29/10/2026
This is the reality facing small businesses.
The Wistow Bakery & Café and The Wistow on High in South Australia report that the removal of card surcharges has cost them almost $2,000 in just 25 days, potentially amounting to around $28,000 a year.
And the impact extends beyond their bottom line to local jobs, suppliers and regional communities.
To the Reserve Bank, the Payments System Board and the Federal Government:
You banned card surcharges on 1 October. Here's what that has cost two small, regional cafes in 25 days.
$1,913.87.
That's not a guess. That's straight from our payment system (pictured). On current numbers, it's around $28,000 a year.
The banks still charge every fee, on every tap, on every coffee. You didn't remove the cost. You just moved it off the bank's ledger and onto ours.
And it doesn't stop with us. $28,000 is staff hours. It's local jobs. It's the suppliers and growers we buy from in our region. It's the price of your next sandwich. When you squeeze small business, the whole regional chain feels it.
We were told lower interchange fees would make up for it. We're still waiting to see that on our statement.
If you want cheaper payments for Australians, take it out of bank profits. Not out of the pockets of the small businesses keeping regional communities alive.
Wistow Bakery & Cafe | The Wistow on High
Bank of Australia Chalmers MP Mulino Sharkie MP Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman
