Topic

Interchange

2 articles

A merchant statement on a desk with a pen resting on the fee summary section

Processing costsMerchant statements13 min read

How to read your merchant statement

Your statement has three parts and only one is negotiable. How to find your effective rate, decode the fees that show up under names nobody can parse, and ask the three questions that get a straight answer out of any processor.

Luke Deviney · Jul 27, 2026

Three processing quotes laid side by side, each showing a different headline rate

InterchangeProcessing costs10 min read

Why every processor quotes you the same rate

Interchange is set by the card brands, not by your processor — so the quote isn't where the difference lives. Why the unsustainable quote exists, what genuinely varies between processors, and the three questions a rate sheet can't dress up.

Paul Smith · Jul 27, 2026