Square primarily accepts credit and debit cards from major networks. Consequently, Square generally does not accept cards that fall outside its specified range of supported networks and card types.
Understanding Square's Card Acceptance Policy
Square's payment processing system is designed to work with a broad spectrum of widely used cards. It supports most major card networks, which means any card that does not belong to these specific networks will typically not be accepted.
Cards Square Does Not Accept
Based on its stated acceptance policy, Square generally does not process transactions from the following types of cards:
- Non-Branded or Proprietary Cards: Cards that do not bear a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, or UnionPay International logo are not accepted. This includes many store-specific loyalty cards, gift cards issued by individual businesses that are not co-branded with a major network, or other proprietary payment methods.
- Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Cards: Square's standard processing does not support EBT transactions for food stamps or cash benefits. Businesses needing to accept EBT would require a separate, specialized setup.
- Certain Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Cards: While some HSA/FSA cards are issued through major networks like Visa or Mastercard and may be accepted, those that operate solely on their own proprietary networks or have specific restrictions not compatible with standard credit card processing will not work.
- Specific International Card Types: While Square accepts most internationally-issued magstripe and chip cards from the supported networks, it may not accept older international cards that are neither magstripe nor chip cards. Additionally, certain niche international cards or those from less common networks outside of the listed ones would not be processed.
What Square Accepts (For Context)
To provide a clearer picture of what Square does not accept, it's helpful to understand what it does accept. Square processes payments from a wide range of credit and debit cards, provided they meet specific criteria regarding issuance and technology.
| Card Type | Acceptance Status | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Accepted | Includes US-issued and most internationally-issued magstripe and chip cards. |
| Mastercard | Accepted | Includes US-issued and most internationally-issued magstripe and chip cards. |
| American Express | Accepted | Includes US-issued and most internationally-issued magstripe and chip cards. |
| Discover | Accepted | Includes US-issued and most internationally-issued magstripe and chip cards. |
| JCB | Accepted | Includes US-issued and most internationally-issued magstripe and chip cards. |
| UnionPay International | Accepted | Includes US-issued and most internationally-issued magstripe and chip cards. |
It's important to note that for a card to be accepted, it must be either US-issued or, if internationally-issued, it generally needs to be a magstripe or chip card bearing one of the logos listed above.
Practical Implications
If a customer's card is declined by Square, even if it appears to be a major brand, it could be for reasons beyond Square's acceptance policy, such as:
- Insufficient funds on the card.
- The card being expired or inactive.
- Suspicious activity flagged by the issuing bank.
- A specific card type (e.g., certain prepaid cards or gift cards) not being supported by the issuing bank for the transaction type.
- Technical issues with the card reader or internet connection.
Understanding Square's accepted card networks helps businesses inform their customers and manage payment expectations effectively.
