Want to pay your water bill with a debit card? How about putting your child’s soccer dues on Visa, or that parking ticket on Discover?


The West Branch City Council last week approved joining the Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust, which allows cities to accept credit card and debit card payments — both online and at City Hall.

However, the convenience comes with a fee, the council learned.

City Finance Director Deb Fiderlein said it will take a month or two to set the new system up, but when it is ready, residents may use MasterCard debit and credit cards, Discover credit cards and Visa debit cards. (Fiderlein said she did not know why Visa would not allow credit card use.)

The convenience fee for each transaction must be paid by the cardholder. Fiderlein said there is a $2.95 fee for debit use, and a tiered fee for credit card use.

Fiderlein said she will know more details when the system is ready to go.

“We receive several calls each month asking if we accept debit/credit cards,” Fiderlein said. “mostly for utility payments and parking citations. I feel this is a nice service to customers that wish to pay by this method.”