Closed to new claimsFinancial servicesDiscover $1.225 Billion Merchant Interchange Settlement: Payout Date & Status
Last updated: July 10, 2026
Discover Financial Services, the card network, agreed to pay up to $1.225 billion to settle claims that it misclassified certain consumer credit cards as commercial cards, causing merchants to pay excessive interchange fees. The claim deadline has passed — it closed on May 18, 2026 — so new claims are no longer accepted. The court granted final approval on May 20, 2026, and the settlement is now in the claims-processing phase, with payments expected in late 2026 or early 2027.
The settlement covers businesses and other entities that accepted or processed Discover credit card payments between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2023. Every valid claimant is guaranteed at least $10, with the total distribution set on a pro rata basis between a $540 million floor and the $1.225 billion cap. Payments are expected to begin within three to six months of the deadline, assuming no appeal delays distribution.
Key facts
- Settlement fund
- Up to $1,225,000,000
- Guaranteed minimum
- $10 per valid claim
- Claim deadline
- Closed — May 18, 2026
- Final approval
- Granted May 20, 2026 (N.D. Ill.)
- Payout status
- Claims processing — payments late 2026 / early 2027
- Eligibility window
- Jan 1, 2007 – Dec 31, 2023
- Who qualifies
- Merchants who accepted Discover cards
- Defendant
- Discover Financial Services / Discover Bank
Official settlement administrator: discovermerchantsettlement.com
Who qualifies
- Your business or entity accepted or processed Discover credit card payments at any time between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2023.
- Filing required basic business details — legal name, any d/b/a, and taxpayer identification number — and some claimants were asked for an IRS Form W-9 or additional records.
- The claim window is closed — merchants who filed by May 18, 2026 are in line for payment.
Discover merchant settlement payout status — what happens now
- 1
The claim deadline has passed
The window to file a claim closed on May 18, 2026. New claims are no longer accepted and the deadline cannot be reopened.
- 2
The settlement won final approval
On May 20, 2026, Judge Steven C. Seeger of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted final approval. The settlement is now in the claims-processing phase, where the administrator validates claims and calculates pro rata payouts.
- 3
When payments arrive
Payments are expected to begin within three to six months of the deadline — late 2026 or early 2027 — assuming no appeal delays distribution. Every valid claimant is guaranteed at least $10, with the total distribution between a $540 million floor and the $1.225 billion cap.
- 4
Check your status — and don't miss the next one
Track your claim at the official administrator site, discovermerchantsettlement.com. New settlements open constantly; ClaimBee scans 2,000+ cases and alerts you before the next deadline passes.
Missed this one? Don't miss the next.
ClaimBee matches your profile against 2,000+ active settlements, shows payout and proof requirements up front, and tracks every deadline for you.
Frequently asked questions
When will I get my Discover merchant settlement payment?
Payments are expected in late 2026 or early 2027 — within three to six months of the May 18, 2026 claim deadline. The court granted final approval on May 20, 2026, and the settlement is now in the claims-processing phase.
Is the Discover merchant settlement still open?
No. The claim deadline closed on May 18, 2026. New claims are no longer accepted.
How much will merchants get from the Discover settlement?
Every valid claimant is guaranteed at least $10. Actual amounts are a pro rata share of the fund — set between a $540 million floor and the $1.225 billion cap — based on your Discover transaction volume.
Who was eligible for the Discover merchant settlement?
Businesses and other entities that accepted or processed Discover credit card payments at any time between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2023.
How do I check my Discover settlement claim status?
Track your claim on the official settlement website, discovermerchantsettlement.com. The administrator processes claims and calculates payouts after the deadline.
I missed the Discover settlement deadline — what now?
The Discover merchant claim window has closed and cannot be reopened. New settlements open regularly, so a tool like ClaimBee that monitors and alerts you helps you file the next one in time.
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