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Increasing demand during the pandemic is also occurring for relatively new in-app and in-browser payments with Interac debit, something the company is working with merchants and financial institutions on expanding.

Such payments have grown by double digits over the past few months “due to demand for merchants that offer in-app food delivery services,” according to the company.

Interac said contactless spending hit a high in mid-March, when consumers rushed to stock up on supplies. With the need for physical distancing and constant hand-washing during the pandemic, the company said it is in talks with its partners to help enable contactless, or “tap,” payments where they may not be currently accepted.

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The company’s “Flash” contactless service limits transactions to $100, or $200 for consecutive transactions, above which consumers have to insert their chip and enter their PIN number.

Credit-card companies have moved to hike tap limits during the current crisis, but Interac is not doing so at this point, citing the number of players involved in processing transactions, making tweaks “a large undertaking.”

New “fraud threats” that have arisen during the current crisis is another concern.

“By not raising transaction limits, we are doing our part to protect Canadians and the ability to transact using their money during this unprecedented time,” Interac said.

The firm said it is also in talks with governments about how it could help them send support payments, such as Alberta’s recent use of e-transfers to send emergency one-time funding to residents who were self-isolating and couldn’t work.