Why are Visa and Mastercard facing criticism over swipe fees?

Visa and Mastercard face criticism because their proposed $200 billion settlement on swipe fees is seen as insufficient to alleviate high costs for merchants. Critics argue the fees remain a significant burden, especially for small businesses.

How might the swipe fee settlement affect Visa and Mastercard's stocks?

Despite criticism, Visa and Mastercard stocks have shown resilience. Current analyst ratings suggest strong buy signals, indicating confidence in the companies' growth potential. However, prolonged disputes could harm investor sentiment.

What are credit card interchange fees?

Credit card interchange fees, or swipe fees, are charges merchants pay whenever a customer uses a credit card. Typically around 2% of a transaction, these fees generate significant revenue for card issuers but are costly for merchants.

Global Market Insights

V News Today, Nov 12: Visa and Mastercard Face Criticism Over $200B Swipe Fee Settlement

ByHuzaifa Zahoor November 12, 2025November 12, 2025

Visa and Mastercard are in the spotlight today as they face criticism from merchant groups over a proposed $200 billion settlement aimed at addressing swipe fees. The settlement, intended to lower credit card interchange fees, is under fire for allegedly not doing enough to ease the burden on merchants. With the deal pending court approval, these tensions highlight the ongoing debate about high credit card processing costs. As industry giants, any decision by Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA) could have wide-reaching implications in the financial sector.