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Card Brand Updates

Effective April 16, 2021 we will update our systems to reflect the April card brand technical updates. Here’s an overview of what’s changing.

Visa

Category 1 Decline Codes Issuers Will Never Approve

Visa has instructed issuers to improve the information content of authorization decline reason codes. This will help merchants to make better decisions when attempting to re-try a transaction that they believe should be approved. However, a sub-set of decline codes indicates the card is blocked for use or never existed and means there is no circumstance in which the issuer will grant an approval—for example, in the case of a lost or stolen card. Effective 1 April 2021, acquirers and merchants must not retry an authorization that receives a decline response from this category. Effective 1 April 2022, attempts to authorize a transaction that has previously received a Category 1 decline will be subject to a per-transaction fee.

Category 1 decline codes that indicate the issuer will never approve (do not re-attempt):

  • 03 (Invalid merchant)
  • 04 (Pickup card)
  • 07 (Pickup card, special conditions)
  • 12 (Invalid transaction)
  • 15 (No such issuer)
  • 41 (Pickup card [lost card))
  • 43 (Pickup card [stolen card))
  • 57 (Transaction not permitted to cardholder)
  • 62 (Restricted card)
  • 78 (No account)
  • 93 (Transaction cannot be completed)
  • R0 (Stop payment order)
  • R1 (Revocation of authorization order)
  • R3 (Revocation of all authorization)

Additional details regarding fees, as well as information about other categories of decline reason codes, will be provided in a future communication.

Changes to Commercial Prepaid Rates & Descriptors

Visa Corporate Prepaid cards will no longer be eligible for a lower rate on CPS-qualified card present transactions. However, Business Prepaid and Purchasing Prepaid cards will continue to be eligible for the lower rate. Descriptors will change as follows:

Changes to Commercial Prepaid Rates and Descriptors
Card TypeOld DescriptorOld RateNew DescriptorNew Rate
CorporateNon-Qualified Commercial Prepaid2.95% + $0.10Non-Qualified Corporate Prepaid2.95% + $0.10
Business or PurchasingNon-Qualified Commercial Prepaid2.95% + $0.10Non-Qualified Business and Purchasing Prepaid2.95% + $0.10
CorporateCommercial Card Not Present Prepaid2.65% + $0.10Corporate Prepaid2.65% + $0.10
Business or PurchasingCommercial Card Not Present Prepaid2.65% + $0.10Business and Purchasing Card Not Present Prepaid2.65% + $0.10
CorporateCommercial Retail Prepaid2.15% + $0.10Corporate Prepaid2.65% + $0.10
Business or PurchasingCommercial Retail Prepaid2.15% + $0.10Business and Purchasing Retail Prepaid2.15% + $0.10
Consumer Credit Interchange Qualification, Rates & Descriptors

Consumer credit interchange qualification, rates, and descriptors will be change significantly. First, the following MCC groupings and related interchange fees and qualification logic will be eliminated:

  • Business-to-Business (Visa Signature Preferred and Visa Infinite (Spend-qualified) transactions)
  • Select Developing Market
  • Travel Service

In addition, the following programs will be eliminated:

  • CPS/Retail Credit
  • CPS/Retail Keyed Credit
  • CPS/Restaurant Credit
  • CPS/Service Station Credit
  • CPS/Retail 2 Credit
  • CPS/Rewards 1
  • CPS/Rewards 2
  • CPS/Card Not Present Credit
  • CPS/E-Commerce Basic Credit
  • CPS/E-Commerce Preferred Credit
  • CPS/Hotel&Car Rental Card Not Present Credit
  • CPS/Hotel&Car Rental Card Present Credit
  • CPS/Hotel&Car Rental E-Commerce Preferred Credit
  • Signature Preferred Electronic
  • Signature Preferred Card Not Present
  • Signature Preferred Retail
  • Signature Preferred Business-to-Business
  • Infinite Electronic
  • Infinite Card Not Present
  • Infinite Retail
  • Infinite Business-to-Business
Existing CPS/Small Ticket Rate Changes

The existing CPS/Small Ticket rates will be limited to service station and certain government MCCs:

  • 5541 (Service stations (with or without ancillary services))
  • 9211 (Court costs, including alimony and child support)
  • 9222 (Fines)
  • 9311 (Tax payments)
  • 9399 (Government services (not elsewhere classified))

The former “CPS/Small Ticket Credit” descriptor will be replaced with “Service Station and Government Small Ticket”. As is the case today, Signature Preferred and Infinite (Spend-qualified) cards will not be eligible for this rate, though they remain eligible for the CPS/Government Credit rate at MCCs 9211, 9222, 9311, and 9399.

New Small Ticket Program for Select MCCs

A new small ticket rate will be introduced for a select list of MCCs, subject to the same qualifying criteria as CPS/Small Ticket Credit, and available to all consumer credit products, including Signature Preferred and Infinite (Spend-qualified).

MCCs Eligible for new Small Ticket Program:

  • 4111 (Local and suburban commuter passenger transportation, including ferries)
  • 4112 (Passenger railways)
  • 4131 (Bus lines)
  • 5310 (Discount stores)
  • 5331 (Variety stores)
  • 5399 (Miscellaneous general merchandise)
  • 5499 (Miscellaneous food stores – Convenience stores and specialty markets)
  • 5552 (Electric vehicle charging)
  • 7211 (Laundries – family and commercial)
  • 7216 (Dry cleaners)
  • 7523 (Parking lots, parking meters and garages)
  • 7542 (Car washes)
  • 7832 (Motion picture theaters)
  • 7994 (Video game arcades/establishments)

New Visa Small Ticket Rates
ProductDescriptorRate
Traditional
Traditional Rewards
Traditional and Rewards Small Ticket1.90%
(min $0.04)
Signature
Infinite (Spend-not-qualified)
Signature Small Ticket2.20%
(min $0.04)
Signature Preferred
Infinite (Spend-qualified)
Signature Preferred and Infinite Small Ticket2.20%
(min $0.04)
New Merchant Segment Interchange Programs

New merchant segment interchange programs will be introduced for consumer credit purchase transactions that meet existing CPS qualification requirements.

Segment: Service Stations
MCC: 5541
Minimum Ticket Amount: None

Card Type

Descriptor

Rate

Consumer Credit

Fuel Consumer Credit

1.15% + $0.25 (max $1.10)


Segment
: Restaurant
MCC: 5812 (Restaurants), 5814 (Fast Food)
Minimum Ticket Amount: None

Card Type

Descriptor

Rate

Traditional
Traditional Rewards

Traditional and Traditional Rewards Restaurant Product 2 (card present)

2.10%
(min $0.04)

Signature
Signature Preferred
Infinite

Signature, Signature Preferred, Infinite Restaurant Product 2 (card present)

2.60%
(min $0.04)

Traditional
Traditional Rewards

Traditional and Traditional Rewards Restaurant Product 1 (card not present)

2.20%
(min $0.08)

Signature
Signature Preferred
Infinite

Signature, Signature Preferred, Infinite Restaurant Product 1 (card not present)

2.70%
(min $0.08)


Segment
: Taxi
MCC: 4121 (Taxicabs and Limousines)
Minimum Ticket Amount: None

Card Type

Descriptor

Rate

Traditional
Traditional Rewards

Traditional and Traditional Rewards Taxi Product 2 (card present)

2.10%
(min $0.04)

Signature
Signature Preferred
Infinite

Signature, Signature Preferred, Infinite Taxi Product 2 (card present)

2.60%
(min $0.04)

Traditional
Traditional Rewards

Traditional and Traditional Rewards Taxi Product 1 (card not present)

2.20%
(min $0.08)

Signature
Signature Preferred
Infinite

Signature, Signature Preferred, Infinite Taxi Product 1 (card not present)

2.70%
(min $0.08)

 

Segment: Real Estate
MCC: 6513
Minimum Ticket Amount: $500

Card Type

Descriptor

Rate

Traditional

Traditional Real Estate

1.43% + $0.05

Traditional Rewards

Traditional Rewards Real Estate

1.43% + $0.05

Signature
Infinite (Spend-not-qualified)

Signature Real Estate

1.43% + $0.05

Signature Preferred
Infinite (Spend-Qualified)

Signature Preferred and Infinite Real Estate

2.15% + $0.10

 

Segment: Education
MCC: 8211, 8220, 8241, 8244, 8249, 8299, 8351
Minimum Ticket Amount: $500

Card Type

Descriptor

Rate

Traditional

Traditional Education

1.43% + $0.05

Traditional Rewards

Traditional Rewards Education

1.43% + $0.05

Signature
Infinite (Spend-not-qualified)

Signature Education

1.43% + $0.05

Signature Preferred
Infinite (Spend-Qualified)

Signature Preferred and Infinite Education

2.15% + $0.10

 

Segment: Healthcare
MCC: 0742, 4119, 7277, 8011, 8021, 8031, 8041, 8042, 8043, 8049, 8050, 8062, 8071, 8099
Minimum Ticket Amount: $500

Card Type

Descriptor

Rate

Traditional

Traditional Healthcare

1.43% + $0.05

Traditional Rewards

Traditional Rewards Healthcare

1.43% + $0.05

Signature
Infinite (Spend-not-qualified)

Signature Healthcare

1.43% + $0.05

Signature Preferred
Infinite (Spend-Qualified)

Signature Preferred and Infinite Healthcare

2.30% + $0.10

 

Segment: Advertising
MCC: 7311
Minimum Ticket Amount: None

Card Type

Descriptor

Rate

Traditional

Traditional Advertising

1.55% + $0.10

Traditional Rewards

Traditional Rewards Advertising

1.70% + $0.10

Signature
Infinite (Spend-not-qualified)

Signature Advertising

1.75% + $0.10

Signature Preferred
Infinite (Spend-Qualified)

Signature Preferred and Infinite Advertising

2.30% + $0.10

 

Segment: Insurance
MCC: 5960, 6300
Minimum Ticket Amount: None

Card Type

Descriptor

Rate

Traditional

Traditional Insurance

1.43% + $0.05

Traditional Rewards

Traditional Rewards Insurance

1.43% + $0.05

Signature
Infinite (Spend-not-qualified)

Signature Insurance

1.43% + $0.05

Signature Preferred
Infinite (Spend-Qualified)

Signature Preferred and Infinite Insurance

2.25% + $0.10

 

Segment: Services
MCC: 0763, 0780, 1520, 1711, 1731, 1740, 1750, 1761, 1771, 1799, 2741, 2791, 2842, 4214, 4215, 4225, 4816, 4821, 5074, 5552, 5697, 5969, 5975, 5976, 5983, 5996, 5997, 7210, 7211, 7216, 7217, 7221, 7230, 7251, 7261, 7273, 7276, 7278, 7297, 7298, 7299, 7321, 7333, 7338, 7339, 7342, 7349, 7361, 7372, 7375, 7379, 7392, 7393, 7395, 7399, 7523, 7531, 7534, 7535, 7538, 7542, 7549, 7622, 7623, 7629, 7631, 7641, 7692, 7699, 8111, 8641, 8931, 8999
Minimum Ticket Amount: $100

Card Type

Descriptor

Rate

Traditional

Traditional Services

1.55% + $0.10

Traditional Rewards

Traditional Rewards Services

1.70% + $0.10

Signature
Infinite (Spend-not-qualified)

Signature Services

1.85% + $0.10

Signature Preferred
Infinite (Spend-Qualified)

Signature Preferred and Infinite Services

2.30% + $0.10

 

Segment: Travel
MCC: 3000-3999, 4112, 4411, 4511, 4722, 7011, 7512, 7513
Minimum Ticket Amount: None

Card Type

Descriptor

Rate

Traditional

Traditional Travel

1.75% + $0.10

Traditional Rewards

Traditional Rewards Travel

1.95% + $0.10

Signature
Infinite (Spend-not-qualified)

Signature Travel

2.25% + $0.10

Signature Preferred
Infinite (Spend-Qualified)

Signature Preferred and Infinite Travel

2.40% + $0.10

Existing Consumer & Business Credit Rates Changes

Transactions on Signature Preferred and Infinite (Spend-qualified) cards will become eligible for the CPS/Recurring Bill Payment program at Telecommunications and Cable service providers (MCCs 4814, 4899).

Transactions that are CPS-qualfied, but are not eligible for the new segment-based rates or other industry-specific programs, will be eligible for either “Product 1” (card-not-present) or “Product 2” (card-present) rates:

Card TypeDescriptorRate
TraditionalTraditional Product 11.80% + $0.10
Traditional RewardsTraditional Rewards Product 11.95% + $0.10
Signature
Infinite (Spend-not-qualified)
Signature Product 11.95% + $0.10
Signature Preferred
Infinite (Spend-Qualified)
Signature Preferred and Infinite Product 12.40% + $0.10
TraditionalTraditional Product 21.51% + $0.10
Traditional RewardsTraditional Rewards Product 21.65% + $0.10
Signature
Infinite (Spend-not-qualified)
Signature Product 21.65% + $0.10
Signature Preferred
Infinite (Spend-Qualified)
Signature Preferred and Infinite Product 22.10% + $0.10


NOTE
: Transactions that qualify for the “CPS/Key Entered” program will no longer be considered “Product 1” (card present); instead, they will be treated as “Product 1” (card not present). This is a change from current treatment.

Existing Consumer and Business Credit rates will change:

Descriptor

Current Rate

Current Per Item

New Rate

New Per Item

Non-Qualified Consumer Credit2.70%$0.102.70%$0.10
Non-Qualified Business Credit2.95%$0.203.15%$0.20
Business Tier 1 Travel2.40%$0.102.35%$0.10
Business Tier 2 Travel2.75%$0.152.50%$0.10
Business Tier 3 Travel2.85%$0.202.55%$0.10
Business Tier 4 Travel2.95%$0.202.65%$0.10
Business Tier 5 Travel2.95%$0.202.70%$0.10
Business Tier 1 Product 12.25%$0.102.65%$0.10
Business Tier 2 Product 12.45%$0.152.80%$0.10
Business Tier 3 Product 12.60%$0.202.85%$0.10
Business Tier 4 Product 12.70%$0.202.95%$0.10
Business Tier 5 Product 12.70%$0.203.00%$0.10
Business Tier 1 Product 22.20%$0.101.90%$0.10
Business Tier 2 Product 22.30%$0.102.05%$0.10
Business Tier 3 Product 22.40%$0.102.10%$0.10
Business Tier 4 Product 22.50%$0.102.20%$0.10
Business Tier 5 Product 22.50%$0.102.25%$0.10
Business Tier 1 Level 22.05%$0.101.90%$0.10
Business Tier 3 Level 22.05%$0.102.10%$0.10
Business Tier 5 Level 22.20%$0.102.25%$0.10
Corporate Fuel Level 22.05%$0.102.20%$0.10
Purchasing Fuel Level 22.05%$0.102.20%$0.10


NOTE
: Non-Travel Service transactions on Commercial cards that qualify for CPS/Retail Key Entry will no longer be eligible for the Business Tier Product 2 or Corporate/Purchasing Card Present rates. Instead, they will be eligible for Business Tier Product 1 or Corporate/Purchasing Card Not Present rates.

Mastercard

Digital Enablement Fee Changes

The Digital Enablement Fee will increase from 0.01% to 0.02%.

New Small Ticket Rates

New Small Ticket rates will be introduced for Card Present and Card Not Present Consumer Credit Transactions. The 10 new rates lower interchange costs for small-ticket purchases of $5.00 or less and support acceptance of small-ticket purchases.

New Mastercard Small Ticket Rates

Product Group

Card Present (IRD CP)

Card Not Present (IRD CNP)

Core Value

1.58% + $0.10

1.89% + $0.10

Enhanced Value

1.73% + $0.10

2.04% + $0.10

World

1.77% + $0.10

2.05% + $0.10

World High Value

2.20% + $0.10

2.50% + $0.10

World Elite

2.20% + $0.10

2.50% + $0.10

Discover

Authorization Fee Change

The Discover Authorization Fee will increase from $0.0025 to $0.0190 per authorization.

Elimination of Mid Submission Level Program

The Mid Submission Level interchange programs will be eliminated. Transactions will instead qualify at the appropriate Base Submission Level.

Elimination of Mid Submission Level

Current Qualification

Current Rate

New Qualification

New Rate

Mid (Core)

2.40% + $0.10

Base (Core) *

2.95% + $0.15

Mid (Rewards)

2.40% + $0.10

Base (Rewards) *

2.95% + $0.15

Mid (Premium)

2.40% + $0.10

Base (Premium) *

2.95% + $0.15

Mid (Premium Plus)

2.40% + $0.10

Base (Premium Plus) *

2.95% + $0.15

Mid (Debit)

1.80% + $0.20

Base (Debit) *

1.90% + $0.30

Mid (Prepaid)

1.80% + $0.20

Base (Prepaid) *

1.90% + $0.30

* Base Submission Level per-item fees will increase by $0.05 to include a new Program Integrity Fee that Discover will add to compensate for additional risk and processing costs associated with transactions that do not qualify for a PSL program.

Changes to Existing Discover Interchange Rates

Rates on numerous existing interchange programs will change.

Changes to Existing Discover Interchange Rates

Submission

Level

Current

Rate

Current

Per Item

New

Rate

New

Per Item

Base Submission Level (Core)*

2.95%

$0.10

2.95%

$0.15

Base Submission Level (Rewards)*

2.95%

$0.10

2.95%

$0.15

Base Submission Level (Premium)*

2.95%

$0.10

2.95%

$0.15

Base Submission Level (Premium Plus)*

2.95%

$0.10

2.95%

$0.15

Base Submission Level (Debit)*

1.89%

$0.25

1.90%

$0.30

Base Submission Level (Prepaid)*

1.89%

$0.25

1.90%

$0.30

Consumer Adjustment Voucher 1 (Debit)

1.80%

$0.00

0.00%

$0.00

Consumer Adjustment Voucher 2 (Debit)

1.69%

$0.00

0.00%

$0.00

Consumer Adjustment Voucher 3 (Debit)

1.35%

$0.00

0.00%

$0.00

Consumer Adjustment Voucher 1 (Prepaid)

1.80%

$0.00

0.00%

$0.00

Consumer Adjustment Voucher 2 (Prepaid)

1.69%

$0.00

0.00%

$0.00

Consumer Adjustment Voucher 3 (Prepaid)

1.35%

$0.00

0.00%

$0.00


* Base Submission Level per-item fees will increase by $0.05 to include a new Program Integrity Fee that Discover will add to compensate for additional risk and processing costs associated with transactions that do not qualify for a PSL program.

American Express OptBlue

New Amex OptBlue Consumer Debit Rates

The VPayment product type and associated pricing will be eliminated.

New Debit products and associated rates will be introduced.

New Amex OptBlue Consumer Debit Rates

Industry

Card Present

Card Not Present

Regulated

B2B/Wholesale

0.99% + $0.15

1.29% + $0.15

0.04% + $0.25

Education

0.79% + $0.15

1.09% + $0.15

0.04% + $0.25

Emerging Markets

0.79% + $0.15

1.09% + $0.15

0.04% + $0.25

Government

0.79% + $0.15

1.09% + $0.15

0.04% + $0.25

Healthcare

0.99% + $0.15

1.29% + $0.15

0.04% + $0.25

Restaurants

1.29% + $0.10

1.59% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Retail

0.99% + $0.15

1.29% + $0.15

0.04% + $0.25

Services and Professional Services

0.99% + $0.15

1.29% + $0.15

0.04% + $0.25

Travel and Entertainment

1.19% + $0.15

1.49% + $0.15

0.04% + $0.25

Other

0.99% + $0.15

1.29% + $0.15

0.04% + $0.25

New Amex OptBlue Small Business Debit Rates

New Small Business Debit products and associated rates will be introduced.

New Amex OptBlue Small Business Debit Rates

Industry

Card Present

Card Not Present

Regulated

B2B/Wholesale

1.94% + $0.10

2.24% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Education

1.99% + $0.10

2.29% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Emerging Markets

1.99% + $0.10

2.29% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Government

1.99% + $0.10

2.29% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Healthcare

1.94% + $0.10

2.24% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Restaurants

1.99% + $0.10

2.29% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Retail

1.94% + $0.10

2.24% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Services and Professional Services

1.94% + $0.10

2.24% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Travel and Entertainment

1.99% + $0.10

2.29% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Other

1.94% + $0.10

2.24% + $0.10

0.04% + $0.25

Related product:

Compass® Online Reporting Tool

Compass® Online Reporting Tool

Thanks to Compass, all of the information you need to manage your merchant services program is right at your fingertips, online 24/7.

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