TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2012 /CNW/ - Interac Association announced today that the Jean Coutu Group (PJC) Inc. (the "Jean Coutu Group") has committed to accept Interac Flash contactless debit transactions at its more than 400 stores located in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario. Jean Coutu customers will soon be able to make fast, convenient and secure transactions using contactless debit when shopping for their pharmaceutical needs at PJC Jean Coutu, PJC Clinique, PJC Santé and PJC Santé Beauté stores.
"We're delighted that the Jean Coutu Group has committed to deliver innovation to its customers by accepting Canada's first contactless debit technology," said Mark O'Connell, President and CEO, Interac Association and Acxsys Corporation. "The Jean Coutu Group joins the growing list of retailers offering enhanced speed, security and convenience at checkout through Interac Flash."
"Since opening the first Jean Coutu pharmacy in 1969, we have endeavored to provide our customers with the best possible shopping experience. With Interac Flash, customers will soon be able to pay in a flash, which will help ease line-ups at the point-of-sale and improve the customer experience," said Michel Boucher, Vice President and Chief Financial Information Officer at the Jean Coutu Group.
The Jean Coutu Group will begin rolling out Interac Flash enabled terminals in January 2013. The deployment will be managed by Moneris, one of Canada's largest payment card processors.
"We are honoured to work with the Jean Coutu Group and businesses of all size in Canada to enable high-value innovative payment solutions like Interac Flash," said Malcolm Fowler, Vice President Marketing, Moneris Solutions. "Interac Flash delivers for businesses and their customers - combining speed, convenience and security within the payment transaction."
About Interac Flash
Interac Flash gives cardholders the choice to pay for smaller value items faster than ever before by simply holding their card at a contactless point-of-sale reader that supports Interac Flash.
Interac Flash uses EMVTM technology 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.
Interac Flash enabled debit cards are already being issued by Scotiabank, RBC Royal Bank and TD Canada Trust and an increasing number of merchants are signing up to provide the service to their customers.
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 The Jean Coutu Group
The Jean Coutu Group is one of the most trusted names in Canadian pharmacy retailing. The Corporation operates a network of 402 franchised stores located in the provinces of Québec, New Brunswick and Ontario under the banners of PJC Jean Coutu, PJC Clinique, PJC Santé and PJC Santé Beauté, and employs close to 19,000 people. Furthermore, the Jean Coutu Group owns Pro Doc Ltd ("Pro Doc"), a Québec-based subsidiary and manufacturer of generic drugs. The Corporation also holds an investment in Rite Aid Corporation ("Rite Aid") a national chain of drugstores in the United States with over 4,600 drugstores in 31 states and the District of Columbia.
Interac, Interac Flash and Interac e-Transfer are trade-marks of Interac Inc. Used under license.
EMV is a trade-mark of EMVCo LLC.
* 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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