Blog written by Jon Brucato
Recently, Senators Durbin and Marshall reintroduced the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA), a bipartisan effort aimed at introducing competition into a market long dominated by Visa and Mastercard. With roughly 85% market control, the lack of competition has real downstream consequences for Main Street merchants—especially convenience retailers operating on razor-thin margins.
What makes this moment particularly relevant for the c-store industry is what we’re seeing on the ground.
Shifting Trends in Consumer Payment Behavior
Over the past several years, consumer payment behavior has shifted materially. Cash and ACH continue to decline, while credit card usage is steadily rising—particularly in foodservice-forward convenience formats. That trend is not hypothetical; it’s showing up clearly in operator data and transaction mixes across the industry.
The implication is straightforward.
As credit penetration increases, credit card swipe fees quietly become one of the largest variable operating costs, often second only to labor. Unlike labor or fuel, however, merchants have had virtually no leverage or choice in how those fees are set or routed.
Why the CCCA Matters
By allowing transactions to be routed over multiple competing networks, the legislation aims to introduce market-based pricing, improved transparency, and better economics without changing consumer behavior, card usage, rewards programs, or security.
For convenience retailers already navigating:
- Margin pressure from inflation and labor
- Rapid foodservice expansion
- Higher transaction volumes and ticket sizes
- Increased reliance on card payments
…the ability to inject competition into the payment rails is not political—it’s operational.
Whether or not the CCCA ultimately passes, the broader takeaway is clear: payments strategy is now a margin strategy. As consumer behavior evolves, retailers need visibility, control, and optionality across every dollar that flows through the business.
This is a conversation worth having and one the c-store industry can’t afford to ignore.
