MCC 6051: Non-Financial Institutions (Foreign Currency, Money Orders, Quasi-Cash)
MCC 6051 is the merchant category code for non-financial institutions (foreign currency, money orders, quasi-cash). Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express assign it to businesses such as currency exchanges, crypto purchases, and money order sellers.
- Code
- 6051
- Category group
- Miscellaneous Stores
- Risk rating
- High risk
Which businesses use MCC 6051?
Acquiring banks assign MCC 6051 to merchants whose primary line of business is non-financial institutions (foreign currency, money orders, quasi-cash). Common examples include:
- Currency exchanges
- Crypto purchases
- Money order sellers
Is MCC 6051 considered high risk?
Card networks and most mainstream processors classify this MCC as high risk. Approval usually requires a specialist acquirer, a rolling reserve, and chargeback monitoring.
How does MCC 6051 affect processing fees?
MCC 6051 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.
Frequently asked questions
What does MCC 6051 mean?
MCC 6051 is the merchant category code for Non-Financial Institutions (Foreign Currency, Money Orders, Quasi-Cash). Card networks use it to classify transactions from businesses such as currency exchanges, crypto purchases, and money order sellers.
Is MCC 6051 high risk?
MCC 6051 is generally rated high risk. Card networks and most mainstream processors classify this MCC as high risk. Approval usually requires a specialist acquirer, a rolling reserve, and chargeback monitoring.
Can a business change its MCC from 6051?
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 6051 does not describe the primary line of business.