Bank Al-Maghrib Reduces Exchange Commission on Bank Cards to 0.5%

Bank Al-Maghrib reduced the ceiling of the exchange commission on local electronic payments by bank cards from 0.65% to 0.50% without calculating the tax, in a decision that entered into force on 1 October, to be the second reduction of this ceiling since it was first set in October 2024. Details of the decision This reduction is in accordance with Regulatory Decision No. 265/F/2026 issued by Bank Al-Maghrib on July 13, 2026. The Central Bank has set a minimum special ceiling, within the limits of 0.15%, excluding tax, for operations carried out with merchants of proximity and in The framework of e-Government services (e-Gov), in the framework of encouraging the adoption of card performance in these sectors. Exchange Commission Ceiling: Before and after the new decision Category Previous ceiling New ceiling General commission on local cards 0.65% 0.50% Proximity dealers and e-government services — 0.15% Who bears the commission? Bank Al-Maghrib explained that the acquisition commission, which the exchange commission enters into its composition, remains the responsibility of the merchant and can in no way be charged to the customer, whatever the means of performance used. The Bank also obliged the concerned institutions to include the details of the fees in their contracts with the merchants, and to clearly display the terms of performance at the point of sale. The decision does not cover withdrawals from ATMs, cards issued outside Morocco, or transactions made through triple payment systems. Bank Al-Maghrib obligated the acquired banking institutions (Acquéreurs) to reduce the commissions imposed on proximity merchants and the government services concerned to the same extent as the exchange commission was reduced, until the effect of the decision actually reaches these categories instead of being confined between banks and payment institutions. Why does this decision matter? Reducing the exchange commission is part of Bank Al-Maghrib's policy to encourage the shift to electronic performance and reduce dependence on cash in the Moroccan economy. By reducing the cost of accepting bank cards for merchants, the Central Bank hopes to push more shops, especially smaller ones, to adopt electronic payment methods, which may be reflected in the availability of this option to the Moroccan consumer in the coming years.