Your guide to using Interac Flash with CIBC

Interac Flash is a way of spending contactlessly with your Interac card¹. It allows you to transact without needing a PIN, and can help speed up everyday purchases at many stores across Canada. Interac Flash is available through CIBC.

This guide will cover setup, limits, and fees for using Interac Flash on a CIBC card. You’ll also learn about the Wise card and how it can help you save money when you travel abroad or when you pay in different currencies.

Wise: save on the foreign transaction fees

How does Interac Flash work with CIBC?

Interac Flash allows you to spend contactlessly at merchants in Canada - you can tap your card on a reader, and your account will automatically be debited for the transaction.

If you want to use Interac Flash with your CIBC card, look for merchant terminals with the Interac Flash logo - this means that they accept this as a method of payment. When you tap your card against the reader, it will debit the chequing account linked to the card, unless none is present. In this case, it will debit the linked savings account. The transaction will be declined if you don’t have either a chequing or savings account linked to the card.

You can also use Interac Flash with your CIBC card on mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay².

How to set up and use Interac Flash with CIBC

When you receive your first CIBC card, you’ll need to complete a transaction using your PIN the first time you want to use it. Once you’ve done this, Interac Flash will be available for use on further transactions.

If you need a replacement card, you’ll be able to skip this step, and use Interac Flash from the first transaction.

Activating Interac Flash on your CIBC card

To activate Interac Flash on your CIBC card, simply complete a PIN transaction, and it will be automatically enabled for future use. After this, any replacement CIBC cards you receive - for example if you lose your card, or if it expires - will also have this enabled.

If you want to disable this feature, you can do so by calling 1 800 465-CIBC (2422), or by visiting your nearest branch. If you choose to do this, any future cards will also have this feature disabled.

Making purchases with Interac Flash

Interac Flash helps make it faster to complete everyday purchases:

1. Simply look for the Interac Flash logo on the merchant terminal
2. Tell the vendor that this is how you would like to pay
3. Tap your card against the reader, and your account will be automatically debited

CIBC imposes a 250 CAD limit on Interac Flash payments³. For higher value payments, you’ll need to insert your card and input a PIN. However, it’s worth noting that some retailers may have lower limits, meaning that you could need to use your PIN for lower value purchases.

Interac Flash CIBC transaction basics

Fees and limits of Interac Flash with CIBC

There are some fees and limits that it’s important you are aware of when using Interac Flash with CIBC.

Account maintenance and card fees

Whilst there are no fees for using Interac Flash on a day-to-day basis, some CIBC cards have fees associated with them, which still apply when you make a contactless payment. Some chequing accounts also have a monthly fee, whereas savings accounts are more likely to have a record-keeping or transaction fee⁴.

If you spend using your CIBC Advantage Debit card outside of Canada, you’ll be charged a 2.5% administrative fee⁴. CIBC will also convert your money from CAD to the local currency using their own exchange rate, which may include an exchange rate markup.

In this case, you’ll get less foreign currency for your Canadian dollars than you would using the mid-market rate. If you’re thinking of sending money abroad, or spending internationally, you should consider specialist providers, such as Wise, who may be able to give a better rate so your money goes further.

Transaction fees and charges

When using your CIBC card to make Interac Flash payments domestically, there is no specific charge associated with each transaction. However, if you make out-of-network ATM withdrawals, you’ll be charged depending on where you are³:

• 1.5 CAD domestically
• 3 CAD plus a 2.5% administrative fee in the USA
• 5 CAD plus a 2.5% administrative fee outside of the US and Canada

These charges can stack up fairly quickly - particularly if you are taking cash out or spending abroad regularly. Using a provider which has a low cost card with low or no fee cash withdrawals such as Wise can mean you save.

Currency conversion for cross-border payments

When you spend using your CIBC card abroad, you’ll be charged a 2.5% administrative fee⁴ on all transactions. CIBC also sets their own exchange rate, which may include an exchange rate markup. This means that the rate may be less favourable than the mid-market rate, so you pay more, and receive less foreign currency than with other providers. This applies whether you are spending abroad, or if you are sending money abroad.

If you plan on making cross-border payments, it is worth investigating other providers which avoid this hidden fee by using the mid-market exchange rate for all transactions, like Wise.

Can Interac Flash be used internationally?

As Interac is a domestic Canadian system, you can’t use Interac Flash abroad. If you want to shop internationally, you’ll use Visa to pay⁵ - you’ll need to look for the Visa logo at the merchant where you are spending. When spending abroad, you’ll need to input your PIN.

When you spend abroad, your Canadian dollars will be converted to the local currency. This is done by CIBC, who set their own exchange rate. This may be less favourable than the mid-market rate, meaning that you pay more than expected. You’ll also be charged a 2.5% administration fee⁴. This can add up quickly, making it important to think about which provider you use when spending abroad.

Interac Flash CIBC international use vs Wise

Wise as an alternative for international spending

If you’re planning on spending abroad, you can’t use Interac, and may be charged over-the-odds by your bank to convert your Canadian dollars to other currencies. Instead, consider using Wise.

The Wise card helps you spend like a local. You can spend from your main currency at the mid-market rate or convert your money to the local currency before spending, with no hidden costs.

What's more, you can get your virtual card right away or get your first physical card for free after you open a Wise account!

You can withdraw up to 350 CAD in 2 free withdrawals each month using the Wise card when you're abroad. After this, you are charged a small fee per withdrawal.

While Wise will not charge you for withdrawals within these limits, independent providers might charge you separate fees when you use their ATMs.

Is Interac Flash CIBC right for you?

Interac Flash CIBC is likely to be right for you if you are only planning on spending in Canada. If you want to spend abroad, you may still be able to use your CIBC card, but this will not be done through the Interac system.

When spending in other currencies, you’ll be charged to convert your Canadian dollars, an extra cost to spending abroad which can stack up quickly. As a result, consider alternatives such as Wise to minimise this and make the most of your money.

Conclusion

Interac Flash is designed to make everyday purchases within Canada easy, and does so by allowing you to pay contactlessly at merchants across the country. Whilst this convenience is useful, it is limited to domestic purchases within Canada, and is not available abroad.

International spending can be expensive due to exchange rate markups for currency conversions, which occur in addition to the 2.5% administrative fee charged by CIBC. For international spending and transfers, instead consider specialist providers like Wise, who use the mid-market rate to make sure that more money reaches your recipient.

Sources verified on 24 November 2025