Why SecureTrust chose simple 2.00% + 3¢ pricing instead of Interchange Plus
Interchange Plus can look attractive on paper because providers often advertise a very small markup. But that markup is only one part of the merchant’s actual cost.
The merchant still pays the underlying interchange, card-brand assessments, transaction costs, and other account fees—and those underlying costs can vary significantly. SecureTrust focuses instead on a published 2.00% + 3¢ standard processing structure that is easier to understand, calculate, and forecast.
Serving businesses across Florida, with sales representatives in New York and additional expanding markets.
One published processing structure for approved SecureTrust merchant accounts.
Equipment, software, gateway services, leasing/financing, and other optional or account-specific charges may still apply depending on the selected setup. Card-brand assessments are not added separately on top of SecureTrust standard 2.00% + 3¢ processing.
Interchange is not one universal “standard credit” rate. Visa and Mastercard publish many distinct categories based on card product, merchant category, transaction method, qualification and other factors. The examples above are specific published categories used to illustrate variability, not a single average rate.
Interchange markup is not the total cost
A provider may advertise “Interchange + 0.20%” or “Interchange + 0.30%,” but the merchant still pays the underlying card costs in addition to that markup.
Underlying card costs change
Rewards cards, premium cards, commercial cards, keyed transactions, and other transaction types can carry different underlying costs.
Flat pricing is easier to forecast
With SecureTrust’s published standard rate, merchants can calculate the core processing cost using monthly volume and transaction count without decoding many interchange categories.
“Interchange + 0.25%” does not mean a 0.25% processing rate
Interchange Plus separates the processor’s markup from the underlying card cost. A quote such as Interchange + 0.25% + 10¢ means the merchant pays the applicable underlying interchange plus the processor’s 0.25% markup plus 10¢ per transaction, along with any other applicable network or account charges.
| Published pricing | What the percentage means | What still has to be added |
|---|---|---|
| SecureTrust 2.00% + 3¢ | Published SecureTrust processing percentage | 3¢ per transaction, $25 monthly platform fee, plus applicable account-specific items |
| Interchange + 0.25% + 10¢ | 0.25% is only the processor markup | Underlying interchange + 10¢/transaction + applicable network/account fees |
| Interchange + 0.30% + 20¢ | 0.30% is only the processor markup | Underlying interchange + 20¢/transaction + applicable network/account fees |
Visa’s own schedule shows why card mix matters
Visa’s U.S. interchange schedule effective April 18, 2026 includes very low regulated-debit categories, but also materially higher consumer-credit categories. The federal regulated-debit base cap is 0.05% + 21¢, with a possible additional 1¢ fraud-prevention adjustment for qualifying issuers. Selected Visa card-present retail consumer-credit categories include examples such as 1.43% + 10¢, 1.65% + 10¢, 1.90% + 10¢, 2.10% + 10¢ and 2.30% + 10¢, depending on the specific product, merchant category, transaction conditions and qualification.
Primary source: Visa USA Interchange Reimbursement Fees — effective April 18, 2026; regulated-debit cap reference: Federal Reserve Regulation II §235.3.
Mastercard also says interchange is not one universal rate
Mastercard explains that interchange is only one component of the merchant discount rate and that the applicable rate can depend on factors including merchant category, authorization-to-clearing timing, transaction data, card/product type, and merchant sales or transaction volume.
Primary source: Mastercard U.S. interchange rates and methodology.
Examples from current card-network pricing
These are examples from published network schedules—not a single “average interchange rate.” The actual category that applies depends on the card product, merchant category, transaction method, qualification rules, and other transaction details.
| Network / example | Published example | Why it matters in an IC+ comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Regulated debit base cap | 0.05% + 21¢ | Very low-cost regulated debit can make Interchange Plus attractive. A qualifying issuer may also receive an additional 1¢ fraud-prevention adjustment. |
| Visa selected card-present consumer credit | Examples include 1.43% + 10¢, 1.65% + 10¢, 1.90% + 10¢, 2.10% + 10¢ and 2.30% + 10¢ | Once a processor markup such as +0.25% or +0.30% is added, higher-cost categories can move the final cost above a 2.00% flat percentage. |
| Mastercard Merit III Base consumer credit | 1.65% + 10¢ Core, 1.80% + 10¢ Enhanced, 1.90% + 10¢ World, 2.30% + 10¢ World High Value / World Elite | The same processor markup can produce very different merchant costs depending on the Mastercard product used. |
| Mastercard restaurant consumer credit | Examples in the published schedule include 1.85% + 10¢ and 2.00% + 10¢ for selected products | For restaurant merchants, the underlying interchange alone may already be near SecureTrust’s 2.00% percentage before the processor’s IC+ markup is added. |
| Mastercard keyed / Full UCAF consumer credit | Examples range from 1.95% + 10¢ to 2.60% + 10¢ | Keyed and card-not-present activity can materially increase the underlying cost before processor markup. |
| American Express OptBlue | No single universal merchant rate | American Express states that under OptBlue the participating provider sets the merchant’s American Express rate, so a single public Amex percentage should not be assumed for every merchant. |
| Discover | Program / acquirer dependent | Discover publishes interchange through acquirer pricing manuals rather than one universal merchant-facing rate. The merchant’s actual Discover cost should be taken from the processor’s schedule or statement. |
Network sources: Visa USA Interchange Reimbursement Fees, Mastercard 2025–2026 U.S. Region Interchange Programs and Rates.
Additional references: Federal Reserve Regulation II §235.3, American Express OptBlue.
The question is not “How small is the markup?”
The better question is: “What is my total effective cost after every card type, transaction fee, assessment, and monthly fee is included?”
A very small advertised markup can still produce a high real-world effective rate if the merchant’s card mix includes expensive rewards cards, commercial cards, keyed transactions, or other higher-cost activity.
SecureTrust looks at the bottom line, not the headline markup
We can review the merchant’s current statement and calculate the actual effective cost after processing charges, card costs, monthly fees, gateway costs, and transaction activity.
Then we can compare that real number against SecureTrust’s published 2.00% + 3¢ structure.
A familiar benchmark: SecureTrust vs Clover, Square, Stripe and published Interchange Plus offers
Most online “flat rate vs Interchange Plus” comparisons use flat-rate examples around the upper-2% range. SecureTrust’s published standard rate is 2.00% + 3¢, so the break-even math is different. The table below uses public pricing available as of September 2026 and keeps different pricing models clearly labeled.
| Provider / example | Pricing model | Published benchmark | Important context |
|---|---|---|---|
| SecureTrust | Fixed standard pricing | 2.00% + 3¢ | $25 monthly platform fee; approved SecureTrust merchant accounts |
| Clover direct | Plan / business-type dependent | Rates can be as low as 2.3% + 10¢ | Clover says rates vary by plan, business type and transaction method; software fees may apply separately |
| Square | Flat-rate / plan dependent | 2.6% + 15¢ in-person on Square Free | Lower in-person rates are published on paid plans; online and manual-entry rates are higher |
| Stripe | Online flat-rate | 2.9% + 30¢ domestic cards | Online-focused benchmark; additional charges can apply for manual entry, international cards or currency conversion |
| Merchant Solutions Corp | Interchange Plus | Interchange + 0.25% + 10¢ | Underlying interchange is additional; provider also publishes lower markup tiers for qualifying high-volume merchants |
| MG Merchant Services | Interchange Plus | Interchange + 0.30% + 20¢ | Subject to approval; underlying interchange is additional |
Public pricing sources: Clover, Square, Stripe.
Interchange Plus examples: Merchant Solutions Corp, MG Merchant Services. Pricing changes over time; verify current terms directly with each provider.
What happens at $55,000 per month with a $45 average ticket?
This example assumes approximately 1,222 transactions per month. It is designed to show how percentage rates and per-transaction charges interact. It is not a quote or guarantee for any provider.
| Pricing example | Known monthly cost before unknown interchange / extras | Effective benchmark | What must be true to beat SecureTrust |
|---|---|---|---|
| SecureTrust 2.00% + 3¢ + $25/mo | ≈ $1,161.67 | ≈ 2.11% | Fixed benchmark |
| Square Free in-person 2.6% + 15¢ | ≈ $1,613.33 | ≈ 2.93% | Published benchmark is above SecureTrust in this example |
| Clover direct “as low as” 2.3% + 10¢ | ≈ $1,387.22 before software/plan fees | ≈ 2.52% before software/plan fees | This uses Clover’s lowest published processing benchmark, not every Clover plan |
| Stripe 2.9% + 30¢ | ≈ $1,961.67 | ≈ 3.57% | Online benchmark; not an apples-to-apples POS comparison |
| IC + 0.25% + 10¢ | ≈ $259.72 plus underlying interchange | Variable | Weighted underlying interchange and remaining costs must stay below about $901.95/month (≈ 1.64% of volume) |
| IC + 0.30% + 20¢ | ≈ $409.44 plus underlying interchange | Variable | Weighted underlying interchange and remaining costs must stay below about $752.23/month (≈ 1.37% of volume) |
The break-even question an advertised markup cannot answer by itself
If a processor quotes Interchange + 0.25% + 10¢, the merchant should not compare “0.25%” with “2.00%.” In this $55,000 / $45-ticket example, the processor-added markup and transaction charge already consume about $259.72 per month. The remaining underlying interchange and other applicable costs must fit inside the rest of the SecureTrust benchmark for Interchange Plus to be less expensive.
Flat-rate pricing vs Interchange Plus
| Feature | SecureTrust standard pricing | Interchange Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Core pricing | 2.00% + 3¢ | Underlying interchange + processor markup + applicable fees |
| Card-cost variability | More predictable core rate | Varies by card type and transaction characteristics |
| Ease of forecasting | Simple calculation from volume and transactions | Requires understanding interchange categories and statement activity |
| Statement complexity | Simpler core pricing structure | Can contain many interchange and assessment line items |
| Best comparison method | Calculate published SecureTrust cost | Calculate total effective rate from the actual statement |
No pricing model is automatically cheapest for every merchant. Debit-heavy and otherwise low-interchange card mixes can make Interchange Plus less expensive. Rewards, premium, commercial, keyed and other higher-cost activity can move the result in the opposite direction. The correct comparison is the merchant’s total effective cost using actual statement data—not the processor markup alone.
SecureTrust also offers a different way to reduce processing impact
For merchants who want to reduce how much card acceptance affects the business, Dual Pricing can be another option.
Dual Pricing / cash-discount programs should be distinguished from a credit-card surcharge. Program structure, disclosures and compliance requirements can differ, so merchants should follow applicable card-network rules and state/federal requirements for the specific program they use.
The added card-price amount is not kept by SecureTrust as extra profit
When the customer pays the card price, SecureTrust processes the full transaction at the approved rate and the remaining card-price amount stays with the merchant.
That is different from programs where the provider keeps the added customer-facing amount as part of its own margin.
Example
Base price: $100.00
Customer card price: $103.00
SecureTrust processing: 2.00% + 3¢ on $103
Merchant receives approximately: $100.91
SecureTrust does not keep the $3.00 card-price difference as an additional markup. After normal processing, the remaining value stays with the merchant.
If another processor recommends Interchange Plus, ask for the real effective rate
Interchange Plus is not inherently bad. The risk is evaluating it only by the small processor markup instead of the total cost.
Your SecureTrust agent can help you read the statement
SecureTrust agents remain involved after activation, giving merchants a continuing point of contact for pricing questions, statement reviews, equipment, processing concerns, and support.
Flat-rate vs Interchange Plus questions
Does SecureTrust offer Interchange Plus?
No. SecureTrust currently focuses on its published 2.00% + 3¢ standard processing structure and other available merchant programs rather than Interchange Plus.
Why can Interchange Plus look cheaper than it really is?
Interchange Plus often highlights a small processor markup, but the merchant still pays underlying interchange, card-brand assessments, transaction fees, and other account costs. There is no single universal interchange rate: the applicable cost can vary by card product, merchant category, transaction method, qualification and other factors. The final effective rate can therefore be materially higher than the headline processor markup.
Is SecureTrust’s flat rate always cheaper?
No pricing model is automatically cheapest for every merchant. The right comparison is the total effective cost. SecureTrust can review the merchant’s actual statement and compare it with the published 2.00% + 3¢ structure.
Why can a flat rate be easier to understand?
A published flat structure gives merchants a simple rate and transaction charge that are easier to calculate and forecast without estimating many underlying interchange categories.
Can SecureTrust review my current Interchange Plus statement?
Yes. SecureTrust can review monthly volume, transaction count, average ticket, effective rate, card mix, keyed activity, card-brand costs, monthly fees, and equipment to compare the current account with SecureTrust standard pricing.
Does “Interchange + 0.25%” mean I pay 0.25%?
No. The 0.25% is the processor markup. The merchant still pays the applicable underlying interchange, plus the quoted per-transaction markup and other applicable network or account costs.
Can Interchange Plus ever be cheaper than SecureTrust?
Yes. A merchant with a very favorable card mix—especially substantial low-cost regulated debit—can have a lower Interchange Plus cost. The point of this comparison is not that Interchange Plus always loses; it is that the advertised processor markup is not the final rate and the result cannot be known from that markup alone.
Why do many articles say Interchange Plus is cheaper than flat-rate pricing?
Many comparisons use flat-rate benchmarks materially higher than SecureTrust’s published 2.00% + 3¢ rate. Interchange Plus can compare very favorably against a 2.6%–2.9% flat rate. A 2.00% + 3¢ benchmark moves the break-even point, so the merchant’s actual card mix, average ticket and complete fee schedule matter.
Do SecureTrust merchants get a dedicated agent?
Yes. SecureTrust merchant accounts receive ongoing support from a dedicated agent who can help with statement reviews, pricing questions, equipment, processing questions, and support after activation.
Are you on Interchange Plus now?
Send SecureTrust your current statement. We can calculate the actual effective cost and compare it against our published 2.00% + 3¢ standard processing structure.