Credit card surcharges hit Central Texas businesses, costing one owner $50K a month

Summary by The Waco Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Erin Delahunty, KXXV (ABC 25) News · July 23, 2026 · 2 min read

More than a third of businesses nationwide now add a surcharge for credit card purchases, according to the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Merchant Services Satisfaction Survey. Kyle Citrano, the owner of George's Restaurant and Jorge's Cantina locations in Waco, said the fees have become one of his largest...

Why this matters in The Waco

The surge in credit card surcharges is a pressing concern for Waco businesses, with local owners like Kyle Citrano shouldering significant financial burdens. Citrano's experience, with $50,000 in monthly processing fees across his three restaurants, underscores the need for state lawmakers to reexamine the regulations surrounding these fees. As a board member for the Texas Restaurant Association, Citrano is well-positioned to advocate for change, and his efforts may have a direct impact on the local business community. The fact that Citrano has chosen to impose a surcharge at Jorge's Cantina, while trying to keep George's Restaurant surcharge-free, suggests that businesses are being forced to make difficult decisions to stay afloat. This issue has the potential to affect not only local businesses, but also consumers, who may see increased costs passed on to them. Waco residents, like Jeremy Green, are already noticing the shift, and it will be important to monitor how this trend affects the local economy.

About this story

Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News. The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: business · Published: July 23, 2026 · Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News · Reading time: 2 min

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This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.

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Summary created by	The Waco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Erin Delahunty, KXXV (ABC 25) News
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 23, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 23, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Credit card surcharges hit Central Texas businesses, costing one owner $50K a month

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