Central Bank of Paraguay cuts caps on card payment intermediation fees in phased move to 3 percent for credit and 2 percent for debit by July 2026

The Central Bank of Paraguay has issued resolutions lowering the maximum commissions that card issuers and operators can charge merchants for payment intermediation services on credit and debit card transactions. The cap will be reduced in two stages, with credit card commissions set at 4 percent and debit card commissions at 3 percent from July 1, 2025, before falling further to 3 percent for credit cards and 2 percent for debit cards from July 1, 2026. The measure applies to issuers and to operators involved in electronic card payment intermediation, including entities that participate at any stage of the process regardless of the means used or the role performed. The central bank said the decision follows technical analysis by its Financial Operations area and the Superintendency of Banks of the maximum commissions collected by operators and issuers from affiliated merchants. It linked the change to its framework under Law No. 5,476/15 on transparency and user protection in the use of credit and debit cards. The release frames the phased reduction as part of a broader effort to promote more efficient use of cards as alternatives to cash while aligning card issuance, operation and administration rules with consumer protection and transparency requirements. It also points to expected support for wider use of electronic payments, financial inclusion, and greater competition and formalization in commerce.