Interchange Rates – Cost
Interchange fees serve as non-negotiable transfer fees from card brands such as visa and MasterCard between issuers (banks) and acquirers (providers). Interchange fees vary depending mainly on how the card is charged (present/not present) and the type of card (Premium vs. Standard for example)
All providers are bound by the same Cost of Interchange, and then passed on from the provider to the merchant in a variety of ways.
Card Categories
Some cards offer more perks than others such as rewards, loyalty rewards, cashback, infinite limits, etc. The interchange pricing of these cards is usually higher compared to Standard cards for example, which tend to have smaller limits and less payable benefits which drive the cost up.
How the card is charged
Card brands such as Visa and MasterCard also adjust Interchange costs depending on how the transaction is made whether it be swiped, tapped, chipped, signed, keyed, etc. Standard card-present transactions always have a lower Interchange rate.
Non-domestic cards
A non-domestic card is any card charged outside of its country of origin. For example, a card issued to an American customer by an American bank may be accepted by a Canadian merchant. When this happens, interchange fees vary.
With an understanding of the different factors that contribute to the value of interchange and assessment fees from card brands such as Visa, MasterCard, etc., merchants are able to make informed decisions regarding their pricing and to produce more realistic estimates of their monthly costs.
With that in mind, please take a moment to review the standard Interchange Rates for Canadian merchants.
Mastercard Interchange Program
Interchange Program | Core | World | World Elite | Muse |
Card Present EMV | 0.92% | 1.22% | 1.56% | 1.65% |
Unsecure Card Present (Mag Stripe) | 1.22% | 1.52% | 1.86% | 1.95% |
Digital Commerce | 1.76% | 2.00% | 2.24% | 2.39% |
Contactless | 0.87% | 1.16% | 1.48% | 1.57% |
SecureCode / 3DS | 1.50% | 1.70% | 1.90% | 2.03% |
Utilities | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 |
Charity | 0.92% | 1.22% | 1.56% | 1.65% |
Standard | 2.06% | 2.30% | 2.54% | 2.69% |
Mastercard Canada Consumer Debit Interchange Rates – Cost
Supermarket | 0.15% + $0.05 (CAD) |
Petroleum | 0.15% + $0.05 (CAD) |
Electronic | 0.25% + $0.05 (CAD) |
Recurring Payments | 0.60% |
Charity | 0.30% |
Emerging Sectors | 0.30% |
Masterpass | 1.00% |
SecureCode / 3DS | 1.00% |
Public Sector | 0.30% |
Standard | 1.15% |
Mastercard Canada Consumer Prepaid Interchange Rates
Electronic | 1.44% |
Standard | 1.55% |
Mastercard Canada Commercial Interchange Rates
Interchange Program | SME | Large Market | World Elite Business |
Commercial Standard Rate | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.25% |
Commercial Charity | 1.80% | 1.80% | 1.80% |
Mastercard Canada Consumer Cards
International | Interchange Rates | Super Premium | |
Standard | 1.60% | 1.85% | 1.98% |
Electronic | 1.10% | 1.85% | 1.98% |
SecureCode Merchant | 1.44% | 1.85% | 1.98% |
SecureCode Merchant and Cardholder | 1.54% | 1.85% | 1.98% |
VISA Interchange Program
Domestic (Canada) | English Statement Descriptors | Interchange Rate |
Electronic | ||
Classic, Gold, Platinum | VI CONSUMER ELEC | 1.25% |
Infinite | VI INFINITE ELEC | 1.57% |
Infinite Privilege | VI CA ELEC INFINITE PRIV C | 2.08% |
Standard | ||
Classic, Gold, Platinum | VI CONSUMER STANDARD VI | 1.45% |
Infinite | INFINITE STANDARD | 1.70% |
Infinite Privilege | VI CA STD INFINITE PRIV CA | 2.45% |
Card Not Present | ||
Classic, Gold, Platinum | VI CNP CON CRCAD | 1.40% |
Infinite | VI CNP INF CAD | 1.65% |
Infinite Privilege | VI CNP INF PRV CAD | 2.40% |
Grocery | ||
Classic, Gold, Platinum | VI CONSUMER ELEC GROC | 1.00% |
Infinite | VI INFINITE ELEC GROC | 1.20% |
Infinite Privilege | VI CA IND RT1 INFNTE PRVLG CAD | 1.95% |
Everyday Needs | ||
Classic, Gold, Platinum - Consumer Credit | VI EVRDAY NEED CON CR CAD | 1.20% |
Classic, Gold, Platinum - Restaurant Consumer Credit | VI EVRDAY NEED REST CONCR CAD | 1.00% |
Infinite | VI EVRDAY NEED INF CAD | 1.30% |
Infinite - Restaurant | VI EVRDAY NEED REST INF CAD | 1.20% |
Infinite Privilege | VI EVRDAY NEED INF Prvlg CAD | 1.95% |
Infinite Privilege - Restaurant | VI EVRDAY NEED REST INFPrvlg CAD | 1.95% |
International/Interregional | English Statement Descriptors | Interchange Rate |
Electronic | ||
Classic, Gold, Platinum, Electron | VI INTL ELECTRONIC | 1.10% |
Signature, Premium | VI INTL PREMIUM CARD | 1.80% |
Signature Preferred, Infinite | VI INTL SPR PREM | 1.97% |
All Commercial Products | VI INTL BUS & VI SIGNATURE BUS CARD; VI INTL CORP CARD; VI INTL PURCH & DISTRIBUTION CARD | 2.00% |
Standard | ||
Classic, Gold, Platinum, Electron | VI INTL STD | 1.60% |
Signature, Premium | VI INTL PREMIUM CARD | 1.80% |
Signature Preferred, Infinite | VI INTL SPR PREM | 1.97% |
All Commercial Products | VI INTL BUS & VI SIGNATURE BUS CARD; VI INTL CORP CARD; VI INTL PURCH & DISTRIBUTION CARD | 2.00% |
American Express Wholesale Rates
Tier 1 | Wholesale Discount Rate |
Internet | |
Card Not Present | 1.90% |
Card Not Present + Foreign | 2.30% |
Restaurant | |
Electronic | 1.60% |
Card Not Present | 1.90% |
Foreign | 2.00% |
Card Not Present + Foreign | 2.30% |
Retail | |
Electronic | 1.60% |
Card Not Present | 1.90% |
Foreign | 2.00% |
Card Not Present + Foreign | 2.30% |
Discover
Discover Canada Consumer Credit Interchange Rates | Core Reward | Premium | Premium Plus |
CPSL - Recurring Payments | 1.37% | 1.56% | 1.96% |
CPSL - Supermarket/Warehouse Clubs | 1.32% | 1.45% | 1.96% |
CPSL - Petroleum | 1.18% | 1.35% | 1.96% |
CPSL - Retail | 1.45% | 1.60% | 2.05% |
Base Submission Level | 1.58% | 1.85% | 2.49% |
Discover Canada Consumer Debit and Prepaid Interchange Rates | Debit | Prepaid |
CPSL - Recurring Payments | 1.15% | 1.37% |
CPSL - Supermarket/Warehouse Clubs | 1.15% | 1.32% |
CPSL - Petroleum | 1.15% | 1.18% |
CPSL - Retail | 1.15% | 1.45% |
Base Submission Level | 1.15% | 1.58% |
Discover Canada Business, Executive Business, and Corporate Card Interchange Rates | Rate |
Commercial Recurring Payments | 2.00% |
Commercial Supermarket/Warehouse Clubs | 2.00% |
Commercial Petroleum | 2.00% |
Commercial Retail | 2.00% |
Commercial Base | 2.00% |
Discover International Interchange Rates | Rate |
International | 1.20% |
International Base | 1.72% |
Union Pay Interchange Rates
UnionPay (UPI) - Card Present | Rate |
Credit Card | 1.10% |
Debit Card | 1.10% |