Free Bank Account Promotions For Newcomers to Canada
There are 4 major banks in Canada that provide a free bank account for the first year for newcomers to Canada. When choosing a bank, consider the number of branches and ATMs available across the country for easier access, their fee structure, customer service and technologies plus features available. Opt for credit cards with no fees and good quality reward programs that suit your needs.
Related Posts:
Koho vs Tangerine: Which No-Fee Bank is Better?
RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)
With your first RBC bank account, you will receive free banking for up to 12 months. In addition, you will receive 2,500 welcome RBC Rewards points once you are approved for a personal or student RBC Rewards+ Visa card. (offer ends 31st October 2022)
If you’re a student, the RBC No Limit Banking Account For Students has no monthly fees and comes with a free Visa Gold or MasterCard credit card. New permanent residency holders have an option to apply for a car loan or a mortgage, even without any credit history.
Scotiabank
Scotiabank is the 3rd largest bank in Canada. You can enjoy free bank account for the first year. Here’s their newcomer package in more detail. Even on a basic banking plan, you can earn points to be redeemed on movies. The Student Banking Advantage Plan offers no monthly fee and unlimited transactions.
CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce)
Like other major Canadian banks, CIBC has a Newcomers to Canada Plan that’s available to both temporary and permanent residents. The package includes a CIBC Everyday Checking Account with no monthly fees and unlimited transactions for the first year together with a visa debit card. CIBC’s student package remains fee-free for as long as you’re enrolled as a full-time student.
BMO (Bank of Montreal)
Bank of Montreal is one of the banks in Canada with the longest history. The Starter Pack from BMO provides 1-year free bank account and no annual fee credit card. However, BMO doesn’t have as many branches across Canada as the other major banks previously mentioned.
*PRO TIP: Wise
When transferring money to your account from home, consider using Wise. Banks are generally pretty good when it comes to in-land banking and holding money in one currency.
However, when you’re transferring money across countries, they often charge unreasonable banking exchange rates and transaction fees.
Unlike banks, Wise uses the actual Google spot exchange rate when moving money between currencies. The fees are transparent and very low compared to banks. We have been using Wise for over a year and saved loads on our travels.
Always have a look at what other options are available before you make an international transfer through your bank.
As of December 2021, there is also an option to apply for a WiseCard through your Wise account. This takes convenience and access to funds to a whole new level.
You’re able to hold multiple currencies and exchange between them, allowing a much cheaper way to send and receive money abroad or make online purchases. The transaction fees are on average 4x cheaper than what you would pay with major Canadian banks.
Related Post:
Wise Debit Card Now Available in Canada
***If you’re still indecisive about which bank to go with, you can use this bank account comparison tool to compare interest rates, monthly fees, transaction fees, etc.
* See also our free online banking article
