Morocco to Lower Domestic Card Interchange Fees Starting October 2026

Starting October 1, 2026, the cap on interchange fees for domestic card payments in Morocco will decrease from 0.65% to 0.50% of the transaction amount. Additionally, a reduced rate of 0.15% will apply to payments made to the government and transactions involving local neighborhood commerce, according to the Competition Council and Bank Al-Maghrib.

Understanding Interchange Fees

This measure targets a specific component of the total cost of card payments. Interchange fees are commissions paid by the acquiring bank (the bank providing payment services to the merchant) to the card-issuing bank. It is important to note that this is distinct from the total commission charged to the merchant.

Context and Objectives

This new cap follows an initial limitation set at 0.65%, which took effect in October 2024. With this further reduction, Moroccan authorities aim to:

Reduce costs associated with accepting electronic payments.
Encourage adoption of digital payment solutions among merchants.

The reform also aligns with the broader opening of the monetary acquisition market to multiple operators. The Interbank Card Center (CMI) has ceased its acquisition activities to focus solely on its role as a technical processing platform, while new players have been authorized to offer services directly to merchants.

Impact on Businesses

For businesses, the implications are twofold:

A reduction in the cap for one key pricing component.
Increased competition among acquisition service providers.

The Competition Council notes that this shift has already led to a diversification of service offerings and a decrease in acquisition commissions borne by merchants.

The policy particularly targets local neighborhood commerce, where the new 0.15% cap is designed to facilitate access to electronic payment solutions. This initiative is part of Morocco’s broader strategy to expand the use of digital payments and promote financial inclusion.