Acquiring
Merchant Category Code
Also: MCC
Four-digit ISO 18245 code used by card schemes to classify a merchant's business.
MCCs are assigned by the acquirer and used by schemes to set interchange, apply scheme rules, route disputes, and feed issuer fraud models. They're also used by issuers for cardholder rewards and by regulators for reporting. The wrong MCC can mean higher interchange, declined transactions, or breach of the acquirer agreement.
Frequently asked
Can I change my MCC?
Yes, your acquirer can re-classify your MID if your business model changes. Cardflo can flag MCC mismatches and request reclassification as part of the boarding review.
Related terms
The fee paid by the acquirer to the issuer on every card transaction, set by the schemes.
The licensed bank or financial institution that holds the merchant's MID and settles card transactions on the merchant's behalf.
A unique identifier issued by an acquirer that ties transactions to a specific merchant account.
Ready for velocity?
Tell us about your business. We'll match you with the right acquiring partners and the right route, typically inside a week.