What Are MCC Restrictions
Every merchant in the Visa and Mastercard networks is assigned a Merchant Category Code (MCC) — a four-digit code that identifies the type of business. For example, MCC 5815 is digital goods, MCC 7995 is gambling, and MCC 5912 is pharmacies.
When you make a payment, your issuing bank sees the merchant's MCC and decides whether to approve or decline the transaction. If your card has a restriction for that specific MCC, the payment will fail even if your balance is sufficient.
This is called a card-side MCC restriction, and it is one of the most common — and least explained — reasons for payment declines.
Why Banks Apply MCC Restrictions
Risk management. Certain categories are historically associated with high fraud and chargeback rates: gambling, adult content, cryptocurrency exchanges. Banks block these MCCs by default to protect themselves and their customers.
Regulatory requirements. In some countries, banks are legally required to restrict transactions in certain categories.
Product policy. Payroll cards, social benefit cards, and pensioner cards often have a strict list of permitted MCCs. This protects vulnerable users from unwanted spending.
Corporate card settings. Company cards may be configured by the employer to allow only travel and business-related MCCs.
Most frequently blocked merchant categories:
- MCC 7995 — gambling, betting, lotteries
- MCC 5815 — digital goods (App Store, Google Play)
- MCC 6051 — non-bank financial institutions, crypto exchanges
- MCC 7273 — dating services
- MCC 5967 — adult content
How to Fix It
Step 1: Identify the merchant's MCC. Ask the merchant's support team for their MCC code, or check open databases such as Visa/Mastercard developer documentation.
Step 2: Contact your bank. Some banks allow you to manually unblock specific MCCs through their mobile app or by calling support. Check whether this is possible for your card.
Step 3: Use a different card. If your current bank doesn't allow unblocking, use a card from an issuer that doesn't restrict the required MCC. Marix virtual cards don't carry standard MCC restrictions for common consumer spending categories.
Step 4: Check for geographic restrictions. Sometimes the issue isn't the MCC itself, but geography — the card may allow MCC 5815 domestically but block it for foreign merchants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find out which MCCs are blocked on my card? Ask your bank's support team directly. Most banks don't publish their block lists publicly, but are required to answer direct questions.
Can I remove an MCC block myself? Some banks offer this option in their app, usually under "Card settings" or "Limits." If this feature isn't available, you'll need to go through support.
Do MCC restrictions apply to virtual cards? It depends on the issuer. Marix virtual cards are issued without standard MCC restrictions — payments are accepted across a wide range of merchant categories.
Need a card without MCC restrictions for international payments? Marix offers virtual cards with broad merchant compatibility.