Debit Card Transactions Fees & Rates

Debit card transaction rates and fees are usually cheaper than credit card transaction fees, but it is still important to understand what they are and exactly how much they are costing your business. Some debit transactions cost less, depending on the type of debit transaction (PIN vs. Signature), card brand, and ticket size.

PIN Debit is (Generally) More Expensive Than Signature Debit

It is important to note that running PIN debit transactions costs more in interchange than signature debit transactions. This is because PIN debit transactions must be routed through a PIN debit network, which charge debit network fees. Alternatively,signature debit transactions are routed through the card brand’s network, and therefore do not charge debit network fees. Instead, the card brands charge debit interchange rates, which tend to be cheaper for small-ticket transactions.However, since PIN debit fees are primarily flat fees and the interchange rates are generally lower, if a merchant runs more large-ticket debit transactions than small-ticket ones, PIN debit can actually be cheaper in the long run.

Debit Interchange Rates – Regulated vs. Unregulated

 

Due to the Durbin Amendment, passed in 2011, debit interchange rates and fees are divided into two categories: regulated and unregulated. For a bank to fall under the “regulated” category, they must be worth more than $10 billion in assets, while the opposite is true for the unregulated category–if the issuing bank has less than $10 billion in assets, they fall into the “unregulated” category. For regulated debit, all PIN transactions are 0.05% + $0.21, with a fraud adjustment of $.01 for higher risk transactions. For unregulated PIN debit, see the chart below.

Debit Network Category Interchange Rate & Fee Switch Fee
Accel Standard All Other Merchant Types-Groups 1, 3 0.80% + $0.14 $0.10
All Other Merchant Types-Group 2 0.85% + $0.14 $0.10
Petroleum-Groups 1, 3 0.80% + $0.15 ($0.95 Cap) $0.10
Petroleum-Group 2 0.75% + $0.14 ($0.95 Cap) $0.10
QSR-Groups 1, 2, 3 1.00% + $0.06 $0.10
Small Ticket-Groups 1, 2, 3: Transactions Less Than or Equal To $15 1.00% + $0.06 $0.10
Supermarket-Groups 1, 3 $0.29 $0.10
Supermarket-Group 2 1.00% + $0.14 (Cap $0.33) $0.10
Accel Advantage All Other Merchant Types-Groups 1, 2 0.90% + $0.225 $0.10
All Other Merchant Types-Group 3 1.10% + $0.115 $0.10
Petroleum-Groups 1, 2 0.80% + $0.15 $0.10
Petroleum-Group 3 0.76% + $0.115 $0.10
QSR-Group 1 1.00% + $0.08 $0.10
QSR-Group 2 1.00% + $0.11 $0.10
QSR-Group 3 1.10% + $0.115 $0.10
Small Ticket (Excludes MCCs 5300, 5411) – Groups 1, 2: Transactions less than or equal to $15 1.00% + $0.08 $0.10
Supermarket-Group 1 $.029 $0.10
Supermarket-Group 2 $0.33 $0.10
Supermarket-Group 3 1.10% + $0.115 $0.10
Accel Assurance All Other Merchant Types-Groups 1, 3 0.80% + $0.14 $0.10
All Other Merchant Types-Group 2 0.85% + $0.14 $0.10
Petroleum-Groups 1, 3 0.80% + $0.15 $0.10
Petroleum-Group 2 0.75% + $0.14 (Cap $0.95) $0.10
QSR-Groups 1, 2, 3 1.00% + $0.06 $0.10
Small Ticket-Groups 1, 2, 3 1.00% + $0.06 $0.10
Supermarket-Groups 1, 3 $0.29 $0.10
Supermarket-Group 2 1.00% + $0.14 $0.10
Accel Special Exempt All Other Merchant Types-Groups 1, 3 0.90% + $0.225 $0.10
All Other Merchant Types-Group 2 1.10% + $0.115 $0.10
Petroleum-Groups 1, 2 0.80% + $0.15 $0.10
Petroleum-Group 3 0.76% + $0.115 $0.10
QSR-Group 1 1.00% + $0.08 $0.10
QSR-Group 2 1.00% + $0.11 $0.10
QSR-Group 3 1.10% + $0.115 $0.10
Small Ticket-Group 1 1.00% + $0.08 $0.10
Supermarket-Group 1 $0.29 $0.10
Supermarket-Group 2 $0.33 $0.10
Supermarket-Group 3 1.10% + $0.115 $0.10
AFFN All Other MCCs-Transactions less than $15 0.75% + $0.12 $0.035
All Other MCCs 0.75% + $0.12 $0.035
National/Major Merchants-Transactions less than $15 1.20% + $0.02 $0.035
National/Major Merchants 0.60% + $0.10 $0.035
QSR-Transactions less than $15 1.15% + $0.02 $0.035
QSR 1.15% + $0.02 $0.035
Petroleum-Transaction less than $15 1.20% + $0.02 $0.035
Petroleum 0.60% + $0.10 $0.035
Supermarket-Transactions less than $15 $0.23 $0.035
Supermarket $0.23 $0.035
Culiance Standard All Other MCCs 0.75% + $0.165 $0.03
Petroleum 0.80% + $0.13 $0.03
QSR 1.25% + $0.06 $0.03
Supermarket $0.275 $0.03
Culiance High Volume Merchant Prime All Other MCCs .55% + $0.08 $0.03
Petroleum 0.70% + $0.12 $0.03
Supermarket $0.185 $0.03
Culiance Standard Prime All Other MCCs 0.80% + $0.145 $0.03
Petroleum 0.80% + $0.145 $0.03
QSR 1.19% + $0.095 $0.03
Supermarket $0.295 $0.03

Debit Network Category Interchange Rate & Fee Switch Fee
Interlink & PAVD Petroleum 0.80% + $0.15 $0.035
Petroleum Prepaid 1.15% + $0.15 $0.035
Retail 0.80% + $0.15 $0.035
Retail Prepaid 1.15% + $0.15 $0.035
Supermarket $.30 $0.035
Supermarket Prepaid 1.19% + $0.10 $0.035
Travel Service Prepaid 1.15% + $0.10 $0.035
Business Cards 1.70% + $0.15 $0.035
Commercial Cards Prepaid 2.15% + $0.10 $0.035
Interregional Program 1.10% $0.035
Jeanie Standard Non Supermarket 0.75% + $0.14 $0.055
Petroleum 0.80% + $0.13 $0.055
QSR 1.55% + $0.04 $0.055
Supermarket $0.26 $0.055
Jeanie Preferred Non Supermarket 0.80% + $0.20 $0.055
Petroleum 0.80% + $0.15 (Cap $0.95) $0.055
QSR 1.55% + $0.04 $0.055
Supermarket $0.36 $0.055
Maestro QSR 0.75% + $0.17 $0.025
Retail 0.90% + $0.15 $0.025
Supermarket 1.05% + $0.15 $0.025
NYCE Standard All Other 0.75% + $0.13 $0.045
Petroleum 0.70% + $0.14 (Cap $0.85) $0.045
QSR 1.30% + $0.03 $0.045
Small Ticket 1.30% + $0.03 $0.045
Supermarket $0.27 $0.045
NYCE Premier All Other 0.80% + $0.13 $0.045
Petroleum 0.75% + $0.15 $0.045
QSR 1.30% + $0.03 $0.045
Small Ticket 1.30% + $0.03 $0.045
Supermarket $0.29 $0.045
PULSE Pay Petroleum 0.80% + $0.15 $0.075
Petroleum Prepaid 1.15% + $0.15 $0.075
Retail 0.80% + $0.15 $0.075
Retail Prepaid 1.15% + $0.15 $0.075
Small Ticket 1.55% + $0.04 $0.075
Small Ticket Prepaid 1.60% + $0.05 $0.075
Supermarket $0.30 $0.075
Supermarket Prepaid 1.15% + $0.15 $0.075
PULSE Pay Choice Petroleum 0.80% + $0.15 $0.075
Retail 0.80% + $0.15 $0.075
Small Ticket 1.55% + $0.04 $0.075
Supermarket $0.30 $0.075
PULSE Pay Limited Petroleum 1.15% + $0.15 $0.075
Retail 1.15% + $0.15 $0.075
Small Ticket 1.60% + $0.05 $0.075
Supermarket 1.15% + $0.15 (Cap $0.35) $0.075
SHAZAM Business Cards – Group A 1.70% + $0.09 $0.06
Business Cards – Group B 0.90% + $0.11 $0.06
Business Cards – Group C 1.70% + $0.09 $0.06
Petroleum – Group A 0.80% + $0.14 (Cap $0.95) $0.06
Petroleum – Group B 0.80% + $0.14 (Cap $0.95) $0.06
Petroleum – Group C 0.80% + $0.13 $0.06
QSR – Group A 0.80% + $0.13 $0.06
QSR – Group B 0.75% + $0.13 $0.06
QSR – Group C 1.25% + $0.05 $0.06
Retail – Group A 0.85% + $0.15 $0.06
Retail – Group B 0.90% + $0.13 $0.06
Retail – Group C 0.85% + $0.16 $0.06
Supermarket – Group A 0.90% + $0.16 (Cap $0.34) $0.06
Supermarket – Group B 1.05% + $0.14 $0.06
Supermarket – Group C 0.90% + $0.16(Cap $0.35) $0.06
STAR Standard Medical Retailers 0.80% + $0.15 $0.0625
Petroleum 0.80% + $0.15 (Cap $0.95) $0.0625
Restaurants 1.15% + $0.08 $0.0625
Retail 1.55% + $0.04 $0.0625
Small Ticket Retailer – Transactions greater than $15 0.80% + $0.185 $0.0625
Supermarket 0.60% + $0.22 $0.0625
STAR Preferred Medical Retailers 0.80% + $0.15 $0.0625
Restaurants 1.15% + $0.17 $0.0625
Retail 0.90% + $0.25 $0.0625
Small Ticket Retailers – Transactions less than $15 1.55% + $0.25 $0.0625
Small Ticket Retailers – Transactions greater than $15 0.80% + $0.26 $0.0625
Supermarket 0.60% + $0.25 $0.0625