Morocco Card Payment Fees Drop 23% in 2026

An important change is coming for card payments in Morocco. Bank Al-Maghrib has decided to reduce the ceiling on interchange fees applied to local electronic payments, a measure that should ease the costs borne by merchants when accepting card payments at a POS terminal.

On Bladi.net : Morocco Slashes Card Payment Fees for Merchants, Boosting Digital Economy

According to a joint statement from Bank Al-Maghrib and the Competition Council, the new ceiling will come into effect on October 1, 2026. It will drop to 0.50%, down from 0.65% since October 2024.

The decrease will be even steeper for certain sectors. Payments related to digital public services and neighborhood shops will benefit from a special ceiling of 0.15%. The goal is to make electronic payment less costly, more accessible, and more attractive for small merchants.

This decision also aims to encourage financial inclusion. By reducing commissions linked to card payments, the authorities want to push more merchants to accept electronic payment methods without fearing fees deemed too heavy.

The electronic payment market is opening up

The reform is not limited to commissions. It is part of a broader reorganization of the electronic payment market in Morocco, conducted with the Competition Council.

The Interbank Monetary Center, long a central player in the sector, must end its acquiring activity. It has been unable to recruit new merchants since November 15, 2024, and must transfer its contract portfolio according to a schedule set by the authorities.

The goal is to move from a model dominated by a single player to a market open to multiple payment institutions. These new players must be able to access CMI technical services under equitable, transparent, and non-discriminatory conditions.

For merchants, this opening should translate into more choice, lower commissions, and better service quality. Bank Al-Maghrib says it wants to support new players while ensuring payment security and continuity.

On Bladi.net : Morocco’s Central Bank Caps Card Payment Fees at 0.65% to Curb Excessive Charges

Morocco is thus seeking to accelerate the use of electronic payment, still hindered by costs and cash payment habits. With these new ceilings, accepting cards should become less penalizing for merchants, especially the smallest ones.