Visa: Canadians Want More Debit Options

Canadian consumers want more debit card options, according to a report released by Visa Inc., which is expanding its debit program into Canada.

Visa said that 66% of Canadian consumers said they would like to have more choices for debit cards; Interac Association is the country's only debit brand.

Visa and MasterCard Inc. have said this year that they are talking to Canadian banks about issuing their PIN debit cards (there are no signature debit cards there).

Debit cards are the most commonly-used payment method in Canada.

Pollara, a Toronto market research company, surveyed 3,227 consumers across Canada between June 26 and July 5.

"The launch of Visa debit will increase competition in the Canadian direct payment marketplace," Tim Wilson, head of Visa's Canadian unit, said in a press release Tuesday. "Visa debit will lay the groundwork for further payment innovations and will offer merchants and consumers another choice in how they pay and are paid."

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