Financial Product Reviews
The Bank of Montreal has a number of savings accounts, but the BMO Savings Builder Account is designed to encourage you to become a saver, even if you’ve never been one before. It does this by having an average base interest rate of 0.1%%, but a bonus interest rate of up to 0.75% if you deposit at least $200 a month.
- No monthly fees
- Relatively high bonus interest rate
- Actively encourages you to become a saver
- No bank machines = no impulse spending
- No introductory promo at all
- Average base interest rate
- Only 1 free transfer per month, and they’re expensive after that
- Only 1 Savings Builder Account allowed per customer
- Age of majority
- Canadian citizen
- Earn max interest rate when you deposit at least $200 per month
- Bonus interest rate available for depositing at least $200 per month
The Motive Savvy Savings Account is pretty basic as far as features go – but it makes up for it with its high interest rate and overall lack of fees. Currently at 2%, this is one of the best high interest savings accounts you can get right now in Canada.
- A high 2% interest rate
- Unlimited transactions and Interac e-Transfers
- Application requires a hard credit check
- Unavailable in Quebec
- Valuable high interest rate
- 3 year: 6.54%
- 5 year: 6.49%
If you’re the gambling sort who doesn’t mind a little risk for the possibility of saving some money, a variable rate mortgage might be right up your alley. Scotiabank offers 2 closed variable rate mortgages, including 5 year and 3 year terms.
- A fair amount of flexibility
- An excellent mortgage calculator
- Higher than average posted rates
- No special rates available
- No real incentives to choose a Scotiabank mortgage
If you’re an avid Air Miles collector, the BMO Air Miles Chequing Account may seem like an obvious choice. And while it does offer unlimited transactions and Interac e-Transfers, the Air Miles earn rate is an abysmal 1 mile for every $25 you spend through your debit card. Given its $17.95 monthly fee, you may wonder if it’s worth it.
- Unlimited transactions
- Unlimited Interac e-Transfers
- Earn Air Miles for using your debit card
- Earn bonus Air Miles for also having a BMO Air Miles credit card
- No free non-affiliated ATM withdrawals
- Low Air Miles earn rate
- Earn 1 Air Mile for every $25 spent using your BMO debit card
- Get 25 bonus Air Miles each month when you also have a qualifying BMO Air Miles Mastercard
- Get 50 bonus Air Miles each month you maintain a $4,000 balance
- Free for seniors
The Scotiabank Preferred Package is a feature-rich chequing account that packs in plenty of perks for everyday banking. For $16.95 per month, or free if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $4,000, you’ll enjoy unlimited debit transactions and Interac e-Transfers, so you never have to worry about counting swipes or transfers. Cardholders can earn Scene+ points on debit purchases, which you can redeem for movies, dining, travel, and more, adding extra value to everyday spending.
- Get a welcome bonus worth up to $700 (ends October 30, 2025)
- Unlimited debit transactions and Interac e-Transfers
- Ability to waive monthly fee with a minimum balance of $4,000
- Earn Scene+ points on your debit transactions
- First year annual fee waiver on select Scotiabank credit cards
- Age of majority
- Canadian citizen
- First year annual fee waiver (up to $150) on select credit cards
- Earn Scene+ points on debit transactions
- Earn an additional 0.05% on your Momentum Plus Savings Account
It may seem like a bare-bones type of account at first glance, but the Scotiabank Basic Bank Account is a solid choice for Canadians looking to keep their banking transactions at a minimum. Catering mostly to seniors and teens, this account offers surprising value in the form of free Interac e-Transfers, access to overdraft protection, and a discounted fee for clients in the 60+ age group.
- Low monthly fee
- Discounted fee for seniors
- Teens can open an account too
- Free Interac e-Transfers
- Big bank convenience and reliability
- Low transaction limit
- No fee waiver with minimum balance
- Lack of welcome bonus
- You must be at least 16 years old
- A Canadian resident or you're here for work or study
- Opening this account in your own name
- Free for seniors aged 60+
- Available for teens too, age 16+
- Free Interac e-Transfers
If you want the most you can get out of a chequing account, the Scotiabank Ultimate Package is all about the extra perks.
- Get up to $700 in welcome bonus cash
- Unlimited transactions
- Plenty of physical bank locations
- Save money on premium credit cards
- Exclusive rates and fee rebates for other accounts
- Earn rewards
- Minimum balance to waive fee
- High monthly fee
- Minimum balance is a wasted investment opportunity
- You may still be charged for non-Scotiabank ATM withdrawals
- You must be at least 16 years old
- A Canadian resident or you're here for work or study
- Opening this account in your own name
- Earn Scene+ points on debit transactions
- No monthly overdraft protection fee
- Unlimited free Scotia International Money Transfers
- Up to $150 annual fee waiver each year on select credit cards
BMO’s Premium Plan chequing account comes with a steep monthly fee, but it has a lot of valuable perks and features that may make it worth it to you. Rebates are offered on various credit cards, worldwide non-BMO ATM withdrawals are unlimited, and account holders even get a preferred U.S. exchange rate.
- Unlimited transactions, e-Transfers, and global ATM withdrawals
- $150 annual credit card fee waiver
- Safety deposit box discount
- Loads of added freebies
- $700 welcome offer
- Walmart Delivery Pass Subscription
- Extremely high monthly fee
- High minimum balance requirement to waive the fee
- Age of majority
- Canadian citizen
- Free cheques, money orders, and drafts
- Free OnGuard Identity Theft protection
- Preferred U.S. foreign exchange rate
- Unlimited unaffiliated ATM withdrawals worldwide
The BMO Performance Chequing Account is a popular mid-tier chequing account offered by one of Canada's biggest banks. BMO has been a banking powerhouse for decades, providing comprehensive services, advanced security measures, and top-notch professionalism for all clients.
- Unlimited transactions and Interac e-Transfers
- Rebate for BMO credit cards
- No fee for Global Money Transfers
- OnGuard identity theft protection included for free
- Special rates for a long list of people groups
- Walmart Delivery Pass Subscription
- Valuable welcome bonus
- High minimum balance fee waiver
- Extra fees are high and can add up
- No safety deposit box waiver
- Special rates available for students, seniors, Indigenous persons, and more
- Free OnGuard Identity Theft Protection
- Eligible for a free BMO Family Bundle
- Valuable welcome offer
- No fee for Global Money Transfers
As the name suggests, this Scotiabank chequing account will get you all the basic features you need in a dependable banking account.
- Lots of physical bank locations
- Decent amount of free transactions
- Ability to waive monthly fee
- Full suite of Scotiabank’s basic features
- Only get a set amount of free transactions
- Monthly fee if you dip under a $3,000 balance
- Charged for each non-Scotiabank ATM withdrawal
- You must be at least 16 years old
- A Canadian resident or you're here for work or study
- Opening this account in your own name
- Send money globally for $1.99
- $4 senior's discount










