Blog

$200 Million in Estimated Cost for International Scheme Fee Updates

CMSPI estimates the scheme fee updates in April 2026 could cost merchants up to $200 million in Europe and Australia. In this blog, we review six of the new and updated fees from the schemes this month.

April 2026 U.S. Network Fee Updates:
$3 Billion Estimated Cost Impact for Merchants

CMSPI estimates the network fee updates in April 2026 could cost merchants up to $3 billion. In this blog, we review five of the new and updated fees from the networks this month.

OPINION: The Real Threat of Agentic Commerce (And How Merchants Can Keep Control)

Agentic commerce is coming, and who owns your customer data has yet to be decided. Merchants should be aware of the silent threats of agentic commerce and how best to respond.

Reviewing Australia’s Payment Reform

Australia’s payments landscape is undergoing major reform as the Reserve Bank introduces new rules on interchange, surcharging, and fee transparency. These changes could significantly shift merchant costs and pricing strategies. This blog explores what’s changing, industry reactions, and how merchants can prepare ahead of the October 2026 deadline.

Card-Present Chargebacks: An Overlooked Payments Problem (Part 2)

In part two of this series on card-present chargebacks, we discuss what trade-offs to consider when balancing the optimization of payment and fraud strategies and provide an approach to aide merchants in the journey of identifying dispute pressure.

Card-Present Chargebacks: An Overlooked Payments Problem (Part 1)

In this two-part blog series, we discuss an emerging and overlooked payments problem, card-present chargebacks. First up, we highlight why card-present chargebacks deserve attention and how more descriptive reason codes could provide additional insight for merchants.

Navigating Approvals Growing Complexities Part 2 

In the final part of this two part series on approvals, we continue our deep dive into approvals and navigating their growing complexities, including emerging payment payments and asymmetric information.

Anticipating Australia’s Payment Reform 

In part one of a two-part series, we provide a quick recap of Australia’s regulatory framework while we await announcement of a significant payment reform in the coming weeks.

Navigating Approvals Growing Complexities Part 1 

In part one of a two-part series, we provide a detailed look into the difference between gross and net approval rates and the impact of fraud strategy on approvals.

How Much Interchange was Paid on Sales Tax in the U.S.?

CMSPI estimates that U.S. merchants paid nearly $11 billion in interchange on sales tax in 2024 alone. Read more to see how the impact differed by state.

Federal Reserve Data on Debit Networks, Fees, and Fraud: Part Two

Part Two of this Two Part series dives deeper into the Federal Reserve’s latest biannual publication to reveal the complexity of interchange and network fees and the significant shift in debit card fraud liability.

Federal Reserve Data on Debit Networks, Fees, and Fraud: Part One

Part One of a Two Part series begins the exploration of the Federal Reserve’s latest biannual publication reporting insights on debit card’s market shares and the continued expansion of Card-Not-Present transactions in the U.S.