Merchant Choice Routing
To find out more about MCR or to activate it on your terminals right now, please call us on 1300 650 977 or speak to your Relationship Manager.
What is MCR (also known as Least Cost Routing)?
For merchant customers who are not on a monthly pricing plan, or paying a flat percentage rate for eftpos, Mastercard, Visa and UnionPay transactions, you can choose to activate MCR on your EFTPOS terminals (and/or eCommerce Merchant Facilities). It sends eligible contactless debit card transactions through the eftpos network – rather than through the Visa® or Mastercard® networks. This could help reduce the amount you pay as a merchant for each tap and go transaction.
Note: Merchant Choice Routing is available for each eligible tap and go debit card transactions under $1,000. Tap and Go debit card transactions over $1,000 will automatically route through the Visa or Mastercard network.
If you are approved for a merchant facility on and from 30 September 2023, Merchant Choice Routing will be available for each eligible tap and go debit card transactions under $100,000. Transactions exceeding this amount will automatically route through the Visa or Mastercard network.
What debit cards does MCR apply to?
MCR applies to Multi-Network Debit Cards, which have both Visa and eftpos or Mastercard and eftpos logos. The chip on the card gives it the capability to be routed via either scheme’s network.
How can MCR help lower my operating costs?
MCR gives you a choice. Directing contactless debit card transactions through the eftpos network can attract lower merchant service fees – thereby reducing your overall costs. But this does depend on how your fees are currently structured and priced for different types of transactions. For example, if you are paying a flat percentage rate for transactions, then MCR won't impact your costs.
| Mastercard and Visa routing |
eftpos routing |
|---|---|
| When contactless Multi-Network Debit Card transactions are routed through the Visa or Mastercard networks, Visa or Mastercard Merchant Service Fees - and any other fees specific to Visa or Mastercard acceptance - will automatically apply. | When contactless Multi-Network Debit Card transactions are routed through the Australian eftpos Network, the eftpos Merchant Service Fee will automatically apply instead of Visa or Mastercard Credit Card Merchant Service Fees. |
I have multiple EFTPOS terminals. Can you activate MCR on just one or a specific EFTPOS terminal?
No. MCR is set at a merchant (MID) level, so MCR activation will apply to all the EFTPOS terminals (with MCR capability) linked to the MID.
How do I activate my MCR for my EFTPOS terminals?
If you want to activate MCR now, please call us on 1300 650 977 or speak to your Relationship Manager.
How to apply
Important information
MCR is not available on our monthly pricing plans or where we charge you a flat percentage rate for transactions. If you would like to enable this feature, a St.George pricing review will be initiated. We cannot guarantee merchant fee cost savings after MCR activation or deactivation. It will depend primarily on your pricing arrangements and the dollar value of each transaction. In some cases, eftpos transaction fees will be cheaper for merchants; in others Visa or Mastercard will be cheaper.
- "Mastercard/Visa Merchant Service Fee" means when your customers use a Mastercard or Visa credit card to make a payment we charge a Merchant Service Fee, based on volume and rate per card type. Mastercard and Visa Merchant Service Fees are typicallly charged as a % of either the net or gross dollar value processed.
- "eftpos transaction fee" means eftpos Purchase and eftpos Cash Out Merchant Service Fee. "eftpos Purchase Merchant Service Fee" means a fee charged as a % of the transaction value and/or a flat fee per transaction - calculated on a gross, net, or volume basis. "eftpos Cash out Merchant Service Fee" means a fee charged as a % of the transaction value and/or a flat fee per transaction - calculated on a gross, net, or volume basis.
Visa® is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association.
Mastercard® is a registered trademark and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.