To cancel an Interac e-Transfer, open your bank’s mobile app or online banking, find the transfer in your sent or pending list, and select the cancel or stop payment option before the recipient deposits the funds.1Interac. Frequently Asked Questions Speed matters. Once the money lands in the recipient’s account, your bank can’t reverse it, and if the recipient uses Autodeposit that landing happens almost immediately.2Scotiabank Canada. Cancel Interac e-Transfer Transactions
The Steps in Your Banking App
The cancellation itself takes a couple of minutes:
- Log in to your online or mobile banking.
- Go to your Interac e-Transfer history or pending transfers section.
- Select the specific transfer you want to cancel.
- Choose the cancel or stop payment option.1Interac. Frequently Asked Questions
- Confirm on the summary screen, which will show any applicable fee before you finalize.
Menu names vary by bank, but the flow is the same across institutions.1Interac. Frequently Asked Questions Once you confirm, the payment instruction is voided.
What to Have Ready
Before you start, pull up the transfer in your transaction history so you can confirm you’re cancelling the right one. Useful details include:
- The reference number, a unique code created for each transfer and used to identify it if you have to contact your bank’s help desk.3Interac. Interac e-Transfer Help Topics – Section: Reference Number
- The recipient’s email address or phone number as you entered it.
- The date and dollar amount of the transfer.
- Which of your accounts the money was sent from, if you hold more than one.
Is There a Fee?
Most banks charge a small fee for a successful cancellation, and the amount depends on the institution. CIBC charges $3.50 for a successful cancellation.4CIBC. How to Stop an Interac e-Transfer Payment National Bank also charges $3.50.5National Bank. How Do I Cancel an Interac e-Transfer Some banks charge up to $5, others waive the fee entirely, and a few offer a short grace period during which cancellations are free. Check your account agreement to see what applies to you.
When the Money Comes Back
Once the cancellation is processed, the funds return to your account. In most cases, the credit appears instantly.2Scotiabank Canada. Cancel Interac e-Transfer Transactions It can occasionally take up to one business day, depending on your bank’s processing times. The refund shows as a credit entry, and the original transfer is marked as cancelled. If a cancellation fee applied, the credit will be the transfer amount minus that fee. Most banks send an email or text confirmation.
If the Recipient Has Autodeposit
Autodeposit lets recipients receive incoming e-Transfers directly into their bank account without answering a security question.1Interac. Frequently Asked Questions When it’s enabled on the recipient’s side, the funds land almost instantly and the transfer can’t be cancelled through your bank.2Scotiabank Canada. Cancel Interac e-Transfer Transactions Your only route is to contact the recipient and ask them to send the money back.
If the Recipient Has Already Deposited the Funds
Once a deposit has been made, there’s no way to reverse the transaction through your bank. You’ll need to make arrangements directly with the recipient. Interac’s official guidance is to contact the recipient and ask them to return the money.1Interac. Frequently Asked Questions If you sent to someone you know, they’ll usually just send a new e-Transfer back.
If the recipient is a stranger or unresponsive, you can use the Interac Request Money feature through your banking platform to send a formal request for the amount. They aren’t obligated to comply, but the request creates a documented communication. If someone refuses to return funds they received in error, you may have grounds to pursue the matter in your province’s small claims court; filing fees and claim limits vary by province. Keep the transfer confirmation, the recipient’s contact details, and any messages where you asked for the money back.
If the Recipient Never Deposits It
An unclaimed Interac e-Transfer expires after 30 calendar days. When that happens, you get a notification with instructions on how to reclaim the funds.6Interac. Interac e-Transfer Help Topics Even if you miss the cancellation window, you can wait out the 30 days and recover the money automatically, as long as the recipient doesn’t deposit it in the meantime.7RBC Royal Bank. Cancel or Reclaim an Interac e-Transfer
If the Transfer Was Part of a Scam
Cancellation is one path; fraud is another. If you sent an e-Transfer because someone impersonated a business, a government agency, or a person you trust, contact your bank immediately to report the fraudulent transaction. Even if the transfer can’t be reversed, your bank may flag the recipient’s account and assist with an investigation.
File a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as well. You can report online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or call 1-888-495-8501, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Eastern time.8Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Report Fraud and Cybercrime Contact your local police too, especially if the amount is significant. A police report creates an official record that can support a bank investigation and any later effort to recover the funds.