As part of ongoing network updates, a new billing line related to the Mastercard Credential Continuity Program (CCP) will be introduced. This change will take effect on April 29, 2026 for U.S.-originated transactions, and June 28, 2026 for Canada-originated transactions.

Why is this happening?

Mastercard introduced the CCP to reduce declines caused by outdated cardholder credentials. A significant portion of recurring transactions using outdated credentials are declined. The program encourages the use of current account information by applying a fee when updated credentials have been available for an extended period but are not used.

When does this fee apply?

A transaction will incur this fee if all of the following conditions are met:

The transaction is submitted as a recurring payment (as indicated by the recurring payment flag).
The transaction uses outdated cardholder credentials.
Updated credentials were available through the Account Billing Updater (ABU) service at least 10 calendar days prior to the authorization attempt.

Additional details:

The fee applies regardless of the authorization outcome, including both approved and declined transactions.
Rate: $0.09 USD per applicable transaction in the U.S. and Canada.
Billing Descriptor: MASI
Effective Dates:
April 29, 2026: For transactions originated in the United States
June 28, 2026: For transactions originated in Canada

Best Practices

Clients must use the latest account information for recurring payment transaction authorizations to comply with the Credential Continuity Program. We highly recommend implementing the following strategies to keep your stored credentials current and avoid network fees:

Utilize the ABU Service to securely retrieve updated account numbers, expiration dates, and closed account notifications for stored credentials. Using ABU either proactively before a scheduled recurring payment or reactively after a decline is the most effective way to ensure your records match the issuer's latest data.
Proactively engage your customers to obtain updated payment information before processing a recurring payment transaction if their card is approaching expiration or has previously declined.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is considered an **outdated credential**?

A: An outdated credential is one where the issuer reported a replacement account change, a new expiration date, or a closed account status to the ABU database at least 10 calendar days prior to your authorization attempt.

2. Does this fee apply if the transaction is approved?

Yes. While some issuers may temporarily approve recurring payment transactions made with outdated credentials to ensure a good cardholder experience, the outdated credential will eventually lead to a decline. Therefore, the fee still applies and is assessed on both approved and declined authorizations if the credential used was outdated.

3. Does this fee apply to all card-not-present (CNP) volume?

No. The Credential Continuity Program specifically monitors recurring payment transactions.

4. Does this fee apply to push transactions (crediting the cardholder)?

No. This fee does not apply to push transactions.

Is there a grace period for updating my records?

Yes. There is a 10-calendar-day window from the date the issuer updates the credential in the ABU database. Transactions submitted with the old credential within this 10-day window will not incur the fee.

Support

If you have any questions regarding this announcement or would like to learn more about implementing ABU, please contact [email protected].