.10
Services Tier 3 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.80% + $0.10

Education

American Express interchange rates for education cover all of the following MCC codes:

7032 — Sporting and recreational camps
7911 — Dance halls, studios, and schools
8211 — Elementary and secondary schools
8220 — Colleges, universities, professional schools, and junior colleges
8241 — Correspondence schools
8244 — Business and secretarial schools
8249 — Vocational and trade schools
8299 — Schools and educational services (not elsewhere classified)
8351 — Child care services

And like other OptBlue rates, there are three tiers based on ticket size (with ascending rates at each level):

Tier 1 — transactions of $100.00 or less
Tier 2 — transactions of $100.01 to $3,000.00
Tier 3 — transactions greater than $3,000.00

Education OptBlue Rates

Education Tier 1 — 1.10% + $0.10
Education Tier 2 — 1.45% + $0.10
Education Tier 3 — 1.70% + $0.10
Education Tier 1 Non-Swipe — 1.40% + $0.10
Education Tier 2 Non-Swipe — 1.75% + $0.10
Education Tier 3 Non-Swipe — 2.00% + $0.10

Education Tier 1 Non-US — 2.10% + $0.10
Education Tier 2 Non-US — 2.45% + $0.10
Education Tier 3 Non-US — 2.70% + $0.10

Education Tier 1 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.40% + $0.10
Education Tier 2 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.75% + $0.10
Education Tier 3 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.00% + $0.10

Government

Amex interchange rates here apply to merchants with select Government MCCs:

9211 — Court costs, including alimony and child support
9222 — Fines
9311 — Tax payments
9399 — Government services (not elsewhere classified)

These rates are among the lowest of all Amex OptBlue categories. But they’re still more expensive on higher ticket transactions.

Tier 1 — transactions of $100.00 or less
Tier 2 — transactions of $100.01 to $3,000.00
Tier 3 — transactions greater than $3,000.00

Amex Government OptBlue Rates

Government Tier 1 — 1.40% + $0.10
Government Tier 2 — 1.55% + $0.10
Government Tier 3 — 1.75% + $0.10

Government Tier 1 Non-Swipe — 1.70% + $0.10
Government Tier 2 Non-Swipe — 1.85% + $0.10
Government Tier 3 Non-Swipe — 2.05% + $0.10

Government Tier 1 Non-US — 2.40% + $0.10
Government Tier 2 Non-US — 2.55% + $0.10
Government Tier 3 Non-US — 2.75% + $0.10

Government Tier 1 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.70% + $0.10
Government Tier 2 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.85% + $0.10
Government Tier 3 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.05% + $0.10

Emerging Markets

Emerging Markets is a narrower category that only covers two direct marketing MCCs:

5960 — Direct marketing insurance services
5968 — Direct marketing continuity/subscription merchants

Tier 1 — transactions of $1,200.00 or less
Tier 2 — transactions of $1,200.01 to $4,000.00
Tier 3 — transactions greater than $4,000.00

Amex OptBlue Emerging Markets Rates

Unlike most other categories, swiped and keyed rates are identical within the Emerging Markets buckets. So the interchange rate is the same whether the card was physically present or not. But foreign-issued cards are still a full percentage higher vs. US-issued cards.

Emerging Markets Tier 1 — 1.43% + $0.10
Emerging Markets Tier 2 — 2.05% + $0.10
Emerging Markets Tier 3 — 2.70% + $0.10

Emerging Markets Tier 1 Non-US — 2.43% + $0.10
Emerging Markets Tier 2 Non-US — 3.05% + $0.10
Emerging Markets Tier 3 Non-US — 3.70% + $0.10

Other

The Other category is a catch-all for MCCs that don’t fit cleanly into the categories above. It includes tolls and bridge fees (4784), telecommunication equipment sales (4812), telecommunication services (4814), cable and pay TV services (4899), service stations with or without ancillary services (5541), automated fuel dispensers (5542), political organizations (8651), and bail and bond payments (9223).

“Other” Amex transaction interchange rates are tiered by ticket size, with five levels:

Micro — transactions of $5.00 or less
Small Ticket — transactions of $5.01 to $15.00
Tier 1 — transactions of $15.01 to $100.00
Tier 2 — transactions of $100.01 to $3,000.00
Tier 3 — transactions greater than $3,000.00

Amex OptBlue Rates for the “Other” Category

Other Micro — 2.00% + $0.02
Other Small Ticket — 1.60% + $0.04
Other Tier 1 — 1.60% + $0.10
Other Tier 2 — 1.95% + $0.10
Other Tier 3 — 2.45% + $0.10

Other Micro Non-Swipe — 2.00% + $0.02
Other Small Ticket Non-Swipe — 1.60% + $0.04
Other Tier 1 Non-Swipe — 1.90% + $0.10
Other Tier 2 Non-Swipe — 2.25% + $0.10
Other Tier 3 Non-Swipe — 2.75% + $0.10

Other Micro Non-US — 2.00% + $0.02
Other Small Ticket Non-US — 1.60% + $0.04
Other Tier 1 Non-US — 2.60% + $0.10
Other Tier 2 Non-US — 2.95% + $0.10
Other Tier 3 Non-US — 3.45% + $0.10

Other Micro Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.00% + $0.02
Other Small Ticket Non-Swipe / Non-US — 1.60% + $0.04
Other Tier 1 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.90% + $0.10
Other Tier 2 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.25% + $0.10
Other Tier 3 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.75% + $0.10

Amex OptBlue Charity Rates

Only two MCCs qualify for Amex’s charity rates: 8398 (charitable organizations) and 8661 (religious organizations).

Charity Base Micro ($5.00 or less) — 2.00% + $0.02
Charity Base Tier 0 ($5.01 to $15.00) — 1.60% + $0.04
Charity Base Tier 1 (over $15.00) — 2.00% + $0.10

Charity Non-US Micro — 3.00% + $0.02
Charity Non-US Tier 0 — 2.60% + $0.04
Charity Non-US Tier 1 — 3.00% + $0.10

OptBlue Insurance Rates

Amex’s insurance OptBlue program applies exclusively to MCC 6300. This covers insurance sales, underwriting, and premiums.

Insurance Tier 1 ($2,000.00 or less) — 1.50% + $0.10
Insurance Tier 2 ($2,000.01 to $7,500.00) — 1.90% + $0.10
Insurance Tier 3 (over $7,500.00) — 2.30% + $0.10

Insurance Tier 1 Non-US — 2.50% + $0.10
Insurance Tier 2 Non-US — 2.90% + $0.10
Insurance Tier 3 Non-US — 3.30% + $0.10

OptBlue Rates for Residential Rent

Real estate agents and property managers fall under MCC 6513, which is the only MCC eligible for Amex’s residential rent OptBlue program. This is one of the cheaper OptBlue categories for higher-ticket transactions.

Residential Rent Tier 1 ($150.00 or less) — 1.40% + $0.10
Residential Rent Tier 2 ($150.01 to $3,000.00) — 1.75% + $0.10
Residential Rent Tier 3 (over $3,000.00) — 1.90% + $0.10

Residential Rent Tier 1 Non-US — 2.40% + $0.10
Residential Rent Tier 2 Non-US — 2.75% + $0.10
Residential Rent Tier 3 Non-US — 2.90% + $0.10

Amex OptBlue Utilities Rates

Utilities OptBlue is unique. While most categories charge a percentage rate, the first two utility tiers charge a flat per-transaction fee with no percentage at all. Only Tier 3 (transactions over $5,000) reverts to a percentage-based rate. The category applies to MCC 4900 (electric, gas, water, and sanitary services).

Utilities Tier 1 ($1,000.00 or less) — 0.00% + $0.75
Utilities Tier 2 ($1,000.01 to $5,000.00) — 0.00% + $1.50
Utilities Tier 3 (over $5,000.00) — 2.30% + $0.00

Utilities Tier 1 Non-US — 1.00% + $0.75
Utilities Tier 2 Non-US — 1.00% + $1.50
Utilities Tier 3 Non-US — 3.30% + $0.00

OptBlue Prepaid Rates

Prepaid interchange rates apply to all Amex prepaid cards across all merchant categories.

The tier structure here is fairly straightforward. There are three brackets based on ticket size and the same swipe/keyed and US/non-US variants as other categories.

Prepaid Tier 1 ($75.00 or less, swiped, US) — 1.35% + $0.10
Prepaid Tier 2 ($75.01 to $1,000.00, swiped, US) — 1.70% + $0.10
Prepaid Tier 3 (over $1,000.00, swiped, US) — 2.15% + $0.10

Prepaid Tier 1 Non-Swipe — 1.65% + $0.10
Prepaid Tier 2 Non-Swipe — 2.00% + $0.10
Prepaid Tier 3 Non-Swipe — 2.45% + $0.10

Prepaid Tier 1 Non-US — 2.35% + $0.10
Prepaid Tier 2 Non-US — 2.70% + $0.10
Prepaid Tier 3 Non-US — 3.15% + $0.10

Prepaid Tier 1 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 2.65% + $0.10
Prepaid Tier 2 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.00% + $0.10
Prepaid Tier 3 Non-Swipe / Non-US — 3.45% + $0.10

Matt RejManaging PartnerSince joining MCC in 2017, Matt has built and led a high-performing sales team focused on educating businesses about hidden processing costs. He develops enterprise-level partnerships while helping companies of all sizes reduce their processing fees. Matt's consultative approach and industry expertise drive MCC's continued expansion across new markets.

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