Maximize Your Debit Savings with Apex 

 

The Durbin Amendment, added to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act in 2010, gave the Federal Reserve authority to regulate debit card interchange fees at large banks. Its mission: keep fees reasonable and proportional to the actual cost of processing.

Why It Matters to Merchants

 

Before the Durbin Amendment, interchange fees averaged $0.44 per debit transaction. After the rule took effect in October 2011:

  • Fees were capped at $0.21 + 0.05%, with an optional $0.01 fraud-prevention fee.
  • That means most debit transactions now cost about $0.24—nearly 50% less than before.
  • The cap applies to banks with more than $10 billion in assets, covering the majority of debit card volume in the U.S.

 

Key Provisions of the Durbin Amendment

 

  1. Fee Caps – Large banks must follow the $0.21 + 0.05% cap.
  2. Competition in Routing – Merchants must be able to route debit transactions over at least two networks.
  3. Anti-Exclusive Rules – Banks can’t enforce single-network routing, giving merchants choice.
  4. Merchant Rights – Merchants can offer cash discounts, promote alternative payments, or refuse debit on very small purchases.

 

Industry Impact

 

  • Merchants saved significantly on debit costs.
  • Banks reacted by adjusting consumer account fees and rewards programs.
  • Courts upheld the regulation, keeping savings in place for businesses.

 

What This Means for Your Business

 

With the right pricing model, debit card processing is one of the cheapest forms of payment acceptance. But many businesses are still overpaying because:

  • Flat-rate processors ignore debit savings and charge inflated “all-in” rates.
  • Tiered pricing models often bury debit in higher-cost categories.

👉 With interchange-plus pricing, you only pay the regulated cost plus a small, flat markup.

How Apex Helps You Capture Full Durbin Benefits

 

At Apex (powered by Beacon), we ensure you:

  • ✅ Always pay the true regulated debit rate (as low as $0.05% + $0.22).
  • ✅ Gain routing flexibility, using the lowest-cost networks.
  • ✅ Stay compliant and transparent with your pricing.
  • ✅ Access 24/7 U.S.-based support and reporting tools to track your savings

 

Ready to Maximize Your Debit Savings?

 

Send us your latest processing statement, and we’ll perform a free Durbin analysis to confirm whether you’re capturing the full savings—or leaving money on the table.

Stop overpaying. With Apex powered by Beacon, you’ll keep more of your money where it belongs—in your busine