Hey eveyone,

Just wandering who you all bank with in Canada. Any recommendations v.welcome.

Cheers

Supergirly

HSBC

RBC, no probs so far, been really helpful to us as newly landed PR's

HSBC, but only one branch in HalifaxSo probably change to RBC.

CIBC

President's Choice...It's free.

You will get a multitude of opinions, both good and bad, about Canadian banks. The bottom line is they are all basically the same with products and charges. The difference is the one that cranks your engine with service. When you walk in are you greeted politely with friendliness and courteousness? Is the banker knowledeable? Are all your questions answered to your satisfaction? Do they show interest in having you as a customer? If not, move on and find one that does.
Royal Bank
CIBC
Scotiabank
Toronto Dominion
Bank of Montreal (BMO)
HSBC
Credit Unions (mainly western Canada)
ING Bank (Internet banking)
and Others.

HSBC - no complaints from me, super friendly and efficient service

I just paid $25 for ordering cheques the other day. The banks in Canada, to my mind, are subsidized by the customers!

I find the banks more or less the same, it all depends on the manager as to how tight the ship is run. But, for international transfers, HSBC is probably the best as they are a truly international bank:

http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/t...F0Gn:12c58sh8k

Unless I have missed something the banks are a business not a NPO. As a shareholder in banks I am very pleased they do this.

My experience:

Personal banking - HSBC, Scotiabank and Coast Capital Credit Union. Happy to recommend all three.

Business banking - HSBC, Scotiabank and Coast Capital and Van City Credit Union. Excellent service from them. CIBC - I would not touch them with my worst enemy's barge pole.

We use the following:
Royal Bank of Canada -Been with them 17 years and they are OK. We pay $35 a month which covers pretty much everything, including cheques, a preferred FX rate, two premium credit cards and a safety box.

Van City Credit Union - They are local and keep the profits in the community. This is our business account. Cheaper than RBC for business.

ING - Holding account with a slightly more paltry interest rate. Internet banking only. Personal and business.

Have tried and stopped using:

Presidents Choice - Did not work for us, only worked through ATM and Internet.

HSBC - Awful, the whole family have moved away from them.

TD - RBC were better and gave us a better package.

CIBC - Not a great experience.

agree. but i feel like some of the banks woudl even charge you for breathing in their banking halls!

Me too !!!