Interac Flash contactless debit technology to be accepted at participating restaurants nationwide
TORONTO, Aug. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Interac Association announced today that McDonald's Canada has committed to accept Interac Flash, enabling customers to make a contactless debit transaction when purchasing their favourite menu items at participating McDonald's restaurants nationwide. Interac Flash, which is an enhancement of Interac® Debit, is Canada's first contactless debit technology.
"We are thrilled that McDonald's, an iconic brand and one of the world's leading foodservice retailers, understands the value of Interac Flash," said Mark O'Connell, President and CEO, Interac Association and Acxsys Corporation. "This payment technology allows McDonald's customers in Canada the opportunity to make faster and more convenient debit transactions, which is of tremendous importance for a quick service restaurant like McDonald's."
"We're delighted to be able to offer our customers the speed, convenience and security of Interac Flash," said Jacques Mignault, Chief Operating Officer, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited. "Part of our commitment to providing an enjoyable restaurant experience is ease and speed of service when ordering menu items, either at the front counter or at the drive-thru. Interac Flash helps us fulfill that commitment."
This announcement coincides with the completion of a successful Interac Flash pilot at five McDonald's restaurants in Toronto. Full deployment at point-of-sale within restaurants and at drive-thrus at more than 1,400 locations from coast-to-coast will be completed by March 2013. The deployment will be managed by Moneris Solutions, one of Canada's largest payment card processors.
"Moneris helps merchants, large and small, enable high-value innovative payment solutions," said Jim Baumgartner, President and CEO, Moneris Solutions. "We are thrilled to facilitate the McDonald's Interac Flash rollout with the same convenience, speed and efficiency that it delivers to their customers."
About Interac Flash
Interac Flash gives cardholders the choice to pay for smaller value items using debit faster than ever before by simply holding their card at a contactless point-of-sale reader that supports Interac Flash.
Interac Flash uses chip security and 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 Flash.
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-Transfer™, 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 McDonald's Canada
McDonald's is the leading foodservice company in the world. McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and its Canadian franchisees own and operate more than 1,400 restaurants and employ more than 80,000 Canadians coast to coast. Approximately 75 per cent of McDonald's Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women. For more information about McDonald's Canada, visit the company's website at www.mcdonalds.ca.
| 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
Share this article