What does interchange++ pricing mean?

Traditionally, card transaction fees were expressed as a simple percentage of the transaction amount. In contrast, interchange++ pricing breaks down the fee into 3 components: Interchange fee + Card scheme fee + Acquirer margin.

In this article, we explain what this means in practice, when it makes sense, and how to compare different offers — with concrete 2026 examples.

Payment service provider pricing models

Payment service providers typically use one of two pricing models for transaction fees:

• Blended pricing: A fixed percentage of each transaction goes to the payment provider (e.g., 1.2%). Simple and transparent, but not always the cheapest.

• Interchange++ pricing: The transaction fee is broken into three components:

  • Interchange fee — paid to the card-issuing bank
  • Card scheme fee — paid to Visa/Mastercard
  • Acquirer margin — your provider's profit

Example: (0.2%) + (HUF 5 + 0.1472%) + 0.7%

Blended pricing is more transparent, rarely changes during the contract, and has been the dominant model in Hungary for a long time.

Interchange++ pricing has become more common with the entry of international providers (e.g., Stripe, myPOS, SumUp) into the Hungarian market. Today, several domestic banks also offer this model.

EU Regulation 2015/751 requires acquirers to inform merchants about fees broken down by card type — unless the merchant requests otherwise in writing.

1. Interchange fee (interbank commission)

The interchange fee is the commission that the card-accepting payment provider pays to the card-issuing bank for each transaction. This fee is set by the card schemes (Visa, Mastercard) and varies by card type.

• The provider pays this to the issuing bank, but the merchant ultimately bears the cost.
• If the provider itself issued the card, this fee does not apply (on-us transaction).

2026 EU-regulated rates:

• Domestic/EEA consumer debit card: maximum 0.2%
• Domestic/EEA consumer credit card: maximum 0.3%
• Business/corporate cards: no EU cap — fees can reach 1.5–2%
• Non-EEA cards (e.g., American tourists): also uncapped, typically 1–2%

Important: If you operate a business with many foreign tourists or corporate card payments, interchange++ pricing may be more expensive than blended pricing — because the higher interchange fees are passed directly to you.

The POSnavigator calculator takes these differences into account and calculates the actual cost based on your transaction data.

2. Card scheme fee (network fee)

This fee applies between the payment provider and the card scheme (Visa, Mastercard). The provider pays it but passes it on to the merchant.

• Varies by card type (domestic/foreign, credit/debit, consumer/corporate, contactless/chip).
• Fees are not public — card schemes negotiate individually with providers.

Influencing factors:

• Higher-volume providers may get better rates from the card scheme.
• Cards issued by the provider itself may have different fee schedules.
• Contactless transactions sometimes carry lower scheme fees.

Example (based on OTP 2023 tariff):

• Domestic MasterCard scheme fee: HUF 5 + 0.1472%

3. Acquirer margin (merchant service charge)

This is the only fee component that the provider sets freely. It covers their operating costs, risk, and profit.

The acquirer margin depends on:

• Your monthly transaction volume (higher volume = lower fee)
• Your business type (low-risk retail vs. high-risk online services)
• Payment method (POS terminal vs. online payment gateway)
• Additional services (multi-currency settlement, recurring payments)

Typical range: 0.05% – 2%. Competitive offers are usually in the 0.3–0.9% range.

Example: Interchange++ fees for different transactions

HUF 5,000 transaction — domestic debit card

If the provider issued the card (on-us):

• Acquirer margin: 0.70%
• Scheme fee: HUF 5 + 0.1472%
• Interchange fee: none

Total cost: HUF 47.36 (0.95%)

If another domestic bank issued the card:

• Acquirer margin: 0.70%
• Scheme fee: HUF 9 + 0.1325%
• Interchange fee: 0.20%

Total cost: HUF 60.63 (1.21%)

HUF 50,000 transaction — foreign corporate credit card

• Acquirer margin: 0.70%
• Scheme fee: ~0.25%
• Interchange fee: ~1.50% (no EU cap!)

Total cost: ~HUF 1,225 (2.45%)

The same transaction with blended pricing at 1.2%: HUF 600. In this case, blended pricing is significantly cheaper!

Takeaway: If most of your customers pay with domestic debit cards, interchange++ pricing is typically cheaper. If you have many foreign tourists or corporate cards, blended pricing may be the better choice.

Interchange++ vs blended pricing — decision guide

• Choose interchange++ if most of your customers pay with domestic debit cards, your volume is stable, and you want full transparency on fee components.
• Choose blended pricing if you have many foreign tourists, corporate cards, or prefer simple, predictable fees.
• Request both quotes from your provider and use the POSnavigator calculator to compare actual costs based on your transaction data.

How does this compare to qvik pricing?

Qvik (QR-based instant payment) operates on a completely different pricing model: there is no interchange fee or card scheme fee, because the transaction goes through Hungary's Instant Payment System (AFR). Qvik fees are typically a simple percentage (0.65–0.99%), which in many cases is more favorable than card-based interchange++ pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between interchange++ and blended pricing?

With blended pricing, you pay a single fixed percentage (e.g., 1.2%) regardless of card type. With interchange++ pricing, the fee consists of three parts (interchange + scheme + acquirer margin), so the final cost depends on the customer's card type. For domestic debit cards, interchange++ is typically cheaper; for foreign or corporate cards, it can be more expensive.

How much is the interchange fee in Hungary in 2026?

Under EU regulation, the interchange fee for domestic/EEA consumer debit cards is capped at 0.2%, and for credit cards at 0.3%. Business and non-EEA cards have no cap — their fees can reach 1.5–2%.

Which pricing model is better for a small shop?

If most of your customers pay with Hungarian debit cards (the most common scenario), interchange++ pricing is generally cheaper. If you are unsure, use the POSnavigator calculator to compare models based on your actual transaction data.

Can interchange fees change?

Yes. Card schemes (Visa, Mastercard) may review their fees annually. However, the EU caps (0.2% / 0.3%) are fixed regulatory limits for EEA consumer cards.

How can I verify that my provider uses interchange++ pricing?

Your provider is required to give you a detailed breakdown of transaction fees by card type. If you only see a single aggregated percentage on your statement, you likely have blended pricing. Request the detailed breakdown!