With today's announcement, BMO Bank of Montreal joins RBC, Scotiabank and TD Canada Trust who currently provide the INTERAC Online service.

"INTERAC Online brings the ease, security and convenience Canadians get with debit, to the Internet," said Mark O'Connell, President and CEO, Acxsys Corporation. "With the addition of BMO Bank of Montreal to the growing number of financial institutions and merchants that offer INTERAC Online, this INTERAC service continues to gain momentum, making it easier for more Canadians to shop online securely."

INTERAC Online is secure and easy-to-use because it works with the existing online banking services of Canada's leading financial institutions. Since the transaction is conducted within the customer's trusted online bank account, no card number or other personal information is shared with the online merchant and there is no need for any new passwords to be memorized.

"As a customer-first organization our focus is to remain at the forefront of adapting tools and technology that help to make our customers' everyday lives easier," said Michel Chalifoux, Vice-President, Card & Retail Payment Services, BMO Bank of Montreal. "By providing INTERAC Online to millions of BMO Bank of Montreal customers, BMO continues to expand and enhance its suite of products and services to ensure our customers have the most innovative, secure, convenient and user-friendly payment options at their disposal 24 hours a day."

Chalifoux noted that the INTERAC Online payment option also means that the bank's debit customers can add another convenient way to earn AIR MILES rewards, by using their debit cards to pay for online purchases. "BMO is the only major financial institution that rewards AIR MILES collectors for all of their debit card purchases, whenever and wherever they make them," added Chalifoux. "With the additional payment option of INTERAC Online, BMO has given its AIR MILES collectors even more choice and flexibility for earning rewards."