Credential on File Indicator for MasterCard-Branded Transactions

  • MasterCard is mandating support of new POS Entry Mode values for credential on file. This falls in line with Visa who implemented their COF release in October 2017.
  • A Credential on File transaction is a transaction in which a cardholder has explicitly authorized a merchant to store the cardholder’s MasterCard or Maestro account information (i.e., PAN and expiration date, or tokenized PAN and expiration date) and the cardholder subsequently authorizes that same merchant to bill the cardholder’s stored MasterCard or Maestro account.
    • For the POS Entry Mode, a value of 10 will be used to identify Credential On File authorizations messages.
    • In the POS Data Codes, a value of 7 will be used to identify Credential On File in clearing messages.

The following are categorized as Credential on File transactions and should be identified with the Credential on File indicator:

  • Recurring payments
  • Installment payments
  • E-Commerce and Mail Order/Telephone Order (MO/TO) transactions for which the cardholder authorizes the merchant to use the Credential on File for payment
  • Transactions from a merchant’s brick-and-mortar location for which the cardholder authorizes the merchant to use the Credential on File.
  • Account Status Inquiry (ASI) messages