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November 24, 2025
Recent credit card anti-trust settlement falls short
What it means: A recent anti-trust settlement between VISA, Mastercard, and multiple banks has paid out money from two decades of litigation over anti-competitive practices and credit card swipe fees.
Our take: The resolution does not take corrective action to encourage competition for credit card networks to lower credit card swipe fees. Swipe fees are one of the greatest costs for small businesses. To help fight the growing cost, small business owners need to be aware of the opportunities to protect their revenues and know their state-specific laws.
Take Action: Support competition to limit growing credit card fees!
Swipe fees have long challenged small businesses, charging on average 2-3% per credit card transaction. With credit cards being the most convenient and widely used method of payment, this amounts to tens of thousands of dollars per year that small business owners must surrender to credit card companies. NFIB released a statement regarding the Visa and Mastercard anti-trust settlement.
With VISA and Mastercard controlling the vast majority of the market, credit card swipe fees have more than doubled since 2012. If small businesses are given the choice to pick from a variety of networks, it will encourage competition between credit card companies and help to lower swipe fees.
The Small Business Rundown episode 74: Your Guide to Credit Card Surcharges and Cash Discounts, along with the legal guide on credit card surcharges and cash discounts helps small business owners fight growing credit card swipe fees.
Take Action: Urge Congress to pass the Credit Card Competition Act and give small businesses freedom of choice between credit card processing networks.
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NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.
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