ATMcash

Payments watch · Updated weekly

RBA card payment fee changes: what they mean for ATMs and EFTPOS

Australian card-payment rules are moving. Each week we summarise the Reserve Bank and industry announcements that change what a venue pays to accept cards — and what that means for cash access on site.

Get a Free ATM

Most enquiries receive a response within 3 hours during business hours.

Card acceptance costs and surcharging rules are under active reform. Venues that keep a well-placed ATM alongside a competitively priced EFTPOS terminal keep the most control over payment costs.

Last updated 11 August 2026.

Latest updates

Newest first. Each entry links to the original announcement so you can verify it.

  1. 9 August 2026

    Cash access and ATM availability remain a policy focus

    Regulators and government continue to monitor cash access across Australia, particularly in regional areas and where bank branches have closed. Reliable ATM availability in retail venues is part of that access picture.

    Supporting notes

    What it means for your venue: Venues in areas with fewer bank branches often see stronger ATM usage, which supports a free-placement ATM and can lift in-store spend.

    Government / official source: Reserve Bank of Australia

    General information only, summarised from the official source above on 9 August 2026. Not financial, legal or taxation advice — verify the detail with the source document before acting.

  2. 4 August 2026

    Lower interchange caps and what they mean for small merchants

    Proposed reductions to interchange fee caps are intended to lower the wholesale cost of card acceptance, with the largest relative benefit expected for smaller merchants who currently pay blended rates well above the caps.

    Supporting notes

    What it means for your venue: Lower wholesale caps do not automatically lower your bill. Acquirers can retain the difference in their margin, so it is worth comparing your effective rate against the new caps.

    Government / official source: Reserve Bank of Australia

    General information only, summarised from the official source above on 4 August 2026. Not financial, legal or taxation advice — verify the detail with the source document before acting.

  3. 28 July 2026

    RBA card payments review: surcharging and interchange reforms

    The Reserve Bank of Australia's review of retail payments regulation covers card surcharging, interchange fee caps and clearer disclosure of merchant fees. The RBA has published its conclusions and proposed changes to the standards that govern what merchants may pass on to customers and what card schemes may charge.

    Supporting notes

    What it means for your venue: If you accept cards, your merchant statement and the way you display or recover card costs may need to change. Check your current all-in cost per transaction before you renew any terminal contract.

    Government / official source: Reserve Bank of Australia

    General information only, summarised from the official source above on 28 July 2026. Not financial, legal or taxation advice — verify the detail with the source document before acting.

Subscribe to new entries: Atom feed · RSS feed

EFTPOS fees

Also paying too much on card payments?

Most venues we install an ATM for are also running an EFTPOS terminal. If you want the card side checked at the same time, we compare EFTPOS machine fees, terminal rental and surcharging options off one recent merchant statement. Compare EFTPOS machine fees or ask about both in the same enquiry.

Questions about these changes

How often is this page updated?
We review Reserve Bank of Australia and payments-industry announcements weekly and publish a dated entry. Entries older than 7 days are flagged internally so the page never sits stale.
Do RBA fee changes affect ATM income for my venue?
Card-payment reforms mainly change what merchants pay to accept cards. Because they shift the cost of card acceptance and surcharging, they also change how attractive cash withdrawals are in a venue — which is why we track them alongside ATM placement and EFTPOS fee comparisons.
Is this financial or legal advice?
No. These are general summaries of publicly announced changes, published for information only. Always confirm details with the original source and your own adviser before acting.

Want your ATM and EFTPOS costs reviewed?

Send your details and we will compare your current setup against what is available now. Phone 0412 025 552, Mon–Fri 8:30am – 7:30pm AEST.

Request Your Free ATMAsk a Question First

Disclaimer: the summaries on this page are general information only, prepared from publicly available Reserve Bank of Australia and payments-industry announcements. They are not financial, legal or taxation advice, are not a substitute for the original source documents, and may not reflect changes announced after the date shown on each entry. Fees, rules and timetables can change without notice. ATMcash Australia accepts no liability for decisions made in reliance on this page — verify the detail with the original source and your own adviser before acting.