MEMBER CARD® debit card with Interac® Flash

A contactless payment feature

Vancity Interac Flash

Interac® Flash is a secure and convenient payment feature that lets you pay with your MEMBER CARD debit card by simply holding your card over the contactless card reader at the cashier. This is also called “tap.”

When the “approved” message appears, your payment is done. In most cases, there’s no need to insert your card or type your PIN #.

For Vancity MEMBER CARD debit cardholders, Interac Flash applies to debit cards issued after August 8, 2016 with the Interac Flash logo on the card.

Before you can use the Interac Flash on your MEMBER CARD debit card, you have to activate it. With your first transaction, insert your card into the terminal and type your PIN #. Then, you can use the contactless feature for your future transactions.

Your purchase has to be less than your cumulative tap limit. Some merchants may have set limits lower than $100.

How to use Interac Flash:

Step 1

Look for this symbol on your card and the card reader.

Not every store accepts Interac Flash at this time.

Step 2

Place your card over the secure, contactless card reader.

Step 3

The card reader will indicate when the transaction has been processed. If you see a “declined” message, insert your card and enter your PIN #.

Safety & Security

How do I know that Interac Flash is safe?

Contactless payment options come with multiple layers of protection, including secure chip processing. This protects contactless cards against skimming, being copied and counterfeited, and other types of fraud, including electronic pick-pocketing. We have security measures in place to help safeguard you.

What happens if my Vancity MEMBER CARD debit card is stolen?

Vancity MEMBER CARD debit cardholders are protected by the Interac Zero Liability policy. Once you tell us your card has been lost or stolen you won’t be responsible for any fraudulent transactions on your card provided you comply with the Vancity Accounts and Services Guide (for personal accounts) or the Business Member Agreement and Direct Access Services Agreement (for business accounts), including safeguarding your card and PIN #. Contact us right away if you suspect fraudulent charges.

Transactions

Why should I use Interac Flash?

Paying for purchases up to your cumulative tap limit at participating retailers is quick and easy. Save time by simply holding your card over the card reader. The card reader will indicate when the transaction has been processed. If you see a "declined" message, insert your card and enter your PIN #. There’s no need to swipe and sign or insert your card and enter your PIN #.

How do I know where can I use Interac Flash?

The card reader at the cashier needs to be enabled for contactless, which means you can tap with your debit card to pay for your purchase. Not every store offers contactless yet. Look for the contactless symbol on the card reader.

Do I have to use Interac Flash?

No, we’ve added the contactless functionality to our cards to make it quicker and easier to pay for purchases up to your cumulative tap limit.. It’s up to you whether you use contactless or stick to inserting your card and entering your PIN #.

Can I get a card without Interac Flash or shut it off?

You can opt-out of having Interac Flash on your debit card. Visit a community branch or phone the Member Services Centre

How much can I spend with Interac Flash?

There are two spending limits to be aware of: the spending limit on a single purchase, and the cumulative spending limit. (Of course, the required funds must be available in your Vancity account at the time of purchase.)

You can use Interac Flash when your single purchase does not exceed your cumulative daily tap limit and the card reader is enabled for contactless. Otherwise, insert your card and enter your PIN # the regular way.

As an added layer of protection, there is a cumulative spend limit per day for Interac Flash transactions. This is the sum of all contactless transactions made with the card since the last time you entered your PIN #. If a purchase is above your cumulative daily spend limit, the card reader will prompt you to insert your card and enter your PIN #. This will reset your cumulative spend limit so you can continue to use Interac Flash.

What if I get a message to “insert card”, “insert chip”, “declined”, “transaction not complete” on the card reader?

Each merchant has its own maximum limits for Interac Flash transactions and, in some cases, you may need to insert your card and enter your PIN #. As an additional safety feature, some transactions within the limit may also require you to insert your card and enter your PIN # to further protect your card.

How will transactions appear on my statements?

There is no difference in how your transactions appear on your statements based on whether you use Interac Flash or your PIN #. Your purchases will be processed the same secure way they are today. You will be able to see them on your monthly statement, or through online or mobile banking.

Will Vancity be issuing MEMBER CARD debit cards with Interac Flash? When will I receive mine?

If you are already a cardholder, you don’t have to do anything to receive one—we will send one to you automatically, close to the expiry date of your existing MEMBER CARD debit card.

My MEMBER CARD debit card doesn’t expire for quite a while. Can I get a card with Interac Flash now?

We’ll mail your replacement card up to two months before your card will expire. If your card expires more than six months from now, we can send you a replacement card that is Interac Flash enabled.

Will Interac Flash work in the U.S.?

No. While your Vancity MEMBER CARD debit card may work at some point-of-sale terminals in the United States, Interac Flash contactless technology will not.


Contact us:

Member Services Centre
Monday to Saturday 8 am to 8 pm; Sunday 10 am to 5:30 pm Pacific Time
Metro Vancouver: 604.877.7000
Greater Victoria: 250.519.7000
Toll-free in North America: 1.888.826.2489
International toll-free: IAC-800-826-2489-0
(IAC = International Access Code; varies by country)


®MEMBER CARD & Design are registered certification marks owned by Canadian Credit Union Association, used under license.
® Vancity is a licensed user of trademarks.
Interac, the Interac logo and Interac® Flash are trademarks of Interac Inc. Used under license.