Merchant Statement Center

Common Credit Card Processing Fees

Payment processing involves multiple fee types charged by different parties — card networks, issuing banks, and your processor. This reference guide explains each common fee: what it is, why it exists, whether it's negotiable, and where to find it on your statement.

Last reviewed: July 4, 2026 · Editorial policy

Quick orientation

Processing fees come from three sources: card networks (interchange, assessments — non-negotiable), your processor (markup, monthly fees — sometimes negotiable), and third parties (gateway providers, PCI vendors). Always ask for a complete written fee schedule before signing with any processor.

Per-Transaction Fees

Interchange Fee

What it is: A fee paid to the card-issuing bank on every transaction. Set by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex). Varies by card type, transaction method, and merchant category.
Negotiable? Not negotiable — set by card networks. Passed through at cost under interchange-plus pricing.
On your statement: Appears as a line item on interchange-plus statements. Bundled into the flat rate on flat-rate statements.

Assessment Fee (Card Brand Fee)

What it is: A fee paid to the card network itself (not the issuing bank). Set by Visa, Mastercard, etc. on every transaction. Typically a small fraction of a percent.
Negotiable? Not negotiable — set by card networks.
On your statement: On interchange-plus statements as 'assessment fees,' 'network fees,' or 'card brand fees.' Bundled in other pricing models.

Authorization Fee

What it is: A small per-transaction fee charged each time a transaction is submitted for authorization — whether approved or declined.
Negotiable? Sometimes negotiable with the processor.
On your statement: May appear as a separate line item or included in transaction fees. Ask your processor whether authorization fees are charged on declines.

Transaction Fee

What it is: The per-transaction portion of the processor's markup — typically a flat cent amount per transaction (e.g., $0.10 per transaction) charged in addition to a percentage.
Negotiable? The processor portion may be negotiable. Card network fees are not.
On your statement: Appears in the processor fee section of your statement.

Monthly Fixed Fees

Monthly Service / Account Fee

What it is: A recurring monthly fee charged by the processor for maintaining your merchant account. Sometimes called an account maintenance fee.
Negotiable? Sometimes waived for high-volume merchants or negotiated at account setup. Not all processors charge this.
On your statement: Monthly charges section of your statement.

Statement Fee

What it is: A monthly fee for producing and delivering your processing statement. Some processors waive this if you opt for paperless statements.
Negotiable? Sometimes negotiable or waivable. Ask specifically.
On your statement: Monthly fees section.

PCI Compliance Fee

What it is: A monthly or annual fee associated with maintaining PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance. May include access to a compliance portal, annual questionnaire, or compliance support.
Negotiable? Sometimes negotiable in amount, though some form of PCI fee is standard. Merchants who fail to complete their annual PCI assessment may be charged a non-compliance surcharge instead.
On your statement: Monthly fees section, sometimes listed separately from the base service fee.

Gateway Fee

What it is: A monthly fee for access to a payment gateway — the technology that authorizes online and card-not-present transactions. May be charged by the processor or by a separate gateway provider (Authorize.net, NMI, etc.).
Negotiable? Varies. Some processors include gateway access; others charge separately.
On your statement: Monthly fees section. May appear as a separate invoice from a third-party gateway provider.

Monthly Minimum Fee

What it is: A minimum monthly fee that applies if your processing fees for the month don't reach a specified floor. For example, if your minimum is $25 and you only generated $10 in fees, you pay $25.
Negotiable? The minimum amount may be negotiable at account setup. Low-volume months trigger this most often.
On your statement: Monthly fees section when it applies.

Incidental and Event-Based Fees

Chargeback Fee

What it is: A fee charged each time a customer successfully disputes a transaction with their bank. Separate from the chargeback itself (the reversed funds).
Negotiable? Amount varies by processor. Ask for the specific fee before signing.
On your statement: Adjustments or chargeback section of your statement.

Retrieval Fee

What it is: A fee charged when a card issuer requests transaction documentation (a copy request / retrieval request). Usually a precursor to a chargeback.
Negotiable? Amount varies by processor.
On your statement: Adjustments section. Less common than chargeback fees.

AVS Fee

What it is: Address Verification Service fee — charged when a transaction uses AVS to verify the cardholder's billing address. Typically a small per-transaction amount on card-not-present transactions.
Negotiable? Amount varies; may be bundled into transaction fees.
On your statement: May be a separate line item on card-not-present transaction detail.

Batch Fee

What it is: A fee charged each time you close a batch (settle your day's transactions). Some processors charge per batch settlement.
Negotiable? Varies by processor. Some don't charge batch fees.
On your statement: Transaction activity section.

Early Termination Fee (ETF)

What it is: A fee charged if you close your merchant account before the end of a contract term. Not charged on a monthly basis — only triggered by account closure during the contract period.
Negotiable? The existence and amount of an ETF is negotiable at signup. Some providers do not charge ETFs.
On your statement: Only appears if you cancel early. Should be disclosed in your contract.

Questions to Ask Any Processor

›What is your complete fee schedule — every fee, not just the transaction rate?
›Which fees are fixed and which vary with volume?
›Is there a monthly minimum? If so, what is it and when does it apply?
›What is the early termination fee and how long is the contract term?
›Are PCI compliance fees included or charged separately?
›Do you charge for gateway access, or is it included?
›What is the chargeback fee and the retrieval request fee?
›Are there fees for authorization attempts that are declined?

Related Content

Hidden Processing FeesHow to Read a Merchant StatementHow to Calculate Your Effective RateInterchange-Plus PricingCost CalculatorFull GlossaryHow ProcessorFit Works

Fee names, amounts, and structures vary by processor. This guide covers common fee types — verify your specific fee schedule with your provider. Educational content based on publicly available information. Editorial policy.

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Verification note

Fee names, amounts, and structures vary by processor. PCI compliance fee amounts and structures differ by provider. Verify your specific fee schedule with your processor.

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