A credit card decline code is the short alphanumeric message your terminal or gateway returns when a transaction fails, telling you why the issuer rejected the payment. With U.S. consumers averaging 31 card payments per month in 2026, split nearly evenly between credit and debit, even small decline rates add up fast for merchants. If you’re at the counter or checkout right now, trying to figure out what a specific code means, jump to the Quick Reference Table below for the fastest path to an answer. The remainder of this guide walks through what each code means, what to do next, and how to spot when recurring declines point to a problem on your processor’s side rather than the customer’s.
Key Takeaways
- Soft declines (such as Code 51 or 97) can be retried after the issue is fixed. Hard declines (like Code 43 or 63) should never be retried on the same card.
- A handful of codes drive most declines. Codes 05, 51, 54, 57, and 63 account for the bulk of what merchants see.
- Codes 04, 07, 41, and 43 are pick-up-card responses. Retain the card if safe, call voice authorization, and do not return it to the customer.
- When the same card keeps declining, or rates climb across multiple cards, the problem is usually on the processor or gateway side, not the cardholder’s.
- Many security-related declines (Codes 63, 82, 97) are PCI-compliant fraud controls working as designed, not processor errors.
Credit Card Decline Codes List (Quick Reference Table)
The table below covers the most common credit card decline codes merchants see at the terminal and at online checkout, along with whether each is a soft or hard decline and what to do next. These codes follow the ISO 8583 standard used by major card networks and processors in the U.S.
| Code | Meaning | Type | What to Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 | Pick up card (general) | Hard | Retry as credit if possible. Otherwise, alternate payment. |
| 05 | Do not honor | Hard | Request alternate payment. Do not retry more than twice. |
| 12 | Request CVV re-entry. If it fails twice, ask for an alternative payment method. | Hard | Re-enter card number. Verify against the card on file. |
| 14 | Invalid card number | Soft | Transaction not permitted on the card |
| 43 | Stolen card, pick up | Hard | Retain the card if safe. Call voice auth. Do not return to the customer. |
| 51 | Insufficient funds | Soft | Ask for alternate payment. Retry later only if the customer confirms funds. |
| 54 | Expired card | Hard | Ask for an updated card. |
| 57 | Request CVV re-entry. If it fails twice, ask for an alternative payment method. | Hard | Stop retrying. Ask for alternate payment. |
| 61 | Exceeds withdrawal limit | Soft | Do not retry the same card. Ask for alternate payment. |
| 62 | Restricted card | Hard | Alternate payment. Geographic or category block. |
| 63 | Security violation | Hard | Retain the card if safe. Call voice auth. Do not return to the customer. |
| 97 | CVV2 declined | Soft | Request CVV re-entry. If it fails twice, ask for alternate payment. |
What Is a Credit Card Decline Code?
A credit card decline code is the alphanumeric response a merchant receives when a card payment fails, telling them why the issuer rejected the transaction. It travels from the cardholder’s issuing bank through the card network to the payment processor, and then out to the terminal or checkout where the merchant sees it.
Decline codes communicate a general reason, not the full picture. With Code 12 (invalid transaction), for example, the trigger could be a suspicious payment pattern, an incorrect card number, or a transaction type the card doesn’t support. The code points you in the right direction, but you may still need to ask the cardholder for more details or contact the issuer to fully resolve it.
Most decline codes are not a sign that your processor is broken. They originate with the issuing bank and reflect something specific to the cardholder’s account or card. Not all declines mean the same thing. Some you can fix on the spot. Others need the cardholder to act.
What’s The Difference Between a Hard Decline and a Soft Decline?
A soft decline indicates the merchant can re-attempt a transaction after identifying the reason for the payment failure. With soft declines, the error code does not indicate a likelihood of fraud. Common examples include Code 51 (insufficient funds) or a temporary issuer outage. However, the merchant isn’t obligated to retry, and may decide the payment is too risky or ask the customer for an alternative payment method.
A hard decline indicates the payment should not be re-attempted. Common examples include Code 43 (stolen card), Code 54 (expired), or any code carrying a fraud flag. Retrying a hard decline may trigger additional risk flags on your merchant account.
Decline Codes That Signal Fraud vs Insufficient Funds
Two of the most common reasons a card is declined are suspected fraud and a funds or limit issue. They look identical at the terminal (just a code on a screen), but call for very different responses. Use this quick split to decide your next move.
| Code | Likely fraud or security | Likely funds or limit | Ambiguous (issuer-side) |
| Code 04 (Pick up card, general) | ✓ | ||
| Code 05 (Do not honor) | ✓ | ||
| Code 07 (Pick up card, special condition) | ✓ | ||
| Code 12 (Invalid transaction) | ✓ | ||
| Code 19 (Re-enter transaction) | ✓ | ||
| Code 41 (Lost card, pick up) | ✓ | ||
| Code 43 (Stolen card, pick up) | ✓ | ||
| Code 51 (Insufficient funds) | ✓ | ||
| Code 54 (Expired Card) | ✓ | ||
| Code 57 (Transaction not permitted on card) | ✓ | ||
| Code 61 (Exceeds withdrawal limit) | ✓ | ||
| Code 62 (Restricted card) | ✓ | ||
| Code 63 (Security violation) | ✓ | ||
| Code 65 (Exceeds withdrawal frequency) | ✓ | ||
| Code 91 (Issuer unavailable) | ✓ | ||
| Code 93 (Violation of law) | ✓ |
Fraud-flagged codes are hard declines. Stop retrying the card, request an alternate payment method, and follow the pick-up-card protocol where it applies. Funds and limit codes are usually soft declines, so it’s safe to ask the customer for another card or to try again once their balance updates. Ambiguous codes need a judgment call. If it’s a regular customer or a low-risk transaction, asking for an alternate card is often the cleanest path forward.
High-Priority Decline Codes That Need Immediate Merchant Action
A handful of decline codes call for action beyond simply asking for another card. Handle them calmly at the counter and follow the steps below:
- Codes 04, 07, 41, 43 — Pick up card. Do not return to the customer if physically present and call voice authorization.
- Code 57 — Transaction not permitted. Stop retrying and ask for an alternative payment method.
- Code 62 — Restricted card. For a geographic or category block, use only an alternate payment method.
- Code 63 — Security violation. Do not retry the same card.
SEC Violation on Credit Card Machine: What It Means and How to Fix It
An SEC violation refers to error Code 63 — one of the most common decline codes received during credit card transactions. Error Code 63 implies a security violation. If a merchant receives this error code, it indicates a card issuer rejection, meaning the issuer is unwilling to approve the transaction due to potential fraud. It can be triggered for various reasons, including when someone inputs an incorrect CVV code.
If a merchant receives this error code, they can re-attempt the transaction. It’s critical to double-check the payment details, such as the CVV, before attempting the transaction again. If the issue persists, notify the cardholder that they must contact their issuing bank to resolve the problem.
How to Fix an SEC Violation Decline
When you see an SEC violation on a credit card machine, work through the steps below before deciding whether to retry or move on.
- Verify the card details. Re-check the CVV, AVS, and expiration date entered. Most SEC violations trace back to a simple data-entry error.
- Re-attempt only if you suspect a mistake. If the details were entered the first time incorrectly, correct them and try again. If you have no reason to believe it was a data entry issue, skip the retry.
- Direct the customer to their issuer. If the transaction fails again, ask the cardholder to call the number on the back of their card. Their issuing bank is the only party that can lift the security hold.
- Watch for patterns. If you’re seeing repeated SEC violations across multiple cards or terminals, the issue is likely on your end rather than the cardholder’s. Contact your payment processor to rule out a gateway or terminal-side problem.
Common Credit Card Decline Codes (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
The codes below account for the bulk of the declines U.S. merchants see day to day. Each section covers what the code means, why it arises, and what to do at the terminal or checkout.
Code 05 — Do Not Honor
Code 05 (Do Not Honor) is one of the most frustrating decline codes for merchants because the issuer rejects the transaction without giving a specific reason. Common triggers include the issuer’s risk model flagging the transaction, velocity controls, or a customer-side security setting that the cardholder hasn’t approved. Request an alternate payment method and do not retry more than twice, as repeated retries can trigger a hard block on the card. The cardholder can call their issuing bank to confirm the transaction is legitimate before trying again.
Code 12 — Invalid Transaction / Debit Not Available
Code 12 means the issuer is rejecting the transaction as invalid, often because the transaction type isn’t supported on that card. It’s especially common on debit cards, where the issuer blocks a transaction routed in a way the card can’t process. It can also signal a problem with the transaction format itself, such as a CVV mismatch or an unsupported transaction code. If the customer is paying with a debit card, retry as credit if your terminal allows it. Otherwise, ask for an alternate payment method.
Codes 41 and 43 — Lost Card / Stolen Card (Pick Up)
Codes 41 (Lost Card) and 43 (Stolen Card) are pick-up-card responses from the issuer, meaning the cardholder has reported the card lost or stolen. Both are hard declines. If you’re processing in person and it’s safe to do so, retain the card and call voice authorization. Do not return the card to the customer. If you’re processing online or by phone, decline the transaction and avoid requesting an alternate payment from the same customer.
Code 51 — Insufficient Funds
Code 51 (Insufficient Funds) means the cardholder doesn’t have enough available credit or available balance to cover the transaction. It’s a soft decline, and one of the most common codes merchants see. For credit cards, Code 51 typically indicates that the cardholder has reached their credit limit. For debit cards (often referred to as debit code 51), it means the available balance is too low.
Retrying immediately won’t help unless the customer transfers funds or you try a smaller amount. Ask the customer for an alternate payment method, or offer to retry once they’ve moved funds over. Keep the conversation discreet. A simple line like “Looks like that card isn’t going through right now, would you like to try another?” works better at the counter than calling out “insufficient funds.”
Code 54 — Expired Card
Code 54 (Expired Card) means the card’s expiration date has passed. It’s a hard decline. The card is no longer valid, and the issuer won’t approve any transaction on it. Ask the customer for an updated card. If you keyed the transaction in manually through a virtual terminal, double-check the expiration date you entered against the card itself, as a mistyped date will return the same code.
Code 57 — Transaction Not Permitted
Code 54 (Expired Card) means the card’s expiration date has passed. It’s a hard decline. The card is no longer valid, and the issuer won’t approve any transaction on it. Ask the customer for an updated card. If you keyed the transaction in manually through a virtual terminal, double-check the expiration date you entered against the card itself, as a mistyped date will return the same code.
Code 61 — Exceeds Withdrawal Limit
Code 61 (Exceeds Withdrawal Limit) indicates that the cardholder has exceeded a per-transaction or per-day limit set by their issuing bank. It’s a soft decline and often shows up on debit cards or business cards with strict spending controls. Try a smaller transaction amount if the customer wants to split the purchase; ask for an alternate payment method; or have the customer try again the next day, once their limit resets. The cardholder can call their issuer to request a temporary increase in their limit, particularly for larger purchases planned in advance.
Code 62 — Restricted Card
Code 62 (Restricted Card) means that the issuer has placed a block on the card, usually a geographic restriction, a category block, or a high-risk MCC restriction. It’s a hard decline. You’ll most often see Code 62 on cross-border transactions or on cards with corporate spending controls. Ask the customer for an alternate payment method. The restriction is set by the issuer and can’t be overridden at your terminal.
Code 97 — CVV2 Declined
Code 97 (CVV2 Declined) means the CVV2 value entered didn’t match the issuer’s on-file value. It’s a soft decline that most often occurs during keyed-entry transactions, whether at a virtual terminal, during online checkout, or over the phone. The most common cause is a simple typo or the customer misreading the CVV. Ask the customer to re-enter the CVV. If it fails twice, stop and request an alternate payment method, as repeated CVV failures on card-not-present transactions are a common fraud signal.
Additional Decline Codes (Full Reference Table)
The codes below are less common, but they still surface from time to time, particularly on debit cards, business cards, or cards with strict issuer controls. Use the table as a quick lookup when a code outside the common list appears at your terminal.
| Code | Meaning | Type | What to Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 | Violation of the law | Hard | Retain card, call voice auth |
| 13 | Invalid amount | Soft | Re-enter transaction amount |
| 19 | Re-enter transaction | Soft | Retry once |
| 20 | Invalid response | Soft | Retry or alternate payment |
| 40 | Requested function not supported | Hard | Alternate payment |
| 41 | Lost card, pick up | Hard | Retain card, call voice auth |
| 46 | Closed account | Hard | Alternate payment |
| 55 | Incorrect PIN | Soft | Customer re-enters PIN |
| 59 | Suspected fraud | Hard | Alternate payment. Do not retry. |
| 65 | Exceeds withdrawal frequency | Soft | Alternate payment or retry later |
| 78 | Blocked, first used | Soft | The customer calls the issuer to activate |
| 79 | Already reversed | Soft | Do not resubmit |
| 82 | Negative CAM, dCVV, iCVV, or CVV results | Hard | Alternate payment |
| 91 | Issuer unavailable | Soft | Retry in a few minutes |
| 93 | Customer calls the issuer to activate | Hard | Alternate payment. Do not retry. |
| 99 | System error or other | Soft | Retry or alternate payment |
What to Do When the Same Card Keeps Declining
A single declined transaction is usually a cardholder issue. A pattern of repeated declines is something else, and the cost adds up fast. Up to 40% of customers abandoned a purchase entirely after a decline in 2025, so every recurring decline is a recovery opportunity. Use the steps below to determine where the problem actually lies.
- Identify the code and whether it’s repeating. The same code returning every time points to a specific, fixed issue (an expired card, a frozen account, a hard fraud flag). Rotating codes across attempts points to something less stable, like a connection or routing issue.
- Test whether it’s card-specific or terminal-specific. Try a different card on the same terminal, then the same card on a different terminal if you have one. This isolates the problem to either the card or your equipment in a single step.
- Don’t retry hard declines. Soft declines can sometimes be retried once the issuer-side condition clears. Hard declines should never be retried on the same card.
- If multiple cards decline at the same terminal, the issue may be on your end. That points to your processor, gateway, BIN routing, or merchant account standing rather than the cardholders themselves.
- Call your processor. If you’ve isolated the problem to your equipment or you’re seeing decline rates climb without an obvious cause, contact your payment processor. A good payment partner will tell you exactly what’s happening and not leave you guessing.
If your current processor consistently leaves you guessing, that’s a signal worth acting on. Real-time decline visibility, clear merchant-facing reporting, and responsive support are baseline requirements for any modern processor. If you’ve decided yours isn’t meeting that bar, our guide on switching processors walks through how to make the move without any downtime.
Final Thoughts: Why Understanding Decline Codes Matters for Your Business
A declined transaction at the counter is a small moment, but knowing why it happened changes what comes next. A staff member who recognizes Code 51 as a soft decline can quietly offer the customer another option and recover the sale. A staff member who doesn’t may hand the card back, lose the transaction, and leave the customer embarrassed.
The same applies at scale. Tracking decline codes across your terminals and online checkout tells you whether you’re losing sales to fraud flags you could be screening earlier, expired cards you could be reaching out about, or processor-side problems you didn’t know existed. With 503,450 credit card fraud cases reported to the FTC in the first three quarters of 2025, fraud-driven declines alone warrant attention. Understanding the codes is how you distinguish between noise and signal.
Decline codes also directly tie to chargeback exposure, since repeatedly retrying a flagged card or ignoring fraud signals can increase the likelihood that a dispute will land on your business later.
When declines start showing a pattern, the right processor makes a difference. Real-time decline visibility, clear reporting, and responsive support are what separate a processor that helps you fix the problem from one that just relays the rejection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SEC violation mean on a credit card?
An SEC violation on a credit card is indicated by Decline Code 63, a security-related error that prevents a transaction from being approved. This code indicates the card issuer has rejected the transaction due to a potential security concern or suspected fraud, such as an incorrect CVV code or other mismatched payment information.
What is code 43 on a declined card?
Code 43 on a declined card indicates that the cardholder has reported the card as stolen, resulting in a hard decline and a pick-up card response from the issuer.
How do I fix a code 43 error?
You don’t fix a Code 43 error at the terminal because the card has been reported stolen, and the issuer will not approve any transaction on it. If you’re processing in person and it’s safe to do so, retain the card and call voice authorization. Do not return the card to the customer or request an alternate payment from the same person, since the individual attempting the payment is likely not the legitimate cardholder. If you’re processing online or by phone, decline the transaction and avoid requesting an alternate payment from the same customer.
What is decline code 04 on a credit card?
Decline code 04 (Pick Up Card) is a hard decline that instructs the merchant to retain the card, usually because it’s no longer valid due to expiration, a canceled account, or another non-fraud reason. The code applies across major networks, including Visa, Mastercard, and Amex, and is sometimes referred to as a bank reject code 04. If you’re processing in person, retain the card if safe to do so, call voice authorization, and ask the customer for an alternate payment method.
What is code 20 declined?
Code 20 (Invalid Response) is a soft decline indicating the issuer or network returned an unrecognized response to the transaction request. Retry the transaction once, and if it fails again, ask the customer for an alternate payment method.
What is declined code 40?
Declined code 40 (Requested Function Not Supported) is a hard decline indicating the card or issuer does not support the transaction type being requested. Stop retrying and ask the customer for an alternate payment method.
What are the most common card decline codes?
The most common card decline codes merchants see are Code 51 (Insufficient Funds), Code 05 (Do Not Honor), Code 54 (Expired Card), Code 57 (Transaction Not Permitted on Card), and Code 63 (Security Violation). Together, these account for the bulk of real-world declines at U.S. terminals and online checkout. See the Quick Reference Table above for the full list and instructions for each.
What are common transaction failure codes?
Common transaction failure codes are the alphanumeric responses issuers send when a payment can’t be processed, with Codes 51, 05, 54, 57, and 63 covering the bulk of what merchants encounter. The Quick Reference Table above lists each one, along with whether it’s a soft or hard decline and what to do at the terminal.
