In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Your reviews
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BMO Practical Chequing Account review

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BMO Practical Chequing Account
Bonus Offer
N/A
Monthly Account Fee
$4
Free Transactions
12/month
e-Transfer Fee
$0
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Our verdict

Pay a low monthly fee to get 12 free transactions per month with the basic BMO Practical Chequing Account.

The BMO Practical Chequing Account is a cheap and easy way to bank if you don't use your chequing account often. You'll pay a monthly fee of $4 to maintain this account and you'll get 12/month free transactions, including free Interac e-Transfers up to your allowable limit. The downside of this account is that it comes with relatively few additional benefits, and you'll have to pay an extra fee every time you exceed your monthly transaction limit.

Best for:

Those who don't use their chequing account often.

Pros

  • Monthly fee waived for seniors
  • Free interac e-Transfers up to your monthly free transaction limit

Cons

  • You'll only get 12/month free transactions
  • You'll pay a monthly fee of $4
  • You won't get a welcome bonus
  • You won't earn any interest on the money in your account

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Your reviews

What are the benefits of the BMO Practical Chequing Account?

The BMO Practical Chequing Account is a bare-bones account that offers relatively few benefits given its low price. These include the following:

  • Low monthly fee. This account only costs $4 per month to maintain – which is by far the lowest fee that BMO charges for a chequing account.
  • 12/month free. You’ll get 12/month free, which should be adequate if you use your credit card to pay your bills and make purchases.
  • Free Interac e-Transfers. You can easily send money to family and friends for free as long as you stay within your monthly transaction limits.
  • Free BMO ATM withdrawals. You won’t pay anything extra to take money out at ATMs on the BMO network unless you go over your allowable transactions.
  • Free savings account. You’ll be able to add a BMO Premium Rate Savings Account onto your bank plan for no extra cost.
  • No monthly fee for seniors. You can get this account for free if you’re over the age of 60 when you sign up.

What should I look out for?

While this account comes with a handful of benefits, you should also keep an eye out for the following drawbacks:

  • No interest on savings. You won’t get a return on interest for any money you hold in your account.
  • Fee for overdraft protection. You’ll have to pay $5 per month to get overdraft protection if you dip into a negative balance.
  • Fee for exceeding 12 transactions. You’ll have to pay an extra $1.25 every time you make a transaction that exceeds your monthly limit.
  • Non-BMO ATMs cost money. It will cost you an extra fee of $2 to take money out at non-BMO ATMs (and $3 in the U.S., $5 outside Canada and U.S.).
  • No welcome bonus. Unlike other BMO chequing accounts, this account doesn’t come with a welcome bonus when you sign up.
  • Limited benefits. You won’t get any extra benefits such as credit card fee waivers or identity theft protection with this account.

BMO Practical Chequing Account‘s ATM network and fees

The BMO Practical Chequing Account comes with a low monthly fee of $4. This works out to an annual fee of $48, which is reasonable for a basic account. You can also get this fee waived if you’re over the age of 60.

As part of the BMO Practical Chequing Account, you’ll also get free ATM withdrawals on the BMO network. That said, you’ll be required to pay a fee for taking money out on any non-BMO ATM. This includes those located in Canada as well as abroad.

What other chequing options does BMO offer?

You can choose from a number of BMO chequing accounts if the BMO Practical Chequing Account isn’t quite what you’re looking for:

  • BMO Plus Chequing Account. The BMO Plus Chequing Account comes with a decent welcome bonus, unlimited free Interac e-Transfers and 25/month free. In return, you’ll pay $11.95 per month to maintain your account.
  • BMO Performance Chequing Account. This account offers unlimited free transactions and free Interac e-Transfers. It also comes with a generous welcome bonus and a basic credit card rebate for $17.95 per month.
  • BMO Premium Chequing Account. This account has the most premium benefits of all of BMO’s chequing accounts. These include unlimited free transactions, a sizable welcome bonus and a premium credit card fee waiver.

Compare with other chequing accounts

1 - 17 of 17
Name Product CAFSA-CHQ Finder Rating Monthly Account Fee Free Transactions e-Transfer Fee Bonus Offer Offer
BMO Performance Chequing Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.7 / 5
$17.95 (can be waived)
unlimited
$0
Earn $600
Get up to a $600 cash bonus. Valid until October 31, 2024. Plus, earn a 5.50% promo interest rate when you open a Performance Chequing and a Savings Amplifier Account.
Simplii No Fee Chequing Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.9 / 5
$0
unlimited
$0
Earn $500
Earn $500 when you become a new client and set up a direct deposit of at least $100 for 3 months. Offer ends October 31, 2024.
Scotiabank Preferred Package
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.7 / 5
$16.95 (can be waived)
unlimited
$0
Earn $600
Earn up to $600 with a Scotiabank Preferred package and an investment plan. Valid until October 31, 2024. Plus, earn up to 5.65% interest for 3 months on your MomentumPLUS Savings Account.
RBC Signature No Limit Banking Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.8 / 5
$16.95
unlimited
$0
Get $450
Get $450 when you open an RBC Signature No Limit Banking Account. Apply by February 10, 2025.
Coast Capital Free Chequing, Free Debit, and More Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.7 / 5
$0
unlimited
$1.50
Get $150
Get $150 when you open an use a Free Chequing, Free Debit and More Account. Conditions apply. Apply by November 28, 2024.
Scotiabank Basic Bank Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3 / 5
$3.95
12/month
$0
N/A
EQ Bank Personal Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
4.3 / 5
$0
unlimited
$0
Earn 4.00% interest for 12 months
Enjoy high interest with no fees on everyday banking, plus unlimited transactions and no minimum balances. Sign up online in minutes.
Scotiabank Ultimate Package
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.5 / 5
$30.95 (can be waived)
unlimited
$0
Earn up to $600
Earn up to $600 with a Scotiabank Ultimate package and an investment plan. Valid until October 31, 2024. Plus, earn up to 5.70% interest for 3 months on your MomentumPLUS Savings Account.
Scotiabank Student Banking Advantage Plan
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.6 / 5
$0
unlimited
$0
Earn $100
Earn up to a $100 welcome cash bonus and 7,500 Scene+ points when you open an account. Apply by October 31, 2024.
Coast Capital Unlimited Chequing Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.8 / 5
$8.50 (can be waived)
unlimited
$0
Get $250
Get $250 when you open an use an Unlimited Chequing Account. Conditions apply. Apply by November 28, 2024.
Innovation Federal Credit Union No-Fee Chequing Account
Innovation Federal Credit Union No-Fee Chequing Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.9 / 5
$0
unlimited
$0
Win a $1,000 giveaway
Open an account and you could win a $1,000 giveaway. Valid until December 30, 2024.
Go to site
Scotiabank Basic Plus Bank Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.3 / 5
$11.95 (can be waived)
25/month
$0
N/A
BMO Premium Plan Chequing Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.5 / 5
$30.95 (can be waived)
unlimited
$0
Earn $600
Get up to a $600 cash bonus. Valid until October 31, 2024. Plus, earn a 5.50% bonus interest rate when you add a Savings Amplifier Account.
BMO Performance Student Chequing Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.6 / 5
$0 (can be waived)
unlimited
$0
Earn $100
Earn a $100 cash bonus and enjoy six months of Domino’s Pizza (worth $95, one pizza per month) when you open a new BMO Student Chequing Account. Valid until October 31, 2024.
Coast Capital Elevate Chequing Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.7 / 5
$16.95 (can be waived)
unlimited
$0
Get $600
Get up to $600 when you open an Elevate Chequing Account. Conditions apply. Apply by November 28, 2024.
BMO New to Canada Performance Chequing Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.7 / 5
$16.95 (can be waived)
unlimited
$0
Earn $600
Earn up to a $600 welcome bonus. Valid until October 31, 2024. Plus, earn a 5.50% promo interest rate when you open a Performance Chequing and a Savings Amplifier Account.
BMO Canadian Defence Community Banking Performance Plan Chequing Account
Finder Score:
★★★★★
3.7 / 5
$0
unlimited
$0
N/A
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How do I open a BMO Practical Chequing Account?

Eligibility requirements

To apply for a BMO Practical Chequing Account, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old (19 in some provinces)
  • Be opening a sole account in your name

Required documents and information

  • Your name, residential status and contact information
  • Your Social Insurance Number (optional) and date of birth
  • Your email address and phone number

How do I deposit or withdraw my money?

You’ll be able to deposit and withdraw funds from your account in a number of ways:

  • Visit a branch. You can deposit or withdraw money by visiting a BMO branch in person to speak to an agent.
  • Use an ATM. You can cash cheques and deposit or withdraw funds at any ATM in Canada or abroad – though you’ll have to pay associated fees for using non-BMO ATMs.
  • Initiate a transfer. You can transfer money back and forth between your accounts as you see fit using an internal/bank-to-bank transfer or an Interac e-Transfer.

Expert review

The BMO Practical Chequing Account is a bare-bones account that gives you 12 free transactions per month for a very low monthly fee. It also comes with free BMO ATM withdrawals and free Interac e-Transfers, up to your maximum limit of transactions each month. This account is a good fit for customers with very simple banking needs, but it’s not ideal for those who carry out multiple or complex transactions every month.

Frequently asked questions

Your reviews

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