Interchange Rates – 2025

The following are the April 2025 updates to Visa and American Express programs and fees.

Visa

Visa Enhanced Data File Specification

Visa recently published updated requirements on the use of enhanced data for interchange qualification. As part of the April 2025 Association Updates, Visa will begin using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to evaluate Level 2 (L2) and Level 3 (L3) data quality and will start tagging transactions with invalid data as non-compliant. 

The term “interchange optimization” is used across the industry in different ways, but typically it refers to when business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) merchants can qualify for lower interchange rates by partnering with a provider who augments L2 and L3 data on their behalf to qualify for lower rates. 

Because of these changes, effective April 1, 2025, Clearent will no longer augment additional data on the merchant’s behalf. All data required to achieve L2 or L3 interchange qualification will need to be provided with the transaction by the merchant’s SaaS platform or POS system.  

Qualified merchants and transactions will still be able to benefit from the lower interchange rates associated with L2 and L3 transactions by passing through the required data.  

Updates to Card Present (CPS) Programs for Unattended Terminals  

Visa will modify CPS qualification requirements to allow transactions from unattended cardholder activated terminals to qualify, regardless of MCC and transaction amount.  

This change enables Unattended Terminals to qualify for CPS programs for the following programs so long as these terminal transactions meet all other program requirements.  

American Express

American Express is updating their interchange rates for Insurance.  

Below are the existing and new rates for each Tier for Card Present and Card Not Present Transactions. 

All Card Brands  

Starting May 1, 2025, each card brand will have a new MCC 5723 for Firearms and Ammunition stores. This MCC is currently only required for those merchants that reside in California, Colorado, and New York. For American Express this MCC will be added to its Retail Program.