Scotiabank offers a small collection of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) – bundles of securities that are listed on exchanges, which are traded just like regular stocks. Scotiabank has over 120 ETFs available, and you can use them to diversify your investment portfolio.
ETFs are similar to mutual funds, in many ways, but their fee structures are different, with ETFs having lower expense ratios, by and large. Right now Scotiabank doesn’t state the MERs for their ETFs, so we’re not sure where those currently stand.
Scotiabank ETFs features
Here’s what you can expect with Scotiabank ETFs.
- Free investing education resource library
- Access to Scotiabank investment specialists
- Fixed Income
- Canadian Equity
- U.S. Equity
- International Equity
- Index Tracker
Scotiabank ETFs rating: 5.0 stars
ETFs are generally a fairly straightforward investment option. Scotiabank’s offerings are similar to those of other banks, but they have fewer ETF options available. On the other hand, their management fees are slightly lower than the other banks. MERs aren’t yet available for Scotiabank ETFs, however, so we were unable to include those in our ratings at this point.
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.
Learn more about our rating methodology.
The pros of Scotiabank ETFs
Why pick Scotiabank ETFs over the competition?
Competitive ETF management fees
Scotiabank’s ETF management fees range from 0.03% for one of their Index Tracker ETFs, up to 0.17% for one of their Scotia Responsible Investing ETFs. These are a tiny bit lower than other ETF fees from other banks, but just marginally better.
Simple investing through Scotia iTRADE
You can trade Scotiabank ETFs through Scotia iTRADE, Scotiabank’s self-directed trading platform, that we’ve reviewed previously. This is a decent platform for managing your investments, and usually offers some form of promotional incentive, either for free trades, reduced costs on trades, or other things to help offset their normally pretty expensive trading fees. You can also set up a practice account on Scotia iTRADE, so you can take things for a test drive and learn the ropes before investing any money.
Investment education resources and tools
Through Scotia iTRADE, you’ll get access to a suite of investment research, tools, and educational resources. This can be a great way to learn about investing, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to dig around and do some reading.
Access to personalized advice
If you need help, you can speak to a Scotiabank investment specialist either through email, by phone, or in a local Scotiabank branch.
The cons of Scotiabank ETFs
There are some drawbacks to Scotiabank ETFs, however.
Scotia iTRADE fees
If you choose to use Scotia iTRADE for managing your investments, be aware that you’ll pay $9.99 per trade for ETFs. This is comparable to the fees charged by other big banks, but is something to be aware of. If you make more than 150 trades per quarter, this fee drops to $4.99. There are other self-directed investment tools that have better fees, including free ETF purchases, such as Questrade.
Scotiabank ETFs alternatives
Here’s how Scotiabank ETFs compare to those offered by 3 of Canada’s other big banks.
| Account | Scotiabank ETFs | BMO ETFs | Vanguard Canada ETFs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genius Rating | |||
| Why You Want It | Fees starting as low as 0.03% + Work with Scotia investment specialists. | Choose from a large number of ETFs + Get personalized advice. | Invest in low-fee ETFs + Available at a number of online brokerages. |
| Types Of ETFs |
|
|
|
| # Of ETFs | 200 | 223 | 38 |
| Min Management Fee | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Max Management Fee | 0.17% | 1.05% | 0.42% |
| Min MER | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
Show More | |||
| Open an account See more Scotiabank products Compare | Learn More See more BMO products Compare | Learn More See more Vanguard products Compare |
FAQ
Does Scotiabank have ETFs?
Scotiabank has over 120 ETFs available. You can read more about these offerings here.
How can I trade Scotiabank ETFs?
ETFs are traded like regular stocks, so you can buy and sell them through your preferred trading platform. Scotiabank has their own self-directed investing platform called Scotia iTRADE, which you can use to buy and sell these and any other ETFs you like.
When were Scotiabank ETFs established?
Scotiabank’s Strategic ETF Portfolios were established in May 2018, and their Index Tracker ETFs were established in October 2020.
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.
Hot Money Deals This Month
- Get even more cash back with exclusive offers only available on the GeniusCash app
- Explore bigger GeniusCash offers that you won't find anywhere else.
- Connect your credit cards and unlock bonus cash.
- Explore customized recommendations to level up your rewards.
- Refer your friends and family to earn bonus levels and extra cash back.
- Take control of your money with a full-featured chequing account + $100 GeniusCash
- Get up to $500 in cash when you open a new account, complete specified actions, and open 2 registered investment accounts.
- Unlimited free transactions – including debit and Interac e-Transfers®.
- Earn Scene+ points on every debit transaction.
- $100 GeniusCash on approval – ends Dec 31, 2025.*.
- Unlimited transactions + Free identity theft protection + $125 GeniusCash
- Unlimited transactions and Interac e-Transfers.
- Free identity theft protection and access to Coursera online learning.
- $125 GeniusCash on approval – ends Dec 31, 2025.*.
- A low cost online broker with a $2,000 bonus + $80 GeniusCash
- Get $150 when you open and fund your new accounts with at least $1,000.
- No minimum investment requirement.
- Plenty of trade-free ETFs to choose from.
- $80 GeniusCash on approval – ends Dec 31, 2025.*.
- Bonus: Get one of the lowest brokerage rates from an online broker from a Big 5 Bank →

















