Get up to $1,800 in value in the first year*
Join the StartRight™ Program designed for newcomers‡.
StartRight ™ Program offer for newcomers‡
Earn up to $400 with a Preferred Package and an eligible investment plan◊.1
No monthly account fees on a Preferred Package chequing account for the first year2 – a value of $203.40.*
For a limited time apply for a Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite** credit card and earn up to 30,000 bonus Scene+TM* with minimum spend (a value of $300) plus get a $150 primary card fee waiver for the first year.6
Get 10 free equity trades when you invest a minimum of $1,000 in a new Scotia iTRADE® account9 – a value of $99.90.* Use code SRPE15.
Unlimited no-fee8 international money transfers – an average savings of $280 compared to in-branch Swift wire transfers.*
What documents do you need to open an account?
If you’re a permanent resident
- Your Permanent Resident Card or confirmation of Permanent Residence
- One additional piece of government photo ID such as your passport or Canadian driver’s licence
If you’re also planning on applying for a credit card, you can do so with the documents outlined above.
If you’re a foreign worker
- Your work permit
- One additional piece of government photo ID such as your passport or Canadian driver’s licence
If you’re also planning on applying for a credit card, bring a letter from your employer in Canada stating your annual income.
Mortgages
A specially designed program to meet your mortgage needs and help you in obtaining your first home in Canada. Learn more about this program. Click here for Temporary residents.
The MomentumPLUS Savings Account
Save for all your goals with one account. You’ll earn a higher interest rate the longer you save. No monthly account fees or minimum balance required. Plus, Preferred Package account holders earn a 0.05% interest rate boost and Ultimate Package customers earn an additional interest rate boost of 0.10% on their MomentumPLUS Savings Account.11
Reasons to love Scotiabank
- ScotiaRise, our 10-year, $500M commitment to foster economic resilience among disadvantaged groups including helping newcomers feel at home faster
- Personalized support at the branch and in the language that’s most comfortable to you
Looking for valuable advice?
We’re here to help, ask us anything
The StartRight™ team is here to support you. Call, email or book an appointment today.
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‡ Scotiabank StartRight® Program is available only for Canadian Permanent Residents from 0-5 years in Canada and Foreign Workers.
* Value of up to $1,800 is calculated as follows: i) up to $687.30 first year value with the StartRight Program + ii) Up to $1,137 in Preferred Package, TFSA/RRSP and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite welcome offer and first year point earn potential:
1. Value of up to $687.30 is an annual potential value for the first year based on the following benefits and savings available to StartRightTM customers as of March 1, 2024:
- $203.40 in account fee savings for a Preferred Package chequing account ($16.95 monthly account fee waived for first 12 months);
- $280 in fee savings when compared to in-branch Swift Wire Transfers (assumes an annual average of 7 in-branch Swift Wire Transfers at $40 per transfer);
- $99.90 in fee savings for 10 free equity trades with iTRADE (10 free equity trades per year at $9.99/trade);
Actual value will depend on individual usage of the StartRight™ Program features and products. Conditions apply. All products and features are subject to change.
2. Value of up to $1,137 in Scotiabank welcome offers and first year point earn potential includes the following offers as of March 1, 2024:
- $400 ($350 cash offer for new Preferred and Ultimate Package clients who complete certain qualifying conditions plus an additional $50 when you open a new RRSP, FHSA, or TFSA and set up an eligible recurring PAC or deposit and maintain a minimum balance);
- $300 value for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite customers who can earn up to 30,000 bonus Scene+TM* points plus $150 annual fee waiver on your first supplementary card;
- $287 in first year point earn potential (28,733 Scene+ points) on everyday purchases based on average annual first year spend per account with an average spend of 19% in 2x accelerator categories.
Actual offers and rewards earned will depend on individual card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.
◊Customers must meet eligibility requirements to open a Scotia RSP or Scotia TFSA by providing a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN). While customers may open a Scotia RSP or Scotia TFSA with an eligible Temporary SIN, customers must provide a valid permanent SIN or a new expiry date before the temporary SIN's expiry date. Failure to do so will result in the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) de-registering the account, which may have tax implications. Additionally, there are tax implications related to Scotia RSP and Scotia TFSA when a customer becomes a non-resident of Canada. We suggest that customers consult with their tax advisors or visit CRA’s website for further information. If Scotia Securities Inc. is the dealer of your Scotia RSP or Scotia TFSA, your account will be restricted should you become a non-resident of Canada, and any Pre-authorized Contributions (PACs) set up on the account will be cancelled.
1 $400 Banking Package and Registered Account Bundle Offer Description and Conditions: The Scotiabank $400 Cash Bonus Bundle Offer (the “Offer”) is available between March 1, 2024 and July 31, 2024 (the “Offer Period”) to individuals who open new eligible accounts. Subject to the conditions below, eligible customers can earn $350 when they open a new Preferred Package or Ultimate Package and complete certain qualifying transactions and an additional $50 boost when they open a new eligible Registered Retirement Savings Plan, Tax-Free Savings Account or First Home Savings Account (each an “Eligible Registered Account”) with either The Bank of Nova Scotia or Scotia Securities Inc. (together, “Scotiabank”) and complete certain qualifying transactions.
For the purposes of this Offer, the following Scotia registered accounts are eligible for the Offer: Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs, excluding locked-in plans such as LIRAs and LRSPs) (each an “RRSP”), Scotia Tax-Free Savings Accounts (each a “TFSA”) and Scotia First Home Savings Accounts (each a “FHSA”). Scotia RRIFs (including locked-in income plans), RESPs, RDSPs, and non-registered Scotia Investment Accounts are not eligible for the Offer.
$350 Cash Bonus for Preferred or Ultimate Package Conditions: To qualify for the $350 cash bonus (the “Package Bonus”), you must:
1. Open a new Ultimate Package or new Preferred Package (the “Eligible Chequing Account”) during the Offer Period; and
2. Complete any two (2) of the following activities in your Eligible Chequing Account within 60 days of Eligible Chequing Account opening:
- Set up and clear at least one eligible automated and recurring direct deposit†, such as payroll or pension, which will recur monthly for a minimum of six (6) consecutive months, or
- Set up and clear a minimum of two (2) separate eligible recurring pre-authorized transactions† with a minimum value of at least $50 per transaction which will each recur monthly for a minimum of six (6) consecutive months, or
- Make at least one (1) eligible online bill payment† of at least $50 through the Scotiabank Mobile App or through Scotia OnLine.
† Click here for a list of eligible direct deposits, pre-authorized transactions and online bill payments. Notwithstanding a transaction may be included in these lists, certain exclusions may still apply and Scotiabank reserves the right to modify these lists and to determine whether a specific direct deposit, pre-authorized transaction or bill payment is eligible for the Package Bonus. Fund transfers initiated to other Scotiabank accounts (one time or recurring, e.g. credit card or savings account), to chequing or savings accounts held at other financial institutions, or to payment processing firms, are not eligible for the Package Bonus.
$50 Registered Account Bundle Conditions: To qualify for the $50 cash bonus (the “Bundle Bonus”), you must meet the conditions for the $350 Package Bonus, and:
1. During the Offer Period and within 60 days of opening your Eligible Chequing Account, open a New Eligible Registered Account; and
2. Complete any one (1) of the following activities in your Eligible Registered Account within 60 days of Eligible Registered Account opening:
- Set up and clear a recurring pre-authorized contribution (PAC) from any Scotiabank personal bank account of at least $50 total per month into your new Eligible Registered Account, which must recur monthly for a minimum of six (6) consecutive months, or
- Contribute or transfer in a minimum qualifying Investment amount of $3,000 into your new Eligible Registered Account and maintain that minimum qualifying investment amount for a minimum of six (6) consecutive months.
Eligibility and Exclusions: Individuals who are currently holders of, or who were previously holders within the last two (2) years of, a Scotiabank Chequing Account are not eligible for the Package Bonus. “Scotiabank Chequing Account” means any of the following accounts: Ultimate Package, Preferred Package, Scotia One Account, Basic Plus Bank Account, Basic Banking Plan, Basic Bank Account, Momentum Chequing, Power Chequing, Scotia One Service, Scotia Value, Student Banking Advantage Plan. Employees of Scotiabank are also not eligible for these Offers. In order to qualify for the Bundle Bonus the individual cannot have held the same type of Eligible Registered Account (as that opened during the Offer Period) with Scotiabank in the six (6) months preceding the Offer Period.
General Terms: Provided all Package Bonus conditions outlined above have been met, the $350 Package Bonus will be deposited to the Eligible Chequing Account within approximately nine (9) months from Account open date. Provided all the Bundle Bonus conditions outlined above have been met, the additional $50 Bundle Bonus will be deposited to your Eligible Chequing Account within approximately thirteen (13) months from the Eligible Registered Account open date. You have 24 months from the date you believe you have fulfilled the Offer conditions to notify us if you have not received the applicable cash bonus so that we may confirm your eligibility.
For either cash bonus to be fulfilled, the Eligible Chequing Account and the Eligible Registered Account, as applicable, must be open and in good standing until the time of payout of the cash bonus. The Eligible Chequing Account is not in "good standing" if any of the following conditions are not met: (i) it has a negative balance exceeding the authorized overdraft limit, (ii) it has been in continuous overdraft for a period of three (3) consecutive months, or (iii) the Account holder is in breach of the Account agreement with Scotiabank. For purposes of this Offer, an Eligible Registered Account is not in 'good standing' if the account holder is in breach of the Eligible Registered Account agreement. Customers are responsible to confirm their contribution limits noted on their most current Notice of Assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency prior to making any contribution to their Eligible Registered Account(s). Scotiabank is not responsible for any contribution over a customer’s limit in connection with this Offer. For a spousal RRSP, the Bundle Bonus will be paid into the Eligible Chequing Account opened by the contributor.
This Offer is non-transferable and may not be duplicated. Limit of one (1) Package Bonus and one (1) Bundle Bonus per customer, regardless of the number of Eligible Chequing Accounts or Eligible Registered Accounts opened. If multiple Eligible Chequing Accounts or Eligible Registered Accounts are opened, only the first Eligible Chequing Account or first Eligible Registered Account opened, as applicable, will qualify for the respective Package Bonus or Bundle Bonus. For joint accounts, only one (1) $350 Package Bonus and one (1) $50 Bundle Bonus, as applicable, will be applied to the primary account holder’s Eligible Chequing Account. All rates, fees, features and benefits are subject to change. This Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers.
2 To qualify for the 1-Year No Monthly Account Fee Offer (the “Offer”), open a new Preferred Package account under the StartRight™ Program (the “Account”). During the first 12 months, your monthly Account fee will be waived and will not appear as a charge on your Account. The Account must be open and in good standing at the time of the waiver. All applicable service charges on the Account will continue to be applied monthly. After the first 12 months, you will begin to see the monthly Account fee charged to your Account unless you maintain a minimum daily closing balance of $4,000, in which case the monthly Account fee will be waived per the Account terms and conditions. Employees of Scotiabank and individuals who are currently or were previously holders/joint holders of a Scotiabank chequing account within the last 2 years are not eligible for this Offer. This Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offers except as otherwise permitted. Maximum one Offer per customer. All rates, fees, features and benefits are subject to change. Offer may be changed, cancelled, or extended at any time without notice.
3 Additional fees apply for shared ABM services, cross-border debit transactions and other banking services not included in the chequing account package. For accounts that do not provide unlimited debit transactions, a charge for additional debit transactions may apply if you perform an Interac e-Transfer transaction over and above the number of debit transactions allowed in the account.
4 The Preferred Package account includes 1 free non-Scotiabank Interac ABM cash withdrawal within Canada per month. Access fee for each subsequent cash withdrawal at non-Scotiabank Interac ABMs will be charged $2.00 per withdrawal. Each cash withdrawal from non-Scotiabank Visa** or PLUS** ABMs will be charged $3.00 in Canada and the U.S. and $5.00 outside of Canada and the U.S. Account holders may still be charged a convenience fee by the other bank and ABM operator, not by Scotiabank.
5 Scene+ ScotiaCard® debit card: Earn 1 Scene+ Point for every $5 on debit purchases (up to a maximum of 300 points per transaction and 600 points per day) made from an eligible Scotiabank chequing or savings account using your Scene+ ScotiaCard debit card linked to a Scene+ membership, including Interac Debit contactless and Visa Debit transactions. Normal Interac Debit contactless transaction limits apply. Scene+ Points accumulated using your Scene+ ScotiaCard debit card will be updated within 2-3 days to the associated Scene+ account. Scene+ points are calculated on debit card purchases, less any refunds, returns, or other similar credits. Other conditions apply. Visit www.scotiabank.com/sceneplusrewards for full terms and conditions.
6 Offer Description and Conditions: The 30,000 Bonus Scene+ Points and First Year Annual Fee Waiver on First Supplementary Card Offer (the “Offer”) applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit card accounts (“Accounts”) that are opened by July 1, 2024 subject to the conditions below. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers.
Plus, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit cardholder you are always eligible to earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $40,000 in everyday eligible purchases annually on your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite account. Conditions apply - see below for further details.
30,000 Bonus Scene+ Point Offer Description and Conditions: To qualify for the 30,000 bonus Scene+ points (the “Bonus Offer”), you must have at least $1,000 in eligible purchases posted to your new Account within the first 3 months of the Account open date. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges. The 30,000 Bonus Offer points will be credited to the primary cardholder’s Scene+ account within approximately 2-3 business days following the qualifying $1,000 in eligible purchases being posted to your Account within 3 months from the Account open date, provided the Account is open and in good standing. The Account is considered in good standing if it is not past due or over limit and the Cardholder(s) is not in breach of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the Account. Bonus Offer applies to new Accounts only opened by July 1, 2024.
10,000 Annual Bonus Scene+ Point Conditions: As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit cardholder you can earn an annual Scene+ point bonus starting at 10,000 Scene+ points when you make at least $40,000 in eligible purchases annually on your Account each year (12-months). Annual period starts from the Account open date and resets every 12 months thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for every additional $10,000 in eligible purchases thereafter in that same year, after the $40,000 annual spend has been reached. Eligible purchases include purchases (less any refunds, returns or other similar credits) but do not include payments, cash advances (including balance transfers or cash-like transactions), interest, fees or other charges.
The Annual bonus Scene+ points will be credited within approximately 2-3 business days after you have met the $40,000 annual spend threshold on the Account and within approximately 2-3 business days after you have met each additional $10,000 annual spend threshold on the Account, provided your Account is open and in good standing (as defined above).
First Year Annual Fee Waiver on First Supplementary Card Offer Description and Conditions: We will waive the annual fee for the first supplementary card issued before July 1, 2024 on the Account for the first year only.
First Year Annual Fee Waiver Offer Description and Conditions: We will waive the annual fee for the primary card issued before July 1, 2024 on the Account for the first year only.
Offer Eligibility and Exclusions: Individuals who are currently or were previously primary or secondary cardholders of a Scotiabank personal credit card in the past 2 years, including those that switch from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card, as well as employees of Scotiabank, are not eligible for the Offer. Subject to the above exclusions, Scotiabank small business credit cardholders are also eligible for the Offer.
Rates and Fees: The current annual fee is $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter.
The current preferred annual interest rates for this Account are: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and cash-like transactions). All rates, fees, features and benefits are subject to change.
7 You are awarded three (3) Scene+ Points for every eligible $1.00 purchase made at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, Foodland & Participating Co-ops, FreshCo, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, Rachelle Béry, Les Marchés, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by Safeway and Voilà par IGA locations charged and posted to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Account. This list of eligible grocers may be changed from time to time without notice. See full list of participating merchants across Canada at scotiabank.com/participatingstores.
You are awarded two (2) Scene+ Points for every eligible $1.00 purchase on all other grocery (not listed above), dining, entertainment, and daily transit purchases charged and posted to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Account (the earn rates for each of the above categories and merchants are referred to as the “Accelerated Earn Rates”). See below for the Spend Threshold that applies to this Accelerated Earn Rate.
You are awarded one (1) Scene+ Point for every $1.00 in all other purchases of goods and services charged to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Account (the “Regular Earn Rate”).
Spend Threshold for the Accelerated Earn Rate (Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Accounts only):
You will earn the Accelerated Earn Rate on the first $50,000 in purchases made on your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite account (the “Account”) annually at the following: purchases made at merchants classified in the Visa credit card network as: Grocery Stores and Supermarkets; Eating Places and Restaurants, Drinking Places, Fast Food Restaurants; Entertainment including Motion Picture Theatres, Theatrical Producers, Ticket Agencies, Bands, Orchestras, Miscellaneous Entertainers; Railroads, Local and Suburban Commuter Passenger Transportation, including Ferries, Passenger Railways, Taxicabs and Limousines, Bus Lines, Transportation Services (Not Elsewhere Classified). Some merchants may sell other products/services or are separate merchants who are located on the premises of these merchants, but are classified by the credit card network in another manner, in which case this added benefit would not apply. The annual spend calculation for the $50,000 maximum threshold is calculated annually from January 1st to December 31st each year. You will earn 1 point per $1 on purchases made on the Account after the 2 points per $1 / $50,000 annual spend maximum is reached and on all other purchases made on the Account. Scene+ points are only awarded on purchases. Scene+ points are not awarded for cash advances, balance transfers, Scotia® Credit Card Cheques, payments, returns, refunds or other similar credits, fees or interest or other charges. All dollar amounts are in Canadian currency unless otherwise stated.
8 For customers onboarded as a part of the Scotiabank StartRight® Program we do not charge a service fee for the transfer, however, foreign currency exchange rates apply. A transfer needs to be made from an eligible Scotiabank Chequing or Savings account. Subject to daily limits and additional terms and conditions as set out in the Scotiabank International Money Transfer Agreement found at https://www.scotiabank.com/international-money-transfer.
9 Conditions apply. Offer valid for new Scotia iTRADE® accounts, excluding Cash Optimizer Investment accounts, opened by new Scotia iTRADE clients who do not already have an existing account with Scotia iTRADE. If you open one or more new Scotia iTRADE account(s) (each, a "New Account") and fund the New Account(s) within 60 days of opening the New Account(s) with at least CAD $1,000 in cash or in Net Equity (cheque deposit, electronic funds transfer or transfer of assets) ("Minimum Amount"), from an account that is not held at Scotia iTRADE, (1) the commissions associated with the first 10 online commissionable trades of Equities, Options and ETFs placed within 365 days of the date when you funded your New Account(s) with the Minimum Amount will be credited back to the corresponding New Account within 30 days of each order fill, to a maximum amount of $9.99 per trade in the currency of the account (maximum total commission rebate of $99.90), (2) the amount of the transfer-in fee charged by another Canadian broker will be credited to your New Account (up to $150 per client) subject to Scotia iTRADE's receipt of the documentation evidencing such transfer-in fee. Scotia iTRADE reserves the right to charge you all or part of the commissions associated with the first 10 online trades completed within 365 days of funding your New Account(s) (when such commissions were previously credited back to your New Account(s)) if the conditions of the offer are not complied with. Scotia iTRADE reserves the right to modify and/or cancel this offer at any time without notice in its sole discretion. Clients must enter the promotional code SRPE15 (English) or SRPF15 (French) when submitting the New Account application to qualify. To qualify for this offer, you must satisfy Scotia iTRADE's Canadian residency requirements, have a valid Social Insurance Number, be eligible to open a Scotia iTRADE account, maintain all of your accounts at Scotia iTRADE in good standing, not be in a disallowed debit position and not have any outstanding margin calls due. This offer has no cash redemption value. This offer cannot be transferred or combined with any other promotional offer (excluding Refer-a-Friend). Limited to one offer per client. In case of joint account only one account holder will be entitled to receive free equity trades.
10 Subject to credit approval. To be eligible, you must be a participant in the Scotiabank StartRight® Program. To qualify for a credit card, you must be a resident of Canada and the age of majority in your province/territory where you live. Your approval for a credit card and the credit limit assigned will be determined based on Scotiabank’s credit criteria, including your verifiable income and credit history (if available). The credit limit amount of up to $15,000 under the Scotiabank StartRight® Program is subject to change by Scotiabank from time to time without prior notice. A credit history in Canada is not required in order to be eligible for a credit card under the Scotiabank StartRight® Program.
11 Preferred Package account holders will receive a boost to the Regular Interest Rate (the “Preferred Interest Rate Boost”). Refer to the Current Rates Page on Scotiabank.com for the Total Annual Interest Rate applicable to the Preferred Package (current Regular Interest Rate plus Preferred Interest Rate Boost), which is subject to change at any time without advance notice. It will take up to 10 business days after activating a Preferred Package account for the Preferred Interest Rate Boost to apply. The Preferred Interest Rate Boost will cease to apply effective as of the date that the Preferred Package account is closed. The Preferred Interest Rate Boost is an annual rate calculated daily on the MomentumPLUS Savings Account(s) closing balance and paid monthly.
® Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia.
™ Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia.
™* Scene+ and the Icon Design are trademarks of Scene Plus IP Corporation. Used under license.§Interac is a registered trade-mark of Interac Corp. Used under licence.
** Visa Int./Licensed User.
Scotia iTRADE® (Order-Execution Only Accounts) is a division of Scotia Capital Inc. (“SCI”). SCI is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Scotia iTRADE does not provide investment advice or recommendations and investors are responsible for their own investment decisions. ® Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under license.