Rules & documentation

By-laws, rules, standards and procedure documents are integral parts of the legal framework of the national payment systems that Payments Canada is legislated to establish and operate. They lay out the roles, responsibilities and obligations of our member financial institutions on the appropriate handling of payment items exchanged, cleared and settled via our payment systems. This includes requirements for participation in a payment system or scheme, procedures for the processing of payment items, and the requirements and timeframes for returning payment items, where eligible.

Payments Canada’s rules, standards and procedure documents are updated regularly and versions posted online are in force. You can contact Payments Canada for confirmation by e-mail at info@payments.ca.

Item Title Updated System
Rule K6
Intermember US Dollar Interest Claims
Retail batch payment system
Rule B1
Intermember Exchange and Clearing at Regional Exchange Points​​​
Retail batch payment system
Rule J10
Intermember Domestic Interest Claims/Compensation
Retail batch payment system
Rule B5
Intermember Cheque Exchanges
Retail batch payment system
Rule D4
Institution Numbers and Clearing Agency/Representative Arrangements
Retail batch payment system
Rule D3
Indirect Clearer Requirements
Retail batch payment system
Rule A10
Image Rule
Retail batch payment system
Rule A1
General Rules Pertaining to Items Acceptable for Clearing
Retail batch payment system
Rule G2
General Rules Pertaining to Government of Canada Paper Instruments
Retail batch payment system
Rule B4
Formation, Membership and Management of Regional Clearing Associations
Retail batch payment system
Rule J7
Force Majeure Situations
Retail batch payment system
Rule F7
Financial Institutions File (FIF)
Retail batch payment system