I can't decide!

Anyone have experience of pros/cons to each?
I know its a bit of a "how long is a piece of string" question.

We're still in the UK atm and I'm looking to open an account from over here before we move in Nov so that I've got somewhere to send money to.

both are much of a muchness

Scotiabank are good for setting up, but I've not managed to get an increase on my credit card and that's been a year...

i applied for an RBC credit card yesterday, so if they give me a good limit i can see me switiching all my banking to them, since they offer VISA Debit which is useful for me as i do a lot of internet shopping...Scotiabank are still stuck in the 1990s with Interac which can only be used in Canada

Have been with RBC for 20+years and quite satisfied.

we just dumped RBC and moved to a credit union (Vancity). got a much better deal on mortgage rate, and lower fees on credit cards and bank accounts.

Husband tried to set up Scotiabank's account from overseas, since their website says that you can do that. They farted around and then ultimately told him that he could APPLY for the account from overseas but it wouldn't be actually OPENED until he showed up at a branch to sign in person... which kind of negated the whole thing. He was given the runaround for a week while in the UK and then just said screw it and opened an account with BMO after he arrived.

I think in terms of who does the best CC offers perhaps it's something to look into once I'm there and can just move banks if need be?

I had an acct with RBC 8 yrs ago before I moved to the UK - don't know if that'd work in my favour (long been closed) ... As we're going to keep our Barclays acct open when we move I wonder if I can't just draw a certified chq for the majority of the balance and just bring that with and use it to open an acct when we land rather than trying to open one outland?

Chances are as a new immigrant with no credit history you're going to have a limited choice of credit cards. You'll probably have to put down a deposit for a standard no-frills credit card - ask whatever bank you open your account with.

BMO let my husband open a chequing (debit) account in person without any hassle, got his debit card on site and is using it with no problems. He just withdrew cash from his UK card for the first week or so, and is now organising how to transfer money - I think he's using Oanga? Once you have the account open, do a search for companies that can transfer money, there are lots of threads and recommendations. Often going via the banks means you pay quite high transaction charges etc.

We've banked with Scotiabank since arriving (and yes, you do need to physically be there to sign the forms to activate the account) and have had pretty reasonable service and no issues.

We have a credit card with them, chequing accounts, savings accounts and tax-free savings, plus a small line of credit.

We have also obtained credit cards with RBC for their Avion points and hope, one day, to actually accumulate enough to be able to fly out of the province. Getting to Heathrow might be a bit ambitious at our rate of earning....

I have used RBC since arriving in Canada and they have always been good, they issued me a Visa once I started working and have always been pleasant to deal with.

They now advertise various things for new immigrants, such as no credit history needed credit card.

RBC also tends to have better hours then Scotia Bank does.

I've not used Scotia but my ex did, and all she did was bitch about them.

We have just opened a start right account with Scotiabank. As a newcomer you get a fee free credit card with $1000, to help you get a credit rating.

The account is also fee free for one year. I think you need to be landed to get this deal.

http://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/0,,2468,00.html

Regards

Andrew

Thanks!

The problem is that I'm a cdn citizen and we'll be moving before hubby has his COPR so looks like we won't qualify for some of these perks for the Landed. Tis a bummer!

Thanks!

The problem is that I'm a cdn citizen and we'll be moving before hubby has his COPR so looks like we won't qualify for some of these perks for the Landed. Tis a bummer!

My husband applied for that Scotiabank account while still in the UK... they screwed him around a bit with trying to open it, though, and then said he couldn't transfer funds into it until he was in Canada to activate the account, which kind of defeated the whole purpose. Hence he just ended up opening one with BMO when he first arrived instead.

Amusingly, Scotiabank sent a "welcome to your Start Right account!" that arrived in the post *yesterday*, dated 12 August... my husband moved 3 weeks ago...

After a not so positive time with the CIBC prior to, and the RBC shortly after, we arrived ... I walked into a Scotiabank branch in Oakville and found them far more accommodating and understanding than the other two... They were more 'trusting' of a 'new comer' as our prior good credit history in the UK meant nothing once we got here and they were far more willing to provide everything and more that we needed to establish ourselves financial. Consequently we're still with them today and the staff in are brilliant.

We have the same as Chiefmissile. No complaints at all.

I guess it depends on what products you want and if your bank meets those needs. I don't use Visa debit for non-Canadian online shopping - I always use my credit card, so Interac is sufficient for me. (I just transfer the money from my chequing account to my credit card account online - takes a few minutes.)

We had an savings account with RBC before we came over. The decider for our day to day banking was that their newcomer deal was 6 months and Scotiabank was 12 months. We had no problems with RBC (though hardly used them), just the deal with Scotiabank was better for us.

Think what products you need and which bank serves your needs best.