Australian Payments Plus (AP+) welcomes today’s RBA decision to ban surcharges on debit card transactions, a change that will make everyday payments more predictable for Australians.  

“Debit is how most Australians pay for their everyday transactions. Removing surcharges on these transactions will make the payments experience simpler and more transparent, and that’s good for confidence in the system,” said Lynn Kraus, CEO of AP+.

Debit accounts for around 75% of card payments in Australia¹, making it the most widely used way to pay for everyday purchases. 

AP+, which operates the domestic eftpos debit card network, has long focused on lowering the cost of payments in Australia, reducing fees multiple times in recent years.²

Today’s RBA report also highlights the importance of maintaining strong competition in the debit market.

Most debit cards in Australia can be processed through more than one network. When least-cost routing (LCR) is enabled, businesses can choose the lowest-cost option, helping keep payment costs down.

The RBA has long supported broader availability of LCR to promote competition. RBA data shows the cost of accepting debit card transaction is nearly 20% lower for businesses with LCR switched on.³

AP+ has been working with industry to expand least-cost routing in-store, online and mobile wallet payments, ensuring more businesses can access those savings.

“Competition in the debit market is what keeps payment costs moving in the right direction and will ensure the benefits of this reform are fully realised,” added Kraus.

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1. Retail Payments December 2025 | RBA – Number of Retail Payments. ↩︎
2. AP+ lowers eftpos scheme fees in ongoing commitment to lowering cost of payments - Australian Payments Plus ↩︎
3. The Effect of Least-cost Routing on Merchant Payment Costs | Bulletin, RBA April 2024. ↩︎

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