Visa’s Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP) represents a significant shift in how commercial and small business credit card transactions are processed and rewarded. The program modernizes the submission of enhanced transaction data and introduces new interchange incentives for merchants that meet Visa’s data quality and compliance standards.
This update replaces legacy Level 2 and Level 3 interchange programs, aligning with Visa’s broader goal to streamline commercial payment data and improve transparency across transactions.
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What Is Visa’s CEDP?
CEDP is Visa’s next-generation program that rewards merchants for submitting complete and verifiable enhanced (invoice-level) data during transactions. The initiative launched in April 2025 and provides qualified merchants with interchange savings of up to 15 basis points when data meets Visa’s validation criteria.
By April 2026, Visa will retire most legacy Level 2 programs, except for fleet fuel Level 2, fully transitioning to the CEDP structure.
To support the rollout, Visa established the following key milestones:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 12, 2025 | CEDP launches; a 0.05% fee applies to qualifying transactions. |
| October 17, 2025 | Data validation and merchant verification begin; new rates take effect. |
| April 17, 2026 | Most legacy Level 2 programs sunset, completing the transition to Level III standards. |
How Visa’s Enhanced Data Program Impacts Interchange Savings
CEDP is more than a compliance initiative — it’s an opportunity for merchants to reduce interchange costs and improve processing efficiency.
Key benefits include:
- Lower interchange costs: Accurate and complete enhanced data submissions qualify for better interchange rates.
- Improved automation: Standardized templates and auto-populated fields reduce manual entry and minimize errors.
- Simplified integration: Enhanced data can be transmitted across APIs, virtual terminals, and other processing methods without additional development work.
How Easy Pay Direct Supports CEDP Compliance
Easy Pay Direct’s technology is built to help merchants meet evolving data and compliance standards without adding operational complexity. Our integration supports features similar to NMI’s Level III Advantage, enabling automatic submission of required enhanced data fields.
How it works:
1. Activate the Level III Advantage service in your account settings.
2. Configure a single template with relevant fields such as product codes, order dates, PO numbers, and item descriptions.
3. For each transaction, missing fields are auto-populated based on your template.
4. Monthly acquirer feedback reports allow you to verify data accuracy and correct any inconsistencies.
Although Visa now refers to what was previously called “Level 3 data” as “Product 3,” the process and requirements remain consistent with prior Level III standards.
5 Steps to Prepare for CEDP and Maximize Interchange Savings
To ensure compliance and secure the best possible interchange rates, merchants should follow these steps:
1. Verify processor compatibility
Confirm that your processor supports enhanced (Level III / “Product 3”) data.
2. Enable enhanced data submission
Activate the Level III Advantage or similar enhanced-data service within your portal settings.
3. Set up your data template
Navigate to Settings → Transaction Options → Automatic Level III (or equivalent) and complete all required fields such as item descriptions, quantities, amounts, PO numbers, and order dates.
4. Utilize dynamic fields
Certain fields, such as order ID or product cost, can auto-populate from the transaction. Manual entries will not be overwritten.
5. Monitor feedback and refine
Review acquirer feedback reports regularly to maintain data accuracy and ensure ongoing compliance.
Future-Proofing Your Payment Operations
Visa’s CEDP is a strategic step toward more transparent and data-driven commercial transactions. By adopting enhanced data practices now, merchants can reduce costs, improve accuracy, and stay ahead of future compliance changes.
Easy Pay Direct is committed to helping businesses adapt to these evolving requirements while maintaining efficient, secure, and cost-effective payment processes.
For assistance with setup or configuration verification, contact your Merchant Success Team. We’re here to make compliance easy.
