What Is Interchange?

Learn the role interchange plays in card-payment economics and why it is only one component of merchant cost.

Interchange in simple terms

Interchange is a component of card-payment economics generally associated with transfers between the acquiring side and issuing side of a card transaction.

Why merchants see different costs

Card type, market, transaction characteristics, merchant category and other factors can affect underlying card economics. Providers may bundle or pass through different components.

Compare total cost

Do not treat interchange as the same thing as the merchant's final processing price. Review the complete commercial structure.