Summary
The overview of sales, refunds, adjustments, and fees for the statement period. Check the dates before comparing it with your own records.
Statement guide
How to Read a Merchant Statement
Follow the money from sales to deposits. Then read the charges and check them against your agreement.
Short answer
How do you read a merchant statement?
Start with the statement period and sales summary. Match deposits to your bank records, then check the card type breakdown and fee detail. Separate interchange and assessments from processor charges. Read each fee label against your agreement, and ask for an explanation of anything you cannot trace.
The common statement sections
Deposits or funding
The money sent to your bank account. Match deposits to settlement records and bank entries. Refunds, fees, reserves, and settlement timing can explain differences from sales.
Card type breakdown
Sales grouped by card type or pricing category. Use it to see which payments make up your volume. The labels and level of detail depend on your pricing model.
Fees detail
The charges deducted from your sales or billed separately. Read the fee name, what it applies to, and the charge. Check the labels against your processing agreement.
Merchant statement fees explained
Labels vary. Use these explanations as a starting point, then check what each charge means on your own account.
Interchange
A charge tied to the bank that issued the customer's card. Card type and transaction details affect the category. Some pricing models bundle it with other charges.
Assessments
Charges from card networks. They may appear separately or be grouped with other processing costs. Ask which network charge each label represents.
Processor markup
What the processor adds for its services. It can appear in transaction charges, monthly charges, or a bundled rate. Ask which parts of the bill are processor charges.
Monthly fees
Recurring charges for services or account access. Check what each charge covers and whether it matches your agreement. A monthly minimum is different from a fixed monthly service fee.
PCI fees
Charges related to payment data security programs or compliance status. Ask whether the charge is for a service or for noncompliance, and what status your provider has recorded.
Batch fees
Charges for closing or settling a group of card transactions. Compare the billed activity with your batch records and the terms in your agreement.
Chargeback fees
Charges for handling a disputed payment. The fee is separate from the disputed sale amount. Check the dispute notice and agreement to understand each deduction.
Statement fees
Charges for producing or delivering a statement. Check whether the charge covers paper delivery, online access, or another service described in your agreement.
How to read yours in five steps
Step 1
Check the period and account
Confirm the business, account, and statement dates. Gather the matching bank records, settlement reports, and processing agreement.
Step 2
Match sales and deposits
Compare the sales summary with your records. Trace deposits to your bank account and note refunds, adjustments, withheld funds, or fees.
Step 3
Review the card breakdown
Look at the card types and pricing categories. Compare them with your transaction records and note any category you do not recognize.
Step 4
Read every fee line
Separate interchange, assessments, and processor charges where the statement allows. Match recurring and activity charges to your agreement.
Step 5
List questions before making changes
Write down unfamiliar labels and unexplained differences. Ask your provider for a written explanation, or request a free statement review.
Common questions
Still not sure? Ask us directly.
Why do sales and deposits differ?
Deposits can reflect refunds, adjustments, fees, reserves, or sales settled in a different period. Match settlement records to bank entries before treating a difference as an error.
Are all processing fees shown separately?
No. Some pricing models bundle costs. If interchange, assessments, and markup are not separate, ask your provider how the charges are calculated and what detail is available.
Does an unfamiliar fee mean I was overcharged?
Not necessarily. Labels vary across statements. Check your agreement and ask what service or activity the fee covers before deciding whether it is incorrect.
What should I send for a statement review?
Send a complete recent processing statement. Include all pages so the summary, funding details, and fee lines can be read together. Follow the upload instructions on the review page.
Send one statement. We read every line, free.
Send one recent statement. A person reads every line and explains each fee in plain English. Free, no obligation.