Interchange++ (IC++ or Interchange Plus Plus) is a fee structure commonly used in Europe and North America, paid to the customer's issuing bank and card networks (Mastercard and Visa) in each transaction. Card networks use this fee structure to break down the costs you incur when accepting card payments from your customers.
How Interchange++ works
Credit card payment processing involves a few different players, and each has different fees:
- The card-issuing bank (or the issuer) charges an interchange fee
- The first + is the card scheme fee that goes to Mastercard or Visa in exchange for using their network
- The second + is the acquirer markup fee that goes to the acquirer in exchange for acquiring funds from the cardholder
📌 See an example with our free interchange fee calculator.
How are interchange fees determined?
Interchange rates are set by card schemes like Mastercard and Visa. Interchange fees and scheme fees are influenced by factors like card type, transaction regionality (domestic or cross-border payments), merchant category code (MCC), and transaction type (online or in-person).
Average IC++ fees
For transactions over €5 made with a consumer card, depending on the card network and type (debit/credit):
- Domestic transactions: between 0.3% and 0.5%
- Transactions within the EU: between 0.5% and 0.9%
- Transactions outside the EU: between 2.2% and 4.5%
Find a helpful guide to interchange fees here, and click below to view Visa and Mastercard interchange fees in Europe: