INKAS
Encyclopedia
INKAS Group of Companies is a privately-held, Canadian
company specializing in security
and protection services headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 1995, INKAS acted initially as an armed messenger service. Later they grew to a conglomerate
offering a wide variety of security services that include: armored vehicle manufacturing; safe
manufacturing; merchant services
(e.g., point-of-sale and electronic transaction processing
); and the company's traditional armored courier and armed guard services
. INKAS has Canadian offices in Toronto and Gatineau
, Quebec
, with overseas offices in Russia
, Israel
, and Lagos
, Nigeria
.
, Ontario
, INKAS Security Services was created in 1995 for the provisioning of armed messenger services.
INKAS Armed Courier Service has been around over ten years. They focus on transferring money, jewelry and even people from one point to another. Each personnel are armed with weapons and armed vehicles which vary between Dodge Sprinters, Ford Econoline 350s, Freightliners, Ford F-150’s and even armored Jeep Cherokees.
s (ATM), cash loading, and cash-in-transit
(CIT) deposit services. Later, INKAS made the strategic decision to enter the online transaction processing
business. To that end, INKAS Finance Corporation was created in 1998.
In 2001, INKAS created INKAS Financial Corporation Limited (UK) in order to expand its ATM/POS operations into the United Kingdom
(UK). That same year, the UK operations of INKAS became a full member of the UK's largest transaction network, LINK (UK)
. Membership in LINK UK enabled INKAS's ATM/POS operations to avail themselves of network connections to virtually every large UK bank and their associated ATMs. Three years later, in 2004, in an all-cash deal, INKAS sold its UK financial arm to TRM Corporation. At that time, INKAS Financial UK had grown to 450 ATM sites, being "both merchant-owned and full-placement programs." At the time, the annual gross revenue of the business unit acquired was $4.75 million, with a then UK market share of 20%.
In 2008 DirectCash acquired the entire ATM Business of INKAS, leaving INKAS to expand their Merchant Services business.
Before being acquired by Direct Cash, INKAS had a total of 711 ATM sites across Canada, which gave Direct Cash, a total of 6000 ATMs. The unique service INKAS provides is the ability to access live information about transactions immediately, using a web application, easily accessible through the web.
INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing was established in 1993. Since then they have been supplying banks, law enforcement agencies and VIP
individuals with their services and product while keeping their product civil.
While creating their armored vehicles in their 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) manufacturing facility, INKAS also focuses on personal and corporate safety concerns with their secure transportation services using their vehicles, made in their facility. Their main focus is not just army personal vehicles. They also focus on bringing their manufacturing to luxurious vehicles, such as Mercedes and Lexus sedans.
Each vehicle goes through certain ballistic tests, as well as being tested under harsh conditions in their shooting range which can be found in their facility.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
company specializing in security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
and protection services headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 1995, INKAS acted initially as an armed messenger service. Later they grew to a conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
offering a wide variety of security services that include: armored vehicle manufacturing; safe
Safe
A safe is a secure lockable box used for securing valuable objects against theft or damage. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face removable or hinged to form a door. The body and door may be cast from metal or formed out of plastic through blow molding...
manufacturing; merchant services
Merchant services
Merchant services is the name given in the United States to a broad category of financial services intended for use by businesses. In its most specific use, it usually refers to the service that enables a business to accept a transaction payment by use of the customer's credit or debit card...
(e.g., point-of-sale and electronic transaction processing
Online transaction processing
Online transaction processing, or OLTP, refers to a class of systems that facilitate and manage transaction-oriented applications, typically for data entry and retrieval transaction processing...
); and the company's traditional armored courier and armed guard services
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
. INKAS has Canadian offices in Toronto and Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, with overseas offices in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
INKAS Security Services
INKAS's first business unit was INKAS Security Services. With head offices in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, INKAS Security Services was created in 1995 for the provisioning of armed messenger services.
INKAS Armed Courier Service has been around over ten years. They focus on transferring money, jewelry and even people from one point to another. Each personnel are armed with weapons and armed vehicles which vary between Dodge Sprinters, Ford Econoline 350s, Freightliners, Ford F-150’s and even armored Jeep Cherokees.
INKAS Merchant Services
INKAS was founded in 1996. In the beginning, the main focus was the provisioning of security services offering amoured courier services for automated teller machineAutomated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
s (ATM), cash loading, and cash-in-transit
Cash-in-transit
Cash-in-transit or Cash/valuables-in-transit are terms used to refer to the physical transfer of banknotes, coins and items of value from one location to another....
(CIT) deposit services. Later, INKAS made the strategic decision to enter the online transaction processing
Online transaction processing
Online transaction processing, or OLTP, refers to a class of systems that facilitate and manage transaction-oriented applications, typically for data entry and retrieval transaction processing...
business. To that end, INKAS Finance Corporation was created in 1998.
In 2001, INKAS created INKAS Financial Corporation Limited (UK) in order to expand its ATM/POS operations into the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(UK). That same year, the UK operations of INKAS became a full member of the UK's largest transaction network, LINK (UK)
LINK (UK)
LINK is a shared interbank network of automated teller machines operating in the United Kingdom. The network counts 37 member institutions, of which many are various banks and building societies issuing LINK ATM cards, and the remainder are independent ATM operators who do not issue cards...
. Membership in LINK UK enabled INKAS's ATM/POS operations to avail themselves of network connections to virtually every large UK bank and their associated ATMs. Three years later, in 2004, in an all-cash deal, INKAS sold its UK financial arm to TRM Corporation. At that time, INKAS Financial UK had grown to 450 ATM sites, being "both merchant-owned and full-placement programs." At the time, the annual gross revenue of the business unit acquired was $4.75 million, with a then UK market share of 20%.
In 2008 DirectCash acquired the entire ATM Business of INKAS, leaving INKAS to expand their Merchant Services business.
Before being acquired by Direct Cash, INKAS had a total of 711 ATM sites across Canada, which gave Direct Cash, a total of 6000 ATMs. The unique service INKAS provides is the ability to access live information about transactions immediately, using a web application, easily accessible through the web.
INKAS Safe Manufacturing
Founded in 1999, INKAS Safe Manufacturing builds luxury and customized safes for retailers, government agencies, financial institutions, jewellery stores, pharmaceutical chains and home owners. INKAS Safe Manufacturing also distributes other products including cash depositories, fireproof filing cabinets, and dials and locks. INKAS Safe Manufacturing markets these safes through a network of 2,000 locksmiths, 1000 safe technicians, and 50 Dealers and Distributors located across North America.INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing
In 2004, INKAS's manufacturing division expanded to begin manufacturing its own armoured vehicles, creating INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing, as a complement to the company's armed messenger service.INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing was established in 1993. Since then they have been supplying banks, law enforcement agencies and VIP
VIP
VIP and V.I.P. is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:-In general:* Vacuum insulated panel* Values, Influence, and Peers, an anti-crime campaign in Ontario elementary schools* Variable Information Printing, a form of on-demand printing...
individuals with their services and product while keeping their product civil.
While creating their armored vehicles in their 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) manufacturing facility, INKAS also focuses on personal and corporate safety concerns with their secure transportation services using their vehicles, made in their facility. Their main focus is not just army personal vehicles. They also focus on bringing their manufacturing to luxurious vehicles, such as Mercedes and Lexus sedans.
Each vehicle goes through certain ballistic tests, as well as being tested under harsh conditions in their shooting range which can be found in their facility.