Interchange Plus Rates by Card Brand

Note: The credit card networks typically update their interchange fees twice a year, in April and October.

Three card brand networks, Visa, Mastercard and Discover determines interchange based on the type of card used as a payment method. American Express determines rates differently. Here are some sample charts for interchange rates:

Unlike other card brands, American Express determines the interchange rate based on the transaction size and merchant category.

A lot of people use Amex credit cards for dining and travel. So the interchange rates are highest for merchants in those industries.

If you would like to accept Amex cards at your business, you have two ways to do it:

• OptBlue program: This option is best for smaller merchants. OptBlue allows your processing provider to bundle AmEx interchange rates with the other cards you accept. It's not standardized, so each provider could charge differently. Look for an interchange-plus provider that lists their Amex rates so you can compare.
• Direct agreement with Amex: Large businesses processing over $1 million in Amex transactions per year must enter a direct agreement. Under this agreement, you'll pay the standard Amex interchange rates, which are not published.

Since there's no standard Amex interchange rate for OptBlue, here are some sample rates: