Target is giving Canadian customers a free year of credit monitoring

Target is offering an olive branch to its Canadian customers after the news broke that they were affected  (albeit marginally) by the retailer’s massive December security breach. Though the issue was less severe in Canada and only included the release of customer contact information (as opposed to the payment data of less-fortunate American shoppers), Target is  prepared to offer those impacted a year of free credit monitoring. The company sent out an e-mail to the roughly 700,000 Canadians it suspects may have been jeopardized. This offering comes at a particularly tough time for the big-box retailer, who recently pointed out that profitability in Canada isn’t on the horizon any time soon.

For those who wish to cash in on the giveaway, Target’s package from Atlanta-based agency Equifax includes a credit report, monitoring of unusual activity, quarterly credit score updates and up to $25,000 in identity theft insurance. This seems like a pretty solid protective measure for anyone who was worried that their security may have been compromised. We’re not sure how many customers will actually take advantage of this offer, but either way it looks like Target is placing higher value on customer retention than the bottom line—at least for now.