CAL-Card Merchant Restrictions, Exclusions
State agencies can learn about the restrictions and exclusions for selected merchants under the CAL-Card Program.
Restricted Merchant Category Codes
The CAL-Card Program allows for restriction of CAL-Card use to selected merchants based on Merchant Category Codes (MCCs). Required restrictions and exclusions are outlined below.
CAL-Card MCCs
The Department of General Services, Procurement Division (DGS-PD) and U.S. Bank (USB) have identified high-risk and cash-related Merchant Category Codes which are excluded from the CAL-Card Program and restricted by U.S. Bank (USB) for all CAL-Cards. These restrictions cannot be removed.
- Wire Transfer - Money Orders
- Financial Institutions Manual & Automatic Cash Advances
- Convenience Checks
- Non-Financial Institutions - Foreign Currency, Money Orders, Travelers Checks
- Security Brokers/Dealers
- Savings Bonds
- Timeshares
- Betting, Casino Gaming Chips, Off Track Betting
- Fines
- Bail and Bond Payments
- Money Transfer - Member Financial Institution
- Value Purchase - Member Financial Institution
- MasterCard MoneySend Intracountry
- MasterCard MoneySend Intercountry
- Money Send Funding TXN
- POI Funding TXN
- Government - Owned Lotteries
- Government - Licensed Casinos (Online Gambling)
- Government - Licensed Horse/Dog Racing
- Gambling - Horse Racing, Dog Racing, State Lot
- Furriers and Fur Shops
- Antique Shops
- Pawn Shops
- Antique Reproductions
- Jewelry Stores
- Remote Stored Value Load - Member Financial Institution
- Remote Stored Value Load - Merchant
- PYMT SVC Prov - Money Transfer for a Purchase
- PYMT SVC Prov - Member Financial Institution - PYMT Tran
- PYMT SVC Prov - Merchant - PYMT Tran
Travel-Related Merchant Category Code Restrictions (State Agencies Only)
For clarification of applicability of travel-related restrictions, a State Agency serves the entirety of the State of California whereas a local government (publicly funded) agency serves a specific location or region in the State of California. Therefore, this restriction does not apply to local government agencies.
State agency Program Administrators (PA) should exclude the following travel-related Merchant Category Codes on all state employee's CAL-Cards:
- Employee per diem travel-related expenses, including but not limited to:
- Airlines
- Rental Cars
- Gasoline
- Hotels
State agencies should use appropriate travel-related services through the Statewide Travel Program.
Additional Restriction Options
Agency Program Administrators may set additional Merchant Category Code restrictions for individual cards through U.S Bank Access® Online or by contacting the U.S. Bank (USB) CAL-Card Team.