The change comes as businesses continue to manage a range of cost inputs, including wages and other operating expenses, alongside changes to Australia’s payments landscape. This includes the removal of card surcharging from 1 October 2026, which means businesses that currently surcharge will need to absorb or reconsider how they manage the cost of accepting card payments.
Commonwealth Bank Executive General Manager Small Business Banking, Rebecca Warren, said the fee reduction was a practical way CommBank could help businesses manage costs and keep growing.
“Australian businesses have demonstrated enormous resilience through several years of changing economic conditions, and we want to keep backing them as they continue to grow,” Ms Warren said.
“The good news is, the vast majority of businesses do not surcharge, and are being very proactive in the way they manage their costs.”
From 1 October, businesses will no longer be able to surcharge customers for eftpos, Visa and Mastercard card payments. American Express, JCB and UnionPay have also aligned with the reforms and will remove surcharging from 1 October.
“Reducing our Merchant Service Fee to 0.99 per cent will lower operational costs for all merchants on our Single Rate Per Transaction pricing and will help ease the transition for the small number of businesses still finalising the move away from surcharging.”
CommBank will contact merchant customers ahead of the changes with information on any actions required, depending on their payment set up.
Other ways CommBank supports businesses to manage costs, is through programs like CommBank Yello for Business, our recognition program that gives eligible customers access to discounts across our growing partner network.
For more information, visit commbank.com.au/payments
¹ Available from 1 October 2026 to eligible customers on a Single Rate Per Transaction plan. The rate includes GST and is applicable to in-store payments only. Terms and Conditions apply.
