Forex

RBA Reforms End Card Surcharges for Aussie Retailers

Guavy AI Editorial Team Published October 1, 2026

Instruments

AUD

The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) card surcharge reforms took effect on October 1, prohibiting Australian retailers from passing card payment costs onto customers through surcharges.

The changes apply to eftpos, Visa, and Mastercard payments, as well as lower domestic interchange fee caps. Interchange fees are the portion of card payment costs that flow to the customer's bank.

Retailers can no longer charge extra fees for customers who choose to pay by card, a practice known as card surcharging.

According to Simon Birmingham, CEO of the Australian Banking Association (ABA), the changes will remove an 'extra fee just for choosing to pay by card.' He stated that from now on, 'the price on the shelf or on the menu will be the price you pay at the checkout.'

RBA Reforms End Card Surcharges for Aussie Retailers

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