Payments Canada has published research showing broad consumer interest in real-time payments as Canada prepares to launch the Real-Time Rail in the fourth quarter of 2026 following comprehensive testing. The system will enable instant, data-rich account-to-account payments around the clock, with 52% of Canadians finding real-time payments appealing and 34% likely to switch once they become available. Interest is highest among younger and middle-aged Canadians, at 57% and 54%, respectively. Consumers identified person-to-person transfers and credit card bill payments as the leading use cases for sending funds, followed by emergency cross-border payments. Preferred scenarios for receiving funds included person-to-person transfers, government payments, refunds and insurance reimbursements. The findings are based on a nationally representative online survey of about 1,500 Canadian adults conducted between September and October 2025.
2026-08-17Payments Canada
Payments Canada finds strong consumer demand ahead of Real-Time Rail launch in fourth quarter 2026
Payments Canada research found that 52% of Canadians consider real-time payments appealing and 34% are likely to switch once they become available. The Real-Time Rail is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026, enabling instant, data-rich account-to-account payments around the clock.