TSG report on card brand pricing coincides with ETA opening

On April 17, the opening day of the Electronic Transactions Association 2012 Meeting & Expo in Las Vegas, The Strawhecker Group issued a report on card brand pricing. Changes to fees and the introduction of new fees on the part of Visa Inc. and MasterCard Worldwide are causing U.S. acquirers to "wrestle with potential modifications" to merchant pricing strategies, TSG noted.

In addition to revenue recovery through pricing changes, TSG pointed out a number of factors acquirers are considering in making pricing decisions, including:

• Internal and external sales force training
• Merchant communication
• Competitive response
• Attrition management
• Regulatory oversight

Among the fees projected to have significant impact are Visa's new Fixed Acquirer Network Fee (which is being implemented this month), MasterCard's increased Merchant Service Provider renewal fee and MasterCard's new annual acquirer licensing fee.

Further details are posted at www.greensheet.com/newswire.php?flag=display_story&id=26287&search_string=TSG&search_string2= .

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