Tim Levert

I own a small ice cream shop in Louisiana, and while my business is far from Illinois, changes to payment regulations in one state can eventually affect small businesses across the country. As a small business owner, I rely on payment systems that are simple, reliable, and consistent. During our busiest seasons, fast and dependable electronic payments help us serve customers efficiently and keep operations running smoothly. While I understand the concerns behind the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, I believe businesses and consumers are generally best served by a stable, competitive marketplace rather than a growing patchwork of state-by-state regulations. Small businesses need flexibility and consistency so we can choose the systems and services that work best for our customers and operations. For those reasons, I support the OCC’s interim final order and appreciate the agency taking steps to provide clarity and maintain a more uniform payment system while these issues are worked through. Thank you for considering the perspective of small businesses like mine.