Network Cost Updates
What changes for United States and Canadian merchants, October to December 2026
Prepared by Flexibl from the Q4 2026 card network fee bulletins (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Interac). Only changes affecting businesses located in the United States or Canada, plus global changes that apply to both markets, are included. Published 9 September 2026.
1. Notable updates explained
UNITED STATES
Mastercard: fleet-card interchange restructure
Effective 23 October 2026 | Mastercard, interchange
Fleet cards are commercial cards issued to companies for vehicle expenses (fuel, maintenance, repairs). Mastercard is removing certain fleet-card and merchant-category combinations from its general commercial interchange programs. If a transaction carries the extra fleet data Mastercard requires, it now qualifies for a dedicated Fleet program (Commercial Fleet Data Rate I, II, III or Commercial Fleet Large Ticket). If it does not, it falls to a higher rate.
Affected merchant categories: 4468, 5499, 5541, 5542, 5552, 5983, 5013, 5511, 5531, 5532, 5533, 5599, 7531, 7534, 7535, 7538, 7542, 7549, 7692 and 7699 (fuel, convenience, auto dealers, parts, repair and related trades).
Why it matters: Merchants in these categories that accept fleet cards but do not pass fleet data (driver ID, odometer, purchase detail) will pay more. Enabling fleet data capture avoids the increase.
Mastercard: World Elite cards may switch between consumer and commercial pricing
Effective 23 October 2026 | Mastercard, interchange
Product Graduation Plus lets a card issuer upgrade or move a cardholder to a different card product without issuing a new card number. Until now moves were limited to consumer-to-consumer or commercial-to-commercial. Mastercard is now allowing US issuers to move cardholders between the consumer World Elite Mastercard and the commercial World Elite Mastercard for Business.
Why it matters: A card number you have on file could start pricing as a commercial card (usually more expensive) or as a consumer card without any visible change. Interchange on stored cards may shift unexpectedly.
Visa: Commercial Embedded Payments fee
Effective US 23 October 2026, Canada 30 November 2026 | Visa, scheme fee
A new 0.10% fee applies to card-not-present transactions paid with a virtual commercial card that Visa has flagged as ‘embedded’ when the card was set up. Embedded virtual cards are typically generated inside accounts-payable or procurement software to pay suppliers.
Why it matters: B2B merchants and software platforms that receive supplier payments via virtual cards will see an extra 10 basis points on those transactions.
Discover: car rental categories expanded
Effective 23 October 2026 | Discover, processing rules
Merchant categories 3342 through 3500 are added to Discover’s Car Rental/Hotels industry group, so the full list is now 3351 to 3999, 7011, 7012, 7512, 7513 and 7519. The newly added categories follow the hotel and car rental rules: no tolerance check on the captured amount versus the authorised amount, no eligibility for Retail, Card Not Present, e-commerce or Key Entry plans, eligibility for the Hotels/Car Rentals plan, and no address verification requirement for the Commercial Electronic program.
Why it matters: Only affects merchants coded in the newly added categories. No pricing change for existing car rental and hotel merchants.
CANADA
Visa: lower consumer credit interchange, bigger Small Business program, and DCAP
Effective 23 October 2026 | Visa, interchange and scheme fee
Small Business (SMB) program threshold. Visa’s SMB program gives lower consumer credit interchange to smaller merchants. The annual Visa volume ceiling to qualify rises from CA$300,000 to CA$750,000, so a much larger group of merchants becomes eligible.
Rate decreases. Many domestic consumer credit rates fall, especially on SMB plans and on premium cards (Visa Infinite, Infinite+ and Infinite Privilege). Typical decrease: 7 to 15 basis points. One commercial rate increases: Visa Business Credit standard moves from 2.00% to 2.15%.
Digital Commerce Authentication Program (DCAP). DCAP is a new framework for online transactions where the merchant sends extra information to the card issuer during authentication (cardholder IP address, device ID, billing address, and email or phone number) to help the issuer decide whether to approve. Two new interchange tiers reward this: one for DCAP data alone, a lower one for DCAP data plus a network token. A new 0.05% scheme fee applies whenever DCAP data is sent. Recurring payments, merchant-initiated payments, wallet payments such as Apple Pay and 3DS-authenticated payments are excluded from DCAP.
Why it matters: Most Canadian merchants accepting consumer credit cards will pay less. Online merchants can lower interchange further by sending DCAP data and using network tokens, but should weigh the 5 bps DCAP fee against the interchange saving on their card mix.
Mastercard: NABU introduced, MC Clearing Fee removed
Effective 19 October 2026 | Mastercard, scheme fee
Mastercard introduces the Network Access/Brand Usage Fee (NABU) in Canada. NABU is charged on every authorisation, whether approved or declined, and on authorisation reversals: US$0.0195 per domestic authorisation, US$0.0295 per interregional authorisation, US$0.0098 per domestic reversal and US$0.0148 per interregional reversal.
At the same time the MC Clearing Fee introduced in September 2025 is removed. That fee applied only to captured transactions: US$0.005 on amounts of US$25.00 or less, US$0.0195 above US$25.00.
Why it matters: For a typical approved sale the per-item cost is about the same as before. The difference is that declined attempts and reversals now cost money too, so merchants with high decline rates or many pre-authorisations will pay more.
Visa: Purchasing Large Ticket limit
Effective 28 September 2026 | Visa, processing rules
The Purchasing Large Ticket (PLT) program covers very high-value commercial credit and debit transactions in Canada. The maximum transaction size rises to US$50 million or local currency equivalent. Commercial prepaid is not affected and there are no rate changes.
Why it matters: Relevant only to merchants processing very large B2B invoices by card.
Interac: switch fee increase
Effective 1 November 2026 | Interac, scheme fee
The Interac switch fee for Chip and PIN and Mobile Contactless debit transactions increases from $0.013985 to $0.014438 per transaction, a rise of about 3%.
Why it matters: A fraction of a cent per Interac transaction. Noticeable only at very high in-person debit volume.
GLOBAL CHANGES THAT APPLY TO BOTH MARKETS
Visa: decline code reclassification and retry penalties
Effective 23 and 25 October 2026 | Visa, response codes
When a payment is declined the issuer returns a response code explaining why. Visa charges retry penalties based on these codes: some declines may be retried a few times, others should never be retried.
23 October. When issuers misuse codes 15 (No such issuer), 57 (Transaction not permitted to cardholder) or 12 (Invalid transaction), Visa will convert them to 05 (Do not honour). Code 05 is a generic decline that counts toward excessive-retry rules and fees. Expect to see more 05 responses.
25 October. Code 57 moves from Category 4 (limited retries allowed) to Category 1 (Never Approve Reattempt). Every retry after a 57 is charged the Never Approve Reattempt fee.
Why it matters: Subscription and recurring billers should update retry logic: stop retrying after a 57, and expect more declines to fall under the generic 05 bucket with its retry limits.
Mastercard: lower Excessive Authorisation fee, new Data Consistency fee
Effective US 1 February 2027, Canada 1 April 2027 | Mastercard, scheme fee
Excessive Authorisation fee. The penalty for retrying a declined card too many times drops from US$0.50 to US$0.28 per excess retry. The allowance stays at 10 retries in 24 hours, but the 30-day allowance falls from 35 to 20.
Data Consistency fee. A new US$0.20 fee (rising to US$0.30 by 2029) applies when a retry within twelve hours of a decline, to the same merchant, card number and amount, drops the security code or expiry date that was present on the first attempt, or changes the merchant category. It does not apply when a network token or 3D Secure is used on either attempt.
Why it matters: Retries are cheaper per attempt but you get fewer of them per month, and retries must be identical to the original request. Tokenising stored cards avoids the new fee entirely.
Mastercard: Crypto Card Assessment fee
Effective US 19 October 2026, Canada 18 January 2027 | Mastercard, scheme fee
In April 2026 Mastercard launched a consumer prepaid card that lets cardholders spend crypto balances while the merchant still receives ordinary currency. A new 0.05% fee applies to transactions funded this way. It does not apply to normal cards that simply pay crypto rewards, and merchants do not need to hold or convert any crypto.
Why it matters: Small and limited to a niche card product. No action required.
Mastercard: Wholesale Travel Program and Business Standard Charge Card
Effective 23 October 2026 | Mastercard, interchange
The Wholesale Travel Program is a commercial credit program for business-to-business travel payments (for example a travel agency paying a hotel). Interchange is set per card product from 0.50% to 3.00%; the US uses a slightly different ladder from the global one that applies in Canada (see Section 3). Separately, the standard 2.00% interregional rate is extended to the new Business Standard Charge Card.
Why it matters: Relevant to travel suppliers paid by virtual B2B cards. Other merchants are unaffected.
Visa: Commercial Choice Omni and Commercial Choice Travel
Effective 23 October 2026 | Visa, interchange
These are virtual commercial credit cards whose interchange is negotiated between the issuer and the corporate client, within a permitted range of 0.80% to 3.00%. Where the negotiated rate exceeds 2.00%, Visa restricts the card to domestic transactions only.
Why it matters: B2B merchants may see unusually high or low interchange on these cards. The 2.00% domestic-only rule caps exposure on cross-border payments.
Visa: Stop Payment Service Request fee billing
Effective 1 October 2026 | Visa, scheme fee
The Visa Stop Payment Service lets a cardholder ask their bank to block future recurring charges from a merchant. The US$1.00 fee per request is now billed monthly for events that happened in the prior month.
Why it matters: No change to the amount. You may notice these fees appear in a different month than before.
Visa: Digital Commerce Services fee increase
Effective 1 April 2027 | Visa, scheme fee
The Digital Commerce Services fee applies to every card-not-present authorisation. In both the US and Canada it rises from 0.015% to 0.0225% for domestic and from 0.035% to 0.0525% for cross-border authorisations. The per-item minimum rises from US$0.01 to US$0.0125.
Why it matters: A 50% increase in this fee, though the absolute amount stays small (about 2 cents on a US$100 online sale). Online merchants with many low-value transactions feel it most because of the per-item minimum.
2. New card products (United States)
New card products matter because each card type carries its own interchange. When a network launches a card, your customers may start paying with it and your average cost can shift even though no rate table changed.
Visa Instalment Credential
Effective 23 October 2026 | Visa
A new US consumer credit card built for buy-now-pay-later. The merchant is paid in full up front; the cardholder repays the issuer in instalments. It prices like a rewards credit card: transactions of US$50.00 or less are 1.10% with a US$0.04 minimum in every eligible category, while above US$50.00 the rate depends on the merchant segment, whether the card was present, and whether a network token or DCAP data was used (full table in Section 3). Existing interregional plans apply to foreign-issued cards.
Merchants in these categories cannot accept the card: 4829 (money transfer), 5542 (automated fuel dispensers, US-issued cards only), 6010, 6011, 6012 (financial institutions), 6051 (currency, crypto, money orders, account funding), 6211 (securities brokers), 7322 (collection agencies, US-issued only), 7800, 7801, 7802, 7995 (lotteries, casinos, racing, wagering) and 9406 (non-US government lotteries).
Why it matters: Expect BNPL-style purchases to arrive as ordinary Visa credit transactions at credit-card interchange. Nonqualified rate is 3.15% + US$0.10, so clean data submission matters.
Mastercard World Legend Debit and World Elite Debit
Effective 23 October 2026 | Mastercard
Two new premium consumer debit cards issued in the US and accepted globally. They price under existing debit interchange programs.
Why it matters: No new rates. Premium debit typically prices at the higher end of debit interchange.
Mastercard commercial credit and prepaid (Variable Interchange Program)
Effective 23 October 2026 | Mastercard
New US commercial credit and prepaid cards that qualify for Mastercard’s Variable Interchange Program, a B2B program where interchange varies by product. The prepaid versions are unregulated (not subject to the debit interchange cap). The cards can also move between products under Account Level Management.
Why it matters: B2B merchants may see these cards at commercial rather than regulated debit pricing.
Mastercard Wholesale Program: 15 new commercial credit products
Effective 23 October 2026 | Mastercard
Fifteen new commercial credit product codes join the Mastercard Wholesale Program, including the US-specific Wholesale interchange program. Rates appear in the Mastercard interchange table in Section 3.
Why it matters: Relevant to travel and B2B suppliers only.
3. Complete rate tables: United States and Canada
Where an entire column is the same for every row (for example, every row is a new program with no previous rate), the column is dropped and the constant is stated below the table. ‘Card category’ is the card product the rate applies to; ‘Update type’ says whether a rate is new, changed, or a structural change with no rate movement.
3.1 Visa interchange: United States, Installment Credential (effective 23 October 2026)
| Interchange program (Visa Domestic US - Installment Credential - …) | New rate | Qualifications | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recurring Bill Payment | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Small Merchant Telecommunications and Cable | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Small Merchant Product 2 | 1.88% + US$0.10 | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Small Merchant Product 1 | 2.18% + US$0.10 | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Small Merchant Product 1 | 2.13% + US$0.10 | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Small Merchant Product 1 | 2.08% + US$0.10 | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Small Merchant Product 1 | 2.03% + US$0.10 | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Product 2 | 2.10% + US$0.10 | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Product 1 - Token | 2.50% + US$0.10 | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Product 1 - Token | 2.45% + US$0.10 | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Product 1 - Token | 2.40% + US$0.10 | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Product 1 - Token | 2.35% + US$0.10 | Eligible MCCs: 4814 and 4899 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| All other MCCs | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Eligible MCCs: all excluding 4829, 5542, 6010, 6011, 6012, 6051, 6211, 7322, 7800, 7801, 7802, 7995 and 9406 | Transactions of US$50.00 or less |
| Selected MCCs | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Eligible MCCs: 4816, 5122, 5813, 5816, 5912, 5921, 5966, 5967, 5968, 5993, 6540, 7273, 9405 and 9223 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
| Credit Voucher | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Interchange rate returned on refund | |
| Nonqualified | 3.15% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Nonqualified | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions of US$50.00 or less | |
| Supermarket Credit Tier 0 | 1.55% + US$0.05 * | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Supermarket Credit Tier 1 | 1.55% + US$0.05 * | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Supermarket Credit Tier 2 | 1.55% + US$0.05 * | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Supermarket Credit Tier 3 | 1.60% + US$0.05 * | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Retail Credit Tier 1 | 2.10% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Retail Credit Tier 2 | 2.10% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Retail Credit Tier 3 | 2.10% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Recurring Telecommunications and Cable Threshold for token and non token Tier 1 | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Recurring Telecommunications and Cable Threshold for token and non token Tier 2 | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Recurring Telecommunications and Cable Threshold for token and non token Tier 3 | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Utility | US$0.75 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Charity & Religious Organisation | 1.35% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Charity & Religious Organisation CNP | 1.35% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Charity & Religious Organisation CNP - Token | 1.35% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Charity & Religious Organisation CNP - DCAP | 1.30% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Charity & Religious Organisation CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.30% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Government | 1.55% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Government CNP | 1.55% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Government CNP - Token | 1.50% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Government CNP - DCAP | 1.45% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Government CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.40% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Travel | 2.40% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Travel CNP | 2.40% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Travel CNP - Token | 2.35% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Travel CNP - DCAP | 2.30% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Travel CNP - Token and DCAP | 2.25% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Fuel | 1.15% + US$0.25 (maximum US$1.10) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Supermarket | 1.65% + US$0.07 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Supermarket | 1.65% + US$0.07 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Restaurant | 2.60% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Restaurant | 2.60% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Restaurant CNP | 2.70% (minimum US$0.08) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Restaurant CNP - Token | 2.65% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Restaurant CNP - DCAP | 2.60% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Restaurant CNP - Token and DCAP | 2.55% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Restaurant CNP | 2.60% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Restaurant CNP - Token | 2.60% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Restaurant CNP - DCAP | 2.55% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Restaurant CNP - Token and DCAP | 2.55% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Taxi 2 | 2.60% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Taxi 2 | 2.60% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Taxi 1 | 2.70% (minimum US$0.08) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Taxi 1 - Token | 2.65% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Taxi 1 - DCAP | 2.60% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Taxi 1 - Token and DCAP | 2.55% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Taxi 1 | 2.60% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Taxi 1 - Token | 2.60% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Taxi 1 - DCAP | 2.55% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Taxi 1 - Token and DCAP | 2.55% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Real Estate | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Real Estate | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Real Estate CNP | 1.53% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Real Estate CNP - Token | 1.48% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Real Estate CNP - DCAP | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Real Estate CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Real Estate CNP | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Real Estate CNP - Token | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Real Estate CNP - DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Real Estate CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Education | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Education | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Education CNP | 1.53% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Education CNP - Token | 1.48% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Education CNP - DCAP | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Education CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Education CNP | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Education CNP - Token | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Education CNP - DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Education CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Healthcare | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Healthcare | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Healthcare CNP | 1.53% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Healthcare CNP - Token | 1.48% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Healthcare CNP - DCAP | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Healthcare CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Healthcare CNP | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Healthcare CNP - Token | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Healthcare CNP - DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Healthcare CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Advertising | 1.75% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Advertising | 1.75% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Advertising CNP | 1.85% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Advertising CNP - Token | 1.80% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Advertising CNP - DCAP | 1.75% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Advertising CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.70% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Advertising CNP | 1.75% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Advertising CNP - Token | 1.75% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Advertising CNP - DCAP | 1.70% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Advertising CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.70% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Insurance | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Insurance | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Insurance CNP | 1.53% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Insurance CNP - Token | 1.48% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Insurance CNP - DCAP | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Insurance CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Insurance CNP | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Insurance CNP - Token | 1.43% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Insurance CNP - DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Insurance CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.38% + US$0.05 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Services | 1.85% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Services | 1.85% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Services CNP | 1.95% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Services CNP - Token | 1.90% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Services CNP - DCAP | 1.85% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Services CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.80% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Services CNP | 1.85% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Services CNP - Token | 1.85% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Services CNP - DCAP | 1.80% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Services CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.80% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Recurring Bill Payment, CNP | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Recurring Bill Payment, CNP - Token | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Recurring Bill Payment, CNP - DCAP | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Recurring Bill Payment, CNP - Token and DCAP | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Telecommunications and Cable | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Telecommunications and Cable - Token | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Telecommunications and Cable - DCAP | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Telecommunications and Cable - Token and DCAP | 1.10% (minimum US$0.04) | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Product 2 | 2.10% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Product 2 | 1.88% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Product 1 | 2.50% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Product 1 - Token | 2.45% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Product 1 - DCAP | 2.40% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Product 1 - Token and DCAP | 2.35% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Product 1 | 2.18% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Product 1 - Token | 2.13% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Product 1 - DCAP | 2.08% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Small Merchant Product 1 - Token and DCAP | 2.03% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Consumer Bill Payment Service (CBPS) | 2.50% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Consumer Bill Payment Service (CBPS) CNP | 2.50% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Consumer Bill Payment Service (CBPS) CNP - Token | 2.45% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Consumer Bill Payment Service (CBPS) CNP - DCAP | 2.40% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 | |
| Consumer Bill Payment Service (CBPS) CNP - Token and DCAP | 2.35% + US$0.10 | Transactions greater than US$50.00 |
3.2 Visa interchange: Canada (effective 23 October 2026)
| Interchange program | Card category | New rate | Previous rate | Update type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Electronic | Classic, Gold and Platinum | 0.70% | 0.77% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present | Classic, Gold and Platinum | 1.20% | 1.30% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present Tokenised | Classic, Gold and Platinum | 1.15% | 1.25% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present - DCAP | Classic, Gold and Platinum | 1.10% | 1.20% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present - DCAP and Tokenised | Classic, Gold and Platinum | 1.05% | 1.15% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Electronic | Visa Infinite | 0.89% | 0.99% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present | Visa Infinite | 1.45% | 1.55% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present Tokenised | Visa Infinite | 1.40% | 1.50% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present - DCAP | Visa Infinite | 1.35% | 1.45% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present - DCAP and Tokenised | Visa Infinite | 1.30% | 1.40% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Everyday Needs | Visa Infinite | 1.10% | 1.20% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Industry Programme - Gas | Visa Infinite | 1.24% | 1.34% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Industry Programme - Grocery and Food Retail | Visa Infinite | 1.05% | 1.15% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Standard | Visa Infinite+ | 2.20% | 2.35% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present | Visa Infinite+ | 2.05% | 2.20% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present Tokenised | Visa Infinite+ | 2.00% | 2.15% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present - DCAP | Visa Infinite+ | 1.95% | 2.10% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present - DCAP and Tokenised | Visa Infinite+ | 1.90% | 2.05% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Performance Programme Card Not Present | Visa Infinite+ | 2.10% | 2.25% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Performance Programme Card Not Present Tokenised | Visa Infinite+ | 2.05% | 2.20% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Performance Programme Card Not Present - DCAP | Visa Infinite+ | 2.00% | 2.15% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Performance Programme - DCAP and Tokenised | Visa Infinite+ | 1.95% | 2.10% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Card Not Present | Visa Infinite+ | 2.15% | 2.30% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Card Not Present Tokenised | Visa Infinite+ | 2.10% | 2.25% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Card Not Present - DCAP | Visa Infinite+ | 2.05% | 2.20% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Card Not Present - DCAP and Tokenised | Visa Infinite+ | 2.00% | 2.15% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Electronic | Visa Infinite Privilege | 1.70% | 1.80% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present | Visa Infinite Privilege | 2.20% | 2.30% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present Tokenised | Visa Infinite Privilege | 2.15% | 2.25% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present - DCAP | Visa Infinite Privilege | 2.10% | 2.20% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Small Business Card Not Present - DCAP and Tokenised | Visa Infinite Privilege | 2.05% | 2.15% | New program |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Everyday Needs | Visa Infinite Privilege | 1.85% | 1.95% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Industry Programme - Gas | Visa Infinite Privilege | 1.85% | 1.95% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Consumer Credit - Industry Programme - Grocery and Food Retail | Visa Infinite Privilege | 1.85% | 1.95% | Rate updated |
| Visa Canada - Domestic Commercial Credit - Standard | Visa Business Credit | 2.15% | 2.00% | Rate updated |
| Consumer Credit - Performance - Card-Not-Present - Token and DCAP | Visa Classic, Gold and Platinum Credit | 1.20% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Performance - Card-Not-Present - Token and DCAP | Visa Infinite Credit | 1.45% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Performance - Card-Not-Present - Token and DCAP | Visa Infinite Privilege Credit | 2.20% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Performance - Card-Not-Present - DCAP only | Visa Classic, Gold and Platinum Credit | 1.25% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Performance - Card-Not-Present - DCAP only | Visa Infinite Credit | 1.50% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Performance - Card-Not-Present - DCAP only | Visa Infinite Privilege Credit | 2.25% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Card-Not-Present - Token and DCAP | Visa Classic, Gold and Platinum Credit | 1.25% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Card-Not-Present - Token and DCAP | Visa Infinite Credit | 1.50% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Card-Not-Present - Token and DCAP | Visa Infinite Privilege Credit | 2.25% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Card-Not-Present - DCAP only | Visa Classic, Gold and Platinum Credit | 1.30% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Card-Not-Present - DCAP only | Visa Infinite Credit | 1.55% | N/A | New program |
| Consumer Credit - Card-Not-Present - DCAP only | Visa Infinite Privilege Credit | 2.30% | N/A | New program |
3.3 Visa scheme fees: United States and Canada
| Effective | Country | Fee | Update type | New rate | Previous rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 2026 | United States | Visa Commercial Embedded Payments fee | New fee | 0.10% | N/A |
| 23 Oct 2026 | Canada | Visa Digital Commerce Authentication Program (DCAP) fee | New fee | 0.05% | N/A |
| 30 Nov 2026 | Canada | Visa Commercial Embedded Payments fee | New fee | 0.10% | N/A |
| 1 Apr 2027 | United States | Digital Commerce Services - Domestic | Rate updated | 0.0225% | 0.015% |
| 1 Apr 2027 | United States | Digital Commerce Services minimum - Domestic | Rate updated | US$0.0125 | US$0.01 |
| 1 Apr 2027 | United States | Digital Commerce Services - Cross Border | Rate updated | 0.0525% | 0.035% |
| 1 Apr 2027 | United States | Digital Commerce Services minimum - Cross Border | Rate updated | US$0.0125 | US$0.01 |
| 1 Apr 2027 | Canada | Digital Commerce Services - Domestic | Rate updated | 0.0225% | 0.015% |
| 1 Apr 2027 | Canada | Digital Commerce Services minimum - Domestic | Rate updated | US$0.0125 | US$0.01 |
| 1 Apr 2027 | Canada | Digital Commerce Services - Cross Border | Rate updated | 0.0525% | 0.035% |
| 1 Apr 2027 | Canada | Digital Commerce Services minimum - Cross Border | Rate updated | US$0.0125 | US$0.01 |
3.4 Mastercard interchange: United States and Canada (effective 23 October 2026)
| Country | Interchange program | Card category | New rate | Previous rate | Update type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 24 | Commercial B2B | 0.50% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 25 | Commercial B2B | 0.60% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 26 | Commercial B2B | 0.70% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 27 | Commercial B2B | 0.80% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 28 | Commercial B2B | 0.90% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 29 | Commercial B2B | 2.00% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 30 | Commercial B2B | 2.00% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 31 | Commercial B2B | 2.00% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 32 | Commercial B2B | 2.00% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 33 | Commercial B2B | 2.70% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 34 | Commercial B2B | 2.70% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Mastercard Wholesale Travel Programme - Mastercard B2B Product 35 | Commercial B2B | 2.70% | N/A | New program |
| United States | US Domestic - Fleet Programme - Commercial Fleet Data Rate I | Fleet | 2.70% + US$0.10 (no change) | 2.70% + US$0.10 | Structural change |
| United States | US Domestic - Fleet Programme - Commercial Fleet Data Rate II | Fleet | 2.50% + US$0.10 (no change) | 2.50% + US$0.10 | Structural change |
| United States | US Domestic - Fleet Programme - Commercial Fleet Data Rate II, Petroleum | Fleet | 2.20% + US$0.10 (no change) | 2.20% + US$0.10 | Structural change |
| United States | US Domestic - Fleet Programme - Commercial Fleet Data Rate III | Fleet | 1.90% + US$0.10 (no change) | 1.90% + US$0.10 | Structural change |
| United States | US Domestic - Fleet Programme - Commercial Fleet Large Ticket | Fleet | 1.45% + US$35.00 (no change) | 1.45% + US$35.00 | Structural change |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 20 | Commercial B2B | 2.70% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 21 | Commercial B2B | 2.60% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 22 | Commercial B2B | 2.50% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 24 | Commercial B2B | 0.50% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 25 | Commercial B2B | 0.60% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 26 | Commercial B2B | 0.70% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 27 | Commercial B2B | 0.80% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 28 | Commercial B2B | 0.90% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 29 | Commercial B2B | 2.10% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 30 | Commercial B2B | 2.20% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 31 | Commercial B2B | 2.30% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 32 | Commercial B2B | 2.40% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 33 | Commercial B2B | 2.80% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 34 | Commercial B2B | 2.90% | N/A | New program |
| Canada | Global Mastercard Wholesale Travel Program - Mastercard B2B Product 35 | Commercial B2B | 3.00% | N/A | New program |
3.5 Mastercard scheme fees: United States and Canada
| Effective | Country | Fee | Update type | New rate | Previous rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 2026 | United States | Mastercard Crypto Card Assessment fee | New fee | 0.05% | N/A |
| 19 Oct 2026 | Canada | MC Network Access/Brand Usage Fee (NABU) - Domestic | New fee | US$0.0195 | N/A |
| 19 Oct 2026 | Canada | MC Network Access/Brand Usage Fee (NABU) - Non-Domestic | New fee | US$0.0295 | N/A |
| 19 Oct 2026 | Canada | MC Network Access/Brand Usage Fee (NABU) - Domestic Reversal | New fee | US$0.0098 | N/A |
| 19 Oct 2026 | Canada | MC Network Access/Brand Usage Fee (NABU) - Non-Domestic Reversal | New fee | US$0.0148 | N/A |
| 19 Oct 2026 | Canada | MC Clearing Fee - Floor (transactions of US$25.00 or less) | Fee removed | N/A | US$0.005 |
| 19 Oct 2026 | Canada | MC Clearing Fee - Ceiling (transactions above US$25.00) | Fee removed | N/A | US$0.0195 |
| 18 Jan 2027 | Canada | Mastercard Crypto Card Assessment fee | New fee | 0.05% | N/A |
| 1 Feb 2027 | United States | Mastercard Excessive Authorisation fee | Rate updated | US$0.28 | US$0.50 |
| 1 Feb 2027 | United States | Mastercard Data Consistency fee | New fee | US$0.20 | N/A |
| 1 Apr 2027 | Canada | Mastercard Excessive Authorisation fee | Rate updated | US$0.28 | US$0.50 |
| 1 Apr 2027 | Canada | Mastercard Data Consistency fee | New fee | US$0.20 | N/A |
3.6 Other networks: United States and Canada
| Effective | Country | Network | Item | Update type | New rate | Previous rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 2026 | United States | Discover | Car Rental/Hotels industry group: MCCs 3342 to 3500 added | Processing rules | No rate change | N/A |
| 1 Nov 2026 | Canada | Interac | Switch fee: Chip and PIN and Mobile Contactless | Rate updated | $0.014438 | $0.013985 |
4. Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the terms used in this document.
Interchange The fee paid to the bank that issued the customer’s card on every transaction. It is by far the largest component of card processing cost and varies by card type, how the card was presented, and the merchant’s industry.
Scheme fee (network fee) A fee charged by the card network itself (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Interac) for using its rails. Usually much smaller than interchange, often a fraction of a cent or a few hundredths of a percent.
Cost-plus (interchange-plus) A pricing model where the merchant pays the exact network costs plus a fixed processor markup. Under this model every change in this document flows through to the merchant’s statement.
Basis point (bps) One hundredth of a percent. 10 bps = 0.10%. On a US$100 sale, 10 bps is 10 cents.
Authorisation The request sent to the card issuer at the moment of sale asking whether to approve the payment. It can be approved or declined. Some fees in this document apply per authorisation, including declined ones.
Capture / clearing The step after authorisation where the merchant submits the final amount for settlement. Most interchange is assessed on captured transactions.
Reversal Cancelling an authorisation that will not be captured, for example releasing a hotel or car rental hold.
Card present / card not present (CNP) Card present means the physical card was tapped, dipped or swiped. Card not present covers online, in-app, phone and mail orders. CNP transactions carry higher interchange because fraud risk is higher.
Network token A substitute card number issued by the network that replaces the real card number in a merchant’s systems. Tokenised transactions usually earn lower interchange and avoid several new fees.
3D Secure (3DS) An authentication step (such as a bank app confirmation) used on online payments to verify the cardholder. Also exempts transactions from some new fees.
DCAP (Digital Commerce Authentication Program) Visa’s new Canadian program where the merchant sends extra data (IP address, device ID, billing address, email or phone) on online transactions to help the issuer approve. Qualifying transactions get lower interchange but pay a 0.05% fee.
MCC (Merchant Category Code) A four-digit code assigned to every merchant describing its line of business (for example 5812 is restaurants, 7512 is car rental). Many interchange programs and exclusions are defined by MCC.
Small Business (SMB) program A Visa Canada program giving lower consumer credit interchange to merchants below an annual Visa volume threshold. The threshold rises to CA$750,000 in October 2026.
Response code A two-digit code the issuer returns with a decline explaining the reason (for example 05 Do not honour, 57 Transaction not permitted). Networks use these codes to decide whether retries are allowed and what penalty applies.
Excessive Authorisation / retry fees Penalties the networks charge when a merchant keeps retrying a card that has been declined. Common for subscription billing.
Commercial card A card issued to a business rather than a consumer (corporate, purchasing, fleet, business credit). Commercial interchange is generally higher than consumer interchange.
Fleet card A commercial card used for vehicle-related expenses. Lower interchange is available when the merchant sends fleet data such as driver ID and odometer reading.
Virtual card A card number generated for a single payment or supplier, commonly used by businesses to pay invoices. Often flagged as ‘embedded’ when created inside accounts-payable software.
Interregional / cross border A transaction where the card was issued in a different region or country from the merchant. These carry higher interchange and additional scheme fees.
Nonqualified rate The highest interchange tier, applied when a transaction does not meet the data or timing requirements of any better program.
Instalment Credential (Visa) A new US Visa consumer credit card designed for buy-now-pay-later. The merchant is paid in full; the cardholder repays in instalments.
NABU (Network Access/Brand Usage Fee) A Mastercard per-authorisation fee, new to Canada in October 2026, charged on approved and declined authorisations and on reversals.
Switch fee (Interac) Interac’s per-transaction network fee on Canadian debit.
Questions about how these changes affect your portfolio? hello@goflexibl.com | +1 877 622 3071 | goflexibl.com