Get up to $2,000 in value in the first year*
Join the StartRight™ Program designed for newcomers‡.
StartRight ™ Program offer for newcomers‡
Earn up to $600 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 $1,100 in value. 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.
Ready to open your account?
Apply for a credit card with up to $15,000 in credit, even without previous credit history.10
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.
More advice on all things Canadian
Find more personal stories, articles, and resources to help you settle in sooner.
Value of up to $2,000 is calculated as follows: i) up to $1,183.30 first year value with the StartRightTM Program + ii) Up to $1,100 in Preferred Package, TFSA/RRSP and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite welcome offer and first year point earn potential:
i) Value of up to $1,183.30 is an annual potential value for the first year based on the following benefits and savings available to StartRightTM customers as of August 1st, 2024:
- $600: $350 cash offer for new Preferred and Ultimate Package clients who complete certain qualifying conditions plus up to $250 when you open a new RRSP, FHSA, or TFSA and complete certain qualifying transactions;
- $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 StartRightTM Program features and products. Conditions apply. All products and features are subject to change.
ii) Value of up to $1,100 in Scotiabank welcome offers and first year point earn potential includes the following as of August 1st, 2024:
- $250 value for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite customers who can earn up to 30,000 bonus Scene+TM*;
- $50 supplementary card annual fee waiver on the first supplementary card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card clients;
- $100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) when you spend $40,000 annually on your Account each year (12-months);
- $250 in first year point earn potential (25,000 Scene+ points) on everyday purchases based on average annual first year spend per account with an average spend of 21% in 2X accelerator categories;
- $350 value with a complimentary Visa Airport Companion Program Membership and 6 lounge passes (annual membership plus one free visit of approx. CAD$134/USD$99 plus 5 lounge passes at CDN$48/USD$35 per pass). Currency conversion as at February 28, 2024;
- $100 in foreign transaction fee savings based on average first year annual foreign spend per account (save the 2.5% foreign transaction fee markup typically charged by card issuers).
Actual offers and rewards earned will depend on individual card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.
$600 Banking Package and Registered Account Bundle Offer Description and Conditions: The Scotiabank $600 Cash Bonus Bundle Offer (the “Offer”) is available between August 1, 2024 and October 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 chequing account and complete certain qualifying transactions and an additional $250 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: Scotia 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 chequing account (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.
Up to $250 Registered Account Bundle Conditions: To qualify for up to $250 cash bonus (the “Bundle Bonus”), you must:
1. Meet the conditions for the $350 Package Bonus;
2. During the Offer Period and within 60 days of opening your Eligible Chequing Account, open a new Eligible Registered Account; and
3. Within 60 days of the Eligible Registered Account opening, complete the following activities to earn the applicable Bundle Bonus:
· To earn $50: set up and clear recurring pre-authorized contributions (PACs) from any Scotiabank personal bank account of at least $100 total monthly into your new Eligible Registered Account, which must recur for a minimum of six (6) consecutive months; and/or
· To earn $200: contribute or transfer in a minimum of CAD $5,000 into your new Eligible Registered Account and maintain that minimum amount each day for at least 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 Bundle Bonus (up to $250) 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 applicable 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 the primary account holder is eligible for this Offer and only one (1) $350 Package Bonus and one (1) Bundle Bonus (up to $250), 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.
Potential First Year Value = up to $1,100
Actual offers, savings and rewards earned will depend on individual card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.
Offer Description and Conditions: The 25,000 Bonus Scene+ Points Offer (the "Offer") applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit card accounts (“Accounts”) that are opened by October 31, 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.
25,000 Bonus Scene+ Point Offer Description and Conditions: To qualify for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points (the “25,000 Point Bonus”), 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 25,000 Point Bonus will be credited approximately 2-3 business days after the qualifying $1,000 in eligible purchases has been posted to the Account within the first 3 months of the Primary cardholder’s Account open date, provided the Account is open and in good standing. For Joint Accounts with a Primary Borrower and Co-borrower, the 25,000 Point Bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the Account of the borrower that completed the last transaction to meet the qualifying $1,000 in eligible purchases. If a supplementary cardholder completes the last qualifying transaction, the 25,000 Point Bonus will be credited to the Primary Borrower’s Scene+ account. Points can be transferred between Primary and Co-Borrower or Supplementary Cardholder’s Scene+ accounts by contacting Scene+. 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 October 31, 2024. All other terms and conditions of the Program Terms continue to apply during the Offer period.
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).
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.