Do Lower Debit Card Fees Help or Hurt Consumers?

Dec. 18, 2010 — -- The Federal Reserve on Thursday proposed a drastic decrease in the fees retailers pay debit card issuers when a consumer uses a debit card. While retailers praise the proposal, and claim they will pass on their savings to customers, banks and debit card processors say consumers will end up paying higher costs somewhere else down the line.

The Fed proposed a cap on debit card swipe -- or "interchange," fees -- of 7 to 12 cents for each transaction, compared to the existing average fee in 2009 of 44 cents for each transaction.

Financial lobbying groups have decried the proposal, which was authorized by the Financial Regulatory Reform Act, known as the Dodd-Frank Act, earlier this year. The American Bankers Association, National Association of Federal Credit Unions and Credit Unions National Association say the proposed 85 percent drop in interchange fees, will negatively impact not just large card processors like Visa and MasterCard, but consumers as well.

The cap is aimed at financial institutions with assets greater than $10 billion, but other financial organizations, like nonprofit credit unions, say they could be adversely impacted by card processors like Visa and MasterCard.

Mike Losneck, CEO of Eaton Family Credit Union, in Euclid, Ohio, said if the largest companies have to lower their fees, then other banks will have to follow suit to stay competitive. He also said revenue from interchange fees significantly help offset the cost of monitoring fraud on the debit cards.

"We're a nonprofit operation but we still need to make money and have reserves to invest in products and services to offer our members," said Losneck. He added that because Eaton is owned by its 13,000 members and not outside shareholders, it can offer more competitive savings and loan rates.

Rob Windsor, president of First Financial Credit Union of Maryland, said he would have no choice but to raise fees for other services if there is a loss in revenue from the interchange fees. First Financial is owned by its 56,000 members, mostly educators from public and private schools in Baltimore and Carroll County.