Products and Services
Interac Flash
Interac Flash is a contactless enhancement of Interac Debit. Your Interac chip debit card continues to carry out chip debit transactions, as it does today, but the functionality of the debit card has been enhanced by providing you with an even faster and more convenient way to pay securely for smaller everyday purchases. Now you can simply ‘flash’ your card at a reader that supports Interac Flash to make a payment instantly from your bank account. No need to insert your card or enter your PIN. No more searching for bills or waiting for change. With Interac Flash instead of cash, it’s like you’re ready with exact change every time.
Where you can use it:
Interac Flash is starting to roll out now, with consumers using it at merchants in select locations. There will be regular announcements and information here regarding merchants accepting Interac Flash, so continue to visit this section for updates.
You can expect to see a consistent increase of cards and Interac Flash enabled terminals in the latter part of 2011 and in 2012.
Scotiabank and RBC Royal Bank are the first financial institutions to offer the enhancement, and other Canadian issuers are also working to provide their customers with Interac Flash soon.
How it works:
Interac chip debit cards that are enabled with Interac Flash will have this symbol 
on the front of each card. Look for the Interac Flash logo on point-of-sale terminals and readers.
An Interac Flash transaction involves two steps:
1) Flash your card in front of the terminal or reader.
2) A beep and/or “approved” message on the terminal will acknowledge your transaction is complete.
It’s that simple.
Your purchase is automatically debited from the bank account pre-determined by your financial institution. This is typically the account you access by the Chequing button and normally use for Interac Debit transactions. This means that you can use your regular financial records to track all of your Interac Flash purchases.
Your spending limits
Transaction limits are set by your financial institution. Typically, that would be $50 for small purchases, while gas and groceries might have a limit of $100. There may also be a cumulative spend limit, for example $200. Once your transaction or cumulative spend limit has been reached, you will be asked to insert your card and enter your PIN. This will re-set your cumulative spend limits.
When making purchases above your Interac Flash spending limits, or when shopping at merchants who do not have Interac Flash enabled terminals, you simply make a regular Interac Debit transaction.
Interac Flash is built with security in mind
Several safeguards provide you with personal protection when using Interac Flash:
- Interac Flash uses chip technology.
- Exclusive functionality and security unique to Interac protect every transaction.
- The Interac Zero Liability Policy protects you from unauthorized transactions*.
- The card must be inserted when the contactless transaction limit is reached and
- a PIN must be entered to authenticate you as the cardholder. This may happen occasionally even if you are within your transaction limit to be sure you are the legitimate cardholder.
Interac Flash uses secure chip processing which means a number of layered cryptographic techniques protect you against skimming, counterfeiting, transaction replay types of fraud, and tactics such as electronic pick-pocketing.
Visit our Interac Flash Frequently Asked Questions
* Protection applies to losses resulting from circumstances beyond the cardholder's control. Some conditions apply. Click here to read more about the Interac Zero Liability Policy.
