What’s an MCC (Merchant Category Code) – and why does it matter for your Chocolate Visa Card?

We often get questions like:

• “Why was my transaction declined?”
• “Why didn’t I get miles for that purchase?”
• “What even is an MCC?”

So, we thought we’d break it down. Here’s everything you need to know about Merchant Category Codes (MCCs), how they work behind the scenes, and why they matter when you spend with your Chocolate card.

What is an MCC?

MCC stands for Merchant Category Code. It's a four-digit number assigned to a business by Visa (and other card networks) that describes the type of service or goods the business provides.

For example:

• 5411 = Grocery Stores‍
• 4111 = Local and commuter transportation (like public buses)‍
• 4829 = Money Transfer Services‍
• 6011 = ATMs and cash disbursements
  

When you use your card, the merchant’s MCC tells your card provider what kind of transaction it is. That’s how financial institutions decide:

• Whether to approve or decline a transaction
• Whether it earns rewards (like miles or cashback)
• Whether it counts towards caps, bonuses, or exclusions

How to find out a merchant’s MCC

There’s no official public-facing tool from Visa to look up Merchant Category Codes—but platforms like HeyMax make it easier.

The HeyMax MCC Checker uses Visa’s own Merchant Lookup API (which isn’t publicly available) to help you identify a merchant’s MCC.

Or you can try Googling by merchant name or website, and it’ll show the most likely MCC category based on Visa’s database. If all else fails you can also ask Chocolate – we’ll help you look it up!

Why you might want to know an MCC

Understanding MCCs can help you:

• Troubleshoot declined payments‍
• Understand why you didn’t earn miles or rewards on a transaction
• Know which categories are excluded or capped under your card programme
• Avoid spending in blacklisted categories
  

Some MCCs are blocked by the card issuers

For compliance and security reasons, some merchant categories are blocked on the Chocolate Visa card. If you try to spend at these places, your transaction will be declined—even if you have funds.

Examples of blocked MCCs include:

• Certain airlines (e.g. Aeroflot, Alitalia, Olympic Air)‍
• Casinos and betting outlets (e.g. Marina Bay Sands, Caesars Palace, online gambling, cruise ship casinos)‍
• Money transfers, crypto, and financial disbursements‍
• Some religious, political, and lottery-related organisations

Here are a few specific MCCs that the Chocolate Visa card issuers block:

• 7995: Betting, Casino Gaming, Lotteries
• 6051: Crypto & Foreign Currency Transactions
• 4829: Money Transfer Services
• 3011–3041: Certain international airline carriers
• 3551–3796: Hotel-Casino properties
• 6010-6011: Manual and Automated Cash Withdrawals

So if your Chocolate card shows a declined transaction for an airline or casino, the MCC might be likely the reason.

Some MCCs Are Reward-Capped

Other MCCs are allowed—but may be capped when it comes to earning miles or rewards.

For example, From 1st July, Chocolate Finance limits miles to 100 miles/month for spend in the following categories:

If your bills fall under these MCCs, you’ll still be able to pay with your Chocolate card—but you’ll only earn max 100 miles per month, depending on your rewards programme.

TL;DR

• MCC = Merchant Category Code, a 4-digit number that describes what a business sells.
• Card providers use MCCs to block certain transactions (e.g. gambling, crypto) and manage miles limits (e.g. on bills and taxes).
• If a payment is declined or you earn fewer miles than expected, the MCC could be the reason.

You can always reach out to us to understand how a transaction was categorised.

Got a question about a specific merchant or transaction? Just ask—we’re happy to help you decode it.

‍

Disclaimer

Chocolate Finance is a brand of Chocfin Pte Ltd and is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. This is for information only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any of the investments mentioned. Neither Chocfin Pte. Ltd. (“Chocfin”) nor any officer or employee of Chocfin accepts any liability whatsoever for any loss arising from any use of this blog or its contents.

Please note that Chocfin does not guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of the information provided on this post. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Chocolate’s returns are currently supported by a promotional 'Top-Up Programme', valid during the Qualifying Period and subject to terms and conditions. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investments involve risk, including the risk of losing all of the invested amount and may not be suitable for everyone. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.