How the Amex surcharge escape clause works

Warwick Ponder
Editor
16 Sep, 2026
In a regulatory free environment, American Express has created a Supplier Trade Fee (STF) allowing eligible B2B merchants to recover transaction costs after its October surcharge ban, provided the charge meets their own strict conditions.
How the Amex surcharge escape clause works

In a regulatory free environment, American Express has created a Supplier Trade Fee (STF) allowing eligible B2B merchants to recover transaction costs after its October surcharge ban, provided the charge meets their own strict conditions.

Subscriber article

This article is available to PayDay News subscribers.

trending

Australia Post promises at least 4,000 retail outlets, but some already operate without cash and hundreds lack Bank@Post, raising questions about what cash and payment services will survive
On The Interchange Bench this week, TNS promotes PAX chief Johnson to global role, Walsh appointed pay’s marketing chief, Younes takes on platforms at Stripe, Edwards lands as
Coles has shut down Coles Pay but is stepping up Flybuys rewards ahead of Christmas just as Australia’s banks cut credit card perks, reframe loyalty offerings and consumers
Australian merchants using Adobe Commerce and Magento were last week urged to apply security patches immediately after authorities warned a critical vulnerability was being actively exploited.
Crypto executives say AUSTRAC’s recent crackdowns will strengthen the industry’s legitimacy.

RELATED STORIES ▸

Schemes in “lockstep” to sell their surcharge bans to struggling SMEs
Schemes in “lockstep” to sell their surcharge bans to struggling SMEs
Schemes in “lockstep” to sell their surcharge bans to struggling SMEs
Australia’s card networks have joined forces on an industry marketing “education” campaign to sell the October surcharge ban they lobbied ...
Visa, Mastercard back bill platforms as surcharge workarounds
Visa, Mastercard back bill platforms as surcharge workarounds
Visa, Mastercard back bill platforms as surcharge workarounds
Bill platforms including Sniip, pay.com.au and B2Bpay will still charge card payers fees after October 1, on volume the Reserve ...
Amex is offering merchants a way around its own surcharging ban
Amex is offering merchants a way around its own surcharging ban
Amex is offering merchants a way around its own surcharging ban
The US card giant is quietly offering merchants a new agreement that allows them to still effectively surcharge up to ...
Surcharge ban bites as strata owners forced to vote on card levies
Surcharge ban bites as strata owners forced to vote on card levies
Surcharge ban bites as strata owners forced to vote on card levies
A limited number of Macquarie's DEFT clients will keep accepting card payments until the end of January under transition deals ...
Governments probe non-card options as taxpayers face millions in fee bills
Governments probe non-card options as taxpayers face millions in fee bills
Governments probe non-card options as taxpayers face millions in fee bills
Federal government agencies and at least two state governments are collectively looking for ways to dodge more than an estimated ...
The end of surcharging or the rise of convenience fees?
The end of surcharging or the rise of convenience fees?
The end of surcharging or the rise of convenience fees?
Vibhu Arya, the former Country Leader for Payments & Financial Services at IKEA Australia New Zealand, writes that when surcharging ...

Got a story to share?

Get in touch with PayDay News today!

Advertising Enquiry

Fill out the form below, and we will be in touch shortly.

Contact Information

Got a story to share

Fill out the form below, and we will be in touch shortly.

Contact Information