MasterCard To Raise InterchangeRates

PURCHASE, N.Y. - (02/11/05)-- MasterCard International said it israising interchange rates, effective April 1, in its U.S. regionfor its consumer credit, World MasterCard, debit, corporate,Maestro and ATM rate programs. The rate increase won't affectsignature debit rates in 2005 and 2006. For the consumer creditprogram, the common Merit III Base category will rise from 1.54% ofthe transaction plus 10 cents to 1.63% of the transaction plus 10cents. The increase means the fee for a typical $40 transactionwill rise from 71.6 cents to 75.2 cents. Visa USA also plans tochange exchange rates on April 1, lowering some rates on its debitcheck card while raising rates on its Interlink PIN debitnetwork.