SOURCE-BACKED REFERENCE ENTRY · VISA · OCTOBER 2026
MCC 8661:
Religious Organizations
A classification for religious organizations.
View the source & scope ↓THE CLASSIFICATION
What does MCC 8661 cover?
A classification for religious organizations.
The code belongs to the Organizations & nonprofits group in this directory. The acquirer must confirm the appropriate assignment for the merchant and the relevant card network.
ILLUSTRATIVE BUSINESS FIT
What could a matching business look like?
- Religious organizations
These examples illustrate the classification. They are not verified NUMUS customers or confirmed transaction-level assignments.
LOOK BEYOND THE LABEL
Risk & provider review
Recurring donations, campaign promises and third-party collection need clear authorization and recipient verification; this assessment concerns the payment model, not religious affiliation.
Why this category sits here
- Recurring donation authorization
- Campaign purpose
- Recipient verification
Operating assumptions
Verified religious organizations collecting transparently described contributions.
What could raise the risk?
- Unclear beneficiaries
- Third-party fundraising
- Unauthorized recurring donations
Assessment basis: Individual business-category assessment. This is an editorial category assessment, not a bank’s rating, an individual merchant decision, a forecast of losses or a promise of approval.
How we assess risk & source references ↗No specific high-integrity-risk flag is reproduced here from the reviewed Visa classification section. This is not an exemption or a finding that no other requirements apply.
Questions worth preparing
- What goods or services generate the largest share of your sales?
- How and when do customers pay, and when are products or services delivered?
- Does a more specific network classification describe your actual business?
Your provider may also ask about transaction size, monthly volume, refunds, disputes, customer locations and delivery timing. Use your actual business facts when discussing the code.
CHECK THE REFERENCE
Source, date & scope
Code and classification reference: Visa Merchant Data Standards Manual, October 2026. Directory reviewed November 3, 2026.
Visa source · PDF page 104 · printed page 101 ↗Network descriptions and requirements can differ. This entry does not assert complete Mastercard coverage. Confirm current classifications and any special registration requirements with your acquirer.
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THE BUSINESS BEHIND THE CODE
Find processing that fits
your actual business.
Your MCC is one piece of the conversation. Tell NUMUS what you sell, how you deliver it, and how your customers pay. We’ll help you take the next step.