Credit Card MCC Codes Guide

You did everything right. You booked the flight, paid for the group dinner, or bought a year’s supply of groceries. You used the card that promised 3x, 4x, or even 5x points on that specific category. Then the statement closed, and you only earned 1x.

The culprit is almost always the Merchant Category Code (MCC). These four-digit numbers are the invisible engine behind every credit card reward program. They determine whether your purchase at a 7-Eleven counts as “Gas,” “Grocery,” or just “Merchandise.” Understanding MCCs is the difference between earning 80,000 points a year and earning 20,000.

This Credit Card MCC Codes Guide will explain exactly how these codes work, how to verify them before you buy, and what to do when a merchant is miscoded.

What Are Merchant Category Codes (MCC)?

A Merchant Category Code (MCC) is a four-digit number assigned to a business by credit card networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) to classify the type of goods or services they provide. When you swipe your card, the terminal sends this code to your card issuer.

Your bank uses this code to decide two things:

• Rewards: Does this purchase qualify for a category bonus (e.g., 4x on Dining)?
• Risk: Is this a high-risk transaction (e.g., cash advance or gambling)?

It is critical to understand that banks do not assign these codes. The merchant (or their payment processor) chooses their category when they set up their system. If a restaurant registers itself as a “Bakery” (MCC 5462) instead of a “Restaurant” (MCC 5812), your Chase Sapphire Preferred® might not trigger the 3x dining bonus.

Why MCCs Are the Most Important Metric in Travel Hacking

Many travelers focus entirely on the “headline” multiplier of a credit card. They see “4x on Dining” and assume every meal counts. The math proves why MCC knowledge is superior to blind spending.

Let’s look at a common scenario involving the Best Everyday Categories to Farm Points. You spend $500 a month at a high-end market that also serves hot food.

Scenario A: The Miscoded Market

You use a card that earns 4x on Dining and 1x on Groceries. The market is coded as “Grocery Stores” (MCC 5411) because they sell produce, even though you are eating dinner there.

• Spend: $6,000/year
• Expected Earnings (4x): 24,000 points
• Actual Earnings (1x): 6,000 points
• Loss: 18,000 points (approx. $360 value at 2.0 cpp)

Scenario B: The Optimized Strategy

You check the MCC beforehand using a test transaction. You realize it codes as Grocery. You switch to a card earning 4x on Groceries.

• Spend: $6,000/year
• Actual Earnings (4x): 24,000 points
• Result: Full value realized.

This discrepancy is why points enthusiasts are obsessed with the finer details. If you are saving up for a redemption like the 40,500-point Iberia business class sweet spot (pricing following the 2025 devaluation), losing 18,000 points on a single miscoded habit delays your trip by months.

Common “Gotcha” Categories and Codes

In 2026, banks have become stricter with their category definitions. Here are the most notorious MCC traps that trip up travelers.

1. The “Superstore” Exclusion (MCC 5300 vs. 5411)

This is the number one complaint. Most cards with a “Grocery” bonus explicitly exclude “Superstores” and “Warehouse Clubs” in their fine print.

• Grocery Store (MCC 5411): Kroger, Publix, Safeway, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s. (Triggers 4x/3x).
• Wholesale Club (MCC 5300): Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s. (Usually 1x, unless using a specific warehouse card).
• Discount Store/Supercenter (MCC 5310/5300): Walmart and Target. Even if you buy 100% food, these almost NEVER trigger a grocery bonus on premium travel cards.

2. The “Transit” vs. “Travel” Confusion

Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® have a broad definition of travel, covering everything from parking lots to tolls. However, Amex cards often split this into distinct categories.

• Travel (MCC 4722, 4511, 7011): Airlines, Hotels, Travel Agencies.
• Commuter Transport (MCC 4111, 4121): Trains, Buses, Subways, Ferries.

If your card only bonuses “Airfare,” your subway ride to the airport (MCC 4111) will earn 1x. If you are relying on shopping portals or travel credits, ensuring the MCC matches the trigger requirement is vital.

3. Bakeries and Cafes

This is a classic Amex Gold trap. You buy a sandwich at a place that looks like a restaurant.

• Eating Places/Restaurants (MCC 5812): Triggers Dining bonuses.
• Bakeries (MCC 5462): Does NOT trigger the Dining bonus on some cards (specifically Amex), though it might trigger Grocery on others.

Panera Bread often codes as a restaurant (5812). Small independent coffee shops can go either way depending on how they set up their point-of-sale system.

4. Mobile Wallets & Third-Party Processors

When you pay via a device or third-party service, you add a layer between the merchant and the network.

• Apple Pay / Google Pay: Safe. They pass the original MCC through to the issuer.
• PayPal / Square / Toast: Usually safe, but occasionally a small vendor using a generic mobile reader will appear as “Professional Services” rather than “Dining.”
• MPX (MileagePlus X): This app allows you to buy gift cards to earn United miles. However, the purchase usually codes as “Online Purchase” or “Specialty Retail,” rarely triggering category bonuses like Dining or Grocery.

How to Find a Merchant’s MCC (Before You Buy)

You don’t have to guess. Use these methods to verify a code before making a large purchase.

Method 1: The “AwardWallet” Lookup Tool

AwardWallet offers a crowdsourced merchant lookup tool. You can type in a brand name (e.g., “7-Eleven”) and see how it codes across Visa, Mastercard, and Amex. Note that data is location-specific; one 7-Eleven might be “Gas” while another is “Merchandise.”

Method 2: The Test Transaction

If you plan to spend $5,000 on a wedding catering bill or a home renovation, do not guess.

1. Go to the merchant.
2. Buy something small ($1–$5).
3. Wait 2-3 days for the transaction to post (not pending).
4. Check your credit card statement details.

Most issuers, especially Chase and Amex, will explicitly list the category next to the transaction. If it says “Catering” and your card bonuses “Dining,” you are likely safe. If it says “Business Services,” you need to switch cards.

Method 3: The Visa Supplier Locator (Deprecated)

Visa used to have a public supplier locator tool. This tool has been inaccessible to the public for years. Do not rely on old blog posts linking to this tool; stick to the test transaction method.

What To Do If A Purchase Codes Incorrectly

You checked out, and the points didn’t post. Can you fix it?

1. Check the Terms First

Before calling, verify the policy. If you bought a sandwich at a hotel lobby bar, and the charge posted as “Hilton Hotels” (Travel) instead of “Dining,” this is technically correct. Hotel restaurants often code as the hotel itself (MCC 7011). In this case, you have no recourse.

2. Secure Message the Issuer

If the error is egregious (e.g., a standalone steakhouse coding as “Merchandise”), send a secure message or call the number on the back of your card.
Script: “I made a purchase at [Merchant] which is clearly a restaurant. It was coded as [Code]. I believe this is an error. Can you manually adjust the points for this transaction?”

Success Rate: Low to Medium. Chase is occasionally helpful with manual adjustments if you have proof. Amex is notoriously strict—if the system says 1x, it stays 1x.

Strategic Workarounds for MCC Limits

If a merchant absolutely refuses to code correctly (e.g., you want 4x on groceries at Walmart), you need a workaround.

This “Gift Card” strategy is a staple of advanced point farming. However, be careful not to cycle too much credit, which can flag your account for review. See our guide on Credit Utilization and Risk for safety tips.

Frequently Asked Questions