The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) has approved new service fee tariffs for domestic payment card transactions. By decision of the Board, upper limits have been established for interchange fees applied between payment system participants in Azerbaijan.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the relevant decision was signed by the Chairman of the Central Bank, Taleh Kazimov. According to the decree, the maximum interchange rates based on MCC codes (Merchant Category Codes assigned to business entities) will be applied as follows:
- For MCC codes under "Drug Stores and Pharmacies" and "Grocery Stores and Supermarket" categories: 1.25% of the payment amount;
- For MCC codes under the "Petrol" category: 0.75% of the payment amount;
- For MCC codes under the "General" category: 1.5% of the payment amount.
For other MCC codes related to domestic payments, no upper limit for interchange fees has been set. The new regulations are scheduled to come into force on June 1 of this year.
This move by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan is part of a broader strategy to stimulate non-cash payments and optimize the digital payment ecosystem in the country. By regulating interchange fees—the charges paid between banks for processing card transactions—the CBA aims to reduce the financial burden on merchants and encourage the wider adoption of electronic payment methods across various retail sectors. Such reforms are consistent with Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts to modernize its financial infrastructure and increase transparency in the national economy.
