Interac® Debit on the Menu at Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons expands Interac Debit acceptance to restaurants in Ontario, Québec and Atlantic Canada

TORONTO, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - Canadians can now benefit from the convenience and flexibility of paying with their Interac debit cards at approximately 90 per cent of Tim Hortons' over 3,000 Tim Hortons restaurants nationwide. Tim Hortons' customers in Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador now have the choice to use Interac Debit when purchasing their favourite Tim Hortons items in restaurants and at drive-throughs that offer electronic payments. Interac Debit has been accepted at participating restaurants in Western Canada since 2003.

"Canadians enjoy the convenience and simplicity of making everyday payments using funds directly withdrawn from their bank account with Interac Debit, and now they have more opportunity to do so at one of Canada's favourite restaurants, Tim Hortons," said Mark O'Connell, President and CEO, Interac Association. "With Tim Hortons' expansion of Interac Debit acceptance, customers will no longer need to worry if they have cash in-pocket when they buy their morning coffee, breakfast wraps for the kids after hockey practice or donuts for the office."

"Tim Hortons' hospitality focuses on continuous improvement and fast, friendly service, whether it's new product innovation or the introduction of new payment methods such as Interac Debit," said Roland Walton, Chief Operations Officer, Tim Hortons. "Tim Hortons is proud to partner with a world-class Canadian payment network like the Interac network to bring more value and the speed and convenience of debit payments to Canadians coast to coast."

"Chase Paymentech is pleased to expand the Interac Debit roll out on its proprietary payment platform for Tim Hortons," said Sam Jawad, President of Chase Paymentech Canada, a global leader in payment processing and merchant acquiring. "At Chase Paymentech, we are focused on delivering value to our partners and their customers.  Providing the option for Tim Horton's customers to pay with their Interac debit card conveniently and dependably is an important part of this commitment."

Fast Facts about Interac Debit:

Interac Debit provides consumers with instant access to their funds when purchasing a product or a service.  It is a convenient way to pay for items without carrying cash, and without having to delay making a payment by using a credit card.

• In 2009, 3.8 billion Interac Debit transactions were processed through the Interac network and $171 billion worth of goods and services were purchased.
• More than 435,000 merchants with more than 700,000 terminals accept Interac Debit.
• Approximately 60 per cent of card payments in Canada are made with Interac Debit.
• Canadians are among the highest users of debit compared to other countries around the world.
• Coming soon: Interac Flash^TM, a contactless enhancement of Interac Debit which will provide an even faster and more convenient way to pay for everyday purchases. 

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 Automated Banking Machines and point-of-sale terminals across Canada.

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 directly from a bank account; Interac Email Money Transfer, for the transfer of money from a bank account to anyone with an email address; and international services, which provides Canadian cardholders with point-of-sale access at nearly 2 million U.S. retailers, and PULSE, Discover, Diners Club International and China Unionpay cardholders access to ABMs in Canada.

®, TM:  Interac, the Interac logo and Interac Flash are trade-marks of Interac Inc. Used under license.

NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca Images are free to accredited members of the media.

For further information:

Caroline Hubberstey
Director, Public and Government Affairs
Interac Association/Acxsys Corporation
416-869-8320 or [email protected]