What is the ISA fee?
The International Service Assessment (ISA) fee is a fee imposed by the card network when you pay a merchant located outside of Malaysia. It applies to all Swipey cards, for both online and in-person transactions.
The fee is a small percentage of the transaction amount, and covers the costs of processing international transactions. It's standard practice across all bank and non-bank institutions — not something unique to Swipey.
Here's how it works:
| Where the merchant is located | ISA Charge |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | None |
| International (e.g. Singapore) | 1%* |
Good to know
The ISA fee applies to all foreign currency transactions — including those that are approved, settled, declined, or refunded — as these may still incur processing costs.
It's based on where the merchant is located, not the currency you're charged in. A purchase charged in MYR can still incur the ISA fee if the merchant is acquired outside of Malaysia.
The ISA fee is separate from any currency conversion fees that may apply when a transaction involves a currency conversion.
The exact amount can vary depending on the card being used and the merchant's agreement with their payment processor.
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*The ISA fee is currently charged at 1% by the card network. Subject to change.
