# Cross-border interchange

https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/cross-border-interchange/

*Last updated: 2026-08-03*

The higher interchange band that applies when the card was issued in a different country from the merchant. It is set by the card scheme, not by the acquirer, which is why a merchant serving overseas visitors genuinely costs more to serve on the card rails than one serving only local cardholders — on identical commercial terms.

## Why it matters to a merchant

The line that explains why a shop on a tourist street pays more than an identical shop that is not, at the same quoted rate. It is not a penalty and not something a provider chose — but it does mean a merchant with a heavily foreign customer base should ask how their quote treats foreign-issued cards before signing to it.

## Related terms

*What it costs, and what gets measured*

- [MDR (merchant discount rate)](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/mdr/)
- [Interchange](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/interchange/)
- [GMV (gross merchandise value)](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/gmv/)
- [Merchant account](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/merchant-account/)
- [Effective rate](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/effective-rate/)
- [Per-transaction fee](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/per-transaction-fee/)
- [Blended rate](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/blended-rate/)
- [Interchange-plus](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/interchange-plus/)
- [Net settlement](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/net-settlement/)
- [Rolling reserve](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/rolling-reserve/)
- [Surcharge](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/surcharge/)

- [All 74 terms](https://www.uniwebpay.com/glossary/)

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