Flash
Payments news in short form: gateway fee changes, bank acquiring, instant payment rails and digital-services tax, worldwide. Status labels distinguish proposals from enacted changes. Filter by region, category or status below.
Jamaica proposes extending GCT to foreign digital services
Jamaica has proposed extending General Consumption Tax (GCT, standard rate 15%) to digitally supplied services and intangibles supplied from abroad, per EY's tax alert. If enacted, foreign sellers of digital services to Jamaican customers would need to charge and remit GCT, similar to VAT-on-digital regimes in the EU and elsewhere. This is a proposal, not yet law: monitor the outcome before changing how you invoice Jamaican customers.
Source: EY Tax Alert · Related: JMD · caribbean
Amber Pay live across several Caribbean islands
Kingston-based Amber Pay lists 35+ served markets and confirms live operation in Jamaica, Barbados, BVI, Turks & Caicos, Antigua, Bahamas and Cayman, with Trinidad & Tobago in its marketing. It advertises 0.5% per transaction; confirm which payment methods that rate covers before comparing it with card rates. Our Caribbean currency pages now list it.
Source: Amber Pay · Related: JMD · TTD · BBD · KYD · caribbean
Square US in-person fee now 2.6% + 15¢
Alongside January's online increase for free plans, Square's US in-person (tap, dip, swipe) rate moved from 2.6% + $0.10 to 2.6% + $0.15, confirmed in effect through late 2026. The extra 5¢ matters most for high-frequency, low-ticket retail: 200 in-person sales a month now cost $10 more in fixed fees alone. Our USD page reflects the current rates; Canadian in-person rates should be verified on Square's CA pricing page.
Source: Square pricing page · Related: USD · north america
Direct bank MIDs vs aggregators: how Caribbean Cybersource & Powertranz boarding works
Visa's Cybersource and Powertranz power the majority of direct e-commerce checkouts in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and the OECS, but neither acts as a standalone merchant of record in the Caribbean. Merchants must first secure an e-commerce Merchant ID (MID) from a local acquiring bank—such as NCB (2.5%–3.75% MDR), Scotiabank Caribbean, CIBC Caribbean, RBC or Republic Bank—which then provisions the gateway credentials. If you lack audited financials for a bank MID, sub-merchant aggregators like WiPay or Paymaster remain the fastest onboarding path.
Source: Lynk announcements · Related: JMD · TTD · BBD · XCD · BSD · caribbean
WiPay country fee breakdown: 15% tax-on-fee in JM, BB, GD and GY vs TT
WiPay's published country schedules highlight an often-overlooked cost difference across the Caribbean: while Trinidad & Tobago merchants pay a flat 3.5% + US$0.25 with no VAT added to the processing fee, merchants in Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada and Guyana pay 3.85% + US$0.25 plus a 15% tax on the total fee (bringing the effective percentage rate to ~4.43% + ~US$0.29). Regional USD accounts outside those five markets carry 5% + US$0.30 plus 15% tax on the fee (~5.75% + ~US$0.35 effective).
Source: WiPay Pricing Pages · Related: JMD · TTD · BBD · GYD · XCD · caribbean
Sentoo expands instant account-to-account checkout across Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten
Sentoo now connects major local retail banks across Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and Bonaire (including MCB Group, Aruba Bank, CMB, Orco Bank and Banco di Caribe) for real-time account-to-account online payments in XCG, AWG and USD. Because consumers authorize payment directly inside their mobile or online banking app, merchants eliminate international card interchange and chargeback risk while paying local bank-transfer fee tiers.
India ends zero-cost UPI: 0.4% MDR on transactions above ₹2,000
NPCI's finalized framework took effect 15 October 2026, ending over six years of zero-cost UPI for merchants: person-to-merchant UPI payments above ₹2,000 now carry a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate, capped at ₹300 per transaction. Consumers still pay nothing. The Supreme Court declined to stay the framework, though implementation for some transaction types shifted to after Diwali. Indian merchants should model the new cost on large-ticket UPI sales; gateways like Razorpay still price UPI separately from their ~2% card platform fee.
Source: NPCI circulars / Reuters coverage · Related: INR · asia pacific
Yappy Comercial in Panama (1%) and ATH Móvil in Puerto Rico (2.25%) outpace cards
In dollarized hub markets, bank-backed mobile rails now undercut traditional Visa/Mastercard acquiring by 100 to 250 basis points. Banco General's Yappy Comercial reaches over 1.6 million Panamanian consumers at a 1.0% merchant fee (minimum $0.02), while Evertec's ATH Móvil Business processes instant phone-number payments across Puerto Rico at 2.25% per transaction. Both rails settle in USD without cross-border card surcharges.
Source: Yappy Comercial / ATH Móvil Business · Related: PAB · USD · north america · caribbean
Fygaro wins Visa's Everywhere Initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean
Puerto Rico-based Fygaro won Visa's Everywhere Initiative competition for Latin America and the Caribbean in October 2026, and CIBC Caribbean became the first bank in the region to enable Fygaro's contactless vPOS. For Caribbean merchants this strengthens the main platform alternative to WiPay: payment links, online stores and Tap-to-Pay backed by a regional banking network. Fygaro's processing percentage is still confirmed during onboarding rather than published.
Source: Fygaro / Visa announcements · Related: caribbean · JMD · BBD
Colombia rolls out Bre-B interoperable instant payments alongside PSE
Banco de la República's interoperable instant payment system, Bre-B, has unified QR and alias-based transfers across Colombian banks and wallets (including Bancolombia's Nequi and Davivienda's DaviPlata). Gateways like Wompi, ePayco and PayU Latam now route both PSE bank transfers and Bre-B instant rails alongside cards, giving Colombian merchants instant 24/7 settlement at lower per-transaction costs than traditional credit card MDRs.
Source: Banco de la República Colombia · Related: COP · south america
South Africa's PayShap Request-to-Pay gains traction across e-commerce gateways
BankservAfrica's PayShap rapid payment rail has expanded beyond peer-to-peer transfers into South African retail and e-commerce checkouts via aggregators including Stitch, Ozow, Paystack and Peach Payments. Priced below standard 2.5%–3.2% credit card fees and free of screen-scraping friction, PayShap gives ZAR merchants irrevocable real-time bank settlement.
Source: PayShap / BankservAfrica · Related: ZAR · africa
SINPE Móvil dominates Costa Rican retail; gateways embed instant reconciliation
Operated by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), SINPE Móvil processes hundreds of millions of real-time phone-number transfers annually in colones (CRC). While small merchants accept SINPE Móvil manually at 0%–1% bank fees, local gateways like ONVO Pay (2.99% + $0.25 for cards) and Tilopay now offer automated SINPE Móvil checkout validation so e-commerce stores don't have to verify WhatsApp screenshots manually.
Source: Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) · Related: CRC · north america
Mollie completes its acquisition of GoCardless
Mollie completed its acquisition of GoCardless (deal agreed December 2025 at over €1 billion), combining a major European card processor with the leading bank-debit platform. For European merchants the bet is on cheaper rails: SEPA direct debit and Pay by Bank alongside cards from one provider. Existing GoCardless and Mollie merchants keep their accounts for now; new signups should watch which entity bills them. Our EUR and GBP pages carry both providers' current published rates.
Source: Mollie newsroom · Related: EUR · GBP · europe
Moneris to be acquired by Francisco Partners
Moneris, the processor co-owned by RBC and BMO and long Canada's default bank merchant service, agreed in August 2026 to be acquired by US investment firm Francisco Partners, subject to regulatory approval. For merchants little changes immediately: rates, contracts and terminals continue as-is during the transition. Canadian businesses mid-contract may want to note the ownership change at renewal time, when pricing is renegotiated anyway.
Source: Moneris announcements / industry coverage · Related: CAD · north america
WiPay expands in Jamaica and pilots a CBDC with EMTECH
WiPay, which positions itself as the Caribbean's largest payments fintech, relocated its head office and expanded its Jamaica operation in August 2026, and is piloting a CBDC called WiCoin with EMTECH as part of a Caribbean Regional Settlement Network. Its positioning has shifted from payments toward infrastructure. For merchants the near-term practical facts are unchanged: 3.5% + TT$1.70 in Trinidad, 5% + US$0.30 for regional USD processing, on our TTD and USD pages.
Source: WiPay announcements · Related: TTD · JMD · caribbean
Moldova's MIA Instant Payments hits 0.8% merchant QR cap via maib and Paynet
The National Bank of Moldova's MIA Instant Payments rail now enables QR and Request-to-Pay e-commerce acceptance across Moldovan banks led by maib. Regulated merchant fees on MIA are capped at 0.8% (0.4% for utilities and public services)—roughly a third of the 2.0%–2.5% MDR charged on domestic and international cards in Moldovan leu (MDL).
Source: National Bank of Moldova (MIA) · Related: MDL · europe
Pix at 29% of Brazilian retail payments; international links explored
Brazil's central bank reported Pix handled 29% of retail payments in the six months to May 2026, and Reuters reports it is assessing links between Pix and instant-payment systems abroad, amid US trade scrutiny of the zero-cost model. For merchants the practical takeaway stands: Pix remains free for consumers and dramatically cheaper than cards to receive, and its international expansion, if it happens, could open a low-cost rail for cross-border sales into Brazil.
Source: Reuters · Related: BRL · south america
Cambodia's Bakong KHQR expands cross-border QR links; ABA PayWay leads merchant checkout
The National Bank of Cambodia's Bakong KHQR unified code now links cross-border QR payments with Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and regional partners, allowing tourists to pay Cambodian merchants in KHR or USD directly from their home banking apps. Domestic KHQR acceptance is free (0% MDR) for standard merchants, while ABA Bank's PayWay combines KHQR, ABA Pay and international cards (2.8%–3.3%) in a single API.
Source: National Bank of Cambodia / ABA Bank · Related: KHR · USD · LAK · MYR · THB · VND · asia pacific
Why Saudi merchants pay ~1.0%–1.75% on mada vs ~2.7% on Visa/Mastercard
In Saudi Arabia, domestic mada debit cards account for the vast majority of consumer card transactions. Saudi gateways—including Moyasar, Geidea, HyperPay, PayTabs and Tap—price mada on a separate, lower tier (typically 1.0% to 1.75% + 1 SAR) compared with 2.5%–2.85% + 1 SAR for credit and international cards. Merchants modelling SAR payment costs should weight their blended rate heavily toward mada rather than headline international card percentages.
Source: Saudi Payments (mada) / Moyasar Pricing · Related: SAR · middle east
Chile's statutory interchange caps reshape Transbank, Getnet and Flow pricing
Chile's Committee for the Fixing of Interchange Fee Limits (under Law 21.365) has lowered maximum domestic interchange rates to 0.35% for debit, 0.80% for credit and 0.80% for prepaid cards, with further review rounds monitored by the central bank and FNE. The transition to a four-party acquiring model has intensified competition among Transbank (Webpay Plus), Santander's Getnet, Khipu and Flow, compressing domestic CLP debit acceptance costs below 1.5% + IVA at direct acquirers.
Source: Comité para la Fijación de Límites a las Tasas de Intercambio (Chile) · Related: CLP · south america
Algeria's CIB and Edahabia e-payment volume surges as Chargily simplifies integration
GIE Monétique and SATIM report sustained growth in Algerian online payments across interbank CIB cards and Algeria Post's Edahabia card base (over 12 million cards in circulation). While direct SATIM certification requires local bank sponsorship, developer-first gateway Chargily Pay has streamlined plugins and APIs for Algerian dinar (DZD) merchants at 1.5%–2.5% per transaction.
Source: GIE Monétique / Chargily · Related: DZD · africa
EU Instant Payments Regulation enforces SEPA Instant fee parity across eurozone banks
Under the EU Instant Payments Regulation (Regulation 2024/886), eurozone payment service providers must receive and send 10-second SEPA Instant Credit Transfers 24/7 and cannot charge more for instant euro transfers than for standard SEPA transfers. Combined with Verification of Payee (IBAN-name check) requirements, the rule strengthens Pay-by-Bank and Open Banking checkout rails across all 20 EUR markets.
Source: European Central Bank / EUR-Lex · Related: EUR · europe
National Bank of Ethiopia opens digital payments ecosystem alongside FX reform
Following the National Bank of Ethiopia's transition to a market-based foreign exchange regime and updated Payment Instrument Issuer directives, licensed local gateways Chapa (2.5% domestic / 3.5% international) and SantimPay have expanded merchant acceptance combining Ethio Telecom's Telebirr (45M+ users), CBE Birr and international Visa/Mastercard cards on unified checkouts.
Source: National Bank of Ethiopia / Chapa · Related: ETB · africa
Flutterwave wins Nigerian banking license and acquires Mono
Flutterwave secured a national microfinance banking license from the Central Bank of Nigeria, allowing it to operate as a microlender, and acquired open-finance startup Mono, folding bank data, account-to-account payments and identity verification into its stack. For merchants this signals deeper financial services beyond payments: lending products and bank-based checkout options are likely to follow. Card processing rates are unchanged for now; our NGN page tracks current published figures.
Source: Retail Banker International · Related: NGN · africa
Tabby licensed in UAE; new Jaywan scheme joins the Gulf checkout
BNPL leader Tabby obtained a wallet license in the UAE in April 2026, broadening what it can offer beyond installment payments across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. Meanwhile UAE merchants are advised to accept the new local scheme Jaywan alongside Visa/Mastercard and global wallets, and mada remains essential in Saudi Arabia, where electronic payments reached 85% of retail transactions in 2025 per SAMA. Method mix is shifting fast in the Gulf; pricing per method matters more than headline card rates.
Source: Yahoo Finance / Apaya MENA payments guide · Related: AED · SAR · KWD · middle east
Malaysia's DuitNow QR merchant fee tiers keep micro-businesses at 0% via bank subsidies
PayNet's DuitNow QR national standard processes interoperable QR payments across Malaysian banks and e-wallets (Touch 'n Go, GrabPay, Boost, ShopeePay). While major acquirers absorb the MDR for micro and small enterprises using reserve funds, standard commercial merchants pay 0.25%–0.50% for funds drawn from bank accounts/wallets and ~0.50%–1.50% when funded by credit cards—still well below the 1.8%–2.8% charged on standalone card gateway checkouts.
Source: Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) · Related: MYR · asia pacific
ECCB shelves DCash 2.0 in favor of a Fast Payment System
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's Monetary Council suspended development of DCash 2.0, its CBDC successor, in February 2026, pivoting the OECS currency union toward a conventional Fast Payment System instead. For merchants in the XCD countries (Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent) the practical impact is longer-term: instant, cheap transfers between banks would reduce reliance on cash and card-only checkout. Only about 4-5% of Caribbean business transactions are digital today, so rails like this shape the market every merchant sells into.
Source: ECCB / Barbados Today coverage · Related: XCD · caribbean
Square raises US online rate for free-plan merchants
Square raised its US online processing rate for free-plan merchants from 2.9% + $0.30 to 3.3% + $0.30, effective 13 January 2026. Paid plans (Plus/Premium) kept the 2.9% + $0.30 rate. If you process in the hundreds per month, do the math on whether a paid plan now costs less overall. Our USD page reflects both rates.
Source: Square pricing page · Related: USD · north america
Paystack restructures as The Stack Group, expands in francophone Africa
At its ten-year mark in January 2026, Paystack announced The Stack Group structure and acquired Ladder Microfinance Bank, extending into banking-adjacent services, with Côte d'Ivoire among its served markets. Analysts frame 2026 as Flutterwave leading on pan-African coverage while Paystack leads on product polish. Merchants in francophone West Africa gain another gateway option beyond regional banks; our XOF page lists current availability.
Source: Paystack blog · Related: NGN · XOF · africa
Curaçao and Sint Maarten completed the switch to the Caribbean guilder
On 31 March 2025 the Caribbean guilder (XCG) replaced the Antillean guilder (ANG) at par in Curaçao and Sint Maarten, completing the currency transition the central banks began announcing in 2024. Merchants in both markets have migrated pricing, invoicing and gateway configurations; USD billing remains widespread. Our XCG page lists the gateways serving Curaçao and Sint Maarten, and notes the currency when providers list it explicitly.
Source: Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten · Related: XCG · caribbean