FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: J. Craig Shearman
202) 257-3678 craig@shearmancommunications.com
Voters Support Action by More Than a 60 Percentage Point Margin
WASHINGTON, June 10, 2026 — A comprehensive new poll released today by the Merchants Payments Coalition shows that the vast majority of Americans understand the high price of credit card swipe fees and want Congress to do something about it.
“In this divisive political climate, it’s striking that three-quarters of American voters, including super-majorities of voters of every political persuasion, agree that Congress should stop credit card companies from picking their pockets with every swipe,” MPC Executive Committee member and National Association of Convenience Stores General Counsel Doug Kantor said. “This poll starkly underscores what we already know: Consumers are tired of being unfairly squeezed by credit card companies, and they are looking to lawmakers to rebalance the scales. Swipe fees are an unchecked cash grab by the biggest Wall Street banks and card companies. Congress has the opportunity to solve the problem by passing the Credit Card Competition Act.”
The survey of 9,264 likely voters in the 41 most-competitive House battleground districts, which was conducted by the polling firm Co/Efficient, shows that 73.6% of voters know swipe fees are baked into the prices they pay. And 75% of voters say Congress should act to reduce swipe fees. Only 12.9% disagree with that, meaning congressional action is favored by more than a 60 percentage point margin.
The survey results come after a state swipe fee law in Illinois was blocked by a federal judge last week and swipe fee legislation in Colorado was vetoed, increasing pressure on Congress to act.
Credit and debit card swipe fees have increased 80% since the pandemic, reaching a record $198.25 billion last year. For most merchants, the fees are the highest operating cost after labor and too steep to absorb. As a result, they drive up prices by more than $1,200 a year for the average family.
Visa and Mastercard enjoy a stranglehold on 80% of the market, and each centrally sets the swipe fees charged by banks that issue cards under their brands. They maintain their dominance by blocking transactions from being processed over other networks that could do the job with lower fees and better security.
Under the CCCA, banks with at least $100 billion in assets would enable cards they issue to be processed over at least two unaffiliated networks — Visa or Mastercard plus a competitor like NYCE, Star, or Shazam. The measure is expected to kickstart long-overdue competition over fees, security and service that would save merchants and consumers $17 billion a year. President Donald Trump endorsed the CCCA in January, saying it is needed “to stop the out of control Swipe Fee ripoff.”
About MPC
The Merchants Payments Coalition represents retailers, supermarkets, convenience stores, gasoline stations, online merchants and others fighting for a more competitive and transparent card system that is fair to consumers and merchants. Follow MPC on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn for the latest on swipe fees.