MCC 5964: Direct Marketing (Catalog Merchant)

MCC 5964 is the merchant category code for direct marketing (catalog merchant). Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express assign it to businesses such as catalog retailers, mail-order sellers, and online-only stores.

Code
5964
Category group
Miscellaneous Stores
Risk rating
Elevated risk

Which businesses use MCC 5964?

Acquiring banks assign MCC 5964 to merchants whose primary line of business is direct marketing (catalog merchant). Common examples include:

  • Catalog retailers
  • Mail-order sellers
  • Online-only stores

Is MCC 5964 considered high risk?

Acquirers review this MCC more closely because of card-not-present volume, refund rates, or chargeback history. Expect extra documentation and possible volume caps.

How does MCC 5964 affect processing fees?

MCC 5964 determines which interchange category Visa and Mastercard apply to each transaction. Codes in the miscellaneous stores range share interchange programs, so two merchants with the same card mix but different MCCs can pay different wholesale rates.

Payment processing for MCC 5964 merchants

Niche Payments runs a dedicated ecommerce payment processing program for businesses classified under MCC 5964. Card-not-present processing that scales with your store.

  • Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and custom checkout integrations
  • Subscription and recurring billing with smart retries
  • Chargeback alerts and 3-D Secure to protect card-not-present sales

Frequently asked questions

What does MCC 5964 mean?

MCC 5964 is the merchant category code for Direct Marketing (Catalog Merchant). Card networks use it to classify transactions from businesses such as catalog retailers, mail-order sellers, and online-only stores.

Is MCC 5964 high risk?

MCC 5964 is generally rated elevated risk. Acquirers review this MCC more closely because of card-not-present volume, refund rates, or chargeback history. Expect extra documentation and possible volume caps.

Can a business change its MCC from 5964?

A business can request a different MCC through its acquiring bank. The acquirer reviews what the business actually sells and reassigns the code only if 5964 does not describe the primary line of business.