19 Best No-Fee Bank Accounts in Canada (2024)

Banking fees can add up quickly. Some chequing accounts in Canada charge over $400 per year in monthly fees.

If you are spending your hard-earned cash on your banking, you might not have to. There are options out there for banking with absolutely no fees, and good ones, too.

Today, I’m going through the best no-fee bank accounts in Canada for 2024. I’ll walk you through the features and the details of banking options that are actually fee-free; no minimum balances and no hidden fees.

That’s possibly hundreds of dollars saved per year, right there. I’ll go over the best chequing and savings options below, but here are our top three picks:

Common Characteristics Of Canadian No-Fee Chequing Accounts

First, let’s go through what most of these no-fee bank accounts have in common.

Most of the no-fee banks in Canada are digital, giving you the convenience of banking from wherever you are.

In most cases, you still have access to a wide range of ATMs to make deposits and withdrawals and can call their call centers to get assistance if you ever need it.

If you are wondering about safety and insurance, digital banks are members of CDIC, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, just like other big banks out there.

This means that up to $100,000 of your deposits are protected. In the case of credit unions, you may even have unlimited insurance on your deposits, which I will touch on at the end.

Best No-Fee Chequing Accounts

Your chequing account is likely going to be the bank account that you use the most.

You’ll be able to access any funds in this account immediately, and you’ll be given a debit card to go along with the account that you can use anywhere that Visa or Mastercard are accepted or ATMs that have the +Plus Interac sign on it.

Big banks often charge monthly account maintenance fees since they have a larger infrastructure to maintain.

However, these smaller banks operate primarily online, which saves their customers money by eliminating the need for bothersome monthly fees.

1. Tangerine No-Fee Chequing Account – Best All-Around

Tangerine offers one of the best no-fee banking accounts out there. Their wide range of features and low fees are truly very impressive in comparison to other no-fee chequing accounts in Canada.

They also offer drafts, which very few online banks do. Below is a rundown of the No-Fee Daily Chequing Account’s features.

When it comes to overall simplicity, it’s hard to beat Tangerine’s Daily Chequing account. As a member, you’ll be able to access over 3,500 Scotiabank ABMs throughout Canada, which makes it easy to access your cash and make deposits.

Tangerine also offers an overdraft protection program, which will help limit any unexpected overdrafts from your chequing account.

Account Features

• No monthly banking fees with no minimum balance
• Free unlimited debit purchases, bill payments, pre-authorized payments, Tangerine Email Money Transfers and Interac e-Transfer®  transactions
• Option to order a bank draft online and have it delivered to your door
• Tiered interest accrued on the account:
  •  $0.00 – $49,999.99 account balance: 0.01%
  • $50,000.00 – $99,999.99: 0.05%
  • $100,000 or more: 0.10%
• The first chequebook (50 cheques) is free, $50 each for additional chequebooks
• Overdraft is available with a monthly charge of $5 + 19% interest on all overdraft balances
• 1 free stop payment per year, $12.50 each thereafter
• 1 free replacement Card per year, $15 thereafter
• Free access to 3,500 Scotiabank ABMs (Automated Bank Machines) nationwide and 44,000 ABMs worldwide through Scotiabank’s Global ATM Alliance.
• Mobile Cheque Deposit
• Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) fee is $45
• Non-Scotiabank ABM fee: $1.50

For their No-Fee Daily Chequing Account’s complete fee schedule, go here.

2. Simplii Financial No-Fee Chequing Account

Simplii Financial is owned by CIBC. It offers a good range of online and mobile services with no monthly fee. You also get fee-free access to all CIBC ATMs, which is a plus.

Along with your account, you’ll be issued a Simplii Mastercard debit card that offers real-time USD exchange rates whenever you’re purchasing something from across the border or from online retailers.

Simplii also has a referral program that allows you to earn up to $50 every time you refer a friend or family member to sign up for a Simplii No-Fee Chequing Account.

Account Features

• No monthly banking fees with no minimum balance
• Unlimited free debit purchases, bill payments & withdrawals
• 0.05% interest accrued, which is typical for a chequing account but much lower than the savings accounts mentioned below.
• Ding-free access to over 3,400 CIBC ATMs across Canada
• Pre-authorized bill payments
• Overdraft protection: you can add overdraft protection up to $5000 to your account to help you with unexpected expenses with a monthly charge of $4.97 + 19% interest on all overdraft balances
• $50 successful referral reward bonus (Unlimited. More successful referrals = more money)
• Joint accounts available

For more details on the account and information on account opening and verification, go here.

3. Motusbank No-Fee Chequing Account

Motusbank is a newer bank founded in 2018, and its no-fee chequing is a good and well-rounded option. Like other chequing accounts in Canada, it comes with a debit card for day-to-day purchases as well as free, unlimited INTERAC e-Transfers.

You don’t need to maintain a minimum balance, and you’ll be able to use your debit card for unlimited daily purchases.

One of the unique features of Motusbank’s no-fee chequing account is that you’ll be able to take advantage of the bank’s “Price Drop” feature.

All you have to do is submit monthly photocopies of your receipts, and Motusbank will automatically look for deals, rebates, and coupons that they can apply, giving you cashback in return.

Lastly, Motusbank offers 0.15% interest on the money held in your chequing account, which is a bit more offered than other e-chequing accounts I’ve seen.

Account Features

• No monthly banking fees with no minimum balance
• Earn 0.15% interest on every dollar, calculated on the closing daily balance and paid to your account monthly
• Free unlimited Interac e-Transfers® (to send and receive)
• Free unlimited bill payments, transfers between accounts, Interac® Direct Payment purchases, pre-authorized debit, ABM withdrawals, and cheques performed by you via online or mobile banking or their Member Service team
• Mobile cheque deposits
• The first order of a 25-count chequebook is free
• No-fee access to over 43,000 surcharge-free ATMs in North America with THE EXCHANGE® Network in Canada and the Allpoint Network in the US
• Online, mobile, ATM, or over-the-phone options for daily banking needs

For more details on this chequing account and information on account opening and verification, go here.

4. PC Financial PC Money Account

The PC Money Account is marketed as “a bank account that gets you more PC Optimum™ points”. It’s very rewards-based and has some interesting features that are unique to this card.

If you are a regular at PC Optimum stores, this account could definitely be right for you!

In this way, the PC Money Account is similar to a credit card rewards program. Although you’ll be using it as a chequing account, every 10,000 points you earn can be redeemed for $10 worth of credit at any one of the stores in PC Optimum’s network.

Currently, they’re offering 200,000 free points to new customers, which is a great deal to take advantage of.

The PC Money online banking platform allows you to keep track of your monthly spending, earnings, and rewards, which can help you stay on top of your budget as well.

Account Features

• No monthly banking fees with no minimum balance
• Unlimited online and in-store transactions
• Free unlimited Interac e-Transfers® (to send and receive)
• Earn 10 points/$1 on your everyday purchases, plus up to 25 points/$1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart
• Overdraft is available with a monthly charge of $5 + 19% interest on all overdraft balances
• Earn a one‑time bonus of 25,000 PC Optimum points when you set up payroll direct deposit and receive your third deposit (x value).
• “Early Payday” feature: You can receive your direct deposit funds when the payroll file is received from your employer. Their website claims that this may be up to 2 days earlier than the employer’s scheduled payment date.
• Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) fee: $40 (If a transaction on your Account is rejected due to a reason of non-sufficient funds in the Account, such as a bill payment or cheque)
• Domestic ATM withdrawal (not PC Financial ATM): $1.50

For more details on the account and information on account opening and verification, go here.

5. Motive Financial Cha-Ching No-Fee Chequing Account

Motive Financial is an online bank that offers great rates and reduced fees. They’ve got two fee-free chequing accounts. Let’s start with the Cha-Ching Chequing Account.

Account Features

• No monthly banking fees with no minimum balance
• 0.25% interest accrued (Interest is calculated on the daily closing balance at the applicable rate tier and paid on the last day of the month)
• Unlimited free transactions
• Unlimited free Interac® e-Transfers
• Take advantage of THE EXCHANGE® ATM Network in Canada
• The first 50 personalized cheques are free
• 2 free Non-EXCHANGE Network ATM withdrawals. Additional are $1.50 each
• Non Sufficient Funds (NSF) cheques and loan payments cost $45
• Printed monthly statements with cheque images mailed to your home are available at $2 per month

For more details on this account and information on account opening and verification, go here.

6. Motive No-Fee Chequing Account

This second Motive Chequing Account also comes with no monthly fees and offers an even higher interest rate. However, it does charge fees for certain services, such as Interac e-Transfers.

If you plan on holding a larger account balance and sending only a few e-Transfers per month, this option may be your better bet.

Account Features

• No monthly fees
• Unlimited free daily transactions and money withdrawals
• 0.60% interest accrued
• $1 per Interac® e-Transfer

For more information on the Motive Chequing account, go here.

For Motive Financial’s complete fee schedule, go here.

7. 1Q No-Fee Chequing Account

1Q’s Chequing Account offers a tiered interest schedule that is high compared to other chequing accounts out there. They also offer free unlimited transactions and ABM withdrawals, much like other online banks.

Do note that their debit card is only available for use in Canada, the United States, and South Korea.

Account Features

• No monthly banking fees with no minimum balance
• Free unlimited debit transactions
• Tiered interest accrued:
  •  $0.00 – $49,999.99 account balance: 0.25%
  • $50,000.00 – $99,999.99 account balance: 0.75%
  • $100,000 or more: 0.85%
• Mobile cheque deposit on app
• Free ABM withdrawals

For more details on this account and information on account opening and verification, go here.

8. Alterna Bank No-Fee E-Chequing Account

Alterna Bank offers digital banking in Canada, and they offer a no-fee chequing account that is noteworthy.

Alterna Bank is definitely up and coming in the banking world in Canada and offers unique products such as end-to-end digital mortgages also.

If you want overdraft protection, then you can add it to your account for just $2.50 per month, which is a great deal compared to overdraft protection offered by other banks I’ve seen.

As an account holder, you’ll be able to make unlimited daily transactions using your debit card. You also are able to take advantage of 100% free (and unlimited) Interac e-Transfers.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one chequing and savings solution, Alterna Bank offers a high-interest savings account that can be accessed alongside your no-fee e-chequing account from Alterna’s online banking app.

Account Features

• No monthly banking fees with no minimum balance
• Free, unlimited daily transactions: withdrawals, Transfers, Interac® e-Transfers, Me-to-Me Transfers, Bill Payments, Cheques, Pre-authorized payments, Debit card payments (POS), Alterna, and THE EXCHANGE Network ATM withdrawals and transfers.
• FREE, unlimited Interac® e-Transfers
• Overdraft Protection is available for $2.50 a month + interest (calculated and debited monthly to your account)
• 0.05% annual interest rate accrued
• The maximum balance per customer is $250,000 (plus accrued interest)

For more details on this account and information on account opening and verification, go here.

9. Wealthsimple Cash Account

Previously called Wealthsimple Save, the Wealthsimple Cash Account is available for Canadians who have a Wealthsimple Invest or Wealthsimple Trade account.

In my opinion, this account does miss some integral features of day-to-day banking, such as cheque deposits, and therefore doesn’t necessarily replace a traditional chequing account.

However, it does offer the convenience of sending money easily through the app and storing cash, so it could be a good option if you already have an account through Wealthsimple.

Let’s go through its features.

Account Features

• No monthly banking fees with no minimum balance
• Unlimited debit purchases, bill payments, and withdrawals
• Sending and receiving money is completely free
• Make everyday purchases with the Wealthsimple Visa Cash card by adding it to Apple or Google Pay.

For more details on the Wealthsimple Cash account, go here.

10. LBC Digital No-Fee Chequing Account

Laurentian Bank of Canada (LBC) offers both no-fee chequing and savings accounts for customers.

The LBC Digital Chequing account is one of the bank’s more popular products, thanks to its simple fee schedule and 3,500 ABMs available throughout Canada.

With an LBC Digital Chequing account, you don’t have to worry about any monthly maintenance fees, and you’re entitled to unlimited, free Interac e-transfers.

You can also transfer money to any other linked financial institution or bank you work with free of charge.

Unlike Tangerine, which offers a 0.10% interest rate on your chequing account balance, LBC recently made some changes and is no longer offering interest on your chequing balance.

While this may be disappointing to some, chequing accounts aren’t the best for those who want to earn interest (see the high-interest savings accounts mentioned below instead).

Overall, though, LBC Bank is reliable, trustworthy, and all customers are protected by the CDIC for up to $100,000.

Here’s a brief overview of the key features offered by LBC’s Digital Chequing account.

Account Features

• No monthly fees.
• Unlimited, free Interac e-transfers.
• Unlimited, free transfers to other financial institutions.
• Access over 3,500 ABMs throughout Canada and use any ABM in the Exchange Network for free.
• Free paper and electronic banking statements are issued monthly.
• All customers are insured for up to $100,000 by the CDIC.

To read more about the LBC Digital Chequing account, read here.

Best No-Fee Savings Accounts

A chequing account is essential for everyday purchases and paying bills. However, a savings account is a great way to start setting money aside and plan for the future.

Plus, a savings account allows you to earn more interest on your money than a traditional chequing account.

Whether you’re saving money for a down payment on a mortgage, a rainy day, or your retirement, here are some of the best no-fee savings accounts in Canada.

12. EQ Savings Plus Account – Top Pick For High-Interest Savings

The EQ Savings Plus Account combines the best features of a chequing and savings account. You can get the interest rate of a savings account while having access to the features of a chequing.

Currently, EQ Bank is offering a 2.50% interest rate on your savings account balance, which qualifies it as a high-interest savings program.

They don’t have any monthly maintenance fees or annoying charges, which you’ll often find when working with big-name banks.

With EQ, you can also send international money transfers directly from your account using the mid-market exchange rate. This service is powered by Wise, which is a company that I love and have reviewed here.

The EQ Bank Card is a new offering by EQ Bank, and it combines elements of a chequing account and a prepaid Mastercard, all while allowing your balance to earn high-interest savings.

Another highlight of this account is that there is no Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) fee, which most banks charge upwards of $40 for.

Let’s go through the full account features.

Account Features

• No monthly banking fees with no minimum balance
• Free unlimited Interac e-Transfers® (to send and receive)
• Free unlimited Electronic Funds Transfers [EFT] (which include transfers between EQ Bank accounts, transfers between linked accounts (bank to bank), and recurring transfers)
• Free bill payments
• The convenience of virtual international bank transfers (powered by Wise)
• No NSF (Non-Sufficient Funds) chargeback fees for returned items (ex. cheque deposit with non-sufficient funds)
• 4 possible joint account co-holders (including the Primary Account holder)
• Mobile Cheque Deposit
• $20 successful referral reward bonus, up to 25 friends ($500 bonus)

Good to note

• Paper statements are not available; they can be viewed and printed online only.
• Overdrafts are not available.
• EQ is a digital-only bank. They do not offer a debit card or direct ATM access to withdraw or deposit cash. They suggest that by sending funds to your linked account through Interac e-Transfer® or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), you can withdraw the cash from your linked account.

For more details on the account and information on account opening and verification, go here.

12. Neo Financial Money Account

Founded by the people who created SkipTheDishes, Neo was created to provide Canadians with a fantastic alternative to big banks.

The Neo Money account is an excellent offering and has one of the highest interest rates in Canada of 2.25%.

Unlike traditional savings accounts, Neo Money also offers unlimited free transactions to all of its customers.

You can set up bill payments, direct deposit for paycheques, and easily transfer money to and from other linked bank accounts.

The Neo Money online banking app is incredibly intuitive, simple, and easy to use.

The interest that you earn on your savings will be calculated daily and is paid directly to your account balance every month, so you can see exactly how much you’re earning.

Neo Financial also offers other personal finance products, such as Neo Invest^TM, Neo Mortgage^TM, and a Neo Card that allows you to earn cashback on daily purchases.

Account Features

• An excellent savings rate of 2.25%, which is over 100 times as much as a traditional bank.
• No monthly banking fees
• Make bill payments
• Send and receive Interac e-Transfers
• Make bank-to-bank transfers to and from your account
• No minimum balances
• Unlimited free transactions
• Available Canada-wide (except Quebec, but will be coming soon)
• Eligible for CDIC deposit insurance, with coverage of up to $100,000.

13. Peoples Group eSavings Account

Formerly known as Peoples Trust (which many people still refer to the bank as today), the Peoples Group is a large Canadian bank that offers competitive personal finance and banking products.

In my opinion, one of the bank’s best products is the high-interest eSavings account. They’re currently offering a high-interest rate on every dollar you have saved.

Like Neo Money and EQ Bank’s high-interest savings programs, you’re not required to maintain a minimum balance or make a large initial deposit.

There are no monthly banking fees, and you’re allowed unlimited free transfers to third-party linked accounts.

If you have other accounts with the Peoples Group bank, you can instantly and seamlessly transfer funds from your eSavings account to your other Peoples Group accounts.

Peoples Group also offers the same high-interest rate on its tax-free TFSA savings accounts.

Here’s a brief overview of some of the key features of the Peoples Group eSavings account.

Account Features

• High-interest rate on your savings account balance.
• Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly.
• Seamless transfers between your other Peoples Group accounts.
• Unlimited, free transfers to other financial institutions and linked bank accounts.
• Available TFSA program.
• No monthly baking fees.
• No minimum deposit.
• Insured by the CDIC for up to $100,000.

You can read more about the eSavings account offered by Peoples Group here.

Best Big Bank No-Fee Chequing Accounts

Some people prefer the security and accessibility of working with a larger bank.

For one, you’ll usually have easier access to ABMs. Secondly, you’ll be able to visit local bank branches and speak to representatives in person if you ever have an issue.

14. Scotiabank No-Fee Chequing

Scotiabank is one of Canada’s most reputable large banks. The bank doesn’t offer no-fee chequing to everybody. To qualify for a fee-free chequing account, you’ll either need to be a student or a senior over the age of 65.

Scotiabank’s Student Banking Advantage Plan is a great overall chequing account for students, as it doesn’t come with any monthly fees and offers unlimited debits. Scotiabank is also offering a $75 welcome bonus for new members.

Once you’re no longer a student, you can update your account to Scotiabank’s Ultimate or Preferred chequing account.

As long as you maintain a $4,000 minimum account balance (Preferred) or $5,000 (Ultimate), you won’t have to pay monthly maintenance fees.

Here’s a brief overview of Scotiabank’s fee-free Student Banking Advantage Plan.

Account Features

• No monthly fees for as long as you’re a student.
• Unlimited account debits.
• Account balance is CDIC-insured for up to $100,000.
• Welcome bonuses for new members.
• Free monthly credit score report.
• Take advantage of the Scene+ program to earn cashback at select retailers and affiliates.

15. RBC No-Fee Chequing

Like Scotiabank, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) offers a no-fee chequing account to senior citizens and students.

This will save you an average of $12 per month, which you’d otherwise be required to pay in maintenance fees.

With an RBC bank account, you’ll be able to access thousands of ABMs across the country, which makes it easy to access your money.

Here’s a brief overview of the RBC no-free Student Advantage chequing account.

Account Features

• Up to $100 sign-up bonus.
• No monthly fees for full-time enrolled students.
• Free Interac e-transfers.
• Unlimited debit card transactions.
• Consideration for RBC credit card pre-approval.

To learn more about RBC’s no-fee student chequing account, read more here.

16. TD Bank No-Fee Chequing

TD Bank offers fee-free chequing to all registered students. Unlike RBC and Scotiabank, though, seniors are still required to pay a monthly fee of $3.95.

When it comes to student chequing from a big-name bank, though, TD Bank’s student chequing account has a lot to offer. Here are some of the key perks that are worth noting.

Account Features

• Unlimited monthly transactions.
• Free Interac e-transfers.
• No monthly fees until you’re 23 (unless you have further documentation for post-secondary education).
• Free overdraft protection helps you stay on top of your finances.

17. CIBC No-Fee Chequing

CIBC’s Smart for Students chequing account is a great way for students to get started with their first bank account.

For as long as you’re a student, you won’t have to worry about paying any monthly maintenance fees, and you’ll be able to earn up to $150 in initial bonuses for meeting spending goals.

Here are some of the key advantages of the CIBC Smart for Students chequing account.

Account Features

• $0 in monthly maintenance fees.
• No minimum account balance is required.
• Up to $150 in first-time bonuses for new accounts.
• Unlimited debit transactions.
• One free non-CIBC ABM withdrawal per month (fees charged for additional non-CIBC ABM withdrawals).

18. BMO No-Fee Chequing

BMO bank offers a number of perks to their members that you won’t find at other banks. That being said, BMO is the last on my list because the bank charges high monthly fees on most of the available chequing account programs.

However, you can waive monthly fees by maintaining a minimum balance of $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the account you have.

Here are some of the account features of the BMO Premium chequing account.

Account Features

• No monthly maintenance fee with a $6,000 minimum balance.
• Unlimited, free withdrawals from any non-BMO ABM worldwide.
• Fee-free global money transfers.
• Eligible for the Family Bundle plan, which allows family members to take advantage of the same perks as you.
• Free ID theft protection from OnGuard.

19. Wise Account (Best for Money Transfers)

If you do any transactions involving foreign currencies, you must get a Wise account. As a Canadian, your free Wise borderless account allows you to:

• Quickly send money to over 160 countries in their home currency
• Hold money in over 40 currencies in balances in your account
• convert currencies instantly in your account with low fees
• get account details to receive money in AUD, CAD, GBP, HUF, EUR, NZD, RON, SGD, TRY, and USD
• set up Direct Debits in AUD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and USD
• You get an extremely good exchange rate – I can’t stress this point enough. Many of the big banks will not only charge you for the wire transfer but take a big percentage of your money for each exchange rate conversion.

Free Credit Union Chequing Accounts

There are also credit unions of varying sizes across the country that offer no-fee banking. Your deposits in credit unions are protected by provincial deposit insurance rather than the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, which in some instances, provides more insurance.

This can mean that more than $100,000 of your deposits are insured, so you can feel comfortable about keeping all of your money in one place.

In the case of B.C., the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (CUDIC) provides unlimited deposit insurance protection on all deposits in British Columbia’s credit unions.

Another benefit of credit union accounts is that you have access to in-person branches with most of them.

This does sometimes mean that operating costs of branches limit the number of free features of bank accounts, but it all boils down to personal preferences about your banking.

If you are interested in looking into credit unions for fee-free chequing accounts, I recommend looking into Valley First and Vancity credit unions in BC, Cambrian and Steinbach credit unions in Manitoba, Servus Credit Union in Alberta, and Innovation credit union in Saskatchewan.

Here’s a full list of the best credit unions in Canada.

What are the drawbacks of no-fee chequing accounts in Canada?

For the most part, no-fee chequing accounts are great. You’ll be able to save and spend your money just as you would with a major bank like RBC or BMO. You’ll receive a debit card that can be used for any daily purchases as well.

However, there are a few notable drawbacks of these free chequing accounts, including:

• Limited ABM networks
• No personalized advisors
• Fewer financial products

For one, free chequing accounts may not give you as much access to ABMs. You may have to travel farther to find an ABM or pay costly transaction fees to use an out-of-network ABM.

Instead of using the nice, modern, safe ABMs offered by major banks, you could find yourself in shady corner stores using outdated ABMs just to take out a bit of spending money.

If you’re an individual who frequently uses or deposits cash into their account, I recommend looking for no-fee chequing accounts in Canada that provide access to a wider range of ABMs.

For example, Simplii Financial provides its customers with access to CIBC ABMs and offers unlimited free transactions.

Another drawback of these online free bank accounts is that you won’t receive personalized service. With a big bank like CIBC or TD Bank, you can walk into a branch and have a discussion with one of the bankers about your finances, loans, and other services offered by the bank.

With an online bank, you’ll need to call a customer service number and may have to wait on hold for half an hour before being connected to an overseas call centre.

Lastly, you won’t have access to as many financial products.

Free online banks typically specialize in offering two or three key products, such as no-fee chequing accounts or high-interest savings accounts. The bank may not offer access to other common products, such as:

• Credit cards
• Mortgages
• Small business loans
• Personal loans
• Registered savings accounts

If you’re looking for an all-in-one banking solution, you may find that the fees imposed by major banks are worth it. However, if these additional services don’t interest you (or you already have access to them from another bank), then these no-fee chequing accounts are a great way to save money.

How Many Bank Accounts Should You Have In Canada?

There are no limits on how many bank accounts you can have in Canada, but you should consider having at least two: one chequing and one savings account.

Chequing accounts are usually used to house funds that you will need access to within about a month, whether that is to pay your bills, make debit card purchases, or make loan payments. Most people also link up their payroll to their chequing account.

Your savings account, on the other hand, can be used to store funds that you may need access to in the near to medium future, such as to make a big purchase or to have an emergency fund.

Although savings accounts offer higher interest rates than chequing accounts, I would still recommend investing funds that you don’t need access to in the medium to far future.

This way, your hard-earned money can get an even higher rate of return and won’t deteriorate against the pressures of inflation.

Past the two basic chequing and savings accounts, how many bank accounts you should have come down to personal preference.

Whether you like keeping all of your money in one bank for convenience or taking advantage of good deals at different banks as they pop up, it’s completely up to you.

Should You Use The Same Bank For Chequing And Savings?

Here are some of the pros and cons of using the same bank for both chequing and savings:

Pros	Cons
Easier account management	Limits your options to find the banks with the best features
Convenient online transfers	Sticking with one bank may result in less-competetive interest rates
Single login for all of your accounts	You could miss out on special offers and deals from other banks
	If your account is compromised by fraud, both your chequing and savings could be affected

When all your accounts are in one place, it’s easier to manage and keep track of your assets. This can make online transfers between banks easier and quicker, as inter-account transfers from the same financial institution are often instant.

Additionally, there’s a lot to be said for having a single bank account login. Instead of having to manage multiple usernames, emails, and passwords for multiple banks, you can access all of your finances from the same account.

However, there are instances where it could be more beneficial to split your accounts between different banks.

For example, Neo Financial offers an excellent high-interest savings account, but they don’t offer a chequing account.

Tangerine, on the other hand, has a fantastic no-fee chequing account, but the interest rates on its savings account might be less competitive.

Another example could be if you already have a daily chequing account with another bank. Perhaps you want to open a high-interest savings account, but your current bank doesn’t offer one. In this case, it’s simpler to just open a second savings account at a bank of your choice.

From a customer perspective, it’s often in your best interest to cherry-pick the best of both worlds.

Additionally, splitting your money between two different banks could offer increased security, providing a safeguard against fraud or identity theft. If one of your accounts falls victim to fraud, at least your other account will be 100% safe while you’re waiting on the fraud department to clear things up.

Conclusion

In Canada, banking fees are not equal across the board. What you get for how much you pay per month can vary vastly depending on which bank account you choose at which financial institution.

Luckily, there are plenty of options out there for banking with no monthly fees and a wide range of account features that allow you flexible day-to-day banking. As the world heads into a more and more digitized state, these accounts also give you the convenience of banking from wherever you are.

Want to know more about chequing accounts in Canada? Check out this recent blog post for the best chequing accounts In Canada.