Contactless debit technology to debut at Cineplex theatres across Canada
TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Interac Association announced today that Cineplex Entertainment ("Cineplex"), Canada's largest movie exhibitor, will accept Interac Flash contactless debit transactions at its 134 theatres. Interac Flash, which is an enhancement of Interac® Debit, is the first contactless debit technology to be offered in Canada. Interac Flash gives cardholders the choice of paying for smaller value items using debit faster than ever before by simply holding their card at a point-of-sale reader that supports Interac Flash.
"Cineplex's decision to accept Interac Flash is very important to us," said Mark O'Connell, President and CEO, Interac Association and Acxsys Corporation. "As the leader in their field, Cineplex joins a growing list of national merchants wanting to provide a faster, more convenient debit payment experience for consumers. Using their Interac Flash card, moviegoers will be able to pay quickly and simply, knowing their money is safe."
"Our guests expect speed and convenience when they're purchasing tickets or movie snacks," said Pat Marshall, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations, Cineplex Entertainment. "We're pleased to provide our guests with an even quicker payment option."
Interac Flash uses chip security and the existing chip debit infrastructure, which protects it from fraud tactics such as copying and "electronic pick-pocketing" and offers other strong consumer protections and other 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.
Cineplex will begin installing almost 3,000 Interac Flash-enabled terminals in the fall of this year and expects to see all their box offices and concession stands up and running with Interac Flash by June of 2013.
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-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 Cineplex Entertainment
Cineplex Inc. ("Cineplex") is the largest motion picture exhibitor in Canada and owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 134 theatres with 1,445 screens, serving approximately 66 million guests annually. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex operates theatres from British Columbia to Quebec and is the exclusive provider of UltraAVX™ and the largest exhibitor of digital, 3D and IMAX projection technologies in the country. Proudly Canadian and with a workforce of approximately 10,000 employees, the company operates the following top tier brands: Cineplex Odeon, Galaxy, Famous Players, Colossus, Coliseum, SilverCity, Cinema City and Scotiabank Theatres. Cineplex shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol "CGX". For more information, visit www.cineplex.com.
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
Teri Murphy
Interac Association / Acxsys Corporation
[email protected]
416-869-7171
Mike Langdon
Cineplex Entertainment
[email protected]
416-323-6728
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