As 2024 comes to an end, we’re reflecting on a year in which many Canadians continued to face rising financial pressures, from the increasing cost of living to everyday expenses. In response to these challenges, Interac doubled down its community impact efforts to support Canadians—especially newcomers—in building their financial confidence. Through a variety of initiatives, we equipped individuals with the tools, knowledge, and mentorship needed to enhance their financial wellbeing and guide them toward digital prosperity.
Empowering Newcomers through Mentorship and Digital Tools
This year, we launched our first-ever Financial Confidence Summit for Newcomers in partnership with ACCES Employment. This important initiative was designed to help newcomers to Canada navigate the Canadian financial system confidently. Recognizing that many newcomers face unique challenges in adapting to a new country, we sought to provide practical financial knowledge on topics such as financial wellness, fraud prevention, and financial planning.
The summit brought together experts in payments and community leaders and participants not only gained invaluable knowledge, but also had the opportunity to engage, ask questions, and learn in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
Building on this momentum, Interac became the lead sponsor of the Butterfly App by Credit Canada—an innovative, free budgeting tool designed to help Canadians, especially newcomers, track expenses and build sustainable financial habits so they can stay in control of their money.
Our partnership with Conscious Economics also saw the continued expansion of Mindfulness & Money, a program designed to show how personal well-being profoundly impacts financial decision-making. Since its inception, Mindfulness & Money has empowered over 380,000 Canadians to make better financial choices while staying grounded, providing them with the resilience needed to thrive in an unpredictable financial landscape.
A Record-Breaking Year of Employee Giving
In 2024, our Giving Week Campaign in support of United Way raised over $260,000, setting a record for team Interac. This achievement was made possible through the generosity of Interac employees and our corporate match. The funds raised benefited numerous United Way agencies, helping to provide women and newcomers with the essential resources needed to build better lives. Overall, in 2024, Interac proudly invested more than $1.3 million in community-led organizations and supported over 50 Canadian charities from coast to coast.
In addition to monetary support, our employees also volunteered more than 1,200 hours of their time actively supporting communities across Canada through mentorship programs, shoreline cleanups, and purpose driven employee engagement.
Advancing Women in Leadership: Globe Women’s Collective and HeARTwork
At Interac, we are committed to gender equity and advancing women in the workplace. In 2024, we launched a new partnership with Globe Women’s Collective to give employees access to networking and learning and development opportunities. This work provided the opportunity to showcase women within our own walls and policies and programs we’ve launched to help break down barriers women face in growing their careers.
A key part of our ongoing commitment to advancing women in leadership is the support of HeARTwork,a program developed by Conscious Economics and supported by the Government of Canada. This innovative initiative offers a solutions-based framework that tackles the intersectional barriers diverse women face in advancing their careers. By understanding how race, gender, and other factors intersect, HeARTwork provides actionable recommendations to corporate Canada on how to address these challenges.
Through HeARTwork, Interac has collaborated with other trusted Canadian brands to raise awareness of the unique obstacles diverse women encounter, while taking proactive steps to preserve and amplify their invaluable perspectives. This program has helped shape policies at Interac, creating more inclusive practices that foster a future of work where women from all backgrounds have the support they need to thrive.
Looking Ahead: Continuing to Build Financial Confidence
As we reflect on 2024, we are proud of the progress we’ve made in helping Canadians build financial confidence, from our Financial Confidence Summit for Newcomers to employee-driven giving initiatives and support for women in leadership. Looking ahead, we are excited to build on this momentum, supporting individuals in taking control of their financial futures and leading Canadians toward digital prosperity.
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