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S3849119th CongressWALLET

Community Bank Relief Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create automatic, annual inflation adjustments to the dollar amount used in payment-card fee rules under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. It ties that dollar amount to changes in the Consumer Price Index and sets a schedule for an initial catch-up and yearly updates.

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  • Community banks and similar small issuers would see the dollar threshold that affects rules on reasonable payment-card fees rise with inflation, which changes which institutions the fee rules apply to.
  • The designated Board would make a one-time adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index change from October 2009 to October 2025, then update the amount each year using the October CPI no later than January 15, with the first scheduled adjustment by July 1, 2026.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Higher allowed card fees for merchants

If enacted, the bill would index the monetary amount that governs reasonable payment-card fees to inflation. The Board would make a one-time increase equal to the percent change in the Consumer Price Index from October 2009 to October 2025. After that, the amount would be adjusted each year by the annual percent change in the October CPI. The first annual adjustment must happen by July 1, 2026, and later adjustments must happen by January 15 each year. Merchants and card processors would see the allowed fee level rise over time, and consumers would face higher permitted fees.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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