MCC Code Lookup
Look up any merchant category code (MCC) and see how the card networks treat it, standard, restricted, or high-risk, along with what that classification means for your approval and pricing. Search by code or by business type.
- 987 codes
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Search a merchant category code
| Code | Description | Category | Risk |
|---|
Why it matters
An MCC matters more than people think
A merchant category code is a four-digit number the card networks use to classify what your business sells. Your acquiring bank assigns it when your account is set up, and from then on it travels with every transaction. It looks like a bureaucratic detail. It isn't, your MCC sets your baseline risk classification, influences your interchange and pricing, and determines how tightly you're monitored under the card-brand chargeback programs. The lookup tool above is free to use, with no sign-up, and you can search by code or by business type.
The point merchants miss: a mismatch between your MCC and your real business, being coded as general retail when you sell supplements, say, isn't a harmless filing error. It can misprice you, and it can look to a network like miscoding, which is itself a monitored risk. Getting the right code at boarding is cheaper than disputing the wrong one later.
Reference
Common high-risk MCCs
If your code is here, that's not a dead end, it means you need a processor that underwrites the category instead of declining it.
| Code | Description | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 4411 | Cruise and Steamship Lines | Transportation & Travel |
| 4511 | Airlines, Air Carriers (not listed elsewhere) | Transportation & Travel |
| 4722 | Travel Agencies and Tour Operations | Transportation & Travel |
| 4814 | Telecommunication Services, including Local and Long Distance Calls, Credit Card Calls, and Recurring Phone Services | Telecom & Utilities |
| 4816 | Computer Network Services | Telecom & Utilities |
| 4829 | Money Orders - Wire Transfer | Telecom & Utilities |
| 5045 | Computers, Computer Peripheral Equipment, and Software | Retail |
| 5099 | Durable Goods, Not Elsewhere Classified | Retail |
| 5499 | Miscellaneous Food Stores - Convenience Stores and Specialty Markets | Retail |
| 5732 | Electronic Sales | Miscellaneous Retail |
| 5815 | Digital Goods - Media: Books, Movies, Music | Digital Goods |
| 5816 | Digital Goods: Games | Digital Goods |
| 5817 | Digital Goods: Applications (Excludes Games) | Digital Goods |
| 5818 | Digital Goods: Large Digital Goods Merchant | Digital Goods |
| 5921 | Package Stores - Beer, Wine, and Liquor | Miscellaneous Retail |
| 5933 | Pawn Shops and Salvage Yards | Miscellaneous Retail |
| 5960 | Direct Marketing - Insurance Service | Direct Marketing |
| 5964 | Direct Marketing - Catalog Merchant | Direct Marketing |
| 5965 | Direct Marketing - Catalog and Catalog and Retail Merchant | Direct Marketing |
| 5968 | Direct Marketing - Continuity/Subscription Merchant | Direct Marketing |
| 5969 | Direct Marketing - Not Elsewhere Classified | Direct Marketing |
| 5999 | Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores | Miscellaneous Retail |
| 6010 | Financial Institutions - Manual Cash Disbursements | Financial Services |
| 6011 | Financial Institutions - Automated Cash Disbursements (ATM) | Financial Services |
| 6012 | Financial Institutions - Merchandise, Services, and Debt Repayment | Financial Services |
| 6050 | Quasi Cash - Member Financial Institution | Financial Services |
| 6211 | Security Brokers/Dealers | Financial Services |
| 6540 | Non-Financial Institutions - Stored Value Card Purchase/Load (POI Funding) | Financial Services |
| 7012 | Timeshares | Lodging |
| 7297 | Massage Parlors | Personal Services |
| 7321 | Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies | Business Services |
| 7322 | Debt Collection Agencies | Business Services |
| 7392 | Management, Consulting, and Public Relations Services | Business Services |
| 8398 | Charitable and Social Service Organizations | Professional Services & Organizations |
| 8651 | Political Organizations | Professional Services & Organizations |
| 8661 | Religious Organizations | Professional Services & Organizations |
Browse
Categories in the index
The 987 codes span 23 categories. Search the tool above to filter by any of them.
If your MCC looks wrong
An accurate code protects your pricing
If the code you find here doesn't match what you actually sell, it's worth fixing, but it isn't something you change yourself. Your acquiring bank or processor assigns and updates the MCC, usually when your model changes or when the original assignment was simply wrong. Raise it with a clear, plain description of your business.
Not sure how your category would be classified, or want a real quote against it? Get approved and we'll tell you exactly where you fit and what it means for your rate.
FAQ
MCC code FAQ
What is a merchant category code (MCC)?
A merchant category code is a four-digit number that card networks (Visa, Mastercard, and others) assign to classify what a business sells, for example 5912 for drug stores and pharmacies, 5968 for continuity and subscription merchants, or 5814 for fast food. Your acquiring bank assigns your MCC when your account is set up, and it follows your transactions everywhere. It affects your interchange rate, how the networks monitor your risk, and in some cases whether certain cards or rewards apply to a purchase.
Which MCC codes are considered high risk?
Codes tied to elevated chargeback, fraud, or regulatory exposure are treated as high risk by default. Common examples include 5912 (drug stores and pharmacies), 5122 (drugs and pharmaceuticals), 5966 and 5967 (outbound and inbound telemarketing), 5968 (continuity and subscription), 5969 (direct marketing, not elsewhere classified), and 7995 (betting and gaming). Falling under one of these doesn't make you unboardable, it means you need a processor that underwrites the category rather than one that declines it.
How do I find out my MCC code?
Check a recent merchant processing statement, the MCC is usually printed on it, or ask your current processor directly. If you're applying for a new account, your acquiring bank assigns the MCC based on your business description and what you actually sell. If you think your MCC is wrong for your business, that's worth fixing, because a mismatched code can both misprice you and trigger monitoring flags.
Can my MCC code be changed?
Yes, but it isn't a self-service edit, your acquiring bank or processor assigns and updates it. An MCC change usually happens when your business model shifts or when the original code was assigned incorrectly. Because the wrong code can misclassify your risk and your pricing, it's worth getting right at boarding rather than disputing later.
Does my MCC affect my processing rate?
It can, significantly. Your MCC sets the baseline risk band the networks and your acquirer use to price you, and it determines the interchange categories your transactions qualify for. A code flagged as high-risk generally carries higher pricing and tighter monitoring than a standard retail code. Being coded into a riskier category than you belong in costs you money.
Keep exploring
Flagged high-risk? That's our specialty.
A high-risk MCC isn't a dead end, it means you need a processor that underwrites the category. Get a real answer on your account.