Will business card fees go up after the reforms?

Two card types, two directions

The interchange changes do not treat all cards the same way. From 1 October 2026, consumer-card interchange is cut — the consumer credit cap moves from 0.80% to 0.30%, and domestic debit and prepaid moves from 10c-or-0.20% to 8c-or-0.16%. Commercial and business-card interchange, by contrast, is retained at current levels. So the two move in different directions.

Why the benchmark matters

Alongside retaining commercial interchange, the 0.50% interchange benchmark is being abolished. With that ceiling gone and commercial rates held, business-card costs could rise rather than fall. If a meaningful share of your customers pay on commercial or corporate cards, that is a cost pressure to watch.

Remember interchange isn’t your whole fee

Interchange is only one component of your merchant service fee, and the MSF itself is not capped. Whether any interchange movement reaches you depends on your provider passing it through. So a rise in commercial interchange does not automatically mean your bill rises by the same amount — it depends on your pricing model.

What to do about it

Look at your card mix and your statement. If business cards are common in your trade, ask your provider how commercial-card pricing flows through to you and whether your plan exposes you to interchange changes directly. Securing a competitive overall rate is the practical lever here.

Source: RBA Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging — Conclusions Paper (March 2026).