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.

CAL-Card Service

CAL-CARD PROGRAM CONTACT(S)

MCC Issues and Questions

              Webpage: U.S. Bank Contacts

Travel Issues and Questions (State Agencies Only)

              Email:       StatewideTravelProgram@dgs.ca.gov 
      Phone:      (916) 376-3974
      Webpage: Travel Program