Ways to Bank

Debit Cards

Tap to pay with your Debit Card.

Debit Card Features

  • Pay for purchases at point-of-sale (POS) terminals instead of using cash
  • Track your spending through your statements
  • Securely pay for purchases with chip technology and Interac® Debit contactless payments
  • Members have access to thousands of surcharge-free ATMs in North America with THE EXCHANGE Network in Canada and the Allpoint Network in the US. Find an ATM near you.
  • Change your debit card PIN at any Alterna or ACCULINK® ATM, or nationwide at the EXCHANGE® Network ATMs*
  • Set daily spending limits on purchases, withdrawals and Interac® Debit contactless payments
  • Buyer Protection and Extended Warranty Programs will be discontinued May 1, 2024
Alterna debit card image

Interac® Debit contactless payments

Interac® Debit contactless payments - a contactless payment feature of your Alterna Debit Card. Pay for smaller purchases faster and easier. Using it is as easy as 1,2,3.

Open Transit Payment

Beginning in the spring/summer of 2021 Cities across Canada plan to modernize transit payments as part of efforts to improve mobility services broadly and make them more convenient and accessible for riders. Transit Open Payments or open payment fare systems provide the ability for riders to tap a payment card issued by their financial institution or a mobile wallet provisioned with FI-issued payment credentials at fare readers without the need to use a transit fare card or transit app in a mobile wallet. Interac is enabling the ability for a debit card or mobile wallet supported by Interac® Debit to be used for this purpose. To learn more about this exciting feature please click here.

Lost or stolen card?

No worries - call us right away† at 1.888.807.4101.

To learn more, visit interac.ca.

Interac® Debit Contactless Payments

Frequently Asked Questions

You should choose to designate a specific chequing sub account to be your default account for completing Interac® Debit Contactless transactions. This is especially recommended for transactions posted outside of Canada.

If no default account is selected for Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, the account that is debited for Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, transactions will be your first available chequing account. If you do not have a chequing account, then the next available savings account will be debited.

If you wish to change your default account, you can call the Contact Centre or visit your branch.

Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, enabled Alterna Debit Cards are available at any of our branch locations. You’ll need to exchange your current Alterna Debit Card for a new Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, enabled Alterna Debit Card if you’d like to use this service.

Yes. For your protection there is a transaction limit of up to $250 per purchase made using Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, If your purchase is above this limit, you will be prompted to insert your Alterna Debit Card and enter your PIN.

As an added layer of protection, there is also a cumulative spend limit of $400 for Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, transactions. This is the sum of all contactless transactions made with your card since the last time you entered your PIN. When this limit is reached, you will be asked to insert your Alterna Debit Card and enter your PIN. This will reset your limit so you can continue to use Interac® Debit Contactless Payments.

No. In order to make the change you need to complete 3 consecutive Point of Sale (POS) contact transactions. The contact (pinned) transactions can be completed at different terminals but must be a contact transaction (requiring PIN entry). If a contactless transaction is performed, you will not be prompted to enter your card which is why we are advising you to complete the 3 consecutive POS contact transactions.

Once the 3 consecutive POS transactions have been completed, the contactless limits on the cards will be updated.

No, new debit cards issued after December 2nd, 2020 will still need to follow the steps outlined above to increase the tap limit to $250.

Good news! There are no additional fees for using this convenient service.

The first time that you pay for a purchase with your Alterna Debit card using Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, you will be prompted to enter your PIN.

If the amount of your purchase exceeds the Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, transaction limit for that particular merchant, then you’ll be prompted by the payment terminal to insert your card and enter your PIN. You’ll also be asked to insert your card and enter your PIN once a cumulative spend limit is reached.

You will receive a new card by mail prior to your card expiration date. In most cases, your PIN has been transferred over to your new debit chip card, so you’ll be able to use the PIN you did previously. If the letter accompanying your card indicates that your PIN was sent separately, then you’ll receive your PIN in the mail. When you receive your PIN, simply call us to activate your new card.

Yes, merchants will provide receipts for Interac® Debit Contactless Payments transactions like they do for regular Interac® Debit transactions.

Yes! Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, uses secure chip processing to protect against skimming, counterfeiting and electronic pick-pocketing. Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, also uses RF (Radio Frequency) enabled smartcard technology, which is more secure than RFID (typically used for inventory management). When you make a payment, the only data transmitted consists of payment transaction codes, not confidential details about your bank account. Transactions occur in real time, so no information can be captured by criminals to conduct fraudulent transactions or commit identity theft.

These features, along with the Interac® Debit Contactless Payments, tap limits and the need to enter your PIN when the limits are reached make this a very secure solution. Additionally, transactions are covered by Interac Zero Liability, which protects you against unauthorized activity on your accounts.

The great thing is you’ll have your choice! Interac® Debit Contactless Payments is a safe and convenient optional feature that can be enabled or disabled any time. You can choose to use this feature, or you can insert/swipe your card, and enter your PIN as you did before.

†Always be vigilant about protecting your PIN to prevent unauthorized activity.

*Available to personal and individual business members (sole proprietors) only.

Interac is a registered trade-mark and the Interac logo is a trade-mark of Interac Corp. Used under license.

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