Mature services average 1.4% increase... check customer fees 5.4%

The Federal Reserve announced in its 2027 fee schedule that average fees for mature payment services customers will rise 1.4%, while check service customers will see average increases of 5.4%, with the new rates taking effect January 1, 2027. The schedule covers check processing, ACH, real-time payments, and large-value funds transfer and settlement services, and individual service increases vary from the 1.4% average. Among the sharpest changes, the per-item FedReceipt fee will jump 200%, with fees for add-on features such as Reject Repair, Premium Delivery, FedImage, and Return Reclear also rising. The Fed also announced changes to check processing methods alongside the new pricing. The increases matter because they raise the cost base for banks and payment processors that rely on Fed-operated clearing and settlement rails. What to watch next is how depository institutions pass through the higher check-related costs and whether the 2027 pricing shifts volume toward electronic and real-time payment channels.