Payment service pricing set for estimated 1.4 percent average increase
The 2027 fee schedule takes effect January 1, alongside check-processing adjustments that the Federal Reserve says will not affect customers’ ability to use checks.
New Federal Reserve payment service fees taking effect January 1, 2027, are expected to raise prices for established, mature services by an average of 1.4 percent. The Federal Reserve Board announced the schedule on November 12, 2026, for services that Reserve Banks supply to credit unions and banks.
The Reserve Banks also outlined check-service adjustments, including higher processing charges, changes to processing windows in periods of low volume, and other operational revisions. The Board said public feedback informed those decisions as the number of checks handled by Reserve Banks declines.
Checks remain important for many businesses and consumers, the Board said. It said the adjustments concern financial institutions’ processing arrangements with Reserve Banks and will not alter customers’ ability to send or receive payments by check.
Federal law requires payment service fees to cover costs over time, including imputed expenses. The Fed projects 101.5 percent recovery of actual and imputed expenses for 2027, counting a return on equity comparable to that of a private-sector provider. The services covered include check clearing, ACH transactions, instant payments, and wholesale payments and settlement.
