The rate depends on who issued the card and under which rules the settlement runs. Russian bank cards, SBP and Pay services share one rate — from 2.9% — while foreign cards cost more, from 8.9%, because their settlement is longer and riskier.
What drives the rate
- The issuing bank country: cross-border operations always cost more than domestic ones.
- The card type: premium cards carry higher interchange.
- The industry and MCC code: some categories carry a higher dispute risk.
- Merchant turnover: at higher volumes the rate is negotiated individually.
What to do about it
- If you sell domestically only, foreign card acceptance can stay switched off.
- Measure your effective rate rather than one tariff line: method mixes differ.
- Revisit terms as volume grows — that is when there is a basis for it.
How to accept cards from foreign banks is on the international acquiring page.
