Center Square: Merchants Coalition Urges Withdrawal of Credit Union Swipe Fee Rule
The Merchants Payments Coalition is urging the National Credit Union Administration to withdraw a rule aimed at blocking Illinois’ ban on swipe fees on sales tax and tips, saying the rule is flawed and will drive up prices in Illinois. The MPC said in a statement that the rule does not provide a sound legal basis for blocking the Illinois law and was adopted without completing the required public notice and comment period.
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Finextra: Looking Beyond the Statement Fee at the Real Cost of Payment Processing
What sounds like a win on paper isn’t in practice, according to the Merchants Payments Coalition (MPC), which has labelled the settlement a ‘bad deal’ for consumers and merchants.
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MiBolsillo: Could You Pay Less If You Use Your Credit Card in Illinois? Here's the Truth
According to the Merchants Payments Coalition, this decision was based on a "technicality," and they are confident that the OCC's rule will soon be overturned by the courts for violating the Administrative Procedure Act.
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Credit Union Daily: Decisions By OCC, NCUA Will Allow FIs to ‘Price Fix’ Wide Range of Fees, Says Merchants Group
Financial institutions will now be allowed to “price-fix a wide range of fees” charged to consumers and small businesses under a pair of rules issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and NCUA, according to the Merchants Payments Coalition.
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Merchants Warn OCC/NCUA Price-Fixing Endorsement Could Send Bank and Credit Union Fees ‘Soaring’
Financial institutions will be allowed to price-fix a wide range of fees charged to consumers and small businesses under a pair of rules issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the National Credit Union Administration that took effect this week, MPC said.
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Center Square: New Federal Swipe Fee Rules Take Effect
After new federal rules took effect this week to prevent Illinois and other states from banning fees on the tax and tip portions of credit and debit card payments, the Merchants Payment Coalition said bank and credit union fees could soar for consumers and businesses. Doug Kantor of the MPC executive committee said in a statement that the rules set a dangerous precedent that endorses unfair price collusion.
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Harrisburg Patriot News: Visa, Mastercard settlement might impact rewards credit cards
Advocates such as those in the Merchant Payments Coalition, however, remain doubtful the settlement will bring about positive change for businesses. “The vast majority of merchants oppose this proposed settlement,” MPC Executive Committee member and National Association of Convenience Stores General Counsel Doug Kantor said via release. “We expect many more objections to be filed that will present the court with clear evidence of the profound problems with this settlement that would make the already broken credit card market even worse. We are hopeful that the judge will refuse to grant final approval, and that merchants will have their day in court.”
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Raleigh News and Observer: Credit card surcharges seem to be everywhere in NC. Who’s paying for them?
Fees aren’t just affecting North Carolinians. The Nilson Report found that in 2025, charges for credit cards totaled nearly $158 billion, according to the Merchants Payments Coalition. Nearly $119 billion were swipe fees for Visa and Mastercard, which control more than 80% of the market and set rates for banks issuing their cards.
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Merchants Tell Congress Innovations in Payments ‘Will be Stifled’ if Visa, Mastercard and Banks Still Dominate
MPC welcomed a hearing on innovation in the payments market being held by the House Financial Services Committee, but said innovation will not succeed if Visa, Mastercard and major banks are allowed to continue to dominate the market without competition.
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BGOV Power Play: Merchants' Message
The Merchants Payments Coalition and two dozen other retailer lobbying groups sent a letter to House Financial Services Chair French Hill (R-Ark.) and top Democrat Maxine Waters (Calif.) ahead of today’s hearing on the future of payments. The coalition, which has long lobbied in support of legislation to limit credit card swipe fees, made a pitch for its favorite bill — and against credit card companies. “Some have suggested that cryptocurrency businesses are large enough that Visa, Mastercard and major banks won’t be able to stifle competition from them. That is wishful thinking that ignores the evidence,” wrote the groups, including the National Restaurant Association and the National Association of Convenience Stores.
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