Türkiye to cut debit card POS fees from November 2025

Türkiye’s Central Bank has announced a significant reduction in point-of-sale (POS) fees for debit card transactions, set to take effect on November 1, 2025. The move is part of a broader effort to support businesses, improve cash flow, and aid in the country’s disinflation strategy.

Under the new regulation, the commission rate for debit card payments will be reduced to 1.04%, down from the previous flat rate of 3.56% that applied equally to credit and debit cards. The credit card commission rate will remain unchanged at 3.56%.

The changes were published in the Official Gazette on Thursday.

Shorter hold on merchant funds

In addition to the lower commission, the blocked funds period—the time banks withhold transaction funds when merchants choose not to pay the fee upfront—will be cut from 40 days to 15 days for debit card transactions.

This shorter settlement period is expected to ease liquidity pressures, especially for small shops, cafes, restaurants, and other local businesses that rely heavily on daily cash flow.

Wider scope: Prepaid cards included

The Central Bank confirmed that the reduced POS fees will apply not only to debit cards, but also to prepaid cards and account-to-account business payments. This is expected to lower operating costs for a wider range of cashless transactions, which are increasingly common in both urban centers and tourist areas.

Economic context

The announcement comes just days after the Central Bank lowered its benchmark interest rate by 250 basis points, bringing it to 40.5%. That move also triggered changes to credit card interest rates, effective October 1:

Contractual interest rate: Reduced from 4.75% to 4.5%

Late payment rate: Lowered from 5.05% to 4.8%

These steps are seen as part of the government’s broader economic strategy to tackle inflation, stabilize markets, and support business recovery.

What it means for expats and small business owners

The fee reduction is expected to be particularly beneficial for small business owners, including expats running cafes, boutique hotels, or shops in cities like Istanbul, Izmir, or Antalya.

It may also encourage merchants to favor debit and prepaid card payments due to the lower cost, potentially making such cards more widely accepted in daily transactions.

For foreign residents, students, and travelers, the change will improve the cost-efficiency of using prepaid cards, which are often preferred for budgeting and convenience.

Looking ahead

As Türkiye continues to refine its monetary policy, the Central Bank has positioned this decision as a tool to promote cashless payments, support local businesses, and manage inflationary pressures in the economy.

The new debit card POS rates will officially take effect on November 1, 2025.