The Tangerine Chequing Account is a free, full-featured option that makes banking simple and stress-free. With no monthly fees, no transaction fees, and convenient access to Scotiabank’s extensive coast-to-coast ATM network, it’s easy to see why this account stands out. Setting it up is quick, using it is intuitive, and managing your money online has never been easier.
On top of that, Tangerine sweetens the deal with a cash bonus and a promotional interest rate that adds extra value to your everyday banking. Combine that with unlimited transactions, free Interac e-Transfers, and a clean, user-friendly digital experience, and you’ve got an account that punches well above its weight.
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Tangerine Chequing Account features
The Tangerine Chequing Account has a significant list of eye-catching features:
Verified on August 29, 2025
Why You Want It
Get unlimited free transactions for no monthly fee + Earn up to 0.1% interest.
Special Features
- Automatically categorizes your spending
- Free first book of 50 cheques
Eligibility
- Age of majority
- Canadian citizen
Provinces
ALL
Features
Minimum Balance To Waive Fee
$0
# Of Free Monthly Transactions
Unlimited
# Of Free Monthly Interac E-Transfers
Unlimited
Monthly Fee
$0.00
Excess Transaction Fee
$0.00
Excess Interac E-Transfer Fee
$0.00
Maximum Credit Card Annual Fee Waiver
N/A
Maximum Welcome Bonus
$250
Promo End Date
October 31, 2025
Physical Locations
Automatic Budgeting System
Minimum Interest Rate
0.01%
Earn Rewards On Debit Purchases
Free Cheques
Free Bank Drafts
Max Rebates For Other Accounts
N/A
Discounts For Seniors
Discounts For Youth
Other Discounts
Tangerine Chequing Account rating: 3.3 stars
At first glance, you might think the Tangerine Chequing Account is a premium chequing account. It's almost entirely free, though, which gives it even more of an advantage over its premium competition.
There are certainly a few limitations to consider, such as the tiered interest rates and costly ATM fees for unaffiliated machines. But for those who appreciate online banks, the benefits of this chequing account can definitely outweigh the downsides.
Learn more about our rating methodology.
The pros of the Tangerine Chequing Account
There are several benefits to the Tangerine Chequing Account, mostly having to do the lack of fees:
Pros
No monthly fee
Many banks offer no fee savings accounts but they're usually savings accounts. Free chequing accounts are typically found with online banks, including Tangerine. The Tangerine Chequing Account charges no monthly fee, so you have that much more money to put to better use.
Unlimited free transfers
Transfers into and out of this account are free, whether you're sending it to another Tangerine account or to another bank entirely. This includes Interac e-Transfers too, so it won’t cost you anything to pay your bills, shuffle funds to or from other accounts, or send money to friends and family.
No minimum balance requirement
Unlike chequing accounts from other banks, the Tangerine Chequing Account has no minimum balance requirement. This is a free account, at all times, no matter the balance in your account.
Pairs well with a Tangerine Savings Account
The fact that the Tangerine Chequing Account earns interest at all is impressive, but the Tangerine Savings Account earns significantly more and these two are a brilliant match. You can keep your money in the savings account to earn maximum interest, then move it over to your chequing account when you need it.
Welcome bonus available
New Tangerine clients can get a $250 cash bonus simply for opening a new account and switching your payroll deposits over. After 2 consecutive months of payroll deposits, your cash will be deposited into your account.
The cons of the Tangerine Chequing Account
Nothing is perfect, and the Tangerine Chequing Account has a few lesser points to consider before committing to the account:
Cons
Advertised interest rates are misleading
Tangerine advertises that you can earn up to 0.1% on the money in this account, but it's not that straightforward. The interest rate is tiered and based on your account balance. You’ll earn 0.01% on balances up to $49,999, 0.05% on balances between $50,000 and $99,000, and 0.1% on balances over $100,000.
Limited free cheques
If you use a lot of paper cheques, you'll end up paying for them with a Tangerine Chequing Account because you only get 50 free, and only when you first open the account. Most other banks have the same limitation, but it's still something to keep in mind.
High non-affiliated ATM fees
You do get free ATM transactions when using Scotiabank machines, but you’ll be charged serious fees if you use your debit card at non-affiliated ATMs: $1.50 for non-affiliated ATM transactions in Canada and $3.00 for non-affiliated transactions worldwide.
Limitations of an online bank
Tangerine is an online-only bank with no physical branches. If you prefer the one-on-one approach that a brick-and-mortar location offers, this account isn't right for you. You'd be better off with a chequing account from a big bank with lots of convenient branch locations.
Tangerine Chequing Account alternatives
Here's how the Tangerine Chequing Account measures up to some online-only bank and big bank alternatives:
 |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account | Tangerine Chequing Account | BMO Performance Chequing Account | Scotiabank Basic Bank Account | Alterna No Fee eChequing Account |
| Genius Rating | ||||
| Why You Want It | Get unlimited free transactions for no monthly fee + Earn up to 0.1% interest. |  $50 GeniusCash + Up to $700 in cash + a Walmart Delivery Pass Subscription for up to 12 months*. *T&Cs apply. | Free for seniors + Low $3.95 monthly fee. | Get unlimited transactions for no monthly fee + Over 3,300 ATMs in network. |
| Minimum Balance To Waive Fee | $0 | $4,000 | N/A | $0 |
| # Of Free Monthly Transactions | Unlimited | Unlimited | 12 | Unlimited |
| # Of Free Monthly Interac E-Transfers | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Monthly Fee | $0.00 | $17.95 | $3.95 | $0.00 |
| Excess Transaction Fee | $0.00 | N/A | $1.25 | N/A |
Show More | ||||
| Open an account See more Tangerine products Compare | I Want This Deal See more BMO products Compare | Open an account See more Scotiabank products Compare | Learn More See more Alterna products Compare |
FAQ
Is Tangerine a good bank?
Tangerine is a safe and convenient online-only banking option in Canada that offers a range of financial products, including savings accounts, chequing accounts, mortgages, and more. It’s owned by Scotiabank and has been in operation since 1997.
How do I open a Tangerine Chequing Account?
First, go to the Tangerine website or download the mobile app, then create your Tangerine account. From there, you can open a chequing account – and follow a few extra steps you'll to earn the welcome bonus.
Does Tangerine have monthly fees?
The Tangerine Chequing Account has no monthly fees whatsoever, no minimum balance requirements, and it includes unlimited free transactions. These free transactions include debit purchases, bill payments, account transfers, bank transfers, Interac e-Transfers, and more.
How to get 6% with Tangerine?
If you’re a new Tangerine client opening an eligible savings account you can get a temporary bonus interest rate of 4.5%. This rate lasts for 5 months before it drops to 0.3% (for the Tangerine Savings Account).
Can I use my Tangerine debit card internationally?
Yes, you can use your card internationally, just look for the Visa mark at participating merchants. Foreign conversion and/or transaction fees may apply, so try calling Tangerine before you travel to let them know you'll be spending internationally.
Can I use Tangerine in the US?
Yes, your card will work in the US but you'll pay a conversion fee, plus extra fees if you use unaffiliated ATMs. You can withdraw cash for zero access fee if you use an ATM from the Global ATM Alliance.
Rating methodology
To calculate our Genius Ratings, we compare the features of the account or product in question with other similar products in Canada. We give each feature a score out of 5 based on that comparison. Once we’ve rated all the features, we run them through our proprietary algorithm to produce a final rating out of 5.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone, and is not endorsed or sponsored by a bank, credit card issuer, rewards program or other entity. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website.
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