Key facts
- •CBA merchant fees are not published publicly - they are negotiated based on volume and industry
- •Indicative rates range from 0.5% to 2.0% per transaction depending on card type
- •Monthly merchant service fee applies - typically from $20 to $30/month including terminal rental
- •Credit card transactions attract higher rates than debit card transactions
- •From 1 October 2026, CBA merchants can no longer pass card fees to customers as a surcharge
- •CBA offers least-cost routing on eligible terminals - request it if not already active
What does CBA charge per transaction?
CBA does not publish a standard merchant service fee. Rates are set through individual merchant agreements and vary based on card type, transaction volume, business category, and whether you are an existing CBA business banking customer. Indicative ranges based on publicly available information and merchant feedback:
| Provider | Transaction fee | Monthly fee | Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| QwikPay | $0.00Zero fees | Free 12 months, then from $19.99/mo | None - QR code only |
| CBA debit card | 0.5% to 0.8% | $20-30/mo | Terminal rental |
| CBA credit card | 1.2% to 2.0% | $20-30/mo | Terminal rental |
| CBA international card | 2.0% to 3.0% | $20-30/mo | Terminal rental |
Disclaimer: CBA rates are indicative only. CBA does not publish standard merchant fee schedules. Contact CBA directly for a current quote based on your business volume and industry.
What does CBA cost per month in real terms?
Because CBA rates are negotiated, the monthly cost varies significantly by merchant. Using the midpoint indicative rate of 1.5%:
- $10,000/month in card payments = approximately $150/month in fees ($1,800/year) plus monthly service fee
- $25,000/month in card payments = approximately $375/month in fees ($4,500/year) plus monthly service fee
- $50,000/month in card payments = approximately $750/month in fees ($9,000/year) plus monthly service fee
High-volume merchants who have negotiated rates below 1.0% will pay significantly less. Low-volume merchants on higher rates will pay more. The monthly service fee of $20 to $30 applies regardless of volume.
After October 2026, none of these costs can be recovered from customers as a surcharge on Visa, Mastercard, or EFTPOS transactions.
CBA vs fintech providers - fee comparison
| Provider | Transaction fee | Monthly fee | Rate transparency | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QwikPay | $0.00Zero fees | Free 12 months, then from $19.99/mo | None - QR code only | Instant, on-demand |
| CBA | 0.5-2.0% (negotiated) | $20-30/mo | Negotiated only | Next business day |
| Square | 1.6% flat | None | Published | Next business day |
| Tyro | 1.4% flat | $29/mo rental | Published | Next business day |
| Zeller | 1.4% flat | None | Published | Next business day |
Disclaimer: Rates are indicative. Verify current rates directly with each provider.
When CBA makes sense: Merchants who are already full CBA business banking customers may benefit from integrated merchant services, consolidated banking, and the potential to negotiate lower rates at higher volumes. CBA's terminal ecosystem is well-established and widely supported in hospitality and retail POS environments.
When a fintech alternative makes sense: For merchants who want transparent flat rates without negotiation, Tyro at 1.4% or Square at 1.6% offer predictable monthly costs. For merchants who want zero transaction fees with no hardware requirement, QwikPay sits alongside any existing terminal including CBA.
Does CBA offer least-cost routing?
Yes. CBA offers merchant choice routing on eligible terminals, allowing contactless debit card transactions to be routed over the cheapest available network - typically eftpos rather than Visa or Mastercard. This can reduce the per-transaction cost on domestic debit payments.
If you have a CBA terminal and are not sure whether least-cost routing is active, contact CBA merchant services to check and request activation. It is available at no additional cost and can meaningfully reduce your total card acceptance costs, particularly if your customer base primarily uses debit cards.
What does the October 2026 surcharge ban mean for CBA merchants?
From 1 October 2026, CBA merchants can no longer add a surcharge to Visa, Mastercard, or EFTPOS transactions. Your merchant service fee continues - it comes out of your margin rather than the customer's payment.
The RBA's simultaneous interchange fee reductions - domestic debit dropping from 0.20% to 0.16%, consumer credit from 0.80% to 0.30% - will lower CBA's wholesale costs. CBA is required to report quarterly on pass-through from January 2027. Contact CBA before October to understand what rate reductions you will receive and whether your merchant agreement needs to be updated.
The only option with $0 transaction fees
CBA, Square, and Tyro all charge a percentage of every card transaction and settle funds the next business day. QwikPay charges merchants nothing per transaction - payments are processed through the QwikPay wallet via QR code, not through a card network. No interchange. No scheme fee. No merchant service fee. Settlement is instant and on-demand - withdraw to your bank account whenever you choose. QwikPay sits alongside your existing CBA terminal as an additional payment option. Your current setup stays exactly where it is.
Start accepting zero-fee paymentsFrequently asked questions
What are CBA merchant fees?
CBA merchant fees are negotiated and not published publicly. They typically range from 0.5% to 2.0% per transaction depending on card type (debit vs credit), transaction volume, and industry. CBA also charges monthly terminal rental and service fees on top of per-transaction costs. Contact CBA directly for a current quote based on your business.
Does CBA charge a monthly fee for merchant services?
Yes. CBA charges a monthly merchant service fee on top of per-transaction costs. This typically starts from around $20 to $30 per month and includes terminal rental. The exact amount depends on your terminal model and merchant agreement.
Is CBA cheaper than Square or Tyro for merchant payments?
For high-volume merchants, CBA's negotiated rates can be lower than Square's flat 1.6% or Tyro's 1.4%. However CBA's monthly service and terminal fees add fixed costs that smaller merchants may not recover through lower transaction rates. Fintech providers like Square and Zeller offer transparent flat rates with no negotiation required.
What happens to CBA merchant surcharges after October 2026?
From 1 October 2026, CBA merchants can no longer add a surcharge to Visa, Mastercard, or EFTPOS transactions. CBA's merchant service fees continue - they come out of the merchant's margin rather than the customer's payment. Contact CBA before October to understand your post-ban effective rate and whether interchange reductions will be passed through.
Can I use QwikPay alongside my CBA terminal?
Yes. QwikPay is an additional payment option that sits alongside your existing CBA terminal. Your CBA hardware stays exactly where it is. QwikPay adds a QR code at the counter for customers who want to pay with zero fees and earn Qwik Points rewards, processed through the QwikPay wallet.
Does CBA offer least-cost routing?
Yes. CBA offers merchant choice routing (least-cost routing) on eligible terminals, allowing contactless debit transactions to be routed over the cheapest available network. If you have a CBA terminal and least-cost routing is not active, contact CBA to request it - it can reduce your per-transaction cost on debit payments.