Mastercard Consumer Credit Cards Mastercard offers many different types of credit cards to consumers. Each of these cards have varying “perks” or “rewards” that the customer receives. Different banks will issue different types of cards to their customers, and each card costs the issuing bank money to issue, support, etc [...]
Credit CardsMastercard credit cards are issued to customers not by Mastercard, but by an issuing bank. These credit cards will have varying terms/rewards, as every bank is different. The below guide is a handy reference to see how cards are typically classified. Note that issuing banks have a lot of [...]
Mastercard has incredibly low interchange rates for merchants who are classified as a Utility. As these payments are considered “low risk” from a processing perspective, the interchange rates reflect that. You’ll see that many of the rates have no percentage fee, and just a flat, per-transaction fee. Qualifications Must be classified [...]
Standard rates are the worst rates that you can receive on Mastercard transactions. Typically, you’ll receive Standard rates when your sales don’t meet any of the basic qualifications. This can include not submitting AVS data, not settling your sales on time, or failing to submit otherwise required data, based on your [...]
Mastercard has a special rate category specifically designed for nonprofits. Not all nonprofits will qualify – but if you’re classified with the MCC of 8398, or as a “Charity or Social Service” organization, then you’ll qualify for far-reduced interchange rates. Qualifications Only Charitable and Social Service organizations are eligible (MCC 8398). [...]
Since not all industries accept credit cards, Mastercard tries to incentivize “newer” industries with lower, more advantageous interchange rates. These are called Emerging Market interchange rates, and they apply to debit/prepaid cards only. The only qualifying business types are Schools, Government Offices, Insurance-sales, Utilities, and Toll-Roads. Qualifications Must be classified as [...]
To qualify for the below Mastercard supermarket rates, your business must be classified as a grocery/supermarket, with an MCC of 5411. Below are the basic qualifications, plus you’ll see each type of card that’s eligible for supermarket rates, along with the associated potential downgrade: Qualifications Only supermarkets/grocery stores are eligible (MCC of 5411) Magnetic stripe, [...]
To qualify for the below restaurant rates, merchants must be classified as a restaurant or quick-service merchant (MCC of 5812 or 5814). Quick-serve merchants will only be eligible for debit sales within this rate classification. Below are the basic qualifications, plus you’ll see each type of card that’s eligible for restaurant rates, [...]
Because lodging and auto-rental merchants have unique needs, there’s a special rate category designed for them. These merchants take extended authorizations – meaning the card may be authorized weeks before the sale is finalized. Similarly, final amounts of the sale are often different from the original authorization. For “regular” merchants, this would [...]
The “Merit I” category is for key-entry and E-Commerce Mastercard sales that meet include AVS and are settled within 1-2 days. Barring a few exceptions, most merchants are able to receive these interchange rates. Qualifications Key-entered or E-Commerce transaction. Authorize and settle within 1 day (keyed) or 2 days (E-Commerce). Obtain and pass 1 valid electronic authorization. Authorization and [...]