Canada's Surcharge-free ATM Network Migrates to EMV

MISSISSAUGA, ON, and LANGLEY, BC, Sept. 14 /CNW/ - Threshold Financial Technologies Inc. (Threshold) and FICANEX Services Limited Partnership (Ficanex), operator of THE EXCHANGE® network in Canada, jointly announced today that EMV capability has been implemented on THE EXCHANGE® network, allowing transaction processing of chip enabled debit cards.  THE EXCHANGE® network is a full-function ATM network supporting nationwide surcharge-free access in Canada, with a membership of over 225 financial institutions across the country.  

As part of the EMV implementation, Threshold has architected PIN change functionality on THE EXCHANGE® network, allowing members' cardholders to use any enabled ATM on the network to complete a PIN change on their chip card, in addition to being able to visit their own institution to perform this function.  Most service providers who connect ATMs to THE EXCHANGE® network are expected to enable their ATMs for PIN change over the coming months, with full access expected by mid-2011.  THE EXCHANGE® network is the first network in Canada to provide PIN change service to its cardholders. 

"We are delighted to have reached this milestone," stated Linda Matheson, General Manager at Ficanex. "We are committed to providing our members with value-based, feature-rich services, and supporting EMV is a key part of that strategy.  We are particularly proud of the fact that we are Canada's first network to offer the value-added service of a PIN change, which we believe will be extremely beneficial to our members and their cardholders, allowing them convenience and flexibility."  Matheson went on to say, "We are very fortunate to have a capable and supportive technology partner in Threshold; they have very strong partnership qualities that make accomplishments such as this one easier to attain than might otherwise be possible."

Threshold has been the Central Switching Provider to THE EXCHANGE® network since 2009 and provides transaction processing services, as well as a broad range of technology-based solutions to the Canadian financial services marketplace, including some of Canada's largest financial institutions.

"We are very pleased to have been able to support Ficanex in delivering this service to its members," commented Matthew McIver, President of Threshold. "This particular accomplishment is part of our organization's broader strategy to support its client base in achieving EMV support, and is one of many facets of our environment that is EMV enabled.  Many of our clients will issue chip debit cards by year end, and with the majority of them being members of THE EXCHANGE® network, having access to these services will be invaluable to them."

About THE EXCHANGE® Network

THE EXCHANGE® ATM network enables participating financial institutions to offer their cardholders convenient access to a very large, proprietary ATM network at an affordable cost. THE EXCHANGE® network offers the only inter-institutional, full-function ATM network in Canada and consists of over 225 members offering surcharge-free access on over 2,400 ATMs nationwide. More information is available at www.the-exchange.ca.

About Threshold Financial Technologies Inc.

Threshold Financial Technologies Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Versent Corporation ULC, a privately owned Canadian company with more than 900 employees throughout North America. Threshold has been actively involved in the payments industry since 1997 providing leading edge, feature-rich, and value-based EFT processing and ATM solutions to Canadian retailers and financial institutions. The Company has existing relationships with a broad range of banks and credit unions, as well as major retailers. For more information, see www.threshold-fti.com.

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