Merchant discount rates refer to the fees that merchants pay to payment processors or acquiring banks for processing credit and debit card transactions. These rates are typically calculated as a percentage of the transaction amount.
The discount rate covers various costs associated with payment processing, including interchange fees (paid to the cardholder's bank), assessment fees (paid to the card network like Visa or Mastercard), and the acquirer's margin for facilitating the transaction.
The discount rate can vary widely depending on the type of card used (credit, debit, rewards, etc.), the risk associated with the transaction (whether it’s a card-present or a card-not-present transaction), the volume of transactions processed, and the negotiating power of the merchant. Sometimes other costs, such as point of sale software or compliance costs, are also included in the discount rate.
Merchants may negotiate these rates with their acquiring banks and processors to achieve more favorable terms, especially if they have a large volume of transactions. These are crucial for merchants to consider when evaluating the costs associated with accepting card payments versus other forms of payment, such as cash or checks.
Thankfully, Sekure Payment Experts negotiates these rates for you. Representing thousands of merchants each month, Sekure puts you in a unique position to take advantage of exclusive rates and other benefits only available through our partnerships.
Questions about your specific discount rate? Call us today to discuss!