Interchange Rates in USA
2026 Visa and Mastercard credit card interchange rates for businesses in the USA.
Credit card interchange rates in the USA vary by card network, card type, transaction method, merchant category, and other factors. Visa and Mastercard publish interchange schedules that determine the base fees paid between financial institutions when a credit or debit card transaction is processed.
This page provides 2026 U.S. interchange rates and tables for Visa and Mastercard, along with an explanation of how interchange fees work and how they affect the total cost of credit card processing for merchants.
What is interchange?
Interchange fees are transaction fees paid by a merchant’s acquiring bank to the cardholder’s issuing bank when a credit or debit card payment is processed. These fees are generally passed through to merchants as part of their payment processing costs.
In the United States, Visa and Mastercard establish interchange rate schedules that vary by card type, transaction method, merchant category, and other qualification requirements.
The tables below provide an overview of U.S. Visa and Mastercard interchange rates for in-person, online, and recurring payments. Interchange is only one component of total processing costs, which can also include card-network assessments and payment processor fees.
This link provides an overview of Interchange rates in Canada.
Card Present Interchange Rates
A card present (CP) transaction is when you have the credit card and buyer in front of you, in person (i.e. payment terminals). Card present interchange rates tend to be lower because in-person transactions are considered lower risk transactions.
Visa Card-Present Interchange 2026
| Card type | Interchange rate |
|---|---|
| Traditional Rewards | 1.51% + $0.10 |
| Signature | 1.65% + $0.10 |
| Signature Preferred | 2.10% + $0.10 |
| Infinite | 1.90%–2.30% + $0.10 |
Rates shown are for Visa Retail Credit Performance Threshold III. Actual interchange varies by card, transaction, and qualification.
MasterCard Card-Present Interchange 2026
| Card type | Interchange rate |
|---|---|
| Consumer/Core | 1.65% + $0.10 |
| Enhanced | 1.80% + $0.10 |
| World | 1.90% + $0.10 |
| World Elite | 2.30% + $0.10 |
Rates shown are for Mastercard Merit III Base. Actual interchange varies by card, transaction, and qualification.
Keyed, Online, or Card Not Present Interchange Rates
A card not present (CNP) transaction is when you don’t have the buyer or credit card in front of you (i.e. phone, ecommerce, etc). Card not present interchange rates tend to be a little higher because there is slightly more risk of fraud due to sales being over the phone or internet.
Visa Card-Not-Present Interchange 2026
| Card type | Interchange rate |
|---|---|
| Traditional Rewards | 2.04% + $0.10 |
| Signature | 2.05% + $0.10 |
| Signature Preferred | 2.50% + $0.10 |
| Infinite | 2.20%–2.60% + $0.10 |
Rates shown are for Visa Product 1 Card-Not-Present. Actual interchange varies by card, transaction, and qualification.
MasterCard Card-Not-Present Interchange
| Card type | Interchange rate |
|---|---|
| Consumer/Core | 1.95% + $0.10 |
| Enhanced | 2.10% + $0.10 |
| World | 2.20% + $0.10 |
| World Elite | 2.60% + $0.10 |
Rates shown are for Mastercard Key-Entered transactions. Actual interchange varies by card, transaction, and qualification.
Recurring Payments Interchange Rates
Recurring payments are automatically scheduled payments through recurring billing software. Recurring billing interchange rates are low because these are consistently repeating transactions that also tend to be lower transaction amounts, therefore are considered lower risk.
Visa Recurring Interchange
| Card type | Typical interchange rate |
|---|---|
| Consumer credit cards | About 1.3%–2.6% + $0.05–$0.10 |
MasterCard Recurring Interchange
| Card type | Typical interchange rate |
|---|---|
| Consumer credit cards | About 2.0%–2.6% + $0.10 |
Charities and Non-Profits Interchange Rates
There are special interchange rates for charities and non-profit payment processing listed below. Make sure you get set up properly to take advantage of the low payment processing rates.
| Card network | Typical interchange |
|---|---|
| Visa | Varies by card and qualifying program |
| Mastercard | Around 2.00% + $0.10 for qualifying consumer credit transactions |
Eligible charities and nonprofits may qualify for specialized interchange programs. Actual rates depend on the card and transaction.
Other Visa & Mastercard Network Fees
Interchange isn’t the only card-network cost. Visa and Mastercard may also charge assessment, cross-border, authorization, and other network fees depending on the transaction.
| Fee type | Visa | Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment / network fee | ~0.14% | ~0.13%–0.14% |
| Cross-border fee | ~0.40%–1.00% | ~0.60%–1.00% |
| Authorization / transaction fees | Often ~$0.02–$0.10 | Often ~$0.02–$0.10 |
What Do Businesses Actually Pay for Credit Card Processing?
The interchange rates above are only one part of the total cost of accepting credit cards. A business typically pays three main components:
Interchange + card network fees + payment processor fees
For example, a card might have an interchange rate of 1.65% + $0.10, but that isn’t the merchant’s final processing rate. Visa or Mastercard network fees and the payment processor’s fee are added on top.
Your total cost will vary depending on the card used, how the payment is accepted, your business type, transaction size, and your processor’s pricing model.
At Clearly Payments, we help businesses understand these costs and structure their payment processing so pricing is transparent and appropriate for how they actually accept payments.
Interchange Rates in USA Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions About Interchange Rates
What is a credit card interchange rate?
An interchange rate is the fee paid by the merchant’s acquiring bank to the cardholder’s issuing bank when a credit or debit card transaction is processed. For merchants, this cost is typically passed through as part of their payment processing fees.
Who pays credit card interchange fees?
Merchants ultimately bear the cost of interchange fees as part of their credit card processing costs. The acquiring bank pays interchange to the cardholder’s issuing bank, and the cost is generally passed on to the merchant through their payment processor.
What are typical credit card interchange rates in the USA?
Credit card interchange rates commonly range from roughly 1.3% to 2.6% plus a small per-transaction fee, although rates vary by card type, transaction method, merchant category, and other factors.
Are interchange rates higher for online payments?
Often, yes. Card-not-present transactions generally have higher interchange rates than card-present transactions because they can carry greater fraud risk.
Does Clearly Payments set Visa and Mastercard interchange rates?
No. Visa and Mastercard establish their interchange schedules. Clearly Payments helps businesses understand their processing costs and choose a pricing structure appropriate for how they accept payments.
Want to Know What You’re Really Paying for Credit Card Processing?
Interchange is only one part of your total processing cost. Clearly Payments can review your current processing statement, explain where your fees are coming from, and identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary costs.