Level 3 data processing means sending detailed line-item information with a card transaction, beyond the basic amount and merchant details. For businesses that sell to other businesses or to government buyers, it can lower the interchange cost on eligible purchasing cards.
Level 1 is the standard data on every card sale. Level 2 adds items such as sales tax amount and a customer reference or purchase order number. Level 3 adds line-item detail: product codes, descriptions, quantities, unit prices, freight and discount amounts.
Card networks reward richer data on commercial, purchasing and government cards with lower interchange rates, because the data helps the buyer reconcile and audit spending. Savings apply only to eligible card types and transactions, so results depend on your customer mix.
Your gateway and processor must both support Level 2 and Level 3 fields, and your billing or ERP system has to pass the data through. A virtual terminal can often accept the extra fields manually. Learn how pricing models interact in our post on interchange-plus pricing and interchange optimization.
If most of your volume is B2B, ask for a statement review to see whether Level 3 would help. See our B2B and B2G payments page or contact us.
Every merchant's processing setup is different, so the right answer depends on your industry, sales channels, average ticket size and chargeback history. CARDZ3N's payments specialists review those details with you and match your business with the right sponsor bank, gateway and risk tools, whether you sell online, in store, by invoice or on a recurring subscription.
We work with merchants across the USA, Canada, the UK and the EU, including high-risk, B2B and fast-growing businesses that traditional processors often turn away. If you would like a second opinion on your current rates, contract terms or approval options, contact our team for a free, no-obligation processing review.
Joshua Benedetti is the CEO of CARDZ3N, a Las Vegas-based merchant services provider specializing in high-risk payment processing and B2B payment technology.
Joshua Benedetti on LinkedInCARDZ3N Inc is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and provides merchant services to businesses that traditional processors turn away. Backed by top-tier sponsor banks and processors, CARDZ3N combines institutional stability with the speed of a specialized team that understands high-risk industries. Services include high-risk account underwriting and placement, gateway solutions across the major gateway platforms, POS integrations, ACH and check processing, chargeback prevention through ChargebackZ3N, and business lending and working capital. Its AerospacePay division serves OEMs, MROs, FBOs, and repair stations with B2B and B2G payment processing. CARDZ3N serves merchants in the USA, Canada, the UK, and the EU.
Start protecting your revenue from chargebacks today — schedule your complimentary consultation with CARDZ3N’s dispute management specialists.
