Learn The Truth
What Banks Don’t Want You to Know About Credit Card Processing
Learn the truth about interchange vs. tiered pricing — and see what you’re really paying.
Tiered pricing looks simple — but hides inflated markups.
Many providers lock merchants into fixed, non-negotiable rates.
Interchange pass-through = true wholesale rates + a small flat markup.
Positioning: Businesses processing $100K+ per month should always be on interchange
pass-through.
See your savings
Check The Rates
Interchange Rate Library
Updated quarterly from our data source.
Real Results from Real Businesses
Healthcare
Healthcare providers save avg. $800/mo with interchange pass-through.
Boutique retailers reduced costs by 30%.
Retail
Food & Service
Restaurant groups upgraded terminals at no cost with lower fees.
Note: Savings based on businesses processing $100K+/month. Actual results vary.
What is Interchange Pass-Through Pricing?
Most business owners know they’re paying credit card processing fees—but few actually understand where that money goes. That’s by design. Payment processors often hide behind confusing pricing models that blur the true costs.
Interchange Pass-Through (also called Cost-Plus pricing) is the most transparent way to pay for credit card processing.
Section 1: How Credit Cards Work
Interchange
The baseline fees set by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Amex.
Assessments
Additional small fees from the card networks.
Processor Markup
What your processor actually charges to run your business.
Section 2: Why Pass-Through Matters
With interchange pass-through, you pay the true interchange and assessment costs, plus a clearly defined markup. Nothing is hidden, nothing is bundled.
Key Benefits
🔎 Transparency – See exactly what you’re paying.
📊 Fair Pricing – Keep interchange at cost, only pay a small markup.
🧾 Audit-Friendly – Easier to spot errors or hidden fees.
⚡ Scalable – Works better as your business grows.
PRICING MODELS
Not all models are created equal — one gives you the edge.
Flat Rate
One rate for all transactions (e.g., 2.9% + $0.30)
Simple, predictable
Often overpays on debit & regulated cards
Tiered
Transactions bucketed into “qualified,” “mid,” and “non-qualified”
Marketed as “savings”
Opaque, prone to hidden fees
Interchange Pass-Through
True interchange + assessment + markup
Transparent, fair, scalable
Requires education to understand
Exposing Hidden Fees
Processors bury charges in complex statements so you can’t easily spot markups or hidden fees.
🧾 Statement Fees – Paying just to see what you owe.
🔒 PCI Compliance Penalties – “Penalties” for vague requirements.
⚙️ Batch Fees – Charged every time you settle transactions.
🚫 Non-qualified Surcharges – Extra charges for certain card types.
🏷️ “Club” or Membership Add-ons – Disguised markups.
If your statement looks confusing, it’s not by accident. Transparency favors you, not the processor.
Downloadable Guides
The Complete Guide to Interchange Pass-Through Pricing
How to Spot Hidden Fees in Your Statement
The Processor Comparison Checklist
Downloadable Guides
Upload your statement for a free review
