Across the country, payment rules are shifting and the cost of accepting credit cards is under more scrutiny than ever. One of the latest developments comes from Oklahoma, where a new law taking effect November 1, 2025 will formally allow merchants to impose surcharges on credit card transactions.
While the change is specific to Oklahoma, it is part of a broader trend in the U.S. toward passing more of the cost of credit card acceptance to consumers. This growing movement is a reminder for merchants everywhere to reassess how they handle payment processing costs and to explore options that reduce or eliminate those fees altogether.
Oklahoma’s New Surcharge Law
The revised Oklahoma Statute Title 14A, § 2-211 defines a surcharge as “an additional amount imposed . . . at the time of a credit card transaction that increases the amount of the transaction for the use of a credit card as payment” and applies to any person, entity, or retailer doing business in Oklahoma in sales, service, or lease transactions, including consumer credit sales.
Merchants who choose to impose a credit card surcharge must follow these rules:
- Clear disclosure – The surcharge amount must be displayed at both the point of entry and point of sale for in-person transactions. For online transactions, it must be shown on the homepage and checkout page.
- Choice of payment – If a merchant only accepts credit cards, no surcharge can be imposed. Customers must have a non-credit card payment option.
- Limits on fees – The surcharge may not exceed 2% of the total transaction or the actual cost of processing the credit card, whichever is less.
The Bigger Picture: Surcharges Do Not Eliminate Credit Card Costs
Even where surcharging is permitted, it does not make credit card transactions free for merchants. It only shifts some of the expense to the customer.
- You will still pay processing costs for credit card transactions.
- You will take on the burden of compliance with disclosure rules.
- You may create friction at checkout that leads to lost sales.
CrossCheck: A Smarter Alternative to Surcharging
There is another option. You can stop paying high interchange fees in the first place by encouraging customers to pay with checks or ACH instead of credit cards.
With CrossCheck’s check guarantee and ACH payment solutions, merchants can:
- Accept checks or ACH payments with a guarantee.
- Offer customers flexible, guaranteed payment options—like our Multiple Check program, which lets them pay over time while you’re assured of receiving your funds.
- Reduce payment risk with Stop Payment protection and Check on Delivery coverage.
By routing sales through checks or ACH, you avoid interchange fees entirely—no surcharges, no extra compliance steps, and no awkward conversations at checkout.
By routing sales through checks or ACH, you avoid interchange fees entirely. No surcharges, no extra compliance requirements, and no awkward conversations at checkout.
Now Is the Time to Act
Oklahoma’s surcharge change is just one example of how payment regulations are evolving. The more credit card costs climb, the more sense it makes to shift sales to secure, fee-free payment methods.
CrossCheck has been helping U.S. businesses protect their payments since 1983. Let us show you how to reduce expenses and keep more of your revenue.
Contact us today to learn how you can avoid interchange fees altogether and keep more of every sale.
Want to see how check guarantee can eliminate interchange fees altogether?
Download our Check Guarantee Guide and learn how to protect payments while keeping more of your revenue.
