TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 24, 2013) - Acxsys Corporation and Interac Association have selected CGI Group Inc. (TSX:GIB.A)(NYSE:GIB) a global provider of information technology and business process services, to continue to manage the technology supporting the Interac network, the national payment network that allows Canadians to access their money through Interac Cash at 60,000 Automated Banking Machines, Interac Debit at 766,000 point-of-sale terminals across Canada and Interac Flash™.
Under this 6-year renewal and contract expansion, CGI will continue to be responsible for the technology management and operations of the Interac Inter-Member Network, a national payments network for the processing of Interac Debit, Interac Flash and Interac Cash transactions, and provide infrastructure services in support of Interac e-Transfer™ and Interac Online. With all services delivered to Acxsys and Interac Association by CGI's IT professionals based in Toronto and Montreal, CGI will also manage the infrastructure related to Acxsys' corporate functions.
"Whether it's to transfer money to a loved one or make a point-of-sale purchase, Canadians rely on the Interac network to be highly available," said Michael Rose, VP, Banking, CGI. "This contract extension underscores the long-term trust Acxsys has in CGI's ability to manage the technology that supports over 4 billion transactions made by Canadians each year."
"CGI has been our technology partner for well over a decade, and in that time we have seen the payment landscape become increasingly competitive, coupled with a year-over-year increase in the demand for our Interac branded services," said Amanda Holden, Vice President, Operations, Security and Technology, Interac Association and Acxsys Corporation. "That means more Canadians trust and expect us to provide 24/7, reliable, safe and secure access to their money and our ongoing investments in state of the art infrastructure will help us continue to deliver outstanding service and support future product development."
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is the fifth largest independent information technology and business process services firm in the world. Approximately 69,000 professionals serve thousands of global clients from offices and delivery centers across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, leveraging a comprehensive portfolio of services including high-end business and IT consulting, systems integration, application development and maintenance, infrastructure management as well as a wide range of proprietary solutions. With annualized revenue in excess of C$10 billion and an order backlog exceeding C$18 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Website: www.cgi.com .
About Interac Association and Acxsys Corporation
A recognized world leader in debit card services, Interac Association is responsible for the development and operations of the Interac network, a national payment network that allows Canadians to access their money through Interac Cash at 60,000 Automated Banking Machines and Interac Debit at 766,000 point-of-sale terminals across Canada. Interac Flash, a secure, contactless enhancement of Interac Debit, allows Canadians to pay for items instantly with their Interac chip debit card at a reader that supports Interac Flash.
Interac Association was founded in 1984 and is comprised of a diverse membership that includes banks, trust companies, credit unions, caisses populaires, merchants and technology and payment related companies.
Other related services offered by Acxsys Corporation, whose shareholders are the architects of the Interac network, include: Interac Online, for secure online payments made directly from a bank account; Interac e-Transfer™, for the transfer of money from one person's bank account to another person's bank account using an email address or a mobile phone number*; and international services, which provide Canadian cardholders with point-of-sale access at nearly 2 million U.S. retailers, and PULSE, Discover, Diners Club International and UnionPay cardholders access to ABMs in Canada.
Interac , the Interac logo, Interac Flash and Interac e-Transfer are trade-marks of Interac Inc. Used under license.
*The Interac e-Transfer service, for secure person-to-person payments, is currently available to customers of over 170 banks and credit unions including BMO Bank of Montreal, CIBC, President's Choice Financial, National Bank, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Canada Trust among others. Central 1, through participating credit unions, offers the option of using mobile phone numbers, in addition to email, to notify Interac e-Transfer recipients. Money never travels by email or text message. More information about the Interac e- Transfer service and a complete list of participating banks and credit unions can be found at www.interac.ca .
