hiya. i'll be relocating to Canada this summer to work semi-permanently.

im currently with Nationwide building society. they said they don't have any "partners" in Canada. (it's just to help me choose)

any bank will you recommend me going?

also i was told that i need to apply for a traveller's cheque so atleast i can have "instant" money on my new accout there. is that practical?

Were planning on using HSBC. You can open an account here and in Canada. Lots of people seem to recommend it on this forum.

We went with HSBC and would recommend them. Others will recommend others such has RBC, TD etc.

For us it came down to the service we received on our first visit to them and the fact that they bent over backwards for us.

is it ok to open an account with a TWP ?

When we 1st got here we were here as visitors, opened an account and got a mortgage.

You can open an account on a TWP no probs and get mortgages if needed

ll i want is a normal high interest savings account and a credit card account. i know there could be loads of them out there but i want atleast 3 sugestions from you guys...

We came over with HSBC and dh's wages are paid into them and they have been great, all organised before we left the UK. Mortgage and paying bills is done with TD and everything went really smoothly opening an account with them plus getting mortgage sorted, most was done online and signed for house day after we arrived

Is there a branch in Amherst by any chance?

It's Halifax for us

As far as banking products are concerned Canadian banks are pretty much the same. Banking is a people business and the quality of one's banking relationship comes down to the staff of the branch that you walk into. If the person across the counter is friendly, coutreous, knowledgable and willing/able to answer your questions then you will hopefully have a good experience. It's a trial and error effort to find the bank/branch to your liking.

Nope, think someone once told me there is one in Truro (not 100% sure) but we use Halifax although saying that haven't spoken to them since we arrived in Canada and just do online banking

The HSBC in Truro and New Glasgow are just finance centres so no banking. I have a great account manager in Halifax so wont be moving banks unless she doesn't give us our next mortgage

You will search long and hard to find a high interest savings account. Deposit rates are traditionally lower than in the UK, and with interest rates being so low generally deposit rates are almost non existent. Your best bet might be to open a regular checking account and then link this to an ING Direct savings account. Even so, unless you are prepared to lock in your money in a fixed term deposit (called Guaranteed Investment Certificates - GICs) don't expect much more than 2.5%.

I have lots of goods things to say about HSBC (though there may not be many branches in NB) and Scotiabank. As Auld Yin says above, a lot depends on who you get on with, and who will give you a credit card first.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned President's Choice yet.

Banking is free, they do all the usual stuff and their interest rates seem better than most, if not all, the usual banks.

No branches as such, just the kiosk staff in Superstore/Loblaws and the machines in CIBC, but that pretty much covers banking needs.

Putting deposits through the machines slows clearance and, thus, availability of the cash, but that's really the only downside.

i will be mainly based in Alberta, Edmonton. any good banks around there?

^^^What he said

Anything i put in the machine is cleared immediately...could be a credit rating thing.


I have nothing but positive things to say about PC, but I have heard that they (sometimes) require you to have PR status in order to open an account.


Bring Cash or travellers cheques as you will need funds available for deposits and the like as a newcomer. Banks will place a hold on funds on a new account, and even wire transfers can take several days to clear.