I recently changed banks. I cancelled my CIBC chequing account. I have had it since 2007 when I was…read moreemployed there. You do get some good banking perks when you are working for CIBC. However, once you depart the institution, most of those perks go away. I was paying the standard $4 monthly fee for everyday transactions. I decided to cancel this account and look for something better. Recently, I came across an ad for Equitable (EQ) bank. Dan and Eugene Levy were talking about how EQ Bank offers no fees and high interest on everyday banking. Cool! I signed up online. The process was straightforward to open a chequing account. You do need to order a bank card, which acts like a loadable prepaid MasterCard. You have the option of loading funds automatically when your balance is running low or manually loading funds from your chequing account. It took just over a week for my card to arrive in the mail. I activated it online. I did my first transaction when I fetched lunch at work. I inserted my card in the payment machine and it was activated without entering a PIN. What makes EQ Bank appealing is going to any ATM in Canada to withdraw funds. You may get a transaction fee at first. However, a few days later, this fee gets refunded by the bank. It's neat. There are no fees. There is no overdraft. You don't get dinged for non-sufficient funds fees. It's different and refreshing. My chequing account has an interest rate of 2%. Not too shabby. For savings, I have two accounts: - A regular tax-free savings account (TFSA) that earns 2.5% interest - A notice savings account that earns 3.5% interest The notice savings account yields higher interest. If I do need to withdraw money from it, it takes ten days for the funds to be released. The idea is to save your money with high interest and not have the need to take it out often. There's another level. If you want thirty days for your funds to be released, the interest rate is at 3.65%. You can open two notice savings accounts with different notice periods. I have yet to do it. I'm good with two savings accounts! There are other products that EQ Bank offers: - First home savings account - GICs - US dollar account - EQ Bank RSP I made the change to have my pay deposited to my EQ chequing account. I did the change on a Monday and my funds were in my chequing account on Wednesday night just before 10 pm. My payday is every other Thursday, so it was early. No complaints! To add funds, you can either link an external account to your EQ chequing account or send an Interac e-Transfer. The former takes a lot longer. I recommend the latter, which ranges for instantly to thirty minutes, depending on your external bank. All of my Interac e-Transfers have been immediately. I have yet to deposit a cheque. It's a question of taking a photo through the EQ Bank app. The app has worked well for me thus far. I like EQ Bank. I'm happy that I made the switch. (416)

EQ Bank has been my main squeeze for GICs, I came across EQ a couple years ago after looking at GIC…read morerates online. They are not the highest rate, but seems to be more well-known than other online-only banks. I use EQ specifically to rollover/ladder my GICs with extra savings that I might need in a 6-12 month period (emergency funds) instead of the big banks' terrible "high-interest savings" rates. I also have my FHSA accounts here for that sweet GIC interest so that it makes some money in case I need it within the next 6 to 12 months for a down payment. I don't like the idea of having FHSA funds in the market since the whole point is to have it available at a predictable time/amount. So far, my only gripe with EQ (like most online only banks) is their delays on posting deposits as well as withdrawals. Just be aware of their 5 business days EFT delays, expect longer than shorter scenarios... I've never used EQ's referral before, but apparently its $20 to the party opening an account with a min of $100 for 30 days and the referrer also gets $20 up to a lifetime limit of $500. I'll post an update with any details if it ever gets claimed. My Referral Code: join.eqbank.ca/?code=KELVIN6372

I have yet to find any financial institution that is as good as MemberOne. It is truly a hidden…read moregem. A few years ago, I found myself looking for a new banking institution, one that would truly understand my needs. I checked out a few banks, and they sure didn't understand my needs - at all. Then, one day, I was walking by MemberOne, and decided to check it out. I'd heard about MemberOne from my neighbours, who work at WS&IB, and they said nothing but good things about it too, and also mentioned it had recently opened to the public so that anyone could join. I was a bit skeptical at first, but I made an appointment with Irina, and was amazed at the service, from the moment I stepped into Irina's office to open the account, to present. Irina was able to get me everything I needed. Irina (as well as all the other staff) are truly wonderful, very professional, and very pleasant to deal with. Not to mention they actually know what they're talking about. I've never had any complaints. They've been there to help me when I've needed it, such as the time I needed a small loan for some dental work and no one else would help me because of my financial situation at the time. While they may only have one branch and somewhat limited hours (M-F 8 to 3), the service more than makes up for it. The fees are very reasonable too - $8/month for just about everything one could ask for. Sure, there are free bank accounts out there, but do those banks actually look after you? Didn't think so... I think $8/month is very fair for what you get. Don't let the modern look of the place fool you - this is a place that still uses the same old-fashioned principles Credit Unions are known for. I've sent multiple friends to MemberOne and all of them were amazed. Trust me, you'll feel the same way, and you will NOT be disappointed.

"lame" doesn't begin to cover this bank manager's lacking knowledge of her own bank's policies…read more I merely wanted to deposit a cheque to one of her account-holder's accounts. I had ID, had account numbers, and she could see the account holder had been with them for decades. This is a common practice all over the world, depositing funds into someone else' account. This branch manager insisted I open an account with them and then transfer funds to my friend's account. Walked a mile to another branch where they happily provided the service that took the other branch half an hour to say "no" to.

Great bank . Just moved a year ago from Montreal . Here off and on …read more Very courteous . Excellent service !!

They are the nicest ppl at this branch I have every been to at any Scotia Bank. The two women who…read moreworks as the customer service at the front desk as soon as you come both have the best communication and listening skills and are well trained at their job. In comparison to other branches their service and approach is far superior then any branch or banking institution that I have ever gone to. They always help me with whatever issue I am having with my account and rectify the problem within minutes. I will always go to this location whenever I need something to be dealt with in my daily banking.

Hillary at the front desk took the time to really listen to my needs before directing me to the…read moreright advisor- she seemed quite knowledgeable and easy to talk to.

It's a bank, they are nice, take your money, make billions and charge YOU services fees for letting…read morethem use your money and they are very polite while they are doing it to you.

The best bank/credit union I've ever dealt with! When you call, they answer (no automated voices…read moreasking you to press your extension or hold to transfer), when you send a message on Skype they answer promptly, when you go to the branch they know who you are and you are serviced within five minutes tops. The service is professional, friendly and personal. If the credit union makes a profit all the members share in it unlike a bank where only the fat cats at the top are made even fatter. FREE inter-ac, free e-transfers. If your check bounces, they call you to ask you to put money in to avoid charges! Nobody cares about you the way Northern Birch does.