Interchange principles and fees

Discover the most important information about interchange fees. Learn more about their purpose, rates and principles.

Interchange fee principles

eftpos believes that interchange fees should be set in a way that is transparent and reflects the interests of all stakeholders.  Accordingly, on 20 September 2010 it adopted the following interchange fee principles:

Principle 1 – Compliance with the standard
The Company’s interchange fee regime will comply with the terms and spirit of the eftpos Interchange Fee Standard published by the RBA.
Principle 2 – Competitive positioning and success of eftpos
The Company’s interchange fee regime will further the competitive position and success of eftpos and, in particular, it will:
  1. promote usage, issuance and acceptance of eftpos;
  2. take into consideration the competitive landscape to
  3. ensure eftpos is not placed at an economic disadvantage to other payment products; and strive to achieve:
    1. net costs of acceptance that are below competitive products for all merchants;
    2. net costs of issuance that are below competitive products for all issuers; and
    3. an environment that encourages innovation, efficiency and investment in eftpos; and
  4. review its interchange fee regime at regular intervals (at least annually) in light of relevant developments.
Principle 3 – Simplicity and transparency
The Company’s interchange fee regime will be simple and transparent in terms of both process and output.
Principle 4 – Fairness
The Company’s interchange fee regime will be fair and balance the long term needs of the Company.
Principle 5 – Governance and consultation
  1. In developing its interchange fee regime the Company will consult with all Members in an open and transparent manner.
  2. The success of eftpos as a whole will be the paramount consideration in the Company’s deliberations.
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Interchange rates

Interchange fees are payable between the retailer (known as a self-Acquirer) or the retailers’ financial institution (known as the Acquirer) and the cardholder’s bank or financial institution (known as the Issuer).

These rates:

  • Create a simple regime to underpin and strengthen eftpos’ competitiveness, and
  • Support investment in key enhancements to eftpos products.

The rates support initiatives designed to:

  • Increase eftpos functionality, and
  • Enhance digital payments security.

Schedule of interchange rates

The following Multilateral Interchange rates are prescribed by eftpos pursuant to Clause 33 of the Scheme Rules from the 1st September 2022.

Categorieseftpos Proprietary
(Ex GST)
eftpos Priority 2
(Ex GST)
eftpos Priority 1
(Ex GST)
eftpos Prepaid
(Ex GST)
Definition
Charity$0.000$0.000$0.000$0.000All transactions performed at a Merchant that is endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a charitable fund, Charitable Institution of Public Benevolent Fund.
Medicare Easyclaim Refund$0.000$0.000$0.000$0.000All Medicare Easyclaim Refund transactions.
Package Rate Categories
· Gold
· Silver

N/A
N/A

$0.020
$0.030

N/A
N/A

N/A
N/A
Purchase transactions using eftpos Form Factors at point of sale for Merchants or merchant groups that meet the criteria.
Differential Rate Categories
· DIFR Category 1
· DIFR Category 2
· DIFR Category 3
· DIFR Category 4

$0.015
$0.030
$0.045
$0.060

$0.010
$0.020
$0.030
$0.040

$0.020
$0.040
$0.060
$0.080

$0.020
$0.040
$0.060
$0.080
Purchase transactions using eftpos Form Factors at point of sale or Digital for Merchants or merchant Groups that meet the criteria.
Digital Early Adopter Program
· Digital - Card Not Present

N/A

$0.060

N/A

N/A
Purchase transactions using eftpos Form Factors at Digital for Merchants or merchant groups that meet the criteria.
Other Categories
· In Store
· Digital - Mobile
· Digital - Card Not Present

$0.080
N/A
N/A

$0.040
$0.100
0.150%

$0.100
$0.100
0.150%

$0.100
$0.100
0.150%
Purchase transactions using eftpos Form Factors at point of sale or Digital that are not assigned to a different Interchange category.
Purchase with Cash-out
· DIFR Category 1 - Cash-out
· DIFR Category 2 - Cash-out
· DIFR Category 1 & 2 - Purchase
· Standard - Cash-out
· Standard - Purchase

-$0.200
-$0.165
$0.020
$0.000
$0.020

-$0.200
-$0.165
$0.020
$0.000
$0.020

-$0.200
-$0.165
$0.020
$0.000
$0.020

-$0.200
-$0.165
$0.020
$0.000
$0.020
Purchase with Cash-out transactions.
Cash-out Only
· DIFR Category 1
· DIFR Category 2
· Standard

-$0.165
-$0.100
$0.000

-$0.165
-$0.100
$0.000

-$0.165
-$0.100
$0.000

-$0.165
-$0.100
$0.000
Cash-out Only transactions.
Transfers$0.045$0.045$0.045$0.045Withdrawal or Deposit transactions used to debit or credit funds to or from the account of an eftpos Consumers’ account, other than a Cash-out, Purchase, Purchase with Cash-out or in the process of returning good or services.
CategoriesMulti Network Debit Card
(Ex GST)
Multi Network Debit in-store mobile
(Ex GST)
Definition
Strategic rate categories
· Strategic Rate 1

$0.020

$0.020

N/A

N/A
Purchase transactions using eftpos Form Factors at point of sale for Merchants or merchant groups that meet the criteria.
· Strategic Rate 2$0.030 N/AN/AN/APurchase transactions using eftpos Form Factors at Digital for Merchants or merchant groups that meet the criteria.
CategoriesStandardDIFR 1DIFR 2DIFR 3Strategic Rate 1Strategic Rate 2
Dual Network Debit Cards
Charity$0.000$0.000$0.000$0.000$0.000$0.000
Medicare Easyclaim Refund$0.000$0.000$0.000$0.000$0.000$0.000
In-Store Card
<= $10
> $10

$0.01
$0.04

$0.01
$0.01

$0.01
$0.02

$0.01
$0.03

$0.02
$0.02

N/A
N/A
In-Store Mobile
(Tokenised Contactless)
<= $10
> $10


$0.02
$0.07


$0.01
$0.01


$0.01
$0.04


$0.02
$0.06


$0.02
$0.02


N/A
N/A
Card Not Present
<= $100
> $100
Recurring

$0.10
0.12%
$0.06

$0.01
$0.01
$0.01

$0.10
$0.10
$0.03

$0.10
$0.10
$0.05

N/A
N/A
N/A

$0.03
$0.03
$0.03
Card Not Present
(eftpos 3DS or Tokenised)
<= $5
$5 <= $100
> $100
Recurring > $5


$0.005
$0.04
0.10%
$0.04


$0.005
$0.01
$0.01
$0.01


$0.005
$0.01
$0.02
$0.02


$0.005
$0.02
$0.06
$0.03


N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A


$0.03
$0.03
$0.03
$0.03
Purchase with Cash Out
Cash-out portion
Purchase portion

$0.00
$0.04

-$0.20
$0.01

-$0.165
$0.02

$0.00
$0.03

$0.00
$0.02

N/A
N/A
Cash Out Only$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00N/A
Transfers$0.045$0.045$0.045$0.045$0.045$0.045
Single Network Debit Cards
Charity$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00N/AN/A
Medicare EasyClaim Refund$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00N/AN/A
In-Store Card
· <= $10
· > $10

$0.05
$0.10

$0.01
$0.01

$0.02
$0.04

$0.03
$0.06

N/A
N/A

N/A
N/A
In-Store Mobile
(Tokenised Contactless)
· <= $10
· > $10


$0.05
$0.10


$0.01
$0.01


$0.02
$0.04


$0.03
$0.06


N/A
N/A


N/A
N/A
Purchase with Cash Out
· Cash-out portion
· Purchase portion

$0.00
$0.10

-$0.20
$0.01

-$0.165
$0.04

$0.00
$0.06

N/A
N/A

N/A
N/A
Cash Out Only$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00N/AN/A
Transfer$0.045$0.045$0.045$0.045$0.045$0.045
Prepaid Cards
Charity$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00N/AN/A
Medicare EasyClaim Refund$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00N/AN/A
In-Store Card
· <= $10
· > $10

$0.05
$0.10

$0.01
$0.01

$0.02
$0.04

$0.03
$0.06

N/A
N/A

N/A
N/A
In-Store Mobile
(Tokenised Contactless)
· <= $10
· > $10


$0.05
$0.10


$0.01
$0.01


$0.02
$0.04


$0.03
$0.06


N/A
N/A


N/A
N/A
Card Not Present
· <= $100
· > $100

$0.10
0.12%

$0.01
$0.01

$0.10
$0.10

$0.10
$0.10

N/A
N/A

N/A
N/A
Card Not Present
(eftpos 3DS or Tokenised)
· <= $5
· $5 <= $100
· > $100
· Recurring > $5


$0.005
$0.04
0.10%
$0.04


$0.005
$0.01
$0.01
$0.01


$0.005
$0.02
$0.05
$0.02


$0.005
$0.03
$0.08
$0.03


N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A


N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Purchase with Cash Out
· Cash-out portion
· Purchase portion


$0.00
$0.10


-$0.20
$0.02


-$0.165
$0.04


$0.00
$0.06


N/A
N/A


N/A
N/A
Cash Out Only$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00N/AN/A
Transfer$0.045$0.045$0.045$0.045$0.045$0.045

Notes:

  • Capitalised terms used in the definitions are defined in the eftpos Scheme Rules if not listed below.
  • eftpos Proprietary is considered Single Network Debit Cards for interchange setting.
  • Interchange Fees are not payable for Refunds and Declines.
  • Electronic and Paper Fallback transactions attract an Interchange Fee at the applicable Purchase rate.
  • Digital transaction – A transaction performed using a Merchant website or mobile application, rather than at a Point Of Sale terminal.
  • Purchase transaction – Within the Differential Rate categories, Purchase transaction refers to all channels including Transfer transactions and card types.
  • Cash-out – has the meaning in the rules and for clarity is a transaction where the cardholder receives cash (Australian notes or coins) from a merchant, either as a standalone transaction, or combined with the purchase of goods or services.
  • eftpos Priority 2 is where eftpos is position 2 on the chipset on a multi-network card.
  • eftpos Priority 1 is where eftpos is position 1 on the chipset on a multi-network card or a mobile device transaction.
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