- Earn 4.00% interest for 12 months
- No monthly account fee
- Free ATM withdrawals across Canada
- No transaction fees
- No e-Transfer fees
A student chequing account lets you manage your everyday banking needs, but without the expensive hassle of monthly fees. Many banks also offer generous welcome bonuses and other rewards for students, so it’s worth shopping around to see what’s available. Keep reading for our pick of the best student chequing accounts in Canada along with tips on how to find the right account for you.
- Earn up to a $500 welcome bonus
- No transactions fees
- No e-Transfer fees
- No monthly account fee
- $1.50 out-of-network ATM fees
- Earn up to a $100 welcome bonus
- Earn SCENE+ points
- No account fee
- No transaction fees
- No e-Transfer fees
Best chequing accounts for students in Canada
- Best overall bank account for students: EQ Personal Account
- Best student chequing account for no fees: Simplii No Fee Chequing Account for Students
- Best student chequing account for signup bonus: Tangerine No-Fee Daily Chequing Account
- Best student chequing account from Big Five Bank: TD Student Chequing Account
- Best student chequing account for earning SCENE+ Points: Scotiabank Student Banking Advantage Plan
- Best student chequing account for earning SPC Points: CIBC Smart Account for Students
- Best student chequing account for domestic students: RBC Advantage Banking for Students
- Best student chequing account for international students: National Bank The Connected Account with Student Offer
Best overall bank account for students: EQ Personal Account
EQ Bank Personal Account
Bonus Offer
Monthly Account Fee
Free Transactions
- $0 account fee
- unlimited transactions
- $0 Interac eTransfers
- Earn 4% interest on your balance
- No physical branches for in-person service
- Some standard banking features not available such as overdraft protection, use of ATMs and the option to have paper statements
Min. Age | 18 |
---|---|
Account Fee | $0 |
Best student chequing account for no fees: Simplii No Fee Chequing Account for Students
Simplii Financial Student No Fee Chequing Account
Bonus Offer
Monthly Account Fee
Free Transactions
- Earn an impressive welcome bonus
- Enjoy unlimited free transactions and e-Transfers
- No monthly account fee
- Earn 0.01% to 0.1% interest on your balance
- No minimum deposit requirements
- Earn a referral bonus
- Simplii is an online only provider
- You can only earn the welcome bonus if you're a new Simplii customer
Min. Age | 18 |
---|---|
Account Fee | $0 |
Best student chequing account for signup bonus: Tangerine No Fee Daily Chequing Account
Tangerine No-Fee Daily Chequing Account
Bonus Offer
Monthly Account Fee
Free Transactions
- Earn decent interest rates
- Unlimited transactions
- Free Interac e-Transfers
- Free cheques
- Mobile cheque deposits
- Charges for certain ATMs
- No in-person service
- Only one free replacement card
Min. Age | 16 |
---|---|
Account Fee | $0 |
Overdraft Fee | $10 |
ATM Out-of-Network Fee | $1.50 |
International ATM Fee | $3 |
Best student chequing account from Big Five Bank: TD Student Chequing Account
TD Student Chequing Account
Bonus Offer
Monthly Account Fee
Free Transactions
- Earn up to $445 in value when you open a new TD Student Chequing Account. Valid until October 31, 2024
- No monthly fee for monthly plan overdraft protection services
- Unlimited, free transactions
- Earn 50% more Stars at participating Starbucks stores (when you link your TD Access Card with Visa Debit with your Starbucks Rewards Account)
- Overdraft protection
Min. Age | 18 |
---|---|
Min. Age Teen Account | 12 |
Account Fee | $0 |
Overdraft Fee | $0 |
ATM Out-of-Network Fee | $2 |
U.S. ATM Fee | $3 |
International ATM Fee | $5 |
Best student chequing account for earning SCENE+ Points: Scotiabank Student Banking Advantage Plan
Scotiabank Student Banking Advantage Plan
Bonus Offer
Monthly Account Fee
Free Transactions
- Earn up to a $100 welcome cash bonus and 7,500 Scene+ points when you open an account. Apply by October 31, 2024.
- No account fee for full-time post-secondary students
- Enjoy unlimited free transactions and e-Transfers
- Earn SCENE+ points on debit transactions.
- Not free for part-time students
- You must verify that you're a student each year.
Min. Age | 16 |
---|---|
Account Fee | $0 |
Overdraft Fee | $5 |
ATM Out-of-Network Fee | $2 |
U.S. ATM Fee | $3 |
International ATM Fee | $5 |
Dormancy Fee | $20 |
Best student chequing account for earning SPC Points: CIBC Smart Account for Students
CIBC Smart for Students
Bonus Offer
Monthly Account Fee
Free Transactions
- unlimited, free transactions including e-transfers
- Continue to use the account up to six months after your studies end
- Get a free SPC+ membership
- Save up to 30% on over 450 top brands from fashion to tech
- One free non-CIBC Candian ATM withdrawal per month
- Keep the perks and no-fee student status up to six months after you graduate
- Service fees charged for non-CIBC ATM withdrawals, plus wire transfers and insufficient fund charges
- Must be a Canadian resident or an international student with proof of enrollment status
Min. Age | N/A |
---|---|
Account Fee | $0 |
ATM Out-of-Network Fee | $2 |
U.S. ATM Fee | $3 |
International ATM Fee | $5 |
Best student chequing account for domestic students: RBC Advantage Banking for Students
RBC Advantage Banking for Students
Bonus Offer
Monthly Account Fee
Free Transactions
- Get $100 when you open an account and complete one of three steps. Valid until October 31, 2024.
- No
- Students who are 25 years of age or older must provide proof of enrollment
- Limit of 999 free ATM transactions per month
Min. Age | 13 |
---|---|
Account Fee | $0 |
ATM Out-of-Network Fee | $0 |
Best student chequing account for international students: National Bank The Connected Account with Student Offer
National Bank Connected Account
Bonus Offer
Monthly Account Fee
Free Transactions
- Unlimited free transactions
- No annual account fee if you're a student
- Access credit cards and a line of credit
- No welcome offer
- Not many student specific perks offered compared to other banks
Min. Age | N/A |
---|---|
Account Fee | $15.95 |
Overdraft Fee | $5 |
ATM Out-of-Network Fee | $2 |
What is a student chequing account?
A student chequing account is a bank account used for everyday transactions. It provides easy access to your funds via a linked debit card as well as online and mobile banking. You can use it to receive pay from your part-time job, shop in-store and online, and send money to friends and family.
But student chequing accounts also have a few key features that set them apart from regular chequing accounts:
- No monthly fees. As a student, you probably don’t earn much of an income, so the best student chequing accounts have no monthly fees.
- Support for unlimited transactions. Many accounts don’t place any restrictions on the number of transactions you can perform each month.
- Welcome bonuses. Many banks offer welcome bonuses to entice new customers, such as a $150 cash bonus for opening an account.
- Rewards. Some banks also offer the ability to earn cash back on your spending and provide discounts on other products for account holders. For example, the bank may offer to waive the annual fee on a student credit card.
Benefits of student chequing accounts
- No fees. Student chequing accounts usually don’t come with any monthly fees.
- Unlimited transactions. Many of the best student chequing accounts in Canada support unlimited monthly transactions.
- Money management tools. Accounts come with tools to help you track your spending and better manage your personal finances.
- CDIC protection. If you open an account with a bank that is a member of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), up to $100,000 you deposit will be protected if the bank fails.
- Perks. From welcome bonuses to cash back, student chequing accounts offer a range of perks, rewards and discounts. These can help make your money go further — very important when you’re on a student budget.
Drawbacks of student chequing accounts
- Eligibility restrictions. You’ll need to make sure you satisfy the bank’s eligibility requirements in order to open an account. These typically include being enrolled in post-secondary education and meeting age restrictions.
- They don’t stay no-fee forever. Once you graduate or reach a specified age limit, your bank may automatically switch you over to an account with a monthly fee.
- No interest. Most chequing accounts don’t allow you to earn interest on your balance, so you may need to open a separate savings account.
- Special offer terms and conditions. If a bank’s signup bonus for new student bank accounts sounds too good to be true, check the fine print to find out exactly what you’ll need to do to qualify.
What to look for to choose the best student chequing account
Keep the following factors in mind when searching for a student chequing account that matches your needs.
- Monthly fee. Student chequing accounts in Canada typically do not charge a monthly fee, so make sure you choose a no-fee account.
- Number of transactions. Most student chequing accounts in Canada support unlimited transactions. Look for an account that supports the type of transactions you need to make, including Interac e-Transfers.
- Other fees. Read the terms and conditions for details of any fees that may apply to specific transactions, such as depositing a cheque, sending an e-Transfer or making a withdrawal from a non-network ATM.
- Online and mobile banking. Read reviews of the bank’s mobile app and online banking portal to ensure that they’re user-friendly.
- ATM access. Check the size and scope of the bank’s ATM network to ensure that you can make fee-free ATM withdrawals when needed.
- Minimum balance requirement. Most student chequing accounts don’t require you to keep your balance above a minimum level to avoid fees, but check the fine print just in case.
- Overdraft protection. Check whether the account comes with overdraft protection, or whether an overdraft facility is available for a fee.
- Special offers and packages. Some banks offer student banking packages that come with additional discounts, such as a waived annual fee on a student credit card. Others may also include a student savings account that lets you earn interest on your money.
- Rewards. Some financial institutions offer other rewards and perks to students, such as the ability to earn cash back on your spending or a cash bonus when you open an account. Be sure to check if you have to meet any special requirements to activate a signup bonus offer — for example, you may need to meet a minimum deposit requirement.
- Customer support. Check how and when you can get in touch with customer support if you have any problems with your account.
- Graduation. It’s also worth checking what will happen to the account once you graduate or reach the account’s maximum age limit. In many cases, your account may be converted to one of your bank’s regular chequing accounts that has a monthly fee.
Who is eligible for a student chequing account?
Eligibility requirements vary between banks. However, as a general rule you will need to:
- Be the age of majority in your province or territory
- Be a student
But the definition of a student differs between banks. Many student chequing accounts are only available to people who are enrolled in post-secondary education, but some providers allow you to open an account while you’re still a high school student.
Check the eligibility criteria with your bank before you apply.
How to open a student chequing account
When you’ve found the best student chequing account for your needs, here’s what you need to do to apply:
- Apply online. You’ll need to fill out an online application form with your name, date of birth, contact information and details of your study. You’ll also need to enter your expected date of graduation.
- Provide supporting documents. You’ll need to provide proof of ID (such as a driver’s licence or passport) to open an account. The bank will also request proof of your enrollment as a student, such as a student card or your academic transcript, and you may also need to supply proof of your residential address.
- Fund your account. Once your application is approved, you’ll be sent your account details and be able to set up online and mobile banking. Your bank will also post out a debit card linked to your account — you’ll need to activate this via online or mobile banking before you can start using it.
Frequently asked questions
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