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Simplii Online Banking review
Earn interest and pay no monthly fees when you open an account with this industry-leading digital bank.
You can earn a 0.1% return with Simplii’s High Interest Savings Account. You won’t pay monthly fees to maintain your account and there’s no need to keep a minimum balance.
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Please note: All information about Simplii Online Banking has been collected independently by Finder and this product is not available through this site.
Simplii Financial Bank is a popular digital bank that offers a number of different account and investment options in Canada. These include high-interest chequing accounts, savings accounts, guaranteed investment certificates (GICs), mortgages, a credit card and more.
It’s easy to register for an account in a couple of minutes, and you may even qualify for a welcome bonus if you sign up sooner rather than later. Find out more about the benefits and interest rates you can take advantage of when you start saving with Simplii Online Banking.
What is Simplii Online Banking?
Simplii Financial is a popular digital banking app in Canada that has over two million clients. It was launched in 2017 to act as the digital banking arm of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). This means it’s backed by the financial power of one of Canada’s biggest banks, and all of your deposits will be insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC)
You can take advantage of a number of different financial products with Simplii Financial. These include chequing and savings accounts, GICs, RRSPs, TFSAs and other products like loans and mortgages. These products come with competitive interest rates and are easy to sign up for with the click of a mouse.
How does Simplii Online Banking work?
Simplii Online Banking functions just like any other bank in Canada, except that it does all of its business online. That’s why it has relatively few overhead costs and can pass savings on to its customers in the form of competitive interest rates and zero account fees.
There are several other benefits offered with the line of Simplii bank accounts as well. These include unlimited transactions, free withdrawals on CIBC ATMs and free debits on your account.
What banking products does Simplii Online Banking offer?
Simplii Online Banking offers a number of financial products and services.
Simplii chequing account
The Simplii No-Fee Chequing account is an online chequing account that offers interest rates between 0.05% and 0.15%, depending on how much money you keep in your account. It doesn’t require a minimum balance to stay open and you’ll get free debits whenever you need to take money out of your account.
You’ll also get unlimited e-Transfers and free withdrawals on CIBC ATMs. As an added bonus, you’ll be able to qualify for a welcome bonus of up to $150 if you fulfill certain criteria
Simplii savings account
You can earn a 0.1% return with Simplii’s High Interest Savings Account. You won’t pay monthly fees to maintain your account and there’s no need to keep a minimum balance. You also won’t need to pay fees when you spend money out of your account.
Your savings will be accessible to you at all times – all you need to do is withdraw your funds with a Simplii Online Banking debit card or transfer money out of your account electronically. Earn 1.5% interest when you open an account. Conditions apply. Apply by October 31, 2021.
Can I hold my savings in a registered account?
You’ll be able to hold your savings in a registered account like a tax-free savings account (TFSA) or a registered retirement savings account (RRSP). You’ll get the same high interest rates as you would with a normal savings account, but you won’t have to claim the interest you make as income on your taxes. The only downside is that these types of accounts don’t allow withdrawals.
Guaranteed investment certificates
Simplii GICs come with interest rates as high as 1.3% for a 5-year term, which is about average by industry standards. There doesn’t seem to be any minimum amount required for your deposit, and your investments will be protected up to $100,000 by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC).
You can also hold any GIC you take out with Simplii in a registered account such as an RRSP or TFSA. The interest rates you’ll earn on your investments are outlined below:
Length of term | GIC rates (as of June 1, 2020) |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 0.5% |
| 2 years | 0.7% |
| 3 years | 1% |
| 4 years | 1.2% |
| 5 years | 1.3% |
| *These rates are subject to change – you can find Simplii Online Banking‘s current GIC rates on its website. | |
What other financial products does Simplii Online Banking offer?
Simplii Online Banking offers a number of other financial products. These include the following:- Mortgages. You’ll be able to take advantage of fixed and variable interest rates for mortgages with terms between 2 and 10 years.
- Loans. You can take out a loan or line of credit with a competitive interest rate based on CIBC’s prime rate.
- Credit cards. You can sign up for the Simplii Cash Back Visa and enjoy a number of benefits and perks for no annual fee.
How does Simplii Banking compare to other banks?
Simplii has similar offerings to many other online banks. The rates and benefits it promotes for its chequing accounts are similar to other online banks like Tangerine and EQ Bank. It tends to fall a bit short on the rates it offers for its savings account (which are as much as 1% lower than some of its competitors).
Simplii’s range of GICs is also less impressive than other online banks. That said, it outperforms many of Canada’s big banks and credit unions for the majority of banking products that it provides.
Why should I open an account with Simplii Online Banking?
- Easy application. It’s easy to open an account in less than 10 minutes using Simplii’s quick and easy online application.
- No monthly fees. There’s no need to dip into your savings to cover the cost of account management fees every month.
- Many account types. You can sign up for a number of different accounts (with options for registered and cash accounts).
- Deposit insurance. The money you put into your account will be protected up to $100,000 by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC).
- Mobile app. You can get easy and secure access to your banking at any time with Simplii’s mobile app.
- No minimum deposits. You won’t have to maintain a minimum balance in any of Simplii’s accounts, including its GICs.
- Global money transfers. You’ll be able to send money overseas using your chequing account for a much lower fee than you’d pay for a wire transfer.
What should I look out for?
- Lower rates than competitors. You’ll get lower interest rates on GICs and savings accounts with Simplii than you will with other digital banks.
- Not available in Quebec. You won’t be able to sign up for a Simplii Financial account if you’re a resident of Quebec.
- No in-person service. This is a strictly digital bank so you won’t be able to access any physical branches (nor can you go through CIBC to do your Simplii banking).
Simplii Online Banking reviews and complaints
Though Simplii is well-reviewed in the financial community, many of its customer reviews are very negative. It has a rating of 1.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot as well as a rating of F from the Better Business Bureau (which is the lowest possible rating that a business can have).
The main complaint put forward by customers is about the customer service on offer from this digital bank. Many reviewers are unhappy about long wait times and unpleasant interactions with customer service agents over the phone. Others are angry about miscommunications that have ended up costing them money and time in the long run.
How can I open a Simplii Financial online banking account?
Eligibility requirements
To open an account with Simplii Online Banking, you’ll need to meet a couple of requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age (or 19 in some provinces)
- Have a bank account at another Canadian financial institution
- Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Have a valid email address
How can I apply?
You can easily apply for Simplii Financial‘s line of banking products on its website. All you’ll need to do is follow a couple of simple steps:
- Fill out an application form for the account or other financial product you’re interested in.
- Provide some basic personal and financial information.
- Register your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and provide your digital signature.
- Get approved and load funds into your account to start earning interest.
Bottom line
Simplii Online Banking is a reputable online bank that was launched by CIBC in 2017. It offers a number of different bank accounts as well as a suite of investment and loan products. Learn what you need to qualify for Simplii’s banking products and apply online today to get started.
