In the finance ecosystem, Merchant Category Codes (also known as MCCs) are used to classify businesses by the type of goods or services they provide.
For example, grocery stores, airlines, and restaurants all have different MCCs. These MCC codes get used for calculating interchange fees, authorizing payments, and preventing fraud.
The MCC of sellers get configured during onboarding; it’s important that your sellers have MCCs that match the services they're offering.
Prohibited Businesses and Services
Below is a list of services that are prohibited from Finix. If you have any questions about a seller, merchant, or if a service is allowed on Finix, reach out to your Finix point of contact or email Finix Support
Description of Prohibited Services
| Prohibited Services | Prohibited MCC (If Available) |
|---|---|
| Any product, service or activity that is deceptive, unfair, predatory or prohibited by one or more Card Brands. | |
| Any Merchant selling goods or services that represents a violation of any regulation, statute or law. | |
| Any Merchant operating outside the United States including US Territories. | |
| Any Merchant or submerchant submitting sales for payments that resulted from another commercial entity providing goods or services to the cardholder. This includes businesses that may otherwise qualify themselves as a Payment Facilitator. | |
| Any Merchant selling products that infringes on the intellectual property rights of others. This includes counterfeit goods or any product or service that infringes on the copyright, trademark or trade secrets of any third party. | |
| Any Merchant accepting a card as payment for a dishonored check or for an item that's deemed uncollectible by another merchant. | |
| Any Merchant that accepts a card at a scrip dispensing terminal. | |
| Adult entertainment, adult retail stores, and/or adult content websites including Electronic Commerce adult content (videotext). | 5967, 7273, 7841 |
| Beastiality | |
| Bidding Fee Auctions (also called Penny Auctions) | |
| Brand or Reputational damaging activities, potential or otherwise. This includes Child Pornography, Escort Services, Mail Order Brides, Occult, etc. | |
| Collection Agencies | |
| Commodity Trading or Security Trading | |
| Credit Counseling or Credit Repair Services | |
| Credit Protection or Identity Theft Protection Services | |
| Cruise Lines | |
| Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) | |
| Currency Exchanges or Dealers | |
| Debt Elimination, Debt Reduction or Debt Consulting Services. | |
| Digital Wallet or Prepaid Companies including staged digital wallets. | |
| Direct Marketing: Continuity or Subscription services. | 5968, 5969 |
| Direct Marketing-Travel Related Arrangement Services This includes merchants with the MCCs: 5962 | |
| Direct Marketing-Inbound Telemarketing including videotext services. | 5967 |
| Discount Buying Memberships/Clubs | |
| Discount Medical or Dental plans including Discount Insurance | |
| Discount Coupon Merchants or Online Sites | |
| Distressed Property Sales and/or Marketing | |
| Drug Paraphernalia | |
| CNP Tobacco, e-Cigarettes and “Vape” supplies and accessories. | |
| Firearms and weapons including Ammunition, Silencers, Components and Suppressors. | |
| Gambling Activities and Establishments including lotteries, internet gaming, daily fantasy sports, contests, sweepstakes, “special incentives,” or offering of prizes as an inducement to purchase goods or services. | 7995 |
| High interest rate non-bank consumer lending with an APR >30% including, but not limited to, payday loans, payday lending, and title loans. | |
| Infomercial merchants | |
| Internet/Mail Order Pharmacies | |
| Investment or “get rich quick” merchants, businesses or programs and inclusive of Brokers and Dealers. | |
| Loan payments conducted on a Visa-branded credit card or any card brand | |
| Marijuana dispensaries and related products or services that contains CBD or provides access to CBD. | |
| Money Transfer, Wire Transfers, Money Orders, Transmitters, and Check Cashing merchants. This includes merchants that are required to register as Money Service Business. | |
| Multi-Level Marketing Businesses | |
| “Negative option” marketing, renewal, or continuity subscription practices; marketing activities involving low-dollar trails, “pay only for shipping,” and/or “free trial” periods after which a credit card is charged periodically and/or a significantly larger amount. | |
| Outbound Telemarketers and Telecom merchants. | 4814, 4816, 5966 |
| Political Action Committees (PACs) unless federal/state campaigns | |
| Pawn Shops | |
| Payment Facilitators | |
| Prepaid Phone Cards | |
| Prepaid Phone Services | |
| Pseudo Pharmaceuticals/Nutraceuticals | |
| Psychics and “occult” businesses | |
| Quasi-Cash or Stored Value | |
| Real Estate Flipping | |
| Rebate-Based Businesses | |
| Seller of Mobile Minutes | |
| Selling or Sales of Social Media Activity | |
| Sports Forecasting or Odds Making | |
| Substances designed to mimic illegal drugs (Kratom, Kava, etc). | |
| Timeshares, including resale’s and related marketing. | |
| Transacting Virtual Currency or credits that can be monetized, re-sold or converted into physical (or digital) goods or services that exit the virtual world | |
| Tribal Entities (e.g. American Indian Tribes) | |
| Up-Selling Merchants | |
| Cigar Stores and Stands | |
| Drug Stores and CNP Pharmacies | |
| Debt/Tax Elimination, Debt/Tax Reduction, or Debt Consulting Services | |
| Software Resellers | |
| Telemedicine/Telehealth |
Approved Merchant Category Codes
Below is a comprehensive list detailing every Merchant Category Code (MCC) code that Finix supports.
Approved Merchant Category Codes (MCCs)
| Description | MCC |
|---|---|
| Veterinary Services | 0742 |
| Agricultural Cooperatives | 0763 |
| Horticultural Services/Landscaping Services | 0780 |
| General Services/Contractors - Residential and Commercial | 1520 |
| Electrical Services/Contractors | 1731 |
| Insulation – Contractors (Masonry, Stonework, Plastering, Tile Settings, etc.) | 1740 |
| Carpentry Services/Contractors | 1750 |
| Roofing - Contractors (Roofing, Sheet Metal Work, Siding, etc.) | 1761 |
| Contractors – Concrete Work | 1771 |
| Contractors – Special Trade Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 1799 |
| Local/Suburban Commuter Transportation (Railroads, Ferries, Local Water Transportation, etc. | 4111 |
| Ambulance Services | 4119 |
| Taxicabs and Limousines | 4121 |
| Motor Freight Carriers and Trucking - Local and Long Distance, Moving, Storage, and Local Delivery Services | 4214 |
| Public Warehousing and Storage - Farm Products, Refrigerated Goods, Household Goods, and Storage | 4225 |
| Boat Rentals and Leases | 4457 |
| Transportation Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 4789 |
| Telecommunication Equipment and Telephone Sales | 4812 |
| Cable, Satellite, and Other Paid Television and Radio Services | 4899 |
| Utilities (Electric, Gas, Sanitary, Water, etc.) | 4900 |
| Construction Materials (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 5039 |
| Computers, Software, Computer Equipment and Peripherals | 5045 |
| Medical, Dental, Ophthalmic, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies | 5047 |
| Plumbing, Heating Equipment, and Supplies | 5074 |
| Industrial Supplies (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 5085 |
| Durable Goods (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 5099 |
| Uniforms, Commercial Clothing | 5137 |
| Books, Periodicals, and Newspapers | 5192 |
| Florists Supplies, Nursery Stock, and Flowers | 5193 |
| Nondurable Goods (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 5199 |
| Misc. Food Stores – Convenience Stores and Specialty Markets (Excludes: Personal Enhancement Products and/or Nutraceuticals) | 5499 |
| Automotive Parts, Accessories Stores | 5533 |
| Men’s and Boy’s Clothing and Accessories Stores | 5611 |
| Women’s Ready-to-Wear Stores | 5621 |
| Women’s Accessory and Specialty Shops | 5631 |
| Children's and Infant's Wear Stores | 5641 |
| Family Clothing Stores | 5651 |
| Sports and Riding Apparel Stores | 5655 |
| Shoe Stores | 5661 |
| Men’s, Women’s Clothing Stores | 5691 |
| Computer Software Stores | 5734 |
| Caterers | 5811 |
| Eating Places, Restaurants | 5812 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages), Bars, Taverns, Cocktail lounges, Nightclubs, etc. | 5813 |
| Fast Food Restaurants | 5814 |
| Cosmetic Stores | 5977 |
| Swimming Pools – Sales, Service, and Supplies | 5996 |
| Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores | 5999 |
| Insurance Sales, Underwriting, and Premiums | 6300 |
| Real Estate Agents & Managers | 6513 |
| Lodging – Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Central Reservation Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 7011 |
| Sporting/Recreation Camps (Excludes Nudist Camps) | 7032 |
| Barber and Beauty Shops | 7230 |
| Health and Beauty Spas | 7298 |
| Advertising Services | 7311 |
| Commercial Photography, Art and Graphics | 7333 |
| Computer Programming, Integrated Systems Design and Data Processing Services | 7372 |
| Management, Consulting, and Public Relations Services | 7392 |
| Car Washes | 7542 |
| Repair Shops and Related Services – Miscellaneous | 7699 |
| Motion Picture Theaters | 7832 |
| Commercial Sports, Athletic Fields, Professional Sport Clubs, and Sport Promoters | 7941 |
| Tourist Attractions and Exhibits | 7991 |
| Membership Clubs (Sports, Recreation, Athletic), Country Clubs, and Private Golf Courses | 7997 |
| Miscellaneous Recreation Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) (EXCLUDES Shooting Ranges) | 7999 |
| Doctors and Physicians (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 8011 |
| Dentists, Orthodontists | 8021 |
| Osteopaths | 8031 |
| Chiropractors | 8041 |
| Optometrists and Ophthalmologists | 8042 |
| Opticians, Opticians Goods and Eyeglasses | 8043 |
| Podiatrists and Chiropodists | 8049 |
| Nursing and Personal Care Facilities | 8050 |
| Hospitals | 8062 |
| Medical and Dental Laboratories | 8071 |
| Medical Services and Health Practitioners (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 8099 |
| Legal Services and Attorneys | 8111 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 8211 |
| Colleges, Junior Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 8220 |
| Correspondence Schools | 8241 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools | 8244 |
| Vocational Schools and Trade Schools | 8249 |
| Schools and Educational Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 8299 |
| Child Care Services | 8351 |
| Charitable and Social Service Organizations - Fundraising | 8398 |
| Civic, Fraternal, and Social Associations | 8641 |
| Religious Organizations | 8661 |
| Membership Organizations (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 8699 |
| Accounting, Auditing, and Bookkeeping Services | 8931 |
| Professional Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 8999 |
| Fines - Government Administrative Entities | 9222 |
| Tax Payments - Government Agencies | 9311 |
| Government Services (Not Elsewhere Classified) | 9399 |