Statement Fee
A monthly charge assessed by payment processors for generating and providing merchant account statements, typically ranging from $5 to $25 per month.
The statement fee covers the processor's administrative costs of producing monthly merchant account statements. This fee appears regardless of transaction volume and is charged even in months with no processing activity. While processors justify this charge as covering the cost of statement generation, production, and delivery, the actual cost of generating electronic statements is minimal, making this largely a profit-generating fee.
Statement fees typically range from $5 to $15 per month for standard accounts, though some processors charge $20-$25 or more. Many processors offer free electronic statements while charging for paper statements, though some charge the statement fee regardless of delivery method. The fee may appear under various names on merchant statements, including "monthly statement fee," "paper statement fee," "account maintenance fee," or simply "statement fee."
This fee is often negotiable, particularly for merchants with higher processing volumes. Some processors will waive statement fees entirely as part of competitive pricing packages, while others may reduce the fee during contract negotiations. Merchants should review whether they're being charged for both electronic and paper statements, as dual charges sometimes occur. When comparing processor pricing, the statement fee should be included in total monthly fixed costs alongside other flat fees like PCI compliance fees, monthly minimums, and gateway fees.
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