With your Access Card, you can make purchases at retailers and businesses instead of using cash or credit. You can make surcharge-free cash withdrawals, make deposits and change your PIN at Canadian ATMs displaying the THE EXCHANGE^® Network and ACCULINK^® logos. You can make cash withdrawals and purchases when travelling to the United States (look for the Accel^®; debit payments network) and internationally, you can make withdrawals using the Cirrus^®; network.

Yes, you need an Access Card to use both Online Banking and Mobile Banking. The number on the Access Card (as well as your own security password) is required to login to both these systems.

Personal daily limits apply to your Access Card when you make ATM withdrawals or purchases at point-of-sale terminals. Please ask at your branch or call us to determine what those are. If you wish to make a purchase that exceeds your daily limit, call our Solution Centre to assist with temporarily increasing your limit.

See our reporting problems page for detailed information about reporting a lost or stolen card. Please visit your branch or call us to obtain a replacement.

Yes, you can change your Personal Identification Number (PIN) at any of our branches or ATMs, or other participating ATMs on THE EXCHANGE^® and ACCULINK^® networks. This option is now part of the main screen menu on each ATM.

All transactions using your Access Card will automatically debit your primary chequing or savings account.

You won’t be charged an ATM surcharge at any of over 4,500 THE EXCHANGE^® Network or ACCULINK^® ding-free machines across Canada. Some of the institutions that are part of this ding-free network include ATMS at any credit union, HSBC, Canadian Western Bank, National Bank, and Mac’s, Couche-Tard and Circle K locations. Banking transaction fees may apply, however, depending on your account features. There is no fee for using your Access Card to make purchases at a point-of-sale terminal.

Yes, there is a fee of $8 to replace your BlueShore Financial Access Card.

The embedded computer chip provides increased protection against debit card skimming and the creation of counterfeit debit cards. In addition to providing increased security, the chip card also offers a platform for new product and service offerings, like Interac Flash^®.

Yes, chip is replacing the magnetic stripe in Canada. Magnetic stripe technology stopped being accepted at ATMs in December 2012 and will no longer be accepted at retail point-of-sale terminals after December 31, 2015.

Canadian chip cards work in countries that utilize chip technology. These include countries within Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The U.S. is currently transitioning to chip cards; however, since your card contains both a chip and magnetic stripe, you will still be able to use your chip debit card there and in other countries that have not yet migrated to chip technology.

Yes, the PIN remains a key security element of the transaction. The exception is Interac Flash^®-enabled cards that do not require a PIN when using that payment system. See our Flash^® FAQs.

A chip is a mini-computer that gives the card the ability to store and process data securely. This processing power makes it extremely difficult to copy and reproduce cards and card information. This processing power is used with cryptography (a series of mathematical algorithms) to allow the card and the terminal to communicate with one another and carry out security checks to ensure the card is valid. Chip technology is based on a global standard for authenticating credit and debit card payments known as EMV, a proven technology currently in use around the world.

No, the chip does not include personal information about you or your financial accounts. The chip stores only payment-related information that allows the debit transaction to be authorized and processed; for example, the debit card number or the financial institution code. The chip also contains risk parameters and security keys to enable transactions and provide added protection.

The only information that merchants are allowed to store is the basic transaction data found on a receipt, such as the time, date, purchase amount and debit card number. This basic information is necessary in the event that a cardholder requests a trace. The only information stored from the debit card itself is the debit card number, which alone is not sufficient enough to create a counterfeit card or complete a fraudulent transaction.

Interac Flash^® is a contactless payment option which allows you to quickly and conveniently pay for smaller purchases without having to insert your card and enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN).

BlueShore Financial began issuing Flash^®-enabled Access Cards October 2015. All new clients as of that date received one, and all replacement cards are Flash^®-enabled. Any client can request a new Flash^® card free of charge during the introduction period.

Yes, your BlueShore Financial Interac Flash^® enabled Access Card is as safe to use as your current chip card. Both utilize the same secure processing technology that protects you against card skimming, counterfeiting, replay fraud and electronic pickpocketing. As well, you are protected by the Interac Zero Liability Policy if your card is ever lost or stolen.

The Interac Flash^® feature is activated the first time you make a successful point of sale purchase by inserting your card and entering your PIN.

If your purchase is less than $100, you can use either Flash^® (contactless) or chip and PIN (inserting the card). If it is more than $100, you must insert your card and use chip and PIN authentication. Both processing methods utilize secure chip technology.

Interac Flash^® is an optional feature, and you can request that it be enabled or disabled at any time by contacting the Solution Centre or advising staff at your next branch visit.

To make a payment, look for the Interac Flash^® logo and the contactless symbol on the card reader at the checkout. Hold your card over the screen of the reader. When you hear a beep or see an “approved” message, your transaction is complete.

In addition to the security features associated with the chip itself (see chip FAQs), Interac Flash^® has three important features that provide peace of mind:

1. Purchases using Interac Flash^® cannot exceed $1,000.00. If the transaction exceeds this limit you will be prompted to insert your card and enter your PIN.
2. The card has a cumulative spend limit of $200. Once this limit is reached you will be prompted to insert your card and enter your PIN. This confirms that the rightful owner is in possession of the card and prevents an unauthorized user from purchasing more than $200 worth of items. Each time you make a purchase by inserting your card and entering your PIN, your contactless cumulative limit is reset.
3. The Interac Zero Liability Policy protects you should you ever report your card lost or stolen. You will be reimbursed for any unauthorized transactions.

Yes, as explained above, purchases using Interac Flash^® cannot exceed $100.

No, there are no additional fees for using the Flash^® form of payment.

No, cards must be held no more than 4cm away from the terminal at a very specific angle in order to be verified by the terminal. In addition, terminals will be unable to read a card if it is in a wallet, purse or in your pocket.

There is no personal information exchanged in a Flash^® transaction that would be of any use to criminals; the card number on the front of the card is used only as an identifier to assist with completing the transaction.

Yes, the Interac Zero Liability Policy protects you from unauthorized transactions should you ever lose or have your card stolen.

No, Flash^® is only accepted in Canada.

If you have any issues with payment, whether it’s with Flash^® or chip, please call us. We may be able to assist you immediately. It’s always prudent to have an alternate method of payment in case we are unable to resolve the problem in a timely manner.