Every credit card and debit card that is circulating in the world have an Interchange Rate associated with it. Each rate is different, pending on the type of card. Example, Business cards, rewards cards, government cards, purchasing cards, debit cards, etc.. Every April and October, Visa/Mastercard adjust their interchange rates, for the good or for the worse, and every merchant should be aware of these changes. 

Wells Fargo has created a useful matrix that breaks down each individual card, the increases or decreases that has occurred on each card, and what to expect from said card moving forward. These include all Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. The new changes occurred at the beginning of April 2019 and will be impacted until another change occurs in October 2019. American Express has also increased their pricing as of July 1, 2019, so be aware of those changes. Below is a summary of the changes made for April 2019. If a specific change is not listed below, it has not been affected.

Visa Interchange Increases (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• Visa has increased the Base International Service Fee that it charges whenever the merchant’s location differs from the country where the card was issued and the transaction is settled in USD. This fee is now 1.00% for all such transactions
• Visa has increased the Enhanced International Service Fee that it charges whenever the merchant’s location differs from the country where the card was issued and the transaction is not settled in USD. This fee is now 1.40% for all such transactions

Visa Interchange Decrease

• There has been no decreases that have occurred in April 2019 within Visa Interchange (shocker..)

New Visa Interchange Fees (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• The Visa Authorization Processing Fee (Variable Credit – U.S.) of $0.0395 per transaction now applies to all Visa-branded credit authorizations acquired in the U.S. where the issuer or cardholder is located in the U.S. This fee does not apply to Zero Dollar Verification messages or credit authorization reversals
• The Visa Authorization Processing Fee (Variable Debit – U.S.) of $0.0155 per transaction now applies to all Visa-branded Non-PIN Debit and prepaid authorizations acquired in the U.S. where the issuer or cardholder is located in the U.S. This fee does not apply to Zero Dollar Verification messages or Non-PIN Debit/prepaid authorization reversals
• The Visa Credit Voucher Data Processing Fee (Credit – U.S.) of $0.0195 per transaction now applies to all Visa-branded credit return transactions acquired in the U.S. where the issuer or cardholder is located in the U.S.
• The Visa Credit Voucher Data Processing Fee (Debit/Prepaid – U.S.) of $0.0155 per transaction now applies to all Visa-branded debit and prepaid return transactions acquired in the U.S. where the issuer or cardholder is located in the U.S.
• A Visa Authorization Processing Fee (Variable Credit – International) of $0.0395 has been created. It applies to all Visa-branded credit authorizations acquired in the U.S. where the issuer or cardholder is not located in the U.S. This fee does not apply to Zero Dollar Verification messages or credit authorization reversals
• A Visa Authorization Processing Fee (Variable Debit – International) of $0.0355 has been created. It applies to all Visa-branded Non-PIN Debit and prepaid authorizations acquired in the U.S. where the issuer or cardholder is not located in the U.S. This fee does not apply to Zero Dollar Verification messages or Non-PIN Debit/prepaid authorization reversals
• A Visa Credit Voucher Data Processing Fee (Credit – International) of $0.0395 has been created. It applies to all Visa-branded credit return transactions acquired in the U.S. where the issuer or cardholder is not located in the U.S.
• A Visa Credit Voucher Data Processing Fee (Debit/Prepaid – International) of $0.0355 has been created. It applies to all Visa-branded debit and prepaid return transactions acquired in the U.S. where the issuer or cardholder is not located in the U.S.

Mastercard Interchange Increase (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• Mastercard has increased its rate for Non-Regulated Consumer Debit cards under the “Merit I” interchange program to 1.65% plus $0.15
• Mastercard has increased its rate Non-Regulated Consumer Debit cards under the “Key Entered” interchange program to 1.65% plus $0.15
• Mastercard has increased its rate for Non-Regulated Consumer Debit cards under the “Merit I E-Commerce” interchange program to 1.65% plus $0.15
• Mastercard has increased its rate for Non-Regulated Consumer Debit cards under the “Utility” interchange program to $0.65
• Mastercard has increased its rate for Large Market cards under the “Commercial Large Ticket” interchange program to 1.45% plus $35.00. Large Market cards include Corporate, World Corporate, World Elite Corporate, Purchasing, Fleet, and Commercial Payment Account cards
• Mastercard has increased its rate for Large Market cards under the “Commercial Travel & Entertainment” interchange program to 2.65% plus $0.10

Mastercard Interchange Decrease (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 1 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate II” interchange program to 1.90% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 2 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate II” interchange program to 2.05% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 3 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate II” interchange program to 2.10% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 4 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate II” interchange program to 2.20% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Non-Regulated Business Debit cards under the “Commercial Data Rate II” interchange program to 2.10% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 1 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate II Petroleum” interchange program to 1.90% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 2 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate II Petroleum” interchange program to 2.05% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 3 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate II Petroleum” interchange program to 2.10% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 4 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate II Petroleum” interchange program to 2.20% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 2 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate I” interchange program to 2.80% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 3 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate I” interchange program to 2.85% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 4 cards under the “Commercial Data Rate I” interchange program to 2.95% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 2 cards under the “Commercial Standard” interchange program to 3.10% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 3 cards under the “Commercial Standard” interchange program to 3.15% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 4 cards under the “Commercial Standard” interchange program to 3.25% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 2 cards under the “Commercial Travel & Entertainment” interchange program to 2.50% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 3 cards under the “Commercial Travel & Entertainment” interchange program to 2.55% plus $0.10
• Mastercard has decreased its rate for Business Level 4 cards under the “Commercial Travel & Entertainment” interchange program to 2.65% plus $0.10

New Mastercard Interchange Fees (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• Mastercard has deleted its “Commercial Large Ticket III” interchange program and all of its accompanying rates
• Mastercard has deleted its “Commercial Large Ticket II” interchange program and all of its accompanying rates
• Mastercard has deleted the Level 1/Business Core, Level 2/World Business, Level 3/World Elite Business, Level 4, and Non-Regulated Business Debit rates from its “Commercial Large Ticket” interchange program
• Mastercard has deleted the Level 1/Business Core, Level 2/World Business, Level 3/World Elite Business, Level 4, and Non-Regulated Business Debit rates from its “Commercial Data Rate III” interchange program
• Mastercard has added a Business Level 5 rate of 2.25% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Data Rate II” interchange program
• Mastercard has added a Non-Regulated Business Prepaid rate of 2.65% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Data Rate II” interchange program
• Mastercard has added a Business Level 5 rate of 2.25% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Data Rate II Petroleum” interchange program
• Mastercard has added a Non-Regulated Business Prepaid rate of 2.05% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Data Rate II Petroleum” interchange program
• Mastercard has added a Business Level 5 rate of 3.00% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Data Rate I” interchange program
• Mastercard has added a Non-Regulated Business Debit rate of 2.65% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Data Rate I” interchange program
• Mastercard has added a Non-Regulated Business Prepaid rate of 2.65% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Data Rate I” interchange program
• Mastercard has added a “Commercial Freight” interchange program that includes a Commercial Freight Business – Purchase rate of 1.80%
• Mastercard has added a Business Level 5 rate of 3.30% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Standard” interchange program
• Mastercard has added a Non-Regulated Business Debit rate of 2.95% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Standard” interchange program
• Mastercard has added a Non-Regulated Business Prepaid rate of 2.95% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Standard” interchange program
• Mastercard has deleted its “Commercial Travel & Entertainment III” interchange program and all of its accompanying rates
• Mastercard has added a Business Level 5 rate of 2.70% plus $0.10 to its “Commercial Travel & Entertainment” interchange program
• Mastercard has deleted its “Commercial Travel & Entertainment I” interchange program and all of its accompanying rates
• Mastercard has added a Mastercard Transaction Processing Excellence – Pre Authorization fee of $0.045 that applies to pre-authorizations that are not fully reversed or cleared within 30 calendar days of the authorization date
• Mastercard has added a Mastercard Transaction Processing Excellence – Undefined Authorization fee of $0.045 that applies to undefined authorizations that are not fully reversed or cleared within 7 calendar days of the authorization date
• Mastercard has added a Mastercard Transaction Processing Excellence – Final Authorization fee of 0.25% ($0.04 minimum) that applies:
  • to final authorizations that are not fully reversed or cleared within 7 calendar days of the authorization date OR
  • when the final authorization amount does not equal the clearing amount OR
  • when the final authorization currency code does not match the clearing currency code
• Mastercard has added a Mastercard Transaction Processing Excellence – Excessive Authorizations fee of $0.10 that applies to authorization attempts after 20 previous issuer-declined attempts on the same account number within a 24-hour period. This fee will take effect on July 15
• Mastercard has added a Mastercard Transaction Processing Excellence – Detail Reporting fee of $0.012 that applies to any authorization that generates a transaction processing excellence fee for pre-authorizations, final authorizations, undefined authorizations, or excessive authorizations
• Mastercard has added a Mastercard Global Freight Program fee of 0.50% that applies to all sale transactions where the Mastercard card product is Mastercard Enterprise Solutions. Transactions assessed this fee will not be assessed Mastercard Acquirer Brand Volume, Mastercard US Cross Border USD, Mastercard US Cross Border non-USD, and Mastercard Network Access Brand Usage fees

Discover Interchange Increase (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• Discover has increased its rate for Rewards cards under the “PSL – Restaurant” interchange program to 1.95% plus $0.10
• Discover has increased its rate for Premium cards under the “PSL – Restaurant” interchange program to 2.30% plus $0.10
• Discover has increased its rate for Credit cards under the “PSL – Key Entry” interchange program to 1.89% plus $0.10
• Discover has increased its rate for Rewards cards under the “PSL – Key Entry” interchange program to 2.00% plus $0.10
• Discover has increased its rate for Credit cards under the “PSL – Card Not Present” interchange program to 1.89% plus $0.10
• Discover has increased its rate for Rewards cards under the “PSL – Card Not Present” interchange program to 2.00% plus $0.10
• Discover has increased its rate for Premium Plus cards under the “PSL – Card Not Present” interchange program to 2.40% plus $0.10
• Discover has increased its rate for Credit cards under the “PSL – E-Commerce” interchange program to 1.89% plus $0.10
• Discover has increased its rate for Rewards cards under the “PSL – E-Commerce” interchange program to 2.00% plus $0.10
• Discover has increased its rate for Premium Plus cards under the “PSL – E-Commerce” interchange program to 2.40% plus $0.10
• Discover has increased its rate for Non-Regulated Consumer Debit/Prepaid cards under the “PSL – Passenger Transport” interchange program to 1.60% plus $0.15
• Discover has increased its rate for Non-Regulated Consumer Debit/Prepaid cards under the “Base Submission Level” interchange program to 1.90% plus $0.25

Discover Interchange Decrease (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• Discover has decreased its rate for Rewards cards under the “PSL – Supermarket” interchange program to 1.60% plus $0.10
• Discover has decreased its rate for Premium cards under the “PSL – Supermarket” interchange program to 1.60% plus $0.10

New Discover Interchange Fees (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• Discover has added a “PSL – E-Commerce Secure” interchange program that is not available to high risk, quasi cash, or non-financial institution stored value card providers
• Discover has added a Credit rate of 1.89% plus $0.10 to its “PSL – E-Commerce Secure” interchange program
• Discover has added a Rewards rate of 2.00% plus $0.10 to its “PSL – E-Commerce Secure” interchange program
• Discover has added a Premium rate of 2.00% plus $0.10 to its “PSL – E-Commerce Secure” interchange program
• Discover has added a Premium Plus rate of 2.40% plus $0.10 to its “PSL – E-Commerce Secure” interchange program
• Discover has added a Non-Regulated Consumer Debit rate of 1.75% plus $0.20 to its “PSL – E-Commerce Secure” interchange program
• Discover has added a Non-Regulated Consumer Prepaid rate of 1.75% plus $0.20 to its “PSL – E-Commerce Secure” interchange program
• Discover has added a Regulated Consumer Debit/Consumer Prepaid rate of 0.05% plus $0.21 to its “PSL – E-Commerce Secure” interchange program
• Discover has added a Regulated Consumer Debit/Consumer Prepaid with Fraud Adjustment rate of 0.05% plus $0.22 to its “PSL – E-Commerce Secure” interchange program

American Express Interchange Increases (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Base Tier 1 cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 1.65% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Base Tier 2 cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 1.90% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Base Tier 3 cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 2.35% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 1 cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 1.95% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 2 cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 2.20% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 3 cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 2.65% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Tier 1 Non-US cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 2.05% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Tier 2 Non-US cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 2.30% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Tier 3 Non-US cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 2.75% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 1 Non-US cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 2.35% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 2 Non-US cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 2.60% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 3 Non-US cards under the “Business to Business / Wholesale” interchange program to 3.05% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Base Tier 2 cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 2.50% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Base Tier 3 cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 2.85% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 2 cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 2.80% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 3 cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 3.15% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Tier 2 Non-US cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 2.90% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Tier 3 Non-US cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 3.25% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 2 Non-US cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 3.20% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 3 Non-US cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 3.55% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Base Tier 1 cards under the “Services & Professional Services” interchange program to 1.70% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Base Tier 2 cards under the “Services & Professional Services” interchange program to 2.00% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 1 cards under the “Services & Professional Services” interchange program to 2.00% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 2 cards under the “Services & Professional Services” interchange program to 2.30% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Tier 1 Non-US cards under the “Services & Professional Services” interchange program to 2.10% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Tier 2 Non-US cards under the “Services & Professional Services” interchange program to 2.40% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 1 Non-US cards under the “Services & Professional Services” interchange program to 2.40% plus $0.10
• American Express has increased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 2 Non-US cards under the “Services & Professional Services” interchange program to 2.70% plus $0.10

American Express Interchange Decrease (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• American Express has decreased its rate for Credit Base Tier 0 cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 1.60% plus $0.04
• American Express has decreased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 0 cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 1.90% plus $0.04
• American Express has decreased its rate for Credit Tier 0 Non-US cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 2.00% plus $0.04
• American Express has decreased its rate for Credit Non-Swipe Tier 0 Non-US cards under the “Restaurant” interchange program to 2.30% plus $0.04

New American Express Interchange Fees (Source: www.cardpaymentoptions.com)

• American Express has deleted its “Bars / Caterer” interchange program and all of its accompanying rates
• American Express has deleted its “Lodging” interchange program and all of its accompanying rates
• American Express has deleted its “Mail Order & Internet” interchange program and all of its accompanying rates
• American Express has added a Credit Base Tier 0 rate of 1.60% plus $0.04 to its “Services & Professional Services” interchange program
• American Express has added a Credit Non-Swipe Tier 0 rate of 1.90% plus $0.04 to its “Services & Professional Services” interchange program
• American Express has added a Credit Tier 0 Non-US rate of 2.00% plus $0.04 to its “Services & Professional Services” interchange program
• American Express has added a Credit Non-Swipe Tier 0 Non-US rate of 2.30% plus $0.04 to its “Services & Professional Services” interchange program
• American Express has added a “vPayments” interchange program that is designed primarily for use in an automated accounts payable environment for Commercial card accounts
• American Express has added a Credit Base rate of 1.89% plus $0.10 to its “vPayments” interchange program
• American Express has added a Credit Non-US rate of 2.29% plus $0.10 to its “vPayments” interchange program