Changes to card fees to save millions

EFTPOS systems provider Tyro Payments says proposed changes to the fees banks charge each other could save people $500 million a year.

Pedestrians walk past the Reserve Bank of Australia in Sydney

The RBA is considering changes to the fees banks charge each other for the use of credit cards. (AAP)

Lower interest rates are not the only thing in the Reserve Bank's repertoire to put extra money in people's pockets and lift the economy.

Changes are being considered by the central bank to so-called "interchange" fees that banks charge each other for the use of credit and debit cards that are passed on to customers, which could save 10 million lower income Australians an estimated $500 million a year.

According to EFTPOS systems provider Tyro Payments, the RBA is looking to cap these fees at 0.3 per cent rather than the 0.5 per cent average at present.

Tyro estimates that 10 million standard card users are now effectively paying about $50 each to support the five million premium and platinum cards usually held by the rich.

RBA governor Glenn Stevens has said himself that when he uses his platinum Amex card and gets points, someone else is paying for that.

Tyro Payments boss Jost Stollmann describes it as "Robin Hood in reverse".

"Most Australians would be horrified to think that their hard-earned money is subsidising the rich," he said in a statement on Monday.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world