Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), Morocco's central bank, announced on July 14, 2026, that it will lower the general interchange fee cap for domestic electronic payments from 0.65% to 0.45%, effective October 1, 2026. The decision aims to further develop the country's electronic payment ecosystem by reducing costs for merchants and encouraging wider adoption.
The new cap applies to all domestic electronic payment transactions, including those made via cards and mobile wallets. BAM stated that the measure is part of its ongoing strategy to promote financial inclusion and digital payments, aligning with Morocco's National Financial Inclusion Strategy.
Interchange fees are charges paid by merchants' banks to cardholders' banks for processing electronic transactions. By lowering the cap, BAM expects to reduce operational costs for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and potentially lower prices for consumers.
The central bank also noted that the reduction follows consultations with stakeholders, including banks, payment service providers, and merchant associations. BAM will monitor the impact of the new cap and may adjust it further based on market developments.
