title: US-MD — Merchant Acquiring & Risk (W8) | World Payments Monitor canonical: https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-maryland/w8/ ### W8 Merchant Acquiring & Risk Uncertain re-verified 2026-10-18 · changed 2026-07-05 Maryland has no bespoke merchant-acquiring statute; acquiring risk practice follows the card networks' national rulebook (Honor All Cards, surcharge caps) as recently amended by the pending national interchange antitrust settlement, and the state's failed 2024 surcharge-cap bills leave Maryland merchants subject to network-set surcharge limits rather than a state-specific cost-of-acceptance cap. Standing sub-brief · as of 5 July 2026 99 words · last cycle 2026-07-05 #### Merchant Acquiring & Risk The amended national interchange settlement introduces a modified Honor All Cards regime, creating three card tiers — standard consumer, premium consumer, and commercial — under which merchants may decline higher-cost tiers while still honoring all cards within an accepted tier. This reshapes acquiring risk practice for Maryland merchants and acquirers, who are class members under the settlement approved in June 2026. #### Outlook The acquiring-risk trajectory is escalating: merchants and acquirers should begin adapting card-acceptance policy to the modified Honor All Cards framework now that court approval has removed the prior uncertainty over the settlement's status. no periodic updates on record for this sub-brief ** Sources and findings (3 unique sources · R-3/R-4)** 1. [W8-E1] T2 Derived: Confirmed [in_force https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust_law/resources/newsletters/in-re-payment-card-interchange-fee-merchant-discount-antitrust-litigation/](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust_law/resources/newsletters/in-re-payment-card-interchange-fee-merchant-discount-antitrust-litigation/) re-verified 2026-07-05 The amended MDL settlement divides the card universe into three tiers (standard consumer, premium consumer, commercial) and permits merchants nationally, including in Maryland, to selectively decline higher-cost card categories while still honoring all cards within any accepted category. 2. [W8-E2] T4 Derived: Uncertain [in_force https://www.getflexpoint.com/credit-card-surcharging-us-states/maryland](https://www.getflexpoint.com/credit-card-surcharging-us-states/maryland) re-verified 2026-07-05 A Maryland-based merchant processing $75,000 in monthly credit card payments at an average 3% processing fee incurs roughly $27,000 in annual fees, illustrating the acquiring cost pressure driving Maryland merchant surcharge adoption. 3. [W8-E3] T3 Derived: Probable [in_force https://merchantcostconsulting.com/lower-credit-card-processing-fees/maryland-surcharge-laws/](https://merchantcostconsulting.com/lower-credit-card-processing-fees/maryland-surcharge-laws/) re-verified 2026-07-05 Maryland merchant surcharge practice requires merchants to give 30 days advance notice to card networks before implementing a new surcharge and to exclude debit and prepaid cards from any surcharge, consistent with national network mandates rather than a distinct state acquiring statute.