Mary Allen Lindemann is the owner of Coffee By Design in Portland.

Running a coffeehouse may look simple from the outside, but anyone who has stood behind the counter knows how complex it really is. At Coffee By Design, we’re not just making coffee. We’re managing a nonstop flow of customers on their way to work, parents juggling kids,
students racing to class and visitors passing through Portland.

With a constant stream of customers eager for their coffee, every transaction has to be quick,
seamless and secure. That’s why credit cards are essential to our operations. They keep our line
moving quickly, our baristas focused and our customers’ information protected. The truth is, it’s
impossible to run a successful small business today without using the electronic payments
system.

Keeping things moving smoothly requires a credit card system that is trustworthy and efficient,
which is why I find the proposed Durbin-Marshall credit card mandates so concerning. While the proposal’s supporters claim it would be a victory for small businesses, I’m worried about the
harmful impact it would have on the security of the electronic payments system.

Right now, when a customer swipes their card to get their morning cup of coffee or buys a bag of
coffee on our website, they do so knowing that the transaction will go through safely. That
confidence exists because the card issuers we know and trust invest in top-notch security and
fraud protection features. That peace of mind is key to building customer loyalty and running a
successful business.

Under Durbin-Marshall, credit cards would be exposed to alternative, untested payment
networks that are unlikely to invest in robust fraud prevention and security measures. As a small
business owner, I would be the one dealing with the fallout if a customer’s financial data were
compromised, and that’s a reality my business can’t afford.

I’m also worried about what Durbin-Marshall would do to credit card reward programs. Using a
business credit card allows us to earn rewards on everything from our coffee bean orders to
equipment repairs. These rewards help us give back to our employees, offset our costs and
provide a small buffer during slower months.

Durbin-Marshall would rob small businesses of these rewards, with one study out of the University of Miami projecting that the proposal would cost small businesses $1 billion in lost rewards. Those rewards make a real difference for small businesses like mine. Taking them away would mean one more obstacle for small businesses already working hard to stay competitive.

The consequences of the Durbin-Marshall credit card mandates would be disastrous for small
businesses in Maine. Rather than dismantling a system that works, Congress should focus on
proposals that actually uplift small business owners. I urge Sen. Collins and Sen. King to
protect Maine’s small businesses and oppose the Durbin-Marshall credit card mandates.