Samsung Pay Support Expands in Canada

“…Samsung cited Retail Finance Intelligence data indicating that Canadians’ use of cash has been declining by five percent a year since 2011, with almost 60 percent of Canadian consumers saying they are comfortable using digital-only payment services…”

More Canadian can now use Samsung Pay, Samsung’s biometrically secured mobile payment system.

The platform first launched in the country near the end of last year, with the support of CIBC, one of Canada’s biggest banks. Now, Samsung Pay has the added support of Scotiabank, another of Canada’s Big Five banks, as well as ATB Financial, Interac Debit, American Express, Mastercard, and Visa.

In a statement announcing the expanded support, Samsung cited Retail Finance Intelligence data indicating that Canadians’ use of cash has been declining by five percent a year since 2011, with almost 60 percent of Canadian consumers saying they are comfortable using digital-only payment services – “a clear indication that Canadians are looking for a digital wallet solution,” the company said.

The expanded support arrives soon after the launch of the Galaxy Note8, the latest of Samsung’s flagship smartphones to support iris recognition as well as fingerprint recognition. Either biometric modality can be used to confirm Samsung Pay transactions, so there should be more shoppers scanning their fingers and eyes at the Tim Hortons counter going forward.