This document outlines 25 issues with credit card interchange fees that negatively impact both merchants and consumers. Key issues discussed include interchange fees rising significantly over time even as processing costs have decreased, a lack of transparency in the complex fee structure, and an inability for merchants to negotiate fees or bypass the credit card networks. The document argues that regulating interchange fees as done in other countries would lower costs for both merchants and consumers while not reducing card usage.
The European Commission’s new rule on credit cards will cut 200 million commissions in Italy: will a subscription fee be introduced? With a contribution by Gabor Friedenthal, Dep. Managing Director, and Daniele Pontecorvo, SEM
This note by Rosa M. Abrantes-Metz, Practice Co-Leader, Global Antitrust & Competition, Brattle, was prepared for the discussion “Competition and Payment Card Interchange Fees” held at the 19th meeting of the OECD-IDB Latin American and Caribbean Competition Forum on 22 September 2021. More papers and presentations on the topic can be found out at oe.cd/laccf.
Rising Above Uncertainty: Opportunities and Challenges for Credit Unions in P...NAFCU Services Corporation
The retail financial services market is in a transformative period where new stakeholders and business models are reshaping the industry. Credit unions still have the opportunity for retention and growth, but must continue to compete. In this presentation, you will get an in-depth look at key market dynamics, including evolving financial services models and regulatory impact; learn about emerging strategies and their impact to credit unions, including EMV, prepaid, and mobile; and find out how to prepare for the future.
The European Commission’s new rule on credit cards will cut 200 million commissions in Italy: will a subscription fee be introduced? With a contribution by Gabor Friedenthal, Dep. Managing Director, and Daniele Pontecorvo, SEM
This note by Rosa M. Abrantes-Metz, Practice Co-Leader, Global Antitrust & Competition, Brattle, was prepared for the discussion “Competition and Payment Card Interchange Fees” held at the 19th meeting of the OECD-IDB Latin American and Caribbean Competition Forum on 22 September 2021. More papers and presentations on the topic can be found out at oe.cd/laccf.
Rising Above Uncertainty: Opportunities and Challenges for Credit Unions in P...NAFCU Services Corporation
The retail financial services market is in a transformative period where new stakeholders and business models are reshaping the industry. Credit unions still have the opportunity for retention and growth, but must continue to compete. In this presentation, you will get an in-depth look at key market dynamics, including evolving financial services models and regulatory impact; learn about emerging strategies and their impact to credit unions, including EMV, prepaid, and mobile; and find out how to prepare for the future.
mCASH om PSD2 (betalingstjenestedirektivet) på betalingsformidling 2015Daniel R. Döderlein
Gründer og CEO i mCASH, Daniel R. Döderlein var invitert av programkomiteen til å ta for seg PSD2 (betalingstjenestedirektivet del 2) og hvilke konsekvenser dette kan ha på det norske markedet for betalingstjenester med spesiell fokus på bankers rolle i forhold til nye tredjeparter.
Experience in Supervising Banks and Non-banks Operating through AgentsCGAP
Agent supervision is still an underdeveloped area in the majority of countries with the exception of a few countries that have created comprehensive and detailed supervisory frameworks, encompassing all phases, from licensing to monitoring, from inspections to enforcement.
The majority of countries have not yet fully developed their supervisory procedures to identify and mitigate agent risks, acting on a more reactive and ad-hoc basis.
The approach in supervising agents varies considerably depending on the overall approach taken by supervisors (with some being more intrusive and some more lax in supervising the financial sector)
In the countries where nonbanks (e.g. mobile money providers) have extensive agent networks (e.g. Tanzania), there is disparity in the approach to supervising bank-based vs. nonbank-based agents
PSD2 Building Certainty : Payments Knowledge Forum 2015The ID Co.
The Payments Knowledge Forum (PKF) has been set up by payments system users to facilitate the exchange of mutually useful, practical and relevant information.
miiCard's Kevin Trapp joined the 2 day conference to discuss PSD2 developments and the role of DirectID in creating trust in online payments.
Regulations are integral to the banking industry, and the extent to which the bank complies with such regulations not just maintains its bottom line in terms of avoiding hefty fines, but also has a big bearing on credibility and integrity. So how do banks comply with all that is required, and save themselves from the ill-effects of non-compliance?
This presentation by CADE Brazil was made during the discussion “Competition and Payment Card Interchange Fees” held at the 19th meeting of the OECD-IDB Latin American and Caribbean Competition Forum on 22 September 2021. More papers and presentations on the topic can be found out at oe.cd/laccf.
The payments landscape has changed significantly and bankers must adapt or be disintermediated by those changes. Check volume will continue to diminish, remote
deposit capture will continue to proliferate, and coin and currency are here to stay.
Online and mobile banking, coupled with increased ATM functionality, will drive consumer banking while non-bank payments and digital wallet services such as Apple Pay are becoming more widely accepted among both consumers and their financial institutions.
New regulations and increased regulatory scrutiny will continue to drive up banks’ costs, while new risks will necessitate improved governance, risk management,
automation, and compliance systems. Banks must re-engineer their commercial deposit products, operations, risk management and cost structures in order to remain competitive and profitable. All of this affects the way that businesses interface with their banks and the costs they bear as customers.
This presentation by the OECD Secretariat was made during the discussion “Compliance Programmes in Antitrust Enforcement” held at the 19th meeting of the OECD-IDB Latin American and Caribbean Competition Forum on 20 September 2021. More papers and presentations on the topic can be found out at oe.cd/laccf.
mCASH om PSD2 (betalingstjenestedirektivet) på betalingsformidling 2015Daniel R. Döderlein
Gründer og CEO i mCASH, Daniel R. Döderlein var invitert av programkomiteen til å ta for seg PSD2 (betalingstjenestedirektivet del 2) og hvilke konsekvenser dette kan ha på det norske markedet for betalingstjenester med spesiell fokus på bankers rolle i forhold til nye tredjeparter.
Experience in Supervising Banks and Non-banks Operating through AgentsCGAP
Agent supervision is still an underdeveloped area in the majority of countries with the exception of a few countries that have created comprehensive and detailed supervisory frameworks, encompassing all phases, from licensing to monitoring, from inspections to enforcement.
The majority of countries have not yet fully developed their supervisory procedures to identify and mitigate agent risks, acting on a more reactive and ad-hoc basis.
The approach in supervising agents varies considerably depending on the overall approach taken by supervisors (with some being more intrusive and some more lax in supervising the financial sector)
In the countries where nonbanks (e.g. mobile money providers) have extensive agent networks (e.g. Tanzania), there is disparity in the approach to supervising bank-based vs. nonbank-based agents
PSD2 Building Certainty : Payments Knowledge Forum 2015The ID Co.
The Payments Knowledge Forum (PKF) has been set up by payments system users to facilitate the exchange of mutually useful, practical and relevant information.
miiCard's Kevin Trapp joined the 2 day conference to discuss PSD2 developments and the role of DirectID in creating trust in online payments.
Regulations are integral to the banking industry, and the extent to which the bank complies with such regulations not just maintains its bottom line in terms of avoiding hefty fines, but also has a big bearing on credibility and integrity. So how do banks comply with all that is required, and save themselves from the ill-effects of non-compliance?
This presentation by CADE Brazil was made during the discussion “Competition and Payment Card Interchange Fees” held at the 19th meeting of the OECD-IDB Latin American and Caribbean Competition Forum on 22 September 2021. More papers and presentations on the topic can be found out at oe.cd/laccf.
The payments landscape has changed significantly and bankers must adapt or be disintermediated by those changes. Check volume will continue to diminish, remote
deposit capture will continue to proliferate, and coin and currency are here to stay.
Online and mobile banking, coupled with increased ATM functionality, will drive consumer banking while non-bank payments and digital wallet services such as Apple Pay are becoming more widely accepted among both consumers and their financial institutions.
New regulations and increased regulatory scrutiny will continue to drive up banks’ costs, while new risks will necessitate improved governance, risk management,
automation, and compliance systems. Banks must re-engineer their commercial deposit products, operations, risk management and cost structures in order to remain competitive and profitable. All of this affects the way that businesses interface with their banks and the costs they bear as customers.
This presentation by the OECD Secretariat was made during the discussion “Compliance Programmes in Antitrust Enforcement” held at the 19th meeting of the OECD-IDB Latin American and Caribbean Competition Forum on 20 September 2021. More papers and presentations on the topic can be found out at oe.cd/laccf.
Everything You Need to Know About Taking PlasticBusiness.com
Consumers are so used to the convenience of credit and debit cards that it's no longer an option for a merchant to take plastic -- it's a necessity. Consumers expect to be able to use plastic to pay for everything, even small items. From their point of view, that's the end of the transaction but it's a whole different story for the merchant.
From credit card readers to securing the networks to transmitting information to the bank, there are multiple steps that must happen before the money is finally deposited into the merchant's account.
Merchants are beginning to fight back, primarily through Chargeback Companies and lawsuits against the Cardholders, Issuing banks and even the Visa and MasterCard branded networks. One such lawsuit claims that “major credit card companies and the nation’s largest banks conspired to shift liability for fraudulent credit card transactions in the U.S. to merchants. The complaint claims that the move to cards that include electronic chips designed to be more secure—so-called EMV chips—has been plagued by technical glitches and used as cover to illegally shift fraud-protection costs.”
While the convenience and speed of card payments are undeniable, merchants must navigate a complex web of credit card payment processing fees and rates. Visit us at: https://webpays.com/best-credit-card-payment-companies.html
Accepting card payments means never turning away a customer again. However, too many small business owners are missing out because they don't know where to get started. This free guide explains all you need to know to get going with card payments for your business.
Payment processor fees, also known as merchant service fees, are the charges levied by the company providing credit card payment processing services to the merchant. Visit us at: https://webpays.com/best-credit-card-payment-companies.html
Discover why accepting contactless payments can boost your small business, increase your customers, their average spend and isn't as expensive as you might think. This free guide has all you need to know about the fast emerging technology of contactless card payment.
Beyond Payment - E-Commerce Trends and Payment Challenges for Online Merchant...Lawrence Cheok
Written with e-commerce finance professionals in mind, this paper provides insights and recommendations for businesses interested in expanding their e-commerce operations internationally. It relates to online merchants needing to look beyond the web front-end and consider additional factors like back-office operations and banking infrastructure. Payment options discussed include e-wallets and mobile wallets, e-banking, and escrow payments, which are gaining favor in developing markets like China
NO1 Uk Black Magic Specialist Expert In Sahiwal, Okara, Hafizabad, Mandi Bah...Amil Baba Dawood bangali
Contact with Dawood Bhai Just call on +92322-6382012 and we'll help you. We'll solve all your problems within 12 to 24 hours and with 101% guarantee and with astrology systematic. If you want to take any personal or professional advice then also you can call us on +92322-6382012 , ONLINE LOVE PROBLEM & Other all types of Daily Life Problem's.Then CALL or WHATSAPP us on +92322-6382012 and Get all these problems solutions here by Amil Baba DAWOOD BANGALI
#vashikaranspecialist #astrologer #palmistry #amliyaat #taweez #manpasandshadi #horoscope #spiritual #lovelife #lovespell #marriagespell#aamilbabainpakistan #amilbabainkarachi #powerfullblackmagicspell #kalajadumantarspecialist #realamilbaba #AmilbabainPakistan #astrologerincanada #astrologerindubai #lovespellsmaster #kalajaduspecialist #lovespellsthatwork #aamilbabainlahore#blackmagicformarriage #aamilbaba #kalajadu #kalailam #taweez #wazifaexpert #jadumantar #vashikaranspecialist #astrologer #palmistry #amliyaat #taweez #manpasandshadi #horoscope #spiritual #lovelife #lovespell #marriagespell#aamilbabainpakistan #amilbabainkarachi #powerfullblackmagicspell #kalajadumantarspecialist #realamilbaba #AmilbabainPakistan #astrologerincanada #astrologerindubai #lovespellsmaster #kalajaduspecialist #lovespellsthatwork #aamilbabainlahore #blackmagicforlove #blackmagicformarriage #aamilbaba #kalajadu #kalailam #taweez #wazifaexpert #jadumantar #vashikaranspecialist #astrologer #palmistry #amliyaat #taweez #manpasandshadi #horoscope #spiritual #lovelife #lovespell #marriagespell#aamilbabainpakistan #amilbabainkarachi #powerfullblackmagicspell #kalajadumantarspecialist #realamilbaba #AmilbabainPakistan #astrologerincanada #astrologerindubai #lovespellsmaster #kalajaduspecialist #lovespellsthatwork #aamilbabainlahore #Amilbabainuk #amilbabainspain #amilbabaindubai #Amilbabainnorway #amilbabainkrachi #amilbabainlahore #amilbabaingujranwalan #amilbabainislamabad
how to swap pi coins to foreign currency withdrawable.DOT TECH
As of my last update, Pi is still in the testing phase and is not tradable on any exchanges.
However, Pi Network has announced plans to launch its Testnet and Mainnet in the future, which may include listing Pi on exchanges.
The current method for selling pi coins involves exchanging them with a pi vendor who purchases pi coins for investment reasons.
If you want to sell your pi coins, reach out to a pi vendor and sell them to anyone looking to sell pi coins from any country around the globe.
Below is the contact information for my personal pi vendor.
Telegram: @Pi_vendor_247
what is the best method to sell pi coins in 2024DOT TECH
The best way to sell your pi coins safely is trading with an exchange..but since pi is not launched in any exchange, and second option is through a VERIFIED pi merchant.
Who is a pi merchant?
A pi merchant is someone who buys pi coins from miners and pioneers and resell them to Investors looking forward to hold massive amounts before mainnet launch in 2026.
I will leave the telegram contact of my personal pi merchant to trade pi coins with.
@Pi_vendor_247
The secret way to sell pi coins effortlessly.DOT TECH
Well as we all know pi isn't launched yet. But you can still sell your pi coins effortlessly because some whales in China are interested in holding massive pi coins. And they are willing to pay good money for it. If you are interested in selling I will leave a contact for you. Just telegram this number below. I sold about 3000 pi coins to him and he paid me immediately.
Telegram: @Pi_vendor_247
how to sell pi coins in all Africa Countries.DOT TECH
Yes. You can sell your pi network for other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, usdt , Ethereum and other currencies And this is done easily with the help from a pi merchant.
What is a pi merchant ?
Since pi is not launched yet in any exchange. The only way you can sell right now is through merchants.
A verified Pi merchant is someone who buys pi network coins from miners and resell them to investors looking forward to hold massive quantities of pi coins before mainnet launch in 2026.
I will leave the telegram contact of my personal pi merchant to trade with.
@Pi_vendor_247
The European Unemployment Puzzle: implications from population agingGRAPE
We study the link between the evolving age structure of the working population and unemployment. We build a large new Keynesian OLG model with a realistic age structure, labor market frictions, sticky prices, and aggregate shocks. Once calibrated to the European economy, we quantify the extent to which demographic changes over the last three decades have contributed to the decline of the unemployment rate. Our findings yield important implications for the future evolution of unemployment given the anticipated further aging of the working population in Europe. We also quantify the implications for optimal monetary policy: lowering inflation volatility becomes less costly in terms of GDP and unemployment volatility, which hints that optimal monetary policy may be more hawkish in an aging society. Finally, our results also propose a partial reversal of the European-US unemployment puzzle due to the fact that the share of young workers is expected to remain robust in the US.
Poonawalla Fincorp and IndusInd Bank Introduce New Co-Branded Credit Cardnickysharmasucks
The unveiling of the IndusInd Bank Poonawalla Fincorp eLITE RuPay Platinum Credit Card marks a notable milestone in the Indian financial landscape, showcasing a successful partnership between two leading institutions, Poonawalla Fincorp and IndusInd Bank. This co-branded credit card not only offers users a plethora of benefits but also reflects a commitment to innovation and adaptation. With a focus on providing value-driven and customer-centric solutions, this launch represents more than just a new product—it signifies a step towards redefining the banking experience for millions. Promising convenience, rewards, and a touch of luxury in everyday financial transactions, this collaboration aims to cater to the evolving needs of customers and set new standards in the industry.
Turin Startup Ecosystem 2024 - Ricerca sulle Startup e il Sistema dell'Innov...Quotidiano Piemontese
Turin Startup Ecosystem 2024
Una ricerca de il Club degli Investitori, in collaborazione con ToTeM Torino Tech Map e con il supporto della ESCP Business School e di Growth Capital
NO1 Uk Rohani Baba In Karachi Bangali Baba Karachi Online Amil Baba WorldWide...Amil baba
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#vashikaranspecialist #astrologer #palmistry #amliyaat #taweez #manpasandshadi #horoscope #spiritual #lovelife #lovespell #marriagespell#aamilbabainpakistan #amilbabainkarachi #powerfullblackmagicspell #kalajadumantarspecialist #realamilbaba #AmilbabainPakistan #astrologerincanada #astrologerindubai #lovespellsmaster #kalajaduspecialist #lovespellsthatwork #aamilbabainlahore#blackmagicformarriage #aamilbaba #kalajadu #kalailam #taweez #wazifaexpert #jadumantar #vashikaranspecialist #astrologer #palmistry #amliyaat #taweez #manpasandshadi #horoscope #spiritual #lovelife #lovespell #marriagespell#aamilbabainpakistan #amilbabainkarachi #powerfullblackmagicspell #kalajadumantarspecialist #realamilbaba #AmilbabainPakistan #astrologerincanada #astrologerindubai #lovespellsmaster #kalajaduspecialist #lovespellsthatwork #aamilbabainlahore #blackmagicforlove #blackmagicformarriage #aamilbaba #kalajadu #kalailam #taweez #wazifaexpert #jadumantar #vashikaranspecialist #astrologer #palmistry #amliyaat #taweez #manpasandshadi #horoscope #spiritual #lovelife #lovespell #marriagespell#aamilbabainpakistan #amilbabainkarachi #powerfullblackmagicspell #kalajadumantarspecialist #realamilbaba #AmilbabainPakistan #astrologerincanada #astrologerindubai #lovespellsmaster #kalajaduspecialist #lovespellsthatwork #aamilbabainlahore #Amilbabainuk #amilbabainspain #amilbabaindubai #Amilbabainnorway #amilbabainkrachi #amilbabainlahore #amilbabaingujranwalan #amilbabainislamabad
If you are looking for a pi coin investor. Then look no further because I have the right one he is a pi vendor (he buy and resell to whales in China). I met him on a crypto conference and ever since I and my friends have sold more than 10k pi coins to him And he bought all and still want more. I will drop his telegram handle below just send him a message.
@Pi_vendor_247
Resume
• Real GDP growth slowed down due to problems with access to electricity caused by the destruction of manoeuvrable electricity generation by Russian drones and missiles.
• Exports and imports continued growing due to better logistics through the Ukrainian sea corridor and road. Polish farmers and drivers stopped blocking borders at the end of April.
• In April, both the Tax and Customs Services over-executed the revenue plan. Moreover, the NBU transferred twice the planned profit to the budget.
• The European side approved the Ukraine Plan, which the government adopted to determine indicators for the Ukraine Facility. That approval will allow Ukraine to receive a EUR 1.9 bn loan from the EU in May. At the same time, the EU provided Ukraine with a EUR 1.5 bn loan in April, as the government fulfilled five indicators under the Ukraine Plan.
• The USA has finally approved an aid package for Ukraine, which includes USD 7.8 bn of budget support; however, the conditions and timing of the assistance are still unknown.
• As in March, annual consumer inflation amounted to 3.2% yoy in April.
• At the April monetary policy meeting, the NBU again reduced the key policy rate from 14.5% to 13.5% per annum.
• Over the past four weeks, the hryvnia exchange rate has stabilized in the UAH 39-40 per USD range.
Introduction to Indian Financial System ()Avanish Goel
The financial system of a country is an important tool for economic development of the country, as it helps in creation of wealth by linking savings with investments.
It facilitates the flow of funds form the households (savers) to business firms (investors) to aid in wealth creation and development of both the parties
Even tho Pi network is not listed on any exchange yet.
Buying/Selling or investing in pi network coins is highly possible through the help of vendors. You can buy from vendors[ buy directly from the pi network miners and resell it]. I will leave the telegram contact of my personal vendor.
@Pi_vendor_247
What website can I sell pi coins securely.DOT TECH
Currently there are no website or exchange that allow buying or selling of pi coins..
But you can still easily sell pi coins, by reselling it to exchanges/crypto whales interested in holding thousands of pi coins before the mainnet launch.
Who is a pi merchant?
A pi merchant is someone who buys pi coins from miners and resell to these crypto whales and holders of pi..
This is because pi network is not doing any pre-sale. The only way exchanges can get pi is by buying from miners and pi merchants stands in between the miners and the exchanges.
How can I sell my pi coins?
Selling pi coins is really easy, but first you need to migrate to mainnet wallet before you can do that. I will leave the telegram contact of my personal pi merchant to trade with.
Tele-gram.
@Pi_vendor_247
how to sell pi coins at high rate quickly.DOT TECH
Where can I sell my pi coins at a high rate.
Pi is not launched yet on any exchange. But one can easily sell his or her pi coins to investors who want to hold pi till mainnet launch.
This means crypto whales want to hold pi. And you can get a good rate for selling pi to them. I will leave the telegram contact of my personal pi vendor below.
A vendor is someone who buys from a miner and resell it to a holder or crypto whale.
Here is the telegram contact of my vendor:
@Pi_vendor_247
1. HYPERLINK
http://waytoohigh.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/25-issues-affecting-credit-card-interchange-fees/
Permanent Link: 25 Issues Affecting Credit Card Interchange Fees
25 Issues Affecting Credit Card Interchange Fees 1) Merchants’ interchange fees have risen even though network fees are decreasing. 2) The credit card companies have an unbridled ability to raise fees at will. Member banks of the credit card associations are in our opinion, co-conspirators. 3) From 1999 – 2005, the PIN debit fees rose 267 percent. 4) In the early 1990s there were about a dozen separate interchange fees, today there are nearly one hundred. These interchange fees seemingly always increase and have not decreased. 5) Visa and MasterCard fix uniform credit card interchange fees, which are agreed to and used by all Visa and MasterCard banks. 6) This collective horizontal price fixing violates Section 1 of the Sherman Act. 7) Even the cost for paying out reward benefits to affinity card holders has declined and is getting more stingy. Ex: American Airlines now charges a fee of $250 each- way to cash in frequent flier mileage to upgrade from coach to business-class on international flights. This is an audacious game few understand. The credit card associations are extending loyalty and kick-back programs to consumers which few can actually figure out the value of. If merchants could even figure their actual cost – from nearly one-hundred separate rates – and listed the actual Interchange fee as a separate item on the customers’ receipt, people would be less likely to want frequent flier mileage rewards once they understood how much more they are actually paying for those perks. 9) This is a hidden tax on consumers and merchants. 10) With today’s technologies, the interchange structure is now inefficient. In our opinion, consumers don’t benefit and merchants don’t benefit. 11) Part of this inefficiency relates to credit card companies where only 1 in 2000 of their mail solicitations lead to signing up just one new cardholder. Credit card companies mailed out about 5.24 billion mail solicitations in 2005 yet only 4-10ths of 1% reply. This means 5 billion pieces of mail are garbage. What other industry has such huge profits that they can afford to throw away 5 billion pieces of junk mail every year? 12) Why does it cost so much to use a credit and debit card, rather than with writing a check? There is a zero interchange fee for checks, the money goes directly from the consumer to the retailer. Example: The checking system works without any of these fees. The difference between credit card and check fees are also a study in competition; banks impose various fees on account holders and on merchants for writing and processing checks, from zero to a variety of rates in order to stay competitive. 13) Today, the card associations have lower costs and even no float expense when debit cards are used. With technology, there is less fraud and no need for paper receipts. Processing and telecommunication fees are lower and now automated. With interest rates so low for so long, even the cost of the the regular float has declined. 14) Merchants shouldn’t have to cover the cost for card holder credit risks. Defaults by card holders should not be paid by merchants, but rather, issuers should be more careful who they extend credit to. 15) There is no ability to bypass the credit card network. For instance, ScanMyPhotos.com(a lead defendant in the merchant interchange litigation) operates an international online photo scanning and digital imaging service where all online orders require transactions to be completed with credit cards, this parallels the entire online retail segment. 16) Part of the proof that the card association and their interchange fees are a monopoly is that even though rates continue to rise, merchants are forced to use their products. 17) Trickery and confusion. Even though there are lower interchange rates for debit cards, it is increasingly more difficult to distinguish debit cards. It’s difficult to see the “debit” or “check card” reference and retail clerks can easily ring up the sale as a charge card, thus paying higher rates. 18) When consumers present merchants with faulty magnetic strips on their cards it cannot be swiped by the card reader. This causes merchants to then manually enter the number, which costs more even though there is an identical risk to the card association. But, the charge for manually entering a card is excessively higher, and even higher if the address and zip code are not entered. 19) In 1994, the Visa and MasterCard interchange fees on a $100 transaction for the largest non-supermarkets was about 1% and 1.33%, today it is about 1.70% and higher. For the smallest non-supermarket merchants, the charge was about 1% and 1.31% in 1994; today it is higher too. 20) There is no added direct value or benefit to the merchant by accepting an affinity card or any other card, such as the Visa Signature card. 21) Australia, the European Union and the United Kingdom are samples where interchange regulations work. The U.S. is the only market where interchange fees are increasing. Canada, for example, has a zero interchange fee for debit cards and their PIN Network is the most popular way to transaction business. U.S. Interchange fees are 3-times higher than in Australia and two-times higher than in the UK. Australia is a great example – since the nation regulated these rates, merchants paid $500 million less. This translates into lower costs to consumers. The Australian CPI actually declined and there was an increase in card usage. 22) The only leverage merchants have is in choosing their payment processor. Those fees are highly competitive, yet the Interchange fees cannot be negotiated. 23) Because banks are now permitted to issue Amex and Discover cards, MBNA and Citibank plan to issue Amex cards, which means, merchants will be flooded with the higher costing premium cards (this translates into a 50% increase in costs from about 140 bp [basis points] to 210 bp. I anticipate they will then convert their classic cards to higher priced “signature” “affinity” and “business” cards. 24) The argument by Amex was that their card holders spend more money. Perhaps this is based on buying diamonds and luxury items, but when you are at a convenience store, the amount charged from a Visa card is typically the same as for Amex. As MBNA and Citibank switch from Visa to Amex, they are appealing to the same group of cardholders with the same spending patterns. 25) How can groups like “Americans for Consumer Education and Competition” be expected to be objective? [(ACEC was financially supported by VISA USA]. They suggest merchants want to pass along the interchange fees to consumers. The fact is that this litigation has nothing to do with “shifting’ costs from merchants to consumers, but rather it is about reforming the system so that competition works and will drive total costs down so that both merchants and cardholders have lower costs.