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"merchant category code"

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Table listing sample Merchant Category Codes (MCC) and their descriptions

Merchant & POS

What Is an MCC (Merchant Category Code)?

MCC stands for Merchant Category Code: a 4-digit code used to classify merchants by business type. Codes differ slightly between Mastercard, Visa, and BKM.

Diagram illustrating TCR (Transaction Record Component) packets used in payment clearing and settlement files

Payment Systems

What Is TCR (Transaction Record Component)?

TCR stands for Transaction Record Component, the packets that carry transaction information in a clearing system. Transaction types in a clearing file are distinguished by transaction code and usage code values, and this data is sent inside TCR packets.

Illustration representing Merchant Category Code classification for card transactions

Merchant & POS

What Does a Restricted/Prohibited MCC Mean?

The MCC code, or Merchant Category Code, is a 4-digit code used to classify merchants. Some MCC codes are restricted or prohibited, and POS terminals or card transactions may be blocked when such a code is used.

Illustration representing MCC codes used to classify merchants by category

Merchant & POS

What Is an MCC Code Used For?

Since the MCC code is a merchant's category code, it's critical for the checks performed during merchant onboarding and authorization, including campaigns and restrictions.

Illustration of ISO 18245 merchant category codes (MCC)

Payment Systems

What Is ISO 18245?

ISO 18245 is an ISO standard on the management of Merchant Category Codes (MCC) in retail financial services. ISO 18245: 2003 defines the code values used to classify merchants by the type of business, trade or service they provide.

Diagram explaining the MCC merchant category code field in ISO 8583 messages

ISO 8583

ISO 8583 Field Descriptions (F18)

F18-MERCHANT TYPE: This is the merchant's category code (MCC) information. It must contain values from the Mastercard or Visa MCC Code list. It is a 4-digit numeric value. For ATM transactions, MCC code 6011 should be sent. The role of MCC in authorization...

Merchant category code (MCC) and POS agreement illustration

Merchant & POS

What Should a Merchant Do When It Changes Its Line of Business?

When signing a merchant agreement, merchants declare their line of business, which banks record as an MCC (Merchant Category Code). A merchant may only sell products or services within the line of business declared to its bank.

Diagram illustrating the EMV Tag-Length-Value (TLV) data structure used in card transactions

Online & Authorization

What are EMV Tags?

In EMV, data is stored in Tag-Length-Value (TLV) format, and it is carried between the card, the POS terminal, and the authorization system in this same format. This post lists every EMV Tag, its type, and its description.

Table of merchant sectors where offline transactions are restricted

Merchant & POS

In Which Sectors Can Offline Transactions Not Be Performed?

An offline transaction is one approved by the card and the POS themselves, without going to any system (the card's bank or the POS's bank), when a chip card transaction is made at a POS. For this reason, some sectors considered risky are restricted.

Table of chargeback reason codes by payment scheme

Chargeback

What Are the Chargeback Reason Codes by Payment Scheme?

A chargeback is the process of requesting that an amount paid by credit card be refunded, either because the goods or services paid for were not received, or because a transaction is identified as one the cardholder did not carry out.

Cover of the Visa Merchant Data Standards Manual document

Merchant & POS

What Is the “Merchant Data Standards Manual”? How Can I Access It?

Visa's Merchant Data Standards Manual covers classification, identification and data standard requirements for merchants, payment facilitators and marketplaces, including merchant naming, location and MCC rules. Here is what it contains and where to find it.