Understanding merchant categories

Understand how PEX groups Visa and Mastercard merchant category codes (MCCs) into 13 PEX Merchant Categories to help you track and control spending.

Visa® and Mastercard® have established Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) that they assign to the many different kinds of establishments that accept their cards, e.g.:

• #7210, Laundry, Cleaning and Garment Services
• #7211, Laundries Services - Family and Commercial
• #7216, Dry Cleaners
• #7217, Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

To help Administrators capture and track spending, PEX has bundled hundreds of individual Visa and Mastercard Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) into “PEX Merchant Categories” that are comprised of similar or related kinds of businesses.

• “Travel & Transportation,” includes more than 600 Travel-and Transportation-related individual MCCs, e.g.:
  • Airlines: #3000, United; #3001 American, et al.
  • Rental Cars: #3387, Alamo; #3389 Avis, et al.
  • Hotels: #3504, Hilton; #3509, Marriott, et al.
  • General Travel & Transportation: #4121, Taxicabs and Limousines; #4784, Tolls and Bridge Fees, et al.

The 13 PEX Merchant Categories, with representative examples of the types of merchants included in each Category, are:

1. Associations & Organizations: Religious organizations, Local and Federal government services, Post Office
2. Automotive Dealers: Car dealers, recreational vehicle dealers, farm equipment dealers
3. Educational Services: Colleges, as well as business, trade, and grammar schools
4. Entertainment: Movies, golf, bowling, sports clubs, amusement parks
5. Fuel pumps Only: “Pay at the pump” at gas stations
6. Fuel & convenience stores: Gas station stores and other convenience stores
7. Grocery Stores: Food stores, bakeries, candy stores
8. Hardware Stores: Hardware, building supplies, construction materials, paint stores, industrial equipment merchants
9. Healthcare & Childcare Services: Doctors, dentists, hospitals, medical services, elder care, child care
10. Professional Services: Contractors, heating, plumbing, HVAC, utilities, freight, cleaning services, printing, couriers, exterminators, repair shops, legal services
11. Restaurants: Fast food and sit-down restaurants
12. Retail Stores: Clothing stores, office supply stores, department stores, book stores, furniture stores, electronics stores
13. Travel & Transportation: Airlines, hotels, rental cars, tolls, buses, railroads, taxis

Custom Merchant Categories are also available with selected plans. Please see “Managing Custom Merchant Categories.”

How to Find Merchant Categories

1. Click on the “Business Settings” tab

2. Click on “Merchant categories” tab in the Business Settings page

   • The 13 default PEX Merchant Categories are indicated with a PEX logo on the left
3. Click on the name of the PEX Merchant Category to see the MCCs that are included in that Category. For example, Grocery Stores includes Candy, Nut and Confectionery Stores, Bakeries, and Caterers