Tag: interchange


Credit Card Processing

Visa CPS (Custom Payment Service) & Your Processing Fees

Ben Dwyer
by Ben Dwyer

In order to understand CPS, you need to understand the fundamentals of interchange and interchange qualification. I’ll briefly cover them in this article. If you’re interested in learning more, which I encourage, check out related articles on the topics of interchange and processor pricing models on CardFellow’s blog. Note: As of summer 2023, Visa has […]

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CPS is an acronym associated with some Visa interchange categories. It stands for Custom Payment Service.

In a nutshell, Visa’s CPS allows a business to qualify transactions to an interchange category with a lower rate by following a set of rules.

Visa CPS interchange

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Credit Card Processing

Interchange Clearing Fee – Wells Fargo Merchant Services

Ben Dwyer
by Ben Dwyer

It’s pretty clear from our Wells Fargo Merchant Services review that we don’t hold the company’s credit card processing services in the highest regard. We formed this opinion over many years of reviewing quotes, applications, and statements that push opaque, overly aggressive pricing. One of our least favorite tactics in Wells Fargo’s arsenal of tricks […]

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Wells Fargo Merchant Services slips an opaque “Interchange Clearing Fee” into its interchange-plus pricing, adding more proof to the fact that interchange-plus does not guarantee competitive credit card processing fees.

Wells Fargo Merchant Services

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Credit Card Processing

Enhanced Merit 3

Ben Dwyer
by Ben Dwyer

Enhanced Merit 3 is a Mastercard interchange category. Interchange fees are essentially the wholesale cost of credit card processing and generate income for banks that issue credit and debit cards. The word “Enhanced” refers to the type of credit card, and “Merit 3” refers to how the card is accepted and processed. The Enhanced MasterCard […]

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Enhanced Merit 3 is a Mastercard interchange category.

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Interchange Fees

Mastercard Merit III Credit Card Processing Fees

Ben Dwyer
by Ben Dwyer

Merit 3 is Mastercard’s way of referring to a card-present transaction for most restaurants and retailers. It can actually apply to several different interchange categories based on card type and other details. This article explains specific Mastercard interchange categories. If you’re not already familiar with interchange, it’s a good idea to start with our piece […]

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Merit 3 (or Merit III) is a Mastercard interchange category that determines credit and debit card processing fees.

Mastercard Logo

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Credit Card Processing, Interchange Fees

Understanding American Express Merchant Services

Ben Dwyer
by Ben Dwyer

There’s a lot of confusion about American Express merchant services. We regularly field questions about discount rates, pricing models, and settlement. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about accepting American Express at a business. Just looking to see costs to take Amex cards? For the most up-to-date pricing, use our free […]

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In the past, American Express was the most expensive credit card to accept; a reputation that it hasn’t shaken despite introducing a new pricing structure to bring costs more in line with other card brands.

Amex Rates

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Credit Card Processing, Interchange Fees

Interchange Rates and Fees

Ben Dwyer
by Ben Dwyer

Often shortened from “interchange reimbursement fees,” interchange refers to a set of categories that are used to determine the rates for individual card transactions. Every category has requirements for eligibility and a rate associated. Those rates change at the card brands’ discretion, typically twice a year. Interchange can be a complex topic. For the purposes […]

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Accepting credit cards at a business comes with costs. The largest portion of the costs is known as interchange.

Interchange Fees

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