Best Bank Accounts for Newcomers to Canada

Picking a bank and opening an account is one of the first things you need to do as a Newcomer to Canada.

Luckily, all the big banks in Canada have a Newcomer Account package with everything you need to take care of your banking needs.

We’ve compared their features and some of the things to consider before you choose one.

Am I Eligible for a Newcomer Account?

In general, you are eligible to open an account with any of the top 5 banks as a Newcomer if you’ve been living in Canada for less than 5 years (3 years for Scotiabank).

Other conditions may apply, for example, you can’t open a Newcomer account if you have an existing account with the bank. Check the links below for the eligibility criteria for each of the banks.

Best Bank Accounts For Newcomers

Here is a quick summary of the bank account for Newcomers from the Big Banks in Canada for Newcomers.

Bank	Eligibility Period	No Minimum Balance/Monthly Fee	Offer Period	Free day-to-day Transactions	Credit Card
BMO	5	Yes	12 months	Yes	Yes
CIBC	5	Yes	2 years	Yes	Yes
RBC	5	Yes	12 months	Yes	Yes
ScotiaBank	3	Yes	12 months	Yes	Yes
TD Bank	5	Yes	12 months	Yes	Yes
HSBC	5	Yes	12 months	Yes	Yes
National Bank	5	Yes	up to 3 years	Yes	Yes

1. BMO NewStart Program

The BMO NewStart program can be opened before you land in Canada or within 5 years of becoming a permanent resident.

Some of the key features of the account includes:

No monthly fees during the 12 months offer period ($16.95/months afterwards)
Free unlimited transactions and Interac e-transfers
No annual fee Credit Card through the BMO CashBack MasterCard
Free Safety Deposit Box for the first year ($60 value)

Limited Time Offer: Get $450 when you open a chequing account, make a deposit between July 4, 2023 and October 31, 2023; and carry out any 2 of the following: set up a recurring direct deposit, make a bill payment or set up a pre-authorized payment by December 31, 2023.

For international students, the bank also has free banking during school and for the 12 months period after graduation.

Open a BMO Newcomers’ Account

2. CIBC Welcome to Canada Banking Package

CIBC offers free everyday banking for Newcomers to Canada through its CIBC Smart Account for Newcomers. You get the following and more by opening an account with the bank:

Monthly fees waived for the first 24 months
Free unlimited transactions and Interac e-transfers
No annual fee credit cards or 2-year rebates on selected credit cards (e.g. $99 fee on CIBC Dividend Platinum Visa Card is rebated for 2 years)
$60 cash back on a safety deposit box

Limited Time Offer: Get $350 when you open a new account, set a recurring direct deposit and complete one of the following 3: 2 recurring pre-authorized deposits, make two visa debits or 2 online bill payments of $50 or more each.

Newcomers can also get a car loan or mortgage without a credit history. Plus send money back home through the CIBC Global Money Transfer with $0 transfer fee.

3. RBC Newcomer Advantage

RBC is Canada’s largest bank, with the largest combined branch and ATM network. With the RBC Newcomer Advantage, Newcomers enjoy everything they need for their financial start in Canada.

Permanent residents, International students and foreign works can open an account under the program.

These are some of the benefits you get when you open an account:

No monthly account fees for 12 months
Unlimited Interac transfers
Two no-fee international money transfers per month for your first 12 months on select accounts. The offer ends by October 31, 2024.
No annual-fee credit card with no credit check
Car loan and mortgage with no Canadian credit history
Offers and services from selected partners, for example, Telus and Petro-Canada

Limited Time Offer: If you get the RBC Cash Back Mastercard, you can earn up to 12% cash back for your first 3 months of getting the card.

Learn more here: RBC New Account Promotions

4. ScotiaBank StartRight Program

The StartRight Program helps Newcomers start banking in Canada by offering savings, credit, international money transfers, loans, and access to Financial Advisors.

The following benefits are available to you when you open the Preferred Package account.

No monthly account fees for 12 months ($0 after the first year if you maintain a balance of $4,000, $16.95/month otherwise)
Unlimited no-fee international money transfers
Unlimited Interac e-transfers
Free Safety box for one year ($60 afterwards)
No annual fee credit cards (up to $5,000 limit) or waived on selected cards with fees.
Specialized mortgage and new vehicle loan (with only 10% down)
Free credit check through TransUnion.

It is available for Permanent Residents or Foreign workers with work permits that have been in Canada for less than 3 years.

5. TD New to Canada Banking

TD Bank is Canada’s second-largest bank. Unlike the other top 5 banks, only Newcomers that have been in Canada for less than 3 years are eligible for the program.

You can open either the TD Unlimited Chequing Account with unlimited transaction or TD Minimum Chequing Account with 1 free transaction per month.ane $3.00 per additional transaction.

With TD Unlimited Account, you get:

No monthly account fees for one year ($16.95 afterwards)
Unlimited transactions and free Interac transfers
Fee rebate on select credit cards
Special limited cash offers

Special Offer: Get a cash bonus of $300 when you open a TD Unlimited Chequing Account by January 31, 2024, and complete any 2 of the following on or before March 31, 2024: online bill payments of at least $50, recurring deposit from your employer/government or recurring pre-authorized deposit of at least $50.

6. National Bank Newcomers Account

With National Bank’s Newcomers Account, you can enjoy up to 3 years of no monthly fee banking.

The monthly fee of $15.95 is waived for the first 12 months, then discounted for the second and third years or free (if you sign up for selected products like getting a credit card, switching to online statements, setting up your payroll or online payments etc.)

Other benefits include:

You may qualify for a Mastercard credit card with no annual fee
Open an account with National Bank 90 days before you move to Canada

7. HSBC Newcomers Program

HSBC offers up to $1,500 in welcome bonus to new comers to Canada.

And given that its branch and ATM network is not as expansive as the other big banks, it may not be for everyone.

To qualify for the HSBC Canada Newcomers Program, you must have been living in Canada for less than 5 years.

Some of the benefits you could get include:

No monthly fees for 12 months
Up to $1,500 in welcome bonus,
Up to $25,000 in credit limit with no Canadian credit history
Free wire transfers, up to $10,000

Things to Consider Before Choosing a Newcomers Account

The features of the accounts offered by the top 5 banks are quite similar, so you can’t go wrong with choosing any of them.

However, there are a few factors you should consider before choosing:

Location

All the big banks have an extensive network of branches and ATMs across all the provinces and territories.

When you first land, you should choose a bank with a branch near you. This way, you’ll be able to easily access the branch if you ever need to carry out an in-branch transaction.

All the banks have a branch locator on their websites. Alternatively, you can check for banks near you through Google Maps.

Monthly Fees and Transaction Fees after the Offer Period

It is important to consider how much you’ll pay to operate the account after the offer period. This varies across the top banks.

You may get some rebates on the monthly fees if you keep a minimum balance, for example with TD Bank or ScotiaBank, or by signing up for other products and services offered by the banks.

The type of transactions you do may also be a factor. Most day-to-day banking transactions should be free but there could be fees for other transactions like getting a bank draft or using international money transfers.

While this may not be a deal breaker when you’re just opening the account, it is something you’ll need to consider later.

Interest Rate on the Accounts

In general, you won’t get attractive interest rates on your funds at the big banks. Online banks and credit unions will pay higher rates on your savings, and some even pay an interest on your chequing account.

But you may not want to open your first bank account at an online bank. Your first and primary account should be at a bank with a physical branch close to you. Also, you may not be able to get a credit card with limited Canadian credit history at an online bank.

Nevertheless, online banks are a good option for your secondary account and to earn higher interest.

Some of the best online banks in Canada are:

EQ Bank (division of Equitable Bank)
Tangerine (owned by ScotiaBank)
Simplii Financial (a division of CIBC)

Other Things to Consider Before Opening a Bank Account in Canada

What are the documents required for account opening?

The good news is you don’t need a job to open a bank account. However, you must provide 2 means of identification, including a government-issued identification to open a bank account.

Some of the accepted documents include:

a Permanent Resident card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence
Work permit
Government photo ID such as your foreign passport or Canadian driver’s licence (one or two IDs in addition to one of the residency documents above)

Are my funds secure?

Canadian Banks are some of the soundest financial institutions in the world. Not withstanding, all the top 5 banks are members of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, CDIC so your deposits are protected.

In general, all deposit taking financial institutions in Canada are covered by either CDIC (if regulated federally) or the provincial deposit insurer.

What is Interac e-Transfer?

The Interac e-transfer service lets you send and receive money from people in Canada through email or text message. Transfers can be secured by adding a Security Question and Answer. The recipient must provide the correct answer to receive the money into their own account.

Once you have a Canadian bank account, you can use the service.

Check our Guide to Interac e-Transfer for more information about how to start ending and receiving money using Interac.

What is the difference between a Chequing and Savings account?

Chequing accounts are meant for day-to-day transactions like transfers, receiving salaries etc. In general, Banks won’t pay an interest on the balance.

A savings account, on the other hand, can be used for both short- and long-term savings and the balances will earn some interest.

There could be restrictions on the type of transactions you’re allowed to do in the account, for example you may not be able to transfer to a third-party account or pay bills from it.

How do you build a credit history in Canada?

The two major credit reporting agencies in Canada are Equifax and TransUnion. To start building your Canadian credit history, do the following:

Get a credit card from your bank and use it regularly
Pay your bills on time always
If possible, pay off your balance in the full to avoid the high interest rate on credit cards
Limit the number of credits you apply for.
Check your credit score and credit report periodically.

Learn more about how credit scores work in Canada through the linked posts below:

Conclusion

As mentioned above, you really can’t go wrong with any of the account offerings from the top Canadian banks.

Some of the banks may have limited time promotions offered periodically. So it’s best to always check and compare the different accounts before committing to one.

Check here for the best personal finances apps and services for Canadians.

Best Bank Accounts for Newcomers to Canada

Am I Eligible for a Newcomer Account?