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COMCO secures reduced interchange fees for Mastercard debit cards

20 May 2024 | Legal Alerts
Debit card payments incur fees, including interchange fees. COMCO has agreed with Mastercard on an interchange fee of 0.12% for domestic card-present transactions.

COMCO started two investigations last June to seek lasting resolutions for domestic interchange fees on Visa and Mastercard debit cards. A favorable agreement was quickly achieved with Mastercard.
COMCO has agreed with Mastercard on an interchange fee of 0.12%, capped at 30 cents for transactions of CHF 300 and above for domestic card-present transactions, where the debit card is physically presented at the point of sale. This arrangement results in an average rate of 0.1%, significantly lower than the 0.2% rate set by European regulations. The decision aims to establish a robust legal framework for the stakeholders, facilitating reasonable business choices and fostering innovation. Consequently, the agreement is binding until 2033.
COMCO secures reduced interchange fees for Mastercard debit cards
COMCO secures reduced interchange fees for Mastercard debit cards
At the present, for domestic payments made via the web or mobile devices (e- or m-commerce), an interchange fee of 0.31% is charged, as per previous competition authority proceedings. Before the current inspection, the competition authorities and Mastercard settled to reduce this rate to 0.28%, effective November 1, 2025.

The agreement is exclusive to Mastercard debit cards and does not influence the outcomes of the ongoing inspection into domestic interchange fees for Visa debit cards for card-present transactions.
Domestic interchange fees are the revenues a Swiss card issuer (e.g. a bank) earns when its debit cards are used in Switzerland. These fees are part of the merchant service charge passed on to the business accepting the card. Thus, the interchange fee is one of several components of this charge.
Sources

1. https://www.finma.ch/en/news/2024/05/20240513-mm-liquiditaet-vers/
2. www.finma.ch/en/~/media/finma/dokumente/dokumentencenter/
3. www.finma.ch/en/~/media/finma/dokumente/dokumentencenter/myfinma/
4. https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2005/736/de

Disclaimer:

This legal alert provides a general overview of the topic and should not be considered legal advice. Legal situations may vary, and businesses should consult with legal professionals to address their specific concerns.
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