MARKHAM, ON – Everlink Payment Services Inc. is pleased to announce it has achieved a significant technological milestone by becoming the first in North America to provide a financial institution with the ability to instantly issue fully personalized Interac Flash™ enabled debit cards in its branches. This achievement was fully realized on January 28th when Sunova Credit Union began leveraging the recently enhanced Everlink Instant Card Issuance (ICI) solution, a web-based, turn-key solution for the on-demand issuance of fully personalized EMV chip debit cards for its members.

“At Everlink we make it a priority to ensure that our clients are kept on the leading edge of payments technology,” says Mark Ripplinger, President of Everlink. “The introduction of Interac Flash is sure to have a fundamental impact on the way Canadians pay for goods and services. Thanks to our ICI solution, Sunova’s credit union members will be able to enter their local branch, have a fully personalized Interac Flash EMV Chip debit card produced on location – including customized card images, and full personalization of the Chip – and walk out in less than 5 minutes.  This is something that no other financial institution today can claim.”

Sunova’s members have enjoyed being at the forefront of payments innovations in the past. When Sunova implemented the Everlink ICI solution in 2011, it became the first financial institution in North America to be able to instantly issue EMV chip debit cards in branch.  Now its members will be among the first credit union issued  cardholders to  capitalize on this new contactless enhancement of Interac Debit that boasts a faster payment option for small everyday purchases at a growing number of retailers including McDonalds and Cineplex (who announced their acceptance of Interac Flash in the fall of 2012).

“Continuing our trend of bringing innovative products and services to our members, Sunova is proud to bring even more convenient payments to life through Interac Flash,” says Dallas Kostna, Vice President & CIO, Sunova Credit Union. “This solution was much easier for us to bring to market since we’re already using Everlink’s Instant Card Issuance for Interac chip debit cards in all of our branches. We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Everlink and better serve our members.”

Everlink’s ICI solution offers financial institutions the ability to provide highly customized cards – with multiple card images for cardholders to choose from – and full personalization of the chip and printing of the cardholder data as defined by the financial institution. It also provides a number of additional security features including the ability to print the cardholder’s picture onto the back of the card and to select their PIN immediately after their card is produced. It serves the needs of financial institutions interested in offering additional personalized in-branch services to their members / customers.

Incorporated in 1955 (then known as South Interlake Credit Union) Sunova has 11 branches and almost 28,000 members throughout Winnipeg and rural Manitoba. Sunova is a vibrant, innovative and friendly full-service financial institution dedicating to providing outstanding service and developing life-long relationships built on mutual trust, financial expertise and a genuine desire to help members achieve their financial goals.

Everlink Payment Services Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive, innovative and integrated payments solutions and services for credit unions, banks, and independent sales organizations across Canada. In addition to supplying best-in-breed technology infrastructure and payment network connectivity via our well established Payment Network Gateway, we offer a diversified range of integrated payments Lines of Business including: ATM Managed Services, Card Issuance & Management, Fraud Management, POS Acquiring and Professional Services.

Complementing the strength of these six primary Lines of Business is the ongoing commitment to Client-Centricity demonstrated by our entire staff. At Everlink we are dedicated to building, maintaining and nurturing long-lasting relationships, our continuing goal being to assist our clients remain competitive and successful by providing the innovative technologies they need to serve their growing base of members, customers, or merchants.

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Interac, Interac Flash and Interac e-Transfer are trade-marks of Interac Inc. Used under license.