LITTLE ROCK (March 20, 2026) – In an op-ed for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, NFIB State Director Katie Burns urges Congress to pass the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act, which would provide immediate relief for small businesses by requiring banks to offer more than one credit-card network.

Describing the financial strain Main Street businesses are under from credit card swipe fees, Burns wrote:

“In 2023, an Arkansas pest-control business owner shared that swipe fees cost him more than $33,000. While he hasn’t passed those surcharges onto his customers, it’s money he’d rather use on new equipment or in expanded benefits for his employees.”

“Main Street is counting on Congress to pass the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act.” Burns continued. “Under this bill, there would be real competition among credit-card networks. Credit-card networks’ fees would drop to retain their customers, easing pressure on Main Street.”

CLICK HERE to read the full op-ed. Excerpts are below:

Competition can fix the credit-card swipe-fee crisis

Arkansas Democrat Gazette

By: Katie Burns

March 20, 2026

Main Street is getting squeezed from every direction. […] But there’s one cost that too few people notice: credit-card swipe fees.

Every time a customer swipes their card, the business pays anywhere from 2 to 4 percent in fees. […] Inflation acts as a multiplier, and over time, these credit-card fees become one of the largest expenses a small business faces–often second only to payroll. In 2024, the swipe fees totaled a record $187.2 billion. […]

In 2023, an Arkansas pest-control business owner shared that swipe fees cost him more than $33,000. While he hasn’t passed those surcharges onto his customers, it’s money he’d rather use on new equipment or in expanded benefits for his employees. […]

By raising swipe fees year after year, Visa and Mastercard have effectively hogtied small businesses: They’re forced to play by rules they didn’t set, paying rates they can’t negotiate.

This is no small thing to Main Street. In fact, a recent National Federation of Independent Business survey found that 92 percent of our small business owner members believe they should be able to pick the credit-card networks that process their transactions.

Main Street is counting on Congress to pass the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act. Authored by Sens. Roger Marshall and Richard Durbin and Reps. Lance Gooden and Zoe Lofgren, the bill would provide immediate relief for small businesses by requiring banks to offer more than one credit-card network. […]

Under this bill, there would be real competition among credit-card networks. Credit-card networks’ fees would drop to retain their customers, easing pressure on Main Street. […] Lawmakers should pass the Credit Card Competition Act and give Main Street a fair shot.

Take Action: Tell Congress to pass the Credit Card Competition Act to give small businesses freedom of choice to pick their credit card processing network.