Protect Your Pin

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Canadians use their banking cards millions of times each day for purchases and cash withdrawals from Automated Banking Machines (ABMs). In fact, Canadians are one of the biggest users of debit and ABMs in the world. With the INTERAC® shared services, cardholders have convenient access to their cash 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

While INTERAC® shared services are among the most secure in the world, debit card fraud can occur. Interac Association and its members continue to work together to protect cardholders from debit card fraud and remind them to protect their Personal Identification Number (PIN).

The "Protect Your PIN" icon features a stylized PIN pad being shielded by hands combined with a "Protect Your PIN" tagline. This icon was developed to increase cardholders awareness around PIN protection. The Association and its members want to reinforce the importance of PIN security as something cardholders do every time they use the INTERAC® shared services.

I have been hearing a lot of messages reminding me to protect my Personal Identification Number (PIN), is there a problem?
Debit card fraud incidents are rare when compared to the billions of transactions that take place at an ABM and at the point-of-sale. In excess of 18 million Canadians use their debit cards monthly with virtually no problems.

However, any debit card fraud is of concern. Interac Association and its members are working to combat these incidents on several fronts. As part of this, the Association has identified the need to increase the awareness of PIN security among cardholders to help prevent debit card fraud in Canada.

Why do I have to protect my PIN?
Your banking card and PIN are the keys to your account(s). They are both required to complete a transaction so you should keep them in a safe place and never lend them to anyone. Even if criminals get access to your card, they need the PIN to get access to your money - so remember to protect your PIN.

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