Interac e-Transfer fees in Canada
An Interac e-Transfer fee is a charge from your bank or credit union for sending money, not a charge from a store. Interac says it does not bill that fee directly to you. The bank decides whether you pay, and how much.
Last checked: Oct 2026
What the line is
Interac e-Transfer sends money from online or mobile banking at a participating Canadian financial institution. You need an email address or a mobile number for the person you pay. The notice goes by email or text. The money moves between financial institutions in Canada. Standard text messaging charges can still apply.
If you are registered for Autodeposit, Interac says the money goes into the account automatically. If you are not, you deposit it from the link in the notice. If nobody deposits it within 30 days, Interac says it expires and the sender can reclaim it. Declining a transfer is irreversible.
On the statement, a fee for sending is separate from the amount you sent. Write both. A wire transfer is a different service.
Who sets the fee
Interac's fee page says the wholesale prices on that page are paid by financial institutions. Interac does not charge Interac e-Transfer fees directly to customers. It lists $0.08 for a transaction it calls non-on-us, and $0.04 for one it calls on-us. Those are not the numbers to expect on your statement. Interac says your institution may charge you to send a transfer, the amount is that institution's decision, and depending on the account package it can be free. A regular transaction fee may also apply, and it may already be included in the package.
Interac's help page says that if you deposit a transfer through online banking at a participating institution, there is no fee for that deposit. Any institution can change its plans. Ask your own bank what sending and receiving cost on your package.
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says banks must disclose the fees they charge for Interac e-Transfers. The fee is set by the bank. You need a bank account and an email address or mobile number. FCAC says you do not need a debit card to send or receive one. The included transfers, if any, are in the account agreement.
How Zelle compares, in the US only
Zelle is not Interac, and it is not a Canadian service. Zelle says that to use it, the sender and the recipient must have US bank accounts. Zelle says it is not for international transfers. You use the other person's email address or US mobile number, inside a participating bank's app or online banking.
Zelle's fee answer says that typically there is no fee for a consumer to send or receive money, and that you should confirm your bank or credit union does not charge one. A footnote on that page says a first quarter 2026 survey found that 99.40% of consumer savings and checking accounts linked to Zelle do not charge a fee to send, receive, or request money. That is Zelle's figure about US accounts. It is not a promise that your Canadian bank waives Interac e-Transfer.
Zelle also says a payment to someone who is already enrolled typically arrives in minutes and cannot be reversed. You can cancel only if the recipient has not enrolled yet. Interac's 30 day expiry is a different rule, from Interac's own help page. Do not treat the two fees as the same.
Questions
- Does Interac charge me the e-Transfer fee?
- Interac says it does not charge customers directly. Your bank or credit union may charge you to send one. The amount depends on the account, and it can be included in the package.
- What are the $0.08 and $0.04 figures?
- Interac lists those as wholesale fees financial institutions pay Interac, not as the fee on your statement. Ask your bank what you pay.
- Is receiving an Interac e-Transfer free?
- Interac says depositing through online banking at a participating institution has no fee. Your institution can change its plan, so confirm the package on your account.
- Is Zelle the US version of Interac, with the same fee?
- No. Zelle requires US bank accounts for the sender and the recipient. Zelle says consumers typically pay no fee, and its page cites a 2026 survey of US accounts. Your Canadian bank still sets the Interac e-Transfer fee.
Sources
Related guides
Free is $0 USD. The PDF stays on your device.