B2B Payments Suite

Interchange Fee Optimizer

Transmits transactional metadata and processes credit card payments at lower costs (i.e., Level 2 or Level 3).

Up to 1% less interchange fee per transaction.

Interchange Fee Optimizer
Interchange Fee Optimizer

Recommended Resources

B2B Payments Suite Datasheet

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Interchange Fee Optimizer Key Modules

Level 2 Processing

Level 2 Processing

0.75% Lower Cost. Reduce processing costs by auto-transmitting invoice data to the processor. More

Level 3 Processing

Level 3 Processing

1% Lower Cost. Reduce processing costs by auto-transmitting SKU & tax data to the processor. More

Interchange Fee Analysis

Interchange Fee Analysis

Optimize Savings. Reports & dashboards to provide transactional-level visibility and cost-saving opportunities. More

PRODUCT

Key Modules

  • Level 2 Processing
  • Level 3 Processing
  • Interchange Fee Analysis

VALUE

Improve Operational KPIs

  • 80% of Eligible Transactions via Level 3

Deliver Business Outcomes

  • 20% Interchange Fee Reduction

Key Modules

  • Level 2 Processing
  • Level 3 Processing
  • Interchange Fee Analysis

Improve Operational KPIs

  • 80% of Eligible Transactions via Level 3

Deliver Business Outcomes

  • 20% Interchange Fee Reduction
400+ Enterprise Customers
Enterprise Customers
600+ Mid-Market Customers
Mid-Market Customers
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$120K Average Annual Savings
With the self-serve portal.
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100% Automated Cash Posting
For all payments made via the portal. Read more.
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100% Lockbox Fee Eliminated
By increasing electronic payment adoption. Read more.

Recommended Resources for Interchange Optimization

The Ultimate Guide to Adopting B2B Payment Processing Solutions in 2024

The Ultimate Guide to Adopting B2B Payment Processing Solutions in 2024

Discover the fundamentals of B2B payment processors, how they work, various payment processing fees, and how to reduce those fees.

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Maximize Revenue: Step-By-Step Guide to Implementing an Automated Billing System

Maximize Revenue: Step-By-Step Guide to Implementing an Automated Billing System

An automated billing system integrates with your company’s ERP, CRM, payment getaways, and other software to eliminate manual intervention.

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Interchange Fee Complete Guide: Everything You Need To Know

Interchange Fee Complete Guide: Everything You Need To Know

Understand the intricacies of interchange fees with our detailed guide. Navigate payment processing with expert insights on interchange fee optimization for financial efficiency.

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FAQs: Interchange Fee Optimization Solution

What is interchange optimization?

Interchange optimization is a process to minimize interchange fees paid to card-issuing banks. This includes selecting transparent pricing models, like interchange plus pricing for  transparent fee breakdowns and providing Level 2 and Level 3 data, to qualify for lower interchange rates. 

Additionally, businesses should streamline payment processing with robust security protocols, such as tokenization, to reduce fraud risks and potentially lower fees. Regularly reviewing processing fees, preventing transaction downgrades, and implementing surcharge programs where legally permissible can further help in optimizing interchange costs.

What is the interchange pricing strategy?

Interchange plus pricing, also called as cost plus pricing, is a widely used pricing structure as it offers complete transparency. It breaks down the fees into three different components: interchange fees set by the card networks, assessment fees, and the processor’s fixed markup, allowing businesses to see the exact costs. 

This pricing structure is particularly beneficial for large organizations with high sales volumes, as it allows them to negotiate lower processor markup rates based on their transaction volume. By providing a clear view of all associated fees, interchange plus pricing helps businesses make informed decisions and optimize their profit margins.

How can I lower my interchange fees?

To lower interchange fees, businesses can use interchange optimization, ensuring correct data and codes are used when processing the transactions. Providing Level 2 data like invoice data can reduce costs up to 0.5%, and Level 3 data, including SKU and tax information, can reduce costs up to 1%. 

Look for processors that offer tools like an interchange fee optimizer, which auto-transmits invoice and SKU data to reduce costs. An interchange fee analysis tool can also optimize savings by providing detailed reports and dashboards for transactional-level visibility and cost-saving opportunities.

What is Interchange in Credit Card Processing?

Interchange fees in credit card processing are non-negotiable fees set by card networks like Visa, Mastercard, etc. These fees are charged to merchants by card-issuing banks for each credit card transaction and vary based on factors like transaction type, merchant category, and card type.

Credit card interchange rates are generally higher than those for debit cards due to the increased risk associated with extending credit and managing bad debt. The fees are essential for covering the costs and risks borne by the card-issuing banks. By understanding and optimizing these fees, businesses can potentially lower their overall transaction costs.

Can You Reduce Interchange Fees?

Yes, you can reduce interchange fees through different strategies like interchange optimization. This process involves processing transactions with the correct data and codes. Providing Level 2 and Level 3 data for transactions can qualify businesses for lower interchange rates.

Another approach is to choose a payment processor that offers transparent pricing and has expertise in reducing interchange fees. Additionally, businesses can update their payment technology to prevent downgrades that lead to higher fees. Regularly reviewing and analyzing transaction data can also help identify opportunities to lower fees.

How Do I Get Rid of Interchange Fees?

It is not possible to completely get rid of interchange fees, as they are a key part of the credit card processing ecosystem. However, businesses can encourage customers to use payment methods that incur lower fees, such as debit cards , ACH transfers, or digital wallets.

Additionally, businesses can negotiate with their payment processors for better rates and implement interchange optimization practices. By focusing on reducing the volume and cost of high-fee transactions and optimizing the data provided during transactions, businesses can effectively lower their interchange fees, even though they cannot eliminate them.

What are downgrades in transactions and how can businesses prevent downgrades through Interchange fee optimizer?

Downgrades in transactions refers to the reclassification of a transaction to a higher interchange category rate due to the transaction not meeting specific criteria set up by the card network. This ultimately results in a higher processing fee for the merchant.

The Interchange fee optimization module extracts ERP data such as item number, quantity and unit price matching it with payment information, and providing detailed insights. It facilitates transmission of Invoice and SKU/tax data to processors, ensuring compliance with Level 2 and Level 3 processing requirements, and reducing interchange fees by up to 1% per transaction.

How can I view specific transaction data in the interchange Fee Analysis module?

The module features a dashboard that allows you to view specific transaction data by selecting the desired period and drilling down into individual transactions. This includes all relevant details passed to the processor and any responses or codes received.

How can I know if my transactions are downgraded by the processor?

The interchange module features a dashboard that will highlight the reason codes provided by the processor specifying why a transaction was downgraded. The module will also help you with a report that will highlight the optimal interchange fee for the card used and the actual interchange rate obtained. A discrepancy between these rates can indicate a downgrade.

How much IT involvement is needed to maintain the Interchange Fee Optimizer?

Our Interchange Fee Optimizer requires minimal IT involvement. With seamless plug-and-play integration into ERPs using real-time APIs and Hex (SFTP) connectors, along with pre-built modules and industry-specific best practices, customers can deploy remotely with ease, reducing all IT dependencies.

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