Coast Capital is a British Columbia-based credit union with over 600,000 members, making it one of the largest credit unions in Canada. Coast Capital offers three standard chequing accounts to suit a variety of day-to-day banking needs. Keep reading to compare these Coast Capital Chequing accounts and the fees and features they offer.
Take your banking to the next level with the Coast Capital Elevate Chequing Account. It offers unlimited free transactions, free Interac e-Transfers and no monthly fees if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $4,000. Plus, enjoy extra perks like a credit card fee rebate up to $50, free access to the Coursera online learning platform and advanced identity protection with ID Assist.
Welcome offer
Unlimited day-to-day transactions
Unlimited free Interac e-Transfers
2 free Interac ATM withdrawals per month and 3 free international ATM withdrawals per year
The Coast Capital Free Chequing, Free Debit, and More Account offers unlimited free transactions with no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements. However, if you want to send an Interac e-Transfer, you'll have to pay $1.50 and additional fees apply for out-of-network withdrawals. But this is a great option for anyone looking for a flexible, low-cost chequing account.
Generous welcome offer
$0 monthly account fee
Unlimited day-to-day transactions
No minimum balance requirement
Overdraft protection on approved credit
$1.50 e-Transfer fee
Out-of-network ATM fees
You need to become a Coast Capital member to open an account
If you regularly send Interac e-Transfers, the Coast Capital Unlimited Chequing Account may be a better option for you. It comes with unlimited free transactions, including debits, bill payments and Interac e-Transfers. And the monthly fee can be waived when you maintain a minimum daily balance of $4,000.
The Coast Capital Elevate Chequing Account stands out as the best choice for everyday banking as it offers a mix of convenience, flexibility and low fees. With unlimited transactions and free Interac e-Transfers, you can manage your money without worrying about extra costs. The $16.95 monthly fee is steep, but it can be reduced to $8.50 with a $4,000 minimum balance, for members under 25 or over 59, or lowered to $11.95 for setting up an eligible direct deposit.
Summary of Coast Capital chequing account promotional offers
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Coast Capital fees
Here are some of the fees you should be aware of when you open a chequing account with Coast Capital:
Sending an Interac e-Transfer: $1.50
Non-EXCHANGE ATM transactions: $2.50 each (in Canada)
International ATM transactions: $5 plus 2% administration fee
International POS transactions: 2% per transaction
Transferring balance of account: $25
Certified cheques: $10 for member, $15 for non-members
US drafts: $10, free if you’re over 59 or under 18
Cheque image retrieval: free online or $2 in-branch for cheques cleared less than 18 months ago, $7.50 per item for cheques cleared over 18 months ago
Dormant account fee: $50 per year (if no account activity within 24 months)
Overdraft protection usage fee: $5 per month plus interest (21% per year)
Overdrawing chequing account without overdraft protection: $5 per item plus interest (prime + 18% per year)
Does Coast Capital offer a no-fee chequing account?
Yes, Coast Capital offers a no-fee chequing account called the Free Chequing, Free Debit and More Account. It has no monthly fee and requires no minimum balance, yet offers plenty of benefits like unlimited transactions, free in-network ATM withdrawals and free incoming Interac e-Transfers. You’ll have to pay $2–$5 for out-of-network ATM withdrawals and $1.50 to send an e-Transfer but those are really the only fees you’ll have to worry about.
Advantages of opening a Coast Capital chequing account
You can expect the following perks when you open a Coast Capital chequing account:
Free monthly eStatements. You can access free monthly eStatements on all Coast Capital chequing accounts. Free paper statements are also available with some accounts.
Overdraft protection. Optional overdraft protection is available on approved credit to help you avoid NSF fees.
Easy banking options. Coast Capital members can take advantage of free access to online banking, the Coast Mobile banking app and Coast-by-Phone telephone banking.
Money Manager. Available through online and mobile banking, the Money Manager tool lets you manage your monthly spending, track spending trends, and put together payment plans to help you pay off debt faster.
4,000+ ATM network. You can make fee-free withdrawals at Coast Capital ATMs as well as ATMs in THE EXCHANGE Network.
Mobile cheque deposits. You can deposit cheques using Coast Capital’s mobile banking app by uploading photos of the front and back of each cheque.
Identity protection. Coast Capital offers enhanced identity protection services through ID Assist. This service is free with the Unlimited and Elevate chequing accounts.
Disadvantages of opening a Coast Capital chequing account
There are some drawbacks to opening a Coast Capital chequing account as well, such as:
Limited branch network. Coast Capital only has branches in British Columbia despite offering its services nationwide.
International transaction fees. If you want to shop abroad, either online or in person, you’ll have to pay a 2% fee on every transaction.
Not available in Quebec. Coast Capital doesn’t offer its services in Quebec.
Membership requirement. To open an account with Coast Capital, you must purchase a $5 membership share.
Requirements to open a Coast Capital chequing account
If you want to open a Coast Capital chequing account, here are the eligibility requirements you need to meet:
Be the age of majority in your province or territory (18 or 19)
Be a Canadian resident
Have a government-issued ID
How to open a Coast Capital chequing account
You can open a Coast Capital account online, over the phone or in branch. Digitally is typically the most convenient option, so here are the steps you can follow to open your account online:
Head to Coast Capital’s website and choose a chequing account that meets your needs.
Select Open account.
Complete the online application with personal details like your full name, birth date, address and employment status.
Coast Capital usually verifies an online applicant’s identity through a credit reporting agency, but in some cases, you may be asked to complete verification in person at a Canada Post location.
Submit your application and wait up to two business days for approval.
If approved, you’ll receive an email explaining how you can make an initial deposit with Help Me Switch to activate your account.
You’ll then receive an email with your debit card number, which you can use for online banking. You’ll receive a physical debit card in the mail within 10–14 days of your membership approval.
Alternatives to opening a chequing account with Coast Capital
If you’re looking to save on monthly fees and skip minimum balance requirements, digital banks like Tangerine, Simplii and EQ Bank can be a smart alternative. Compared with traditional banks and credit unions, which often charge higher fees for chequing accounts and everyday transactions, digital banks offer no monthly fees, unlimited transactions and sometimes interest.
And, you won’t have to worry about membership requirements as long as you don’t mind handling all your banking online.
Some top alternatives to Coast Capital chequing accounts
EQ Bank's Personal Account is a hybrid savings and chequing account with no monthly fees, up to 2.75% interest, unlimited transactions and reimbursed Canadian ATM fees. Compared to Coast Capital, EQ Bank offers higher interest and fully digital banking but lacks in-person branches and perks like ID Assist or Coursera access.
$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 minimum balance requirement
No physical branches for in-person service
Some standard banking features not available such as overdraft protection and the option to have paper statements
Although BMO is a Big Five Bank, its Performance Chequing Account offers a great alternative to the Coast Capital Unlimited Chequing Account with unlimited transactions and Interac e-Transfers. The $17.95 monthly fee is completely waivable if you minimum daily balance of $4,000 and enhanced identity theft protection is included for free as well.
Unlimited monthly transactions
Interac e-Transfers
$40 fee rebate on the BMO Mastercard annual fee
BMO will reverse the first accidental fee charged to this account
Up to 20 accounts can be included in the BMO Family Bundle
Get up to $700*.
Earn $500 when you open a new BMO Performance Chequing Account, make a deposit of any amount by March 2, 2026 and complete two qualifying tasks by April 30, 2026.
Plus, get a Walmart Delivery Pass subscription for up to 12 months* when you open a new Savings Amplifier Account by March 2, 2026, and sign up for or update your existing Walmart Delivery Pass by April 30, 2026 by selecting Debit Mastercard as the payment option for the monthly transaction fee.
Earn $150* when you deposit a total of $10,000 or more in to your Savings Amplifier Account and maintain a daily closing balance of $10,000 or more at all times for the specified period.
Earn $50* when you create one goal and apply one strategy in My Financial Progress Plan by April 30, 2026.
*Terms apply.
Monthly fee of $17.95
You won't earn any interest on the money in your account.
The Tangerine No-Fee Daily Chequing Account offers unlimited transactions and free Interac e-Transfers, similar to Coast Capital's Free Chequing, Free Debit and More Account, but with no branch access. Tangerine also pays a small interest of up to 0.1% on balances, while none of Coast Capital's accounts do.
Another fully digital account similar to Coast Capital's Free Chequing, Free Debit and More Account is the Simplii No Free Chequing Account. It has no monthly account fee, unlimited transactions, no minimum deposit requirements, a chance to earn interest on your account balance and a debit card. Although Simplii doesn't have any branches, its customers do have access to over 3,400 ATMs because it's a division of CIBC.
Earn a welcome bonus of up to $300
Enjoy unlimited free transactions and e-Transfers
No monthly account fee
Earn 0.01% interest on your balance
No minimum deposit requirements
Earn a referral bonus
Simplii is an online only provider
You can only earn the welcome bonus if you're a new Simplii customer
Coast Capital offers three standard chequing accounts that cater to a range of banking needs, from no-fee everyday accounts to premium options with extra perks. Whether you value unlimited transactions, free Interac e-Transfers or benefits like free Coursera membership, there’s an account to suit your lifestyle.
While digital banks like Tangerine, Simplii and EQ Bank may offer higher interest, Coast Capital offers competitive fees with the benefits of in-person service, making it a solid choice for many Canadians.
Frequently asked questions about Coast Capital chequing accounts
No, you don't need to maintain a minimum balance to keep a Coast Capital chequing account open. However, you may need to keep your balance above a specified level if you want to access monthly fee discounts.
You'll need to pay $5 to buy Membership Equity Shares to become a member of Coast Capital. This amount is deducted from your first purchase with your Coast Capital chequing account.
If you have the Coast Capital Free Chequing, Free Debit, and More Account, you'll have to pay $1.50 to send an Interac e-Transfer but it's free to receive one. Coast Capital Elevate and Unlimited account holders enjoy free, unlimited Interac e-Transfers.
You can use the Branch Locator tool on the Coast Capital website to find a branch or ATM near you.
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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Your guide to the features, perks, drawbacks and fees of the Coast Capital Unlimited Chequing Account.
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