There’s much more to Canadian banks than just the Big Five. Not only is there a long list of other brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions, but recent years have seen the rise of digital banks and fintechs that offer a 100% online banking experience. But with so many options to choose from, what is the best bank in Canada?
That’s where we come in. We examined over 1,000 data points to come up with this list of the best Canadian banks by category. Keep reading to discover the best banks in Canada and decide which is right for you.
The EQ Bank Personal Account not only functions as a chequing account, it's one of the highest interest-earning accounts in Canada as well. Sign up online in minutes. Plus, you can also apply for a Joint account if you're looking to save with your partner or family.
$0 account fee
Get unlimited transactions
$0 Interac eTransfers
Earn up to 2.75% interest on your balance
EQ Bank will refund withdrawal fees for using any ATM across Canada
No physical branches for in-person service
Some standard banking features are not available like overdraft protection and the option of having paper statements
EQ Bank is our pick for the overall best bank in Canada for personal banking. You might be surprised not to see one of the Big Five topping the table, but once you take a closer look at the competitive products EQ offers, it’s easy to see why this digital bank comes out on top.
The list of EQ Bank benefits is headlined by its Personal Account, which essentially combines a chequing account and a savings account into one. Not only do you get unlimited free transactions, free e-Transfers and free ATM withdrawals across Canada, but you also get one of the highest interest rates in Canada on your balance.
And when you add the zero FX fees and the 0.5% cashback on your purchases you get with the EQ Bank Card, you’ve got an account that ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of people. EQ Bank also offers low-fee international money transfers (powered by Wise).
EQ Bank also offers the Notice Savings Account, which pays up to 2.35% - 2.50% interest, and you’ll get competitive rates on EQ GICs. Registered accounts, a USD savings account and an affordable international money transfer service round out the list of features.
Sure, the fact that EQ doesn’t have any branches might be a bridge too far for some, and you’ll need to look elsewhere if you want specific products like personal loans. But we think that for most Canadians, EQ Bank is the top choice.
The BMO Performance Chequing Account is one of BMO's most popular chequing accounts. While it's a great choice for adults, it can also be a great choice for kids, especially when combined into the Family Bundle. It offers unlimited free transactions and e-Transfers and a generous welcome bonus if you meet certain criteria.
Unlimited monthly transactions
Interac e-Transfers
BMO will reverse the first accidental fee charged to this account
Up to 20 accounts can be included in the BMO Family Bundle
Earn a $700 welcome bonus
Monthly fee of $17.95
You won't earn any interest on the money in your account
Fancy yourself as a savvy shopper who always knows how to sniff out the best deals? We think you’ll appreciate what BMO has to offer. No matter what type of product you’re applying for, there’s a good chance BMO has an attractive offer to sweeten the deal.
Like if you’re applying for a new mortgage, you can get thousands in cashback. Or if you open a Premium or Performance Chequing Account and meet specific terms and conditions, you can get a large welcome bonus. Get a $700 welcome bonus, plus a Walmart Delivery Pass subscription for up to 12 months when you open a BMO Performance Chequing and Savings Amplifier Account.* Valid until March 2, 2026. Plus, earn a 4.60% promo rate with a new Savings Amplifier Account. *Terms apply.
You can also take advantage of regular credit card deals. Sign up for the BMO eclipse rise Visa and get up to 25,000 in bonus points, for example. Or maybe you’d prefer a BMO CashBack Mastercard, where you can get up to 5% cashback in the first 3 months, or get up to 60,000 points with the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card.
With so many deals to choose from, BMO is a clear pick as the best bank for promotional offers.
The Coast Capital Free Chequing, Free Debit, and More Account account comes with $0 monthly fees, unlimited free transactions and no minimum balance requirement. Coast Capital is a Canada-wide credit union offering a full suite of banking products. Keep in mind that this account comes with fees for some services like Interac e-Transfers ($1.50) and paper statements.
No monthly fee
Unlimited free transactions
No minimum balance required
Deposit cheques on the app from your phone
Withdraw money free of charge from 4,000+ ATMs across Canada.
If you prefer the personalized service and community focus of a credit union, Coast Capital is the best credit union in Canada. It offers all the same key products and services as the major banks, but with an approach that’s member-centric rather than profit-driven.
It offers a selection of chequing accounts to suit different banking needs, including the Free Chequing, Free Debit, and More Account with free daily transactions and no monthly fee. There’s a High-Interest Savings Account too, plus a choice of six different credit cards.
GICs, mutual funds, registered accounts, mortgages, personal loans, lines of credit and auto financing are all available as well. And if you’re a senior, student or newcomer, there are special banking packages and discounts designed with you in mind.
Best of all, Coast Capital reinvests 10% of its bottom line each year to support local projects and initiatives. Maybe that’s why 600,000 Canadians choose Coast Capital for their banking needs.
Tangerine is one of Canada's first digital banks offering a full suite of no-fee banking options. The Tangerine No-Fee Daily Chequing Account comes with a $0 monthly fee and unlimited free transactions and Interac e-Transfers. Easily manage your money 24/7 with Tangerine's highly-rated mobile app. Plus, earn up to 0.1% interest on every dollar.
Searching for a digital bank that offers a smooth daily banking experience with no fees? Tangerine has got you covered.
Its biggest selling point is the No-Fee Daily Chequing Account, which has no monthly fee and unlimited free transactions (including e-Transfers). You also get your first chequebook for free and free withdrawals at Scotiabank ABMs.
Offering one of the highest welcome bonuses on the market, you'll earn up to $700 with the Scotiabank Preferred Package. In addition, you'll get unlimited transactions, free Interac e-Transfers and a rebate on select credit cards. The monthly account fee will be waived if you have at least $4,000 in your account at all times.
When it comes to having a wide variety of banking needs and wanting the convenience of dealing with a single bank, Scotiabank is our pick for the best bank in Canada for product selection.
Compare Scotiabank side by side with other major banks and it stacks up well across a range of categories. It has chequing accounts to suit a variety of different daily banking needs, with the option of avoiding monthly fees in many cases.
Savings account interest rates are competitive, and the reward-earning potential of Scotiabank’s credit cards—plus features like no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees—makes them popular choices for many Canadians.
Scotiabank also offers enticing package deals for anyone who wants to hold multiple products with the them. For example, choose the Preferred Package chequing account, and you can earn up to $700, a high rate on the MomentumPLUS Savings Accounts, preferred rates on GICs, a credit card fee rebate and a access to the Scotia iTrade investment platform.
With all the other highlights you’d expect from a major bank, including large branch and ABM networks as well as a user-friendly app, Scotiabank offers a complete suite of banking solutions.
The online brokerage, CIBC Investor's Edge, helps you trade a variety of investment types for competitive trading fees. Active traders, young investors and students can access trading discounts. The user-friendly platform provides a number of research tools to help you invest wisely, and there's no minimum deposit required.
Get access to a wide variety of securities and account types
Regulated by CIRO (formerly IIROC), CIPF member (through its parent company, CIBC Investor Services)
Discounts for active traders, young investors and students
Fees are low for a Big Bank but higher than discount brokerages
Building wealth for a brighter financial future? CIBC offers all the tools you need to reach your goals. It all starts with the CIBC Investor’s Edge platform for self-directed investing.
You can use Investor’s Edge to buy and sell stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds and more, with competitive commissions across the board. You can trade with cash or on margin, there’s a wide range of research tools to help inform your trading decisions, and there are fee discounts available for young people, students and active investors.
Alternatively, if you’d like expert investment advice, you can get personalized guidance tailored to your investment needs from a CIBC advisor.
CIBC also offers a range of GICs with competitive interest rates and terms of 1 to 5 years. Products like market-linked GICs and variable rate GICs are available too, along with the CIBC Flexible GIC that allows you to access your money whenever you need.
And with registered accounts like RRSPs, TFSAs, RESPs and FHSAs also at your disposal, it’s clear that CIBC is the best bank for investing in Canada.
The Neo Everyday Account lets you earn cashback at popular retailers. Earn 2% on gas and groceries and 0.5% on all other spending when you have $3,000 in your account. Other perks of this account are that it comes with a $0 monthly fee, no minimum balance, unlimited free transactions, free e-Transfers and free ATM withdrawals from ATMs both in Canada and internationally.
Earn 2% on gas and groceries and 0.5% on all other spending when you have $3,000 in your account.
Free unlimited transactions
No minimum balance
No account fee
Free withdrawals from ATMs worldwide that display the Mastercard, Cirrus, or Maestro logos
If you like being rewarded for your spending, then you’ll love our best pick for cashback—Neo Financial. While it’s not technically a bank, it offers CDIC insurance coverage for your funds plus attractive cashback rewards across its range of cards.
The Neo Mastercard lets you earn cashback on all your spending, including boosted cashback at partner retailers, with no annual fee. The Neo World Mastercard pays a high cashback rate on groceries, gas and recurring transactions, while the Neo World Elite Mastercard offers an even higher earn rate.
Or if you open a Neo Everyday Account with a Neo prepaid Money card, you get instant cashback when you shop at partners in Neo’s rewards network.
And with the ability to increase the cashback earning power of your card in specific categories by signing up for flexible monthly subscriptions, Neo is a top pick for any cashback junkie.
Best bank for ongoing interest rates: PC Financial
The PC Money Account functions as an interest-earning chequing account that offers one of the highest ongoing interest rates in Canada of 2.2%. Plus, every dollar you spend from this account helps you earn PC Optimum points, including the opportunity to earn accelerated bonus PC Optimum points with select retailers or with eligible direct deposits.
No monthly fees
Earn 2.2% interest on your account balance
Unlimited free transfers and Interac e-Transfers
No minimum balance requirements
No way to deposit cash or cheques at ATMs
Can't order cheques
Ongoing Interest Rate
2.2%
Promotional Interest Rate
Up to 2.9%
Monthly Account Fee
$0
Minimum Balance
$0
CDIC Deposit Insurance
$100,000
Category
Products & services
Personal accounts:
Hybrid spending and savings account
Credit cards:
Mastercard
World Elite Mastercard
Saving for a vacation, home deposit or just a rainy day? You’ll want to consider our pick of the best bank in Canada for ongoing interest rates, PC Financial. Its PC Money Account offers a juicy rate of 2.2%, which is one of the best rates among high interest savings accounts in Canada.
There’s no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement to worry about, and you don’t need to lock away your funds for a fixed period—you can access your money whenever you need it.
Speaking of which, the PC Money Account supports unlimited transactions, so you can shop in-store and online, pay bills and send e-Transfers. You also earn PC Optimum reward points on everyday banking transactions, and the points can be redeemed at over 4,500 stores.
Add in the extra security of CDIC protection, and you’ve got a savings account that offers plenty of bang for your buck.
The Wealthsimple Chequing Account is a no-fee chequing account where you can earn interest. Perks include earning 1.75% to 2.25% interest (depending on how much money you hold in your account), being able to access your pay a day early, CDIC deposit insurance of up to $1,000,000, and the ability to earn 1% cash back in stock or cash when you make a purchase with your card.
No monthly fees
Earn up to 2.25% interest on your account balance
Unlimited free transfers
No minimum balance
Invest your savings through Wealthsimple's trading accounts
Almost half of all Canadians use mobile banking as the primary way they manage their money. And that’s why we chose Wealthsimple as the best option for mobile banking features. Even though it’s not technically a bank, it does offer up to $1 million of CDIC insurance coverage to keep your money safe.
With a streamlined and feature-packed user interface, the Wealthsimple app makes it quick and easy to perform all your day-to-day transactions. You can send e-Transfers, pay bills, deposit cheques, and check your balance and transaction history, all with a minimum of fuss.
But you can also use the Wealthsimple app to buy and sell dozens of cryptocurrencies, not to mention invest in thousands of stocks and ETFs commission-free.
And when you add in all the other features that make Wealthsimple stand out—like its high-interest Chequing Account that has no monthly fees—there are lots of reasons why you might want to consider switching to Wealthsimple.
Best digital bank for students in Canada: Simplii Financial
Simplii Financial streamlines the whole process to set up a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) to get your Student Direct Stream (SDS) study permit, by seamlessly integrating the GIC application and bank account opening process. Plus, this account comes with no monthly fees, unlimited transactions and Interac e-Transfers and access to CIBC's entire ATM network.
Free unlimited transactions
Earn $300 when you become a new client and set up a direct deposit of at least $100 for 3 months. Offer ends January 31, 2026.
Easy, online application process that only takes a few minutes to complete
Set up an account and get access to money straight away, with the remaining invested in a one-year GIC
Maximum $20,000 in the GIC program
Must provide proof of residency and school enrollment
Managing your money as a student takes discipline, self-control and careful budgeting—and a bank that has your back. And that’s why we chose Simplii Financial as the best digital bank for students in Canada.
The Simplii No-Fee Chequing Account offers unlimited transactions with no monthly fee or minimum deposit requirement, which is perfect for students on a tight budget. You also get free access to CIBC ATMs across Canada, and the $300 bonus when you sign up and set up a direct deposit is the icing on the cake.
Simplii also offers the Student Deposit Program and the International Student GIC Program, allowing international students to get their finances all set up before arriving in Canada. CIBC’s digital banking arm also offers the Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa, a credit card that pays cashback and has a low minimum income requirement.
Combined with a user-friendly app and online platform that remove the need to stand in a queue at a branch, that’s why Simplii Financial is our top pick as the best digital bank for students.
Methodology: How we chose the best banks in Canada
To determine this best list, Finder Canada analyzed over 100 chequing and savings accounts across 30+ financial institutions. Our team compared accounts from traditional banks, digital banks, fintechs and credit unions. We narrowed down the list to the top 10 best banks.
We ranked chequing accounts based on 17 data points within five major categories. Here’s how we ranked and weighted each product:
Perks: 40% (ongoing and promotional interest rates, return on a $10,000 balance over one year, other tailored rewards, number of products offered)
Fees: 20% (monthly fee, option to waive the monthly fee if necessary, transaction fees, e-Transfer fees, NSF fees, overdraft fees)
Banking access: 15% (in-branch banking, online banking access, national availability)
Customer experience: 15% (live chat availability, mobile app ratings)
In addition, we added extra points for the number of different products a financial institution offers. This included products such as chequing accounts, savings accounts, credit cards and loans.
No single bank account will be the best choice for everyone, so thoroughly compare your options before picking your new account.
Types of banks in Canada
The best banks in Canada can be broken down into five categories: the Big Five, other brick-and mortar banks, credit unions, digital banks and financial technology companies.
The Big Five is made up of Canada’s five largest banks in terms of assets:
RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)
TD (Toronto-Dominion Bank)
BMO (Bank of Montreal)
Scotiabank (Bank of Nova Scotia)
CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce)
The Big Five is sometimes rounded up to the Big Six to include National Bank. Collectively, they serve tens of millions of customers each year.
These major banks all offer a full suite of banking products and services to Canadians. This includes chequing and savings accounts, GICs, credit cards, mortgages, personal loans, lines of credit and investment services.
The Big Five take a traditional approach to banking. They operate nationwide branch networks, so you can visit your nearest branch and talk to a real person if you need help managing your finances. They also have the largest ATM networks across Canada, but you can, of course, also manage your money via online and mobile banking.
There are plenty of other Schedule 1 banks across Canada that may not have the same market share as the Big Five, but that operate physical branch networks. Examples include:
Alterna Bank
ATB Financial
Laurentian Bank
National Bank
Some of these banks operate their own ATM networks. Others, such as Alterna Bank, offer fee-free access to The Exchange network of ATMs. They also offer easy access to online and mobile banking, so you can manage your money on the go.
Typically, these banks don’t offer quite as many products as the Big Five, but they still provide quite an extensive range of banking services, including:
Chequing and savings accounts
Credit cards
Mortgages
Personal loans
Lines of credit
GICs
Credit unions
Credit unions (and caisses populaires in Quebec) are non-profit financial cooperatives that are owned by their members. Unlike banks, which pass on profits to their shareholders, credit unions put their profits into offering better products for their members and serving their local communities.
As of the second quarter of 2024, the largest Canadian credit unions in terms of assets (excluding Quebec) are:
Vancity
Meridian Credit Union
Coast Capital Savings Federal Credit Union
Servus Credit Union
First West Credit Union
Desjardins Ontario Credit Union
Access Credit Union
Steinbach Credit Union
Beem Credit Union
Alterna Savings and Credit Union
Credit unions provide the same products as major banks, including chequing and savings accounts, mortgages, personal loans, credit cards and GICs. They operate physical branch networks, and they’re often localized in a specific province or region, so they can provide a more personalized approach to banking.
Credit unions also offer their own ATM networks, and some (including Meridian, Coast Capital and Vancity) are members of The Exchange network and offer access to a wider range of fee-free ATMs.
The last decade or so has seen the rise of digital banks. As the name suggests, these providers are online only and do not operate any physical branches. Popular digital banks include:
EQ Bank
Manulife Bank
Simplii Financial
Tangerine
Some digital banks are subsidiaries of traditional banks and credit unions and offer access to their parent company’s ATM network. For example, Simplii Financial is run by CIBC, while Tangerine is a subsidiary of Scotiabank.
Others, such as Manulife, are members of The Exchange network or—in the case of EQ Bank and its Personal Account—offer free withdrawals at any ATM across Canada.
If you’re thinking of opening an account with one of these banks, the main thing to be aware of is that you’ll need to be comfortable with digital banking. There’s no option to pop into a branch to access face-to-face customer service, so you’ll need to manage your money online or via a mobile app.
Digital banks also tend to have a smaller range of banking products than traditional banks. They offer chequing accounts, high-interest savings accounts, credit cards, GICs, personal loans and lines of credit.
They’re often a popular choice if you’re searching for a savings account, as digital banks tend to have significantly higher interest rates than traditional banks. Their no-fee chequing accounts also offer a competitive alternative to the monthly account maintenance fees often charged by major banks.
Financial technology companies
The rise in popularity of digital banks has been followed by the emergence of several alternative financial institutions. Though they’re not actually banks, these fintechs offer competitive bank accounts that you can manage via a mobile app or online.
One popular option is KOHO, which offers a hybrid account that combines the features of a chequing account and a savings account. When you spend with the prepaid Mastercard linked to our KOHO account, you earn 1%–2% cash back on purchases. But at the same time, you’ll earn 3.5%–5% interest on your account balance.
Neo Financial’s Everyday Account works like a no-fee chequing account, with free everyday transactions and no minimum balance required. But you also get cash back on your spending with a prepaid Neo Money card.
Wealthsimple also offers a hybrid account. The Wealthsimple Chequing Account offers no monthly fee and lets you take care of all your day-to-day banking, but it also pays between 2.75% and 3.75% interest on your balance.
Rather than offering a full suite of banking options, these alternative institutions provide a limited range of products targeting a specific niche. Some also offer the security of CDIC protection for the money you deposit, but they don’t have their own branch or ATM networks.
What is the best bank in Canada?
Our pick for the best bank in Canada is EQ Bank, with its Personal Account and cashback, high interest rates and no FX fees being its stand-out offerings. Compared to other banks in Canada, EQ Bank offers some of the most competitive rate and fee structures combined with unique perks.
Which bank is best in Canada for customer service?
Tangerine Bank is the best bank in Canada for overall customer satisfaction, while RBC is the top pick out of the Big Five.
In the J.D. Power 2024 Canada Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, Tangerine came out on top with a score of 684 out of 1,000. It was closely followed by ATB Financial (653), Simplii Financial (649) and National Bank (636). RBC was the highest-ranked of the Big Five with a score of 623, followed by TD (608) and BMO (607).
The study included responses from 14,460 retail banking customers of large and mid-size retail banks, with satisfaction measured across seven categories: trust, people, account offerings, allowing customers to bank how and when they want, saving time and money, digital channels and resolving problems or complaints.
RBC also beat the rest of the Big Five in the J.D. Power 2024 Canada Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study, scoring 582 ahead of Scotiabank (568) and BMO (564). The study included responses from 2,822 Canadian retail bank customers about their satisfaction with the retail bank advice/guidance they received. Satisfaction was measured across five key categories: clarity, concern for needs, relevancy, quality and frequency.
What products and services do banks in Canada offer?
The aim for banks in Canada is to provide a product or service for all of your financial needs. That’s why they offer everything from chequing and savings accounts to loans and investment options.
Big Banks tend to offer more products and services than digital banks—but digital banks are catching up. In general, most banks in Canada typically offer:
Chequing accounts
Savings accounts
GICs
TFSAs
RRSPs
RESPs
FHSAs
Lines of credit
Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)
Personal loans
Mutual funds
ETFs
Mortgages
How to choose the best bank in Canada for you
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a bank, but the number-one factor is your personal banking needs. So ask yourself, what am I looking for in a bank?
Do you want a no-fee chequing account for day-to-day banking, a high-interest savings account or a credit card that rewards you for your spending? Do you need branch access, or are you happy doing all of your banking online? How often do you need to send e-Transfers, cash cheques and make ATM withdrawals?
Once you know exactly what you need, you can start comparing banks and products. Keep the following factors in mind when choosing the best bank for you.
Account fees
Most chequing accounts from major banks come with a monthly fee—the more transactions it supports per month, the higher the fee. However, in some cases, the fee can be waived if you meet a minimum balance requirement.
Credit unions offer low-fee accounts, while several digital banks and fintechs offer hybrid spending accounts that support unlimited transactions and don’t charge a monthly fee.
You’ll also need to check the fee details for any specific products you’re interested in, such as:
Excess transaction fees
ATM withdrawal fees
Overdraft fees
Credit card annual fees
Loan origination fees
Interest rates
If you’re taking out a mortgage or personal loan, a lower interest rate is better. But if you’re opening a savings account, you’ll want to find the highest rate available to grow your balance sooner.
Compare rates across savings accounts, mortgages and other loans to find the best deal.
Online and mobile banking
According to the Canadian Bankers Association, 77% of Canadians use digital channels to conduct most of their transactions. So, when you’re looking for the best bank in Canada, a key consideration is how easy it is to use their online and mobile banking platforms.
Check out online tutorials of the bank’s online banking and mobile app to gauge the user-friendliness. Read reviews for mobile banking apps on Google Play and in the App Store, and browse customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot to find out about other users’ experiences.
Branch network
If you regularly need to access face-to-face customer service or perform in-branch transactions like depositing cash, choose a bank with convenient locations close to you. The Big Five banks have the widest coverage nationwide, but you may also find that a credit union based in your province serves you better for branch access.
ATM access
If you choose a Big Five Bank, you’ll have fee-free access to a large network of ATMs across Canada. However, several smaller banks and credit unions allow their customers to access thousands of fee-free ATMs in The Exchange network. There are also some digital financial institutions like EQ Bank and Wealthsimple that reimburse you for any ATM fees you incur.
Product range
If you’re the type of person who likes to keep all your financial products with one bank, you’ll need to take a holistic view and compare each bank’s full suite of products. While Bank A may offer a chequing account that’s a good fit for you, Bank B may be a better choice for a rewards credit card, a low-rate personal loan or a high-interest savings account.
Special offers
The best bank to open an account in Canada could also depend on your stage in life. Major banks and credit unions provide special banking packages for students, seniors and newcomers to Canada. These include waived or discounted fees, welcome bonuses, specialized support and discounts on other financial products, so this could sway your decision about where to open an account.
Customer support
The quality of a bank’s customer support offerings should never be overlooked, especially in the age of digital banking. Research the bank’s customer support hours and how you can get in touch when you need help—phone, email and live chat are common options.
As for whether customers are satisfied with the level of service they receive, independent review sites like Trustpilot provide useful insights.
Which bank is best? Compare Canadian banks side by side
According to our analysis of factors like fees, rates, availability and product offerings, CIBC is a better bank than RBC, with an overall bank score of 8.4 out of 10 compared to RBC’s score of 7.8/10.
Some of the key features that push CIBC ahead of RBC are CIBC’s robust online investment platform and Smart chequing account, which easily adjusts its fee structure as account holders age from students, into adulthood and as they become seniors.
BMO is a better bank than TD according to our analysis of both banks’ offerings across several key metrics. BMO scored an impressive overall bank score of 8.4 out of 10, while TD scored 7.8/10.
These are just some examples of where BMO outshines TD: BMO typically offers higher welcome bonuses than TD, has higher mobile app ratings than TD and offers more chances to get boosted interest rates on its savings accounts compared to TD.
When we analyzed both RBC and TD across multiple key features, both banks earned a score of 7.8 out of 10, which means choosing between TD and RBC will come down to the features that are most important to you.
For example, RBC has a larger range of product offerings than TD. So if your goal is to keep all of your finances under one roof, RBC will be the better choice. That said, RBC’s mobile banking app has a much lower Google Play Store rating than TD, so Android users might be happier in the long run managing their banking on TD’s app compared to RBC’s.
What is the best bank to open an account with in Canada?
The best bank to open an account with in Canada is EQ Bank, because not only is it our top choice for the best bank in Canada overall, but its online platform allows you to open a bank account in just a few minutes from your phone or computer. Once you do, you’ll be able to access your account immediately and start earning interest on every dollar.
What is the safest bank in Canada?
The safest bank in Canada is RBC, which also happens to be the safest bank in the world according to the most recent Global Finance World’s Safest Banks awards. Other Canadians banks that made the list are TD (in sixth place), while Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC rank as the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth safest banks in the world.
That said, all of the Canadian banks on our list are in insured by the CDIC (Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation), which means that if the bank collapses, the Canadian government will guarantee your funds up to $100,000 per account.
Where can I find the best bank interest rates in Canada?
The best savings account interest rates in Canada are typically offered by digital banks. With fewer overheads than banks that operate physical branches, digital banks can afford to offer higher interest rates on their savings accounts.
The biggest bank in Canada is RBC according to both market cap (over $170 billion) and total assets (over $2,171 billion). The second biggest bank is TD by both metrics. After that, BMO takes third for market cap and Scotiabank takes third for total assets.
What types of banks do Canadians typically open accounts with?
We surveyed Canadians to find out which types of banks and financial institutions they would consider opening an account with among the Big 5 Banks (RBC, TD, BMO, Scotiabank and CIBC), other brick-and-mortar banks (e.g. National Bank and ATB), digital banks or fintechs (e.g. Tangerine, Simplii Financial, EQ Bank or KOHO) and credit unions (e.g. Coast Capital, Meridian, Vancity or Alterna).
The results of our Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey January 2025 revealed that the majority of Canadians (75.92%) would consider opening an account with the Big Banks, which is far higher than the next most popular option, digital banks and fintechs, at 48.25%.
That indicates that the Big Banks are by far still the most trusted banking option for most Canadians, in spite of the growing popularity of digital banking alternatives over the past several years.
Are banks federally regulated in Canada?
Yes, banks are federally regulated in Canada by the Bank Act and are supervised by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI).
Regulated banks in Canada can fall under three categories — Schedule I (domestic banks), Schedule II (foreign bank subsidiaries) and Schedule III (foreign bank branches).
There are 35 Schedule I domestic banks currently regulated in Canada:
Some examples of international banks that have registered subsidiaries in Canada (Schedule II) include ICICI Bank Canada and SBI Canada Bank.
Bottom line
Choosing a bank is not a decision to be taken lightly. The best bank in Canada depends on your personal financial situation and banking needs, so compare banks and accounts before deciding where you should manage your money.
Frequently asked questions about the best Canadian banks
The two largest Canadian banks in terms of assets are RBC and TD Bank. Along with BMO, Scotiabank and CIBC, they make up Canada's five biggest banks, which are known collectively as the Big Five.
There are pros and cons to both options, so it depends on your banking needs. Digital banks offer competitive alternatives to traditional banks, with higher interest rates on savings accounts and no-fee chequing accounts. But they don't have the same extensive range of products and services as traditional banks, and you also can't visit a physical branch if you want to access face-to-face customer service.
National Bank has the best overall offer for newcomers to Canada. It has no monthly fee for up to three years, you can get a Canadian credit card even if you have no credit history and you can also access exclusive phone assistance for newcomers. However, the best account for you will depend on your banking needs, so read our full guide to the best newcomer bank accounts for more information.
Digital banks and many other financial institutions now allow you to deposit cheques via your mobile banking app. All you need to do is upload photos of the front and back of your cheque and enter a few details, and in many cases, the funds are available for you to access instantly.
Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.
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