Wave to pay at McDonald’s(R)? I’m lovin’ it(R)!

Visa’s contactless technology now available at participating McDonald’s restaurants across Canada

Toronto - Visa announced today that more than 1,400 McDonald’s restaurants have joined a growing roster of Visa payWaveTM contactless payment enabled merchants across Canada. Diners will now be able to simply “wave and go” when purchasing a Big Mac®, a Happy Meal® or any of their favourite menu items at McDonald’s.

Contactless payments deliver speed and convenience to merchants and Visa cardholders while offering the built-in security benefits inherent in chip technology. Currently available nationwide for front counter service, McDonald’s will be accepting Visa payWave at drive thru counters later this summer.

“We’re excited to be able to offer our customers the convenience, speed and security of contactless payments in our restaurants,” said Jacques Mignault, Chief Operating Officer, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited.

“Visa’s global experience has shown that contactless payments are more convenient and faster than cash and are the perfect solution for on-the-go smaller purchases, like McDonald’s meals,” said Mike Bradley, Head of Products, Visa Canada. “It’s exciting to have one of Canada’s favourite restaurant chains onboard, offering the convenience of contactless payments to Visa cardholders.”

Visa payWave cards employ EMV chip technology, which uses a standard 128-bit encryption technology, to securely store and encrypt confidential information. When customer uses their card at McDonald’s, Visa payWave transmits the payment information securely to the terminal reader and the purchase is processed in the same manner as a swiped transaction. The card and the terminal exchange security information, then conduct a secure payment transaction, all in less than one-third of a second. The cardholder does not need to swipe their card or let it out of their possession keeping the transaction quick and secure.

Visa employs a layered approach to its fraud prevention efforts, including Zero Liability, which protects card holders against fraud if a stolen Visa card is used to purchase goods in person, online, by mail or by phone.

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About McDonald’s Canada

McDonald’s is the leading foodservice company in the world. McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited and its Canadian franchisees own and operate more than 1,400 restaurants and employ more than 77,000 Canadians coast to coast. Approximately 75 per cent of McDonald’s Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs. For more information about McDonald’s Canada, visit the company’s web site at www.mcdonalds.ca