TL;DR: Visa’s new Commercial Enhanced Data Program or (CEDP) replaces traditional Level 2 and Level 3 interchange standards starting in 2025. Businesses that submit verified, high-quality transaction data can access significant fee reductions, especially for large ticket and B2B transactions. However, merchants who fail to meet Visa’s stricter data requirements risk losing discounts or even paying retroactive fees. To stay compliant and maximize savings, business owners must integrate technology that captures complete Level 3 data, ensure verification status, and partner with a knowledgeable payments provider like Bankcard International Group (BIG).
What Is Visa’s New Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP)?
As of April 2025, Visa has rolled out the Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP)—a major shift in how interchange fees are determined.
According to Visa’s official interchange documentation, the program rewards merchants who provide complete, validated line-item transaction data while eliminating discounts for those submitting incomplete or inaccurate information.
For business owners, this creates both an opportunity for savings and a risk of higher costs if your systems aren’t ready.
What Changed?
- Level 2 Rates Retired: Visa is phasing out Level 2 interchange rates by April 2026. Only Level 3 data will qualify for enhanced discounts.
- Verified Merchant Status: To receive lower rates, merchants must consistently submit accurate, validated data.
- AI Data Auditing: Visa now uses artificial intelligence to audit transaction submissions and detect “junk data” or placeholders.
- Participation Fee: A small 0.05% per-transaction participation fee applies, but verified merchants typically see net savings due to lower interchange rates.
- Focus on B2B and Government Transactions: The biggest rewards go to merchants processing large-ticket or commercial card purchases.
Why the Commercial Enhanced Data Program Matters: The End of Level 2 Data Discounts
Historically, Visa offered three data levels—Level 1 (basic), Level 2 (tax and customer code), and Level 3 (line-item detail).
Level | Data Provided | Interchange Impact |
Level 1 | Basic transaction info | Standard rates |
Level 2 | Tax amount, customer code | Small discount (retiring) |
Level 3 | SKU, item description, quantity, tax, and freight | Largest discount |
With Level 2 being retired, Level 3 data compliance is now the only way to unlock significant savings.
You can review Visa’s own documentation of Level 3 data fields in the Visa Commercial Card Data Standards Guide (PDF).
What Kind of Savings Are Possible?
If your business qualifies under the CEDP as a Verified Merchant, here’s what you might expect in rate reductions:
Transaction Type | Previous Rate | New Verified Rate |
Commercial Fuel Product 3 | 1.90% + $0.10 | 1.75% + $0.10 |
Corporate/Purchasing Non-Travel Product 3 | 1.90% + $0.10 | 1.75% + $0.10 |
Corporate/Purchasing Large Ticket | 1.45% + $35 | 1.30% + $35 |
For high-volume or large-ticket merchants, those fractions of a percent can translate into thousands of dollars in annual savings.
Industry analysts have described the CEDP rollout as “the most significant B2B interchange reform in a decade” (Payments Dive).
The Real Cost Difference: Level 1 vs. Level 3 Transactions
For merchants who continue processing at Level 1, the cost difference can be substantial.
Level 1 transactions—those submitting only basic details like transaction amount and date—are charged Visa’s standard commercial interchange rate, often 0.30% to 0.50% higher than properly verified Level 3 transactions.
To put that in perspective, consider a corporate travel management company that processes high-value B2B payments for business trips, conferences, and transportation logistics.
A $5,000 booking paid by a corporate card might incur about $25 to $30 in interchange fees at Level 1. But if the transaction includes full Level 3 data—such as invoice number, tax breakdown, line-item details for airfare, lodging, and transportation—the fee could drop to $20 to $22.50.
That’s a savings of $5 to $7.50 per transaction. For a travel firm processing 1,000 transactions per month, that equates to $60,000 to $90,000 in annual savings simply by submitting complete, validated Level 3 data.
Now imagine similar savings for other high-ticket verticals like manufacturing, fleet management, or wholesale distribution. What looks like a minor percentage difference on paper can translate into tens of thousands of dollars in additional profit each year.
This is why it’s critical for B2B merchants to upgrade their systems now and ensure full Level 3 data compliance. Under Visa’s new CEDP structure, accurate data isn’t just a compliance requirement, it’s a direct path to measurable cost savings.
What Visa Requires for Level 3 in the Commercial Enhanced Data Program
To earn and maintain Verified Merchant status, your system must transmit complete and accurate Level 3 transaction data every time. That includes:
- Line-item SKU or product codes
- Item descriptions and quantities
- Units of measure
- Tax amount and customer code
- Freight/shipping costs (if applicable)
- Invoice number and order total
Visa’s AI will automatically flag transactions missing required fields, or those containing duplicate or “junk” data, causing you to lose discounted rates. Auto filling Junk data has been a long time standard for some operators looking to cut costs, AI is putting an end to that…
For context, these standards align with broader B2B data integrity initiatives promoted by Nacha and other electronic payments regulators.
The Three Biggest Commercial Enhanced Data Program Risks for Merchants
- “Junk Data” and AI Audits
Visa’s AI continuously reviews data submissions. Incomplete, mismatched, or placeholder fields can trigger loss of verification and retroactive penalties.
How to protect yourself:
- Use an integrated payment platform that validates Level 3 data in real time.
- Ask your processor whether they use built-in compliance tools or issue data error alerts.
- Verification Deadlines and Retroactive Fees
Only verified merchants qualify for CEDP discounts starting October 17, 2025.
If you’re unverified, Visa can retroactively withdraw discounts, increasing your costs.
Action steps:
- Request a data quality audit from your payment processor.
- Fix recurring data gaps before the verification deadline.
- System or Software Incompatibility
If your POS, ERP, or accounting software doesn’t capture the required fields, you can’t qualify for Level 3 interchange savings.
Action steps:
- Upgrade or integrate your payment system to support full line-item data.
- Train staff to enter complete invoice details accurately.
How to Maximize Your Interchange Savings
- Choose a Processor That Specializes in B2B and High-Risk Payments
The right payment processor should:
- Automate Level 3 data submission
- Provide real-time compliance monitoring
- Deliver monthly verification reports
BIG offers these tools to ensure your data stays verified and your rates stay low.
- Integrate Your Systems
Make sure your POS, gateway, and ERP systems are seamlessly connected to your payment processor’s API. Automation reduces costly manual errors.
- Train Your Team
Frontline staff play a big role in maintaining data accuracy. Regular training ensures they understand how to capture required information correctly.
- Review Your Merchant Category Code (MCC)
Your MCC affects interchange eligibility. A professional review (conducted legally and within Visa rules) can help determine whether your current MCC is optimized for your business type.
- Monitor Data Quality Continuously
Track your submission success rates, review exception reports, and act quickly on error notifications. Maintaining consistency is the key to Verified Merchant status.
Commonly Asked Questions About the Commercial Enhanced Data Program
What happens if Visa’s AI flags my data incorrectly?
Which types of businesses benefit most?
How often does Visa review merchant verification?
Can I still qualify if I process mostly consumer cards?
Eligibility of CEDP: What Card Types Qualify for Discounts
Visa’s Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP) is primarily designed for business, corporate, purchasing, and fleet card transactions—not consumer credit cards. That means the biggest savings apply to B2B, government, and enterprise payments, where line-item data such as SKU, tax, freight, and invoice numbers can be captured accurately.
According to NMI’s 2025 Visa CEDP update, Visa built this program to strengthen data quality and prevent merchants from submitting “junk data” just to earn Level 2 or Level 3 discounts.
While some small business cards that overlap with commercial card programs may still qualify, consumer credit card transactions generally won’t benefit from CEDP’s enhanced data rates.
In short, merchants serving business and institutional buyers—such as manufacturers, travel management companies, equipment suppliers, and government vendors stand to gain (or lose) the most from the new structure.
Those processing mainly personal consumer credit cards will continue under standard interchange programs without access to CEDP’s enhanced data discounts (or penalties).
How BIG Helps You Identify Commercial Enhanced Data Program Eligibility
Understanding whether your transactions qualify for Visa’s Commercial Enhanced Data Program isn’t always straightforward. Many businesses process a mix of commercial, small business, and consumer card types, each with different interchange outcomes. That’s why BIG helps merchants analyze their transaction data and card mix to determine where CEDP savings opportunities exist.
Our team reviews your historical processing statements, identifies eligible commercial or business card activity, and evaluates whether your current POS or ERP systems can support Level 3 data transmission. From there, we help you implement the tools and training needed to maintain Verified Merchant status and capture every possible interchange discount.
For many merchants, this analysis reveals thousands in untapped savings, just by understanding which card types and data fields qualify.
Bankcard International Group: Helping Businesses Stay Verified and Save More
Staying compliant under Visa’s CEDP can feel overwhelming. Between data validation, technology integration, and monthly AI audits, even a small mistake can wipe out thousands in potential savings.
That’s where Bankcard International Group (BIG) comes in.
We help businesses navigate complex interchange structures and remain compliant by:
- Integrating with your existing technology stack for true Level 3 data capture
- Monitoring your transaction data in real time
- Providing easy-to-read monthly verification reports
- Training your staff to avoid costly data errors
- Offering guidance on MCC optimization and compliance
Whether you’re a high-risk merchant, large-ticket retailer, manufacturer, or B2B supplier, BIG helps you reduce interchange costs and protect your bottom line.
Ready to see how much you could save under Visa’s CEDP?
Contact Bankcard International Group today at 1-800-895-1580 or info@bighqs.com, or visit bankcardinternationalgroup.com to schedule your savings analysis.
