Compliantly optimize your way into savings
Elavon • Article • U.S. Payment Smart (January 2026)
2 min. Read
Credit card surcharging and cash discounting have become helpful ways for businesses to offset operating costs. Because federal, state and card network rules are strict, Elavon offers fully card network compliant programs that make setup effortless and secure.
Card networks increase fines, fees and assessments for noncompliance
The safest way to implement a fee program is through a trusted provider like Elavon. Regulators continue to find businesses applying surcharges without proper disclosure, signage or rate accuracy. Acceptance fee laws also vary by state. Visa has announced and implemented stricter enforcement and significant fines, fees and assessments for noncompliant surcharge programs.
Used correctly, fee programs can provide meaningful savings. If you’ve tried a DIY setup, contact your account manager to switch to a compliant program.
How to land transactions in a lower interchange rate
Most businesses collect Level I payment data, which includes the minimum information required to authorize and process a payment transaction.
By collecting more in-depth information on eligible commercial and small business card products, you reduce the fraud risk associated with each transaction and card networks reduce your per-transaction interchange rate. The program is referred to as Commercial Card Optimization.
This approach to savings can be time consuming, but our program makes qualifying payments for the lower cost on eligible commercial cards much easier.
New Visa program enables even greater CCO savings
Visa recently rolled out a new Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP) enabling Elavon to bring even greater savings to customers using CCO. Read more.
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