Membership
Many networks working together
When you join the Interac Association, you become part of a network whose members work co-operatively to keep Interac services the most used, trusted and reliable methods of electronic payment in Canada.
If you're interested in offering Interac services and you're an incorporated company operating a business in Canada, you're eligible for Interac Association membership. Additionally certain foreign bank branches are also eligible. Contact us for more information.
Great service, availability and reliability
Interac Association's network provides members with:
- Recovery procedures that ensure the Interac Debit services are quickly restored in the event of a failure.
- Routine network improvements and regular maintenance to ensure the system is capable of accommodating the ever-increasing volume of Interac Debit transactions.
- Service that's based on proven technologies. When new technologies are introduced, Interac Association Members work together to ensure smooth implementation.
- Service arrangements to ensure that equipment is maintained or replaced in a timely manner, usually within 24 hours.
Member classifications
There are two classes of Interac Association members:
- Direct Connectors are members who connect directly to the Inter-Member Network (IMN) to provide Interac Cash and Interac Debit services. Each Director Connector maintains a physical network connection to the IMN, which allows them to connect to each other through a private TCP/IP telecommunications network.
- Indirect Connectors are members who connect through a Direct Connector to the Inter-Member Network.
Interac Association members may act as:
- Issuers are financial institutions who maintain demand accounts and issue debit cards to their clients to access Interac services. At present, financial institutions, money market mutual funds and Insurance companies are eligible to become issuers. See our current Issuer list.
- Acquirers operate card-accepting devices, such as ABMs or Interac Debit terminals at the Point-of-Sale, which capture and transmit to the Issuer relevant data, needed to undertake a transaction. See our current Acquirer list.
- Connection service providers (CSPs) are Direct Connectors who provide access for Indirect Connectors to the Inter-Member Network.
- Settlement agents settle the financial obligations of other members through the Canadian Payments Association's Automated Clearing Settlement System.
