Sydney, Australia – 21 July 2025 Mint Payments today reaffirmed its commitment and full support to the Australian travel industry following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) announcement proposing a full ban on card surcharges, effective 1 July 2026.
While the reforms have been framed as a win for consumers, the implications for small businesses, particularly in the travel sector, are complex. It represents a significant shift in how travel businesses manage and absorb the cost of payments. Surcharges have long been a way for businesses to manage the cost of accepting card payments, which provide consumers with imbedded protection through chargeback rules, particularly on low-margin services such as airfares and tour packages. Credit cards, provide additional consumer benefits including delayed payments terms and consumer rewards which will now be borne by travel businesses.
"Whilst we understand that no consumers like a surcharge, however, this reform is going to be a major adjustment for travel businesses and our message is simple: Mint is ready to help you navigate through the changes and we have solutions in place and a number of new initiatives that will minimise the impact and help our travel partners stay competitive.” said Alex Teoh, CEO of Mint Payments.
Mint’s Key Messages for businesses:
- Mint is supporting you through the transition.
We understand this will be challenging, especially for travel businesses that have relied on surcharges to manage tight margins. Mint has been involved in the RBA consultation process and is well-prepared to support our customers. While this is a major shift for travel, we see it as an opportunity to modernise payments and support our customers through the transition. While others are reacting, we’re already building solutions. - We will pass on 100% of wholesale fee reductions.
Most of the cost of card payments comes from interchange and scheme fees controlled by the card scheme and the banks issuing the credit/debit card. The RBA’s reforms include a reduction and cap on interchange and scheme fees. As these are capped and reduced, Mint will proactively pass on 100% of those savings to our customers once they become available to us after 1 July 2026. - Productivity through smarter payments.
Surcharges are going, but the cost of running a secure, cashless payment system doesn’t disappear. We are working closely with our partners and travel platforms to ensure efficiency gains offset rising costs. That’s why Mint continues to double down on tools that deliver real business value, including:- Integrated payment flows and smart reporting that reduce reconciliation and admin burden
- Smart routing and lower-cost acceptance options
- Travel-focused features that free up staff time and increase conversion
- Flexible, transparent travel-focused pricing models.
With transparent billing and support for blended, debit-credit split pricing, bundled fees, and IC++, Mint’s architecture is already prepared for this new environment. Unlike bank providers or single-model PSPs, we can tailor pricing to your specific business model. Merchants can choose what works best for their business and adapt over time. - Innovative alternatives to cards.
With card costs directly hitting travel businesses bottom line and becoming harder to recoup, Mint provides cost-effective alternatives like Pay by Bank (PayID, PayTo), with full reconciliation, settlement visibility, and low fees. The right mix of options gives both businesses and customers more choice and control, providing the same benefits as cards but at a lower price point. - Ongoing support and advocacy.
Mint will continue to engage with the RBA and industry bodies to ensure the real-world needs of businesses, particularly those in travel, are understood, and we’ll keep businesses informed at every step.
Mint’s Commitment to the Travel Industry
Mint will work directly with customers to support their transition away from surcharging and help them thrive in the new environment. From merchant education and updated pricing models to consumer protection tools and APM innovation, Mint is using this moment to create long-term value for the travel ecosystem.
This isn’t just talk. Mint is already delivering the kinds of innovations this industry needs:
Mint has a track record of building innovative payment solutions that support the travel industry through structural challenges. Our Mint Protect product is a prime example, providing protection for travel businesses and their customers in the event of supplier insolvency or non-delivery.
- While others talk about value, we’re already delivering it.
- This kind of risk-mitigation will only become more important as payment structures change, and Mint is ahead of the curve.
Through specialisation in travel across several markets, we develop the insights and partnerships to help travel businesses grow, not just process their payments. With flexible pricing models, smart integrations, and alternative payment methods, we are supporting travel clients to drive loyalty, performance and scalability - not just cost.”
– Huy Truong, Mint Payments Executive Chairman
With the removal of surcharges, we believe this is the moment to reframe payments as a strategic lever for merchant differentiation and consumer trust, so payments isn’t just seen as a commodity. Mint is working alongside our partners and travel technology providers to integrate modern, fast and cost-effective payment standards (such as PayID & PayTo) into travel booking flows both on an acceptance side and for supplier payments. Mint is using payments to power growth, not just process transactions.
Contact
Mint Payments Limited
E: press@mintpayments.com
P: 1300 646 833 | +61 2 8752 7888
Featured Image by jcomp on Freepik
