STORES Payment Launches Special Rate for Medical Institutions at 1.3% for All Credit Card Brands

The cashless payment service 'STORES Payment,' operated by STORES Co., Ltd. (hereinafter 'STORES'), will launch a new special rate for medical institutions starting April 1, 2026. With this initiative, eligible medical institutions will be able to utilize six credit card brands—Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover—as well as QUICPay at an industry-lowest level (*1) processing fee of 1.3%. https://stores.fun/pricing/medical ■ Background According to new domestic indicators calculated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the ratio of cashless payments reached 51.7% in 2024, and the government aims to reach 65% by 2030 (*2). On the other hand, cashless adoption in the medical field still faces many challenges. According to the Ministry's summary documents, the credit card implementation rate at clinics with 19 beds or fewer remains at roughly 36%, showing a pronounced delay in adoption based on scale (*3). A major factor hindering cashless implementation at clinics is the 'cost burden of merchant processing fees.' STORES has decided to offer this special rate to eliminate these barriers and support operational efficiency in medical settings while improving patient convenience. ■ Overview of STORES Payment Medical Special Rate For applications received on or after April 1, 2026, the following special rates will be applied to medical institutions. Target: Medical Institutions (*) * Some business types are excluded. Please check the FAQ below for details. Industries excluded from the medical special rate Supported Brands: - Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Dis...