Contactless Debit technology to rollout at Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores nationwide
TORONTO, Oct. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Interac Association announced today that Indigo Books & Music Inc. has committed to accept Interac Flash at its 237 retail stores, including Indigo, Chapters and Coles. Canadians will soon be able to purchase their favourite books, gifts, toys and lifestyle items faster and more conveniently than ever before using Interac Flash, an enhancement of Interac Debit and Canada's first contactless debit technology.
"We're pleased that Indigo Books & Music has committed to accept Interac Flash at its stores nationwide," said Mark O'Connell, President and CEO, Interac Association and Acxsys Corporation. "Soon, customers will be able to simply hold their Interac Flash-enabled debit cards in front of the point-of-sale readers to make fast, convenient and secure transactions when they shop at Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores."
"We're excited to accept the speed, convenience and security of Interac Flash," said Indigo's Chief Financial Officer, Kay Brekken. "By offering our customers the ability to pay using contactless debit, we are helping to reduce line-ups at cash and improve the customer shopping experience in our stores."
Full deployment of Interac Flash enabled terminals at Indigo, Chapters and Coles will be completed by mid-2013. The deployment will be managed by Moneris Solutions, one of Canada's largest payment card processors.
"We are thrilled to make the payment experience at Indigo convenient and fast for their customers" said Jeff Guthrie, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Moneris Solutions. "Making payments simple and secure is a priority - innovative payment solutions like Interac Flash deliver on both fronts."
About Interac Flash
Interac Flash gives cardholders the choice to pay for items using debit faster than ever before by simply holding their card in front of a contactless point-of-sale reader that supports Interac Flash.
Interac Flash uses the existing chip debit infrastructure, which protects it from fraud tactics such as copying and "electronic pick-pocketing". It offers strong consumer protections and unique security features, including the fact that the card never leaves the user's hand. Leveraging the trusted Interac brand, cardholders are also protected from unauthorized transactions under the Interac Zero Liability Policy* and merchants continue to receive the benefits of secure and non-refutable transactions associated with PIN-based Interac Debit.
Visit www.interacflash.ca for more information.
About Interac Association
A recognized world leader in debit card services, Interac Association is responsible for the development and operations of the Interac network, a national payment network that allows Canadians to access their money through Interac Cash at 60,000 Automated Banking Machines and Interac Debit at 766,000 point-of-sale terminals across Canada. Interac Flash, a secure contactless enhancement of Interac Debit allows Canadians to pay for items instantly with their Interac chip debit card at a reader that supports Interac Flash.
Interac Association was founded in 1984 and is comprised of a diverse membership that includes banks, trust companies, credit unions, caisses populaires, merchants, and technology and payment related companies.
Other related services offered by Acxsys Corporation, whose shareholders are the architects of the Interac network, include: Interac Online, for secure online payments made directly from a bank account; Interac e-TransferTM, for the transfer of money from one person's bank account to another person's bank account using an email address or mobile phone number**; and international services, which provide Canadian cardholders with point-of-sale access at nearly 2 million U.S. retailers, and PULSE, Discover, Diners Club International and UnionPay cardholders access to ABMs in Canada.
About Indigo Books & Music Inc.
Indigo is a publicly traded Canadian company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (IDG). As the largest book, gift and specialty toy retailer in Canada, Indigo operates in all provinces under different banners including Indigo Books & Music; Indigo Books, Gifts, Kids; IndigoSpirit; Chapters; The World's Biggest Bookstore; and Coles. The online channel, indigo.ca, offers a one-stop online shop with a robust selection of books, toys, home décor, stationery and gifts.
In 2004, Indigo founded the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation, a registered charity that provides new books and education materials to high-needs Canadian elementary schools, to address the literacy crisis in Canada. To date the Foundation, as well as the Indigo "Adopt A School" program, have contributed $13 million, equating to more than a million books, to high-needs elementary schools across Canada. Visit loveofreading.org for more information.
Interac, Interac Flash and Interac e-Transfer are trade-marks of Interac Inc. Used under license.
* All Interac cardholders are protected from losses resulting from circumstances beyond their control under the Interac Zero Liability Policy. See your financial institution for details.
**The Interac e-Transfer service, for secure person-to-person payments, is currently available to customers of over 90 banks and credit unions including BMO Bank of Montreal, CIBC, President's Choice Financial, National Bank, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Canada Trust among others. Central 1, through participating credit unions, offers the option of using mobile phone numbers, in addition to email, to notify Interac e-Transfer recipients. Money never travels by email or text message. More information about the Interac e- Transfer service and a complete list of participating banks and credit unions can be found at www.interac.ca.
SOURCE: Interac Association
Media contact:
Teri Murphy
Interac Association / Acxsys Corporation
[email protected]
416-869-7171
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