The short answer
Interac has no public status page for e-Transfer. It sends people to their own bank or credit union for any problem with a transfer.
If only your bank's app is failing, it's your bank. If people at several different banks can't send e-Transfers at once, it's Interac, and Interac usually says so on its website or social accounts.
Either way, check your transfer history before you resend anything. A transfer that's listed is in the system and will usually complete once service is back.
Interac or your bank: how to tell
An e-Transfer passes through two banks and the Interac network in between. Any of the three can fail, and they look different from where you sit.
| What you see | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Your bank's app or website won't load, or won't let you sign in | Your bank |
| Your banking works, but e-Transfers fail with an error | Your bank's e-Transfer service, or Interac |
| A friend at a different bank has the same problem at the same time | Interac |
| Your transfer went through but the recipient can't deposit it | The recipient's bank |
Checks that take two minutes
- Look for a notice from your bank. Banks usually post a banner on their sign-in page or in their app when something is broken.
- Check Interac's website and its official social accounts. A network-wide problem is big news, and Interac has posted statements about past ones.
- Ask someone at a different bank to try a transfer. If it works for them, the problem is at your end.
- Check a crowd-sourced outage tracker. A spike in reports for one bank points to that bank. A spike for Interac across banks points to the network. These sites only show user reports, so treat them as a hint, not an answer.
Both kinds of outage have happened
On July 8, 2022, a nationwide Rogers network outage took down Interac Debit and Interac e-Transfer across Canada, at every bank at once. Interac later added a second network carrier and a backup connection so a single carrier failure can't do the same again.
On February 16, 2022, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank and CIBC had hours of online and mobile banking problems that took e-Transfers down with them, while TD reported no widespread outage. For customers of those banks it looked like Interac was down. It wasn't: the problem was at the banks.
What happens to a transfer sent during an outage
Check your transfer history first. Most double payments during an outage come from people who tried again when the first attempt looked like it failed.
- The transfer is listed (sent or pending): it's in the system. Delayed transfers usually complete once service is back, so don't send it again. If it's still stuck after service returns, see why an e-Transfer stays pending.
- The transfer isn't listed: it didn't go through. Wait until service is back, then send it once.
- You're not sure: call your bank before trying again. If you do end up sending twice, you can cancel the pending one, as long as it hasn't been deposited.
What to do if you're waiting for money
If someone tells you they sent an e-Transfer and it hasn't arrived, the notification is usually just delayed. Don't answer a "resend" request by giving out banking details. Outages are a favourite moment for scammers to send fake e-Transfer emails. Open your banking app directly rather than clicking a link. Normal timing is covered in how long an e-Transfer takes.
Who to contact
Your bank or credit union, every time. Interac says to contact your financial institution for any problem with an e-Transfer, because Interac doesn't hold the money and can't trace a transfer. Use the number on the back of your debit card or in your banking app. If your bank doesn't resolve a problem that cost you money, the complaint process starts with the bank and then goes to OBSI.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an Interac e-Transfer status page?
No. Interac doesn't publish a consumer status page for e-Transfer. It directs people to their own bank or credit union for any problem with a transfer, and posts major incidents on its website and social media accounts.
How do I know if Interac is down or just my bank?
If only your bank's app or website is failing, it's your bank. If people at several different banks can't send or receive e-Transfers at the same time, and Interac has posted about it, it's Interac. Ask someone who banks elsewhere to try a transfer.
What happens to an e-Transfer I sent during an outage?
Check your transfer history before doing anything. If the transfer is listed, it's in the system and will usually complete once service is back, so sending it again risks paying twice. If it isn't listed, it didn't go through and you can send it once service returns.
Who do I contact when e-Transfer isn't working?
Your bank or credit union. Interac says to contact your financial institution for any issue with an e-Transfer, because Interac doesn't hold the money and can't trace transfers.
Related guides
- How long does an e-Transfer take?
- Why is my e-Transfer pending?
- Why was my e-Transfer declined?
- Is this e-Transfer email real?
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