Morocco Slashes Card Payment Fees for Merchants, Boosting Digital Economy

In a press release, the Interbank Monetary Center (CMI) announces that it has significantly reduced commissions on domestic card payments in favor of more than 55,000 merchants, particularly those using its acceptance services such as electronic payment terminals, online payment solutions and Tap to Mobile, in order to support them by offering them more advantageous pricing conditions, while encouraging the growing adoption of electronic payments. This tariff revision took effect on October 1, 2024.

The CMI ensures that this measure will allow merchants to immediately benefit from more competitive transaction costs, thus contributing to the development of their activities. According to the regulations in force, it is forbidden to pass on the commission fees to customers and to impose a minimum amount (50 or 100 DH) to accept a card payment, the center reminds.

The CMI has aligned itself with the directive of Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM) published on September 25, 2024, which now caps the domestic interchange rate at 0.65%, before making a significant reduction in commissions on domestic card payments. This decision by the central bank "has redefined the modalities of the applicable interchange rates for domestic transactions. [...] Thanks to these adjustments, we will be able to strengthen our investments in payment infrastructures and continue to offer our merchants increasingly competitive and innovative solutions," says Rachid Saihi, its CEO.