Card Brand Updates
Thought Leadership
On October 14, 2022, we will update our systems to reflect the October association updates. The most noteworthy changes are around the OptBlue program from American Express.
American Express OptBlue
Rate Changes
Card Present wholesale rates for the following industries will change.
As always, Card Not Present rates are an additional 0.30% above the published Card Present rate.
Program Limits and Program Continuation Fee
Annual charge volume limits for OptBlue program eligibility will be increased or eliminated by industry category.
Where a limit remains, merchants who are under the limit at the time they’re onboarded, but later grow beyond it, will be allowed to remain in the OptBlue program. Once the merchant’s annual Amex charge volume (excluding credits) exceeds $3,000,000 they will be subject to a “Program Continuation Fee” of 0.03% of charge volume.
Merchants with estimated annual Amex charge volume more than the industry category limit (where applicable) at the time of signing are not eligible to be enrolled in OptBlue and must be set up as Amex Direct.
New industries
New industries will be established, and certain MCCs will move from existing industries into the new industries.
Rates shown above are for Card Present transactions. As always, Card Not Present rates are an additional 0.30% above the published Card Present rate. Prepaid wholesale rates are as previously published and do not vary by industry.
Industry Re-assignments
Certain MCCs will move from existing industries into other existing industries.
