By John EganWhat Are Merchant Category Codes?
By John Egan
Merchant category codes (MCCs) are four-digit numbers that identify what kind of business a merchant is based on the goods or services they provide. They cover an array of businesses, such as department stores, drugstores, bakeries and fast-food restaurants, and they apply to both credit and debit card transactions.
How Do Merchant Category Codes Work?
Payment networks including American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa apply MCCs to businesses to classify the types of products or services they sell. They're grouped by general categories; for instance, the retail outlet services category ranges from 5000 to 5599.
These codes tell card networks, payment processors and financial institutions how to treat credit and debit card transactions. MCCs affect things like processing fees, payment approvals and fraud risks.
MCCs also help determine eligibility for credit card rewards. In some cases, MCCs might block transactions in categories like gambling, adult entertainment, CBD and cannabis products, and cryptocurrency exchanges.
The table below shows 10 common MCCs:
| MCC | Category |
|---|---|
| 1711 | HVAC and plumbing contractors |
| 4900 | Utilities (electric, gas, heating, trash, water) |
| 5251 | Hardware stores |
| 5411 | Grocery stores and supermarkets |
| 5499 | Convenience stores, markets, specialty stores, vending machines |
| 5912 | Drugstores and pharmacies |
| 7230 | Barber and beauty shops |
| 7832 | Movie theaters |
| 8062 | Hospitals |
| 9311 | Tax payments |
Source: Citibank
How Do I Find a Merchant Category Code?
Curious about a merchant category code? Here five ways to find one:
- Contact your card issuer. Call the customer service phone number on your card or card statement to find out a certain MCC.
- Search the card issuer's website. Many card companies publish MCCs online.
- Use an MCC lookup tool. Various lookup tools are available online.
- Review statements. MCCs often are listed on card statements or bank statements along with other transaction details.
- Ask the merchant. The place where you made a card transaction may be able to tell you their merchant code.
Note: Payment brands often add, change or eliminate MCCs. Also, each card network has its own set of MCCs, and many are similar but not always identical. So, an American Express MCC for a type of business might differ from the Mastercard MCC for the same type of business.
Why Are MCCs Important?
MCCs might seem like random numbers, but they're actually important. Here are some of the reasons:
- Determining card rewards: MCCs help calculate a cardholder's rewards, such as cash back or hotel points.
- Flagging fraudulent activity: This sort of detection often occurs when a card issuer notices a transaction in a high-risk MCC. Examples of high-risk MCCs are wire transfers and money orders, bitcoin and cryptocurrency, dating services, betting and casino gambling, and cigars and tobacco.
- Monitoring expenses: Using MCCs, you can track and categorize spending.
- Controlling spending: MCCs allow credit card issuers to limit how customers use their cards. For instance, a credit card issuer may offer a credit card solely for travel expenses, and only transactions using travel-related MCCs are permitted.
- Setting cardholder fees: Some businesses can charge cardholders a fee for transactions from certain MCCs.
- Influencing foreign transactions: When a card is used in another country, an MCC can help determine currency conversion fees and other aspects of a transaction.
- Keeping on top of IRS reporting: An MCC can signal to a cardholder that a certain transaction must be reported to the IRS.
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How to Maximize Credit Card Rewards Using MCCs
Here are three tips for maximizing credit card rewards using MCCs:
- Match your spending to the right merchant. Let's say your favorite credit card offers 5% cash back on purchases at grocery stores, 3% at gas stations and 2% on all other qualifying transactions. To gain the 5% cash back rate, you'd want to do all of your grocery shopping at merchants in the MCC category for grocery stores, rather than doing some or all of that shopping at drugstores or convenience stores.
- Monitor rotating categories. If you have a credit card with rewards categories that rotate every month or quarter, knowing MCCs can come in handy. For example, if you're aware that a card's rotating category during a certain quarter is gas stations, you can align your gas spending with the appropriate codes.
- Look for category overlaps. Different card payment networks may have differing views on which category a business fits into, and some businesses might have several MCCs. Watching out for these MCC overlaps may help you match a business with its correct MCC category.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Merchant category codes (MCCs) are four-digit identifiers assigned by payment networks like Visa and Mastercard to classify businesses based on the goods or services they offer. These codes influence transaction processing, cardholder fees, fraud detection and eligibility for credit card rewards, while also helping track and manage spending.
Understanding these codes can help cardholders maximize rewards by aligning purchases with the correct MCC categories. If you're looking for a new rewards credit card, you can find rewards cards that meet your needs and credit profile with Experian.
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About the author
John Egan
John Egan is a freelance writer, editor and content marketing strategist in Austin, Texas. His work has been published by outlets such as CreditCards.com, Bankrate, Credit Karma, LendingTree, PolicyGenius, HuffPost, National Real Estate Investor and Urban Land.
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