Small Businesses Compete–Why Can’t Credit Card Companies?
RealClearPolitics
by Adam Temple, RCPFebruary 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Small businesses in America are facing a significant financial challenge due to high credit card swipe fees imposed by Visa, Mastercard, and major banks. These fees, which average 2-4% per transaction, have become a burden on small business owners, forcing them to either absorb the costs or pass them on to customers. This issue has reached a critical point, with swipe fees totaling $187.2 billion in 2024 and becoming one of the largest operating expenses for many merchants. The current system is often described as anti-competitive, with Visa and Mastercard dictating terms that disproportionately impact small businesses while maximizing their own profits.
The proposed Credit Card Competition Act aims to address this imbalance by allowing small businesses to choose between multiple credit card networks, including alternative options like Star, NYCE, Pulse, and Sh
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Originally published on RealClearPolitics on 2/14/2026