Limited-time promotion – Open a bank account in Canada

On this page

Our special promotion | Additional benefits | Our industry awards | Contact us

Get up to $550 cashback to help give your Canadian projects a boost

Your success in Canada starts here, with our special promotion for newcomers. All you need to do is open a chequing account, then add the other banking products eligible for the offer by making the required transactions.* Take advantage of this offer from 90 days before your arrival and up to 5 years afterward.¹

Get started with cashback upfront

*You must open a chequing account to take advantage of this promotion. The other products are optional and available only from Canada. You can select them individually or combine them to maximize your cashback.

Get $300 after opening a chequing account

Take advantage of our offer for newcomers, and sign up for online banking, and online bank and tax statements.

+

Set up automatic, recurring salary direct deposits to your new chequing account at least once a month for two consecutive months within 120 days of account opening.

Your benefits:

Take advantage of no fixed monthly fees on your chequing account for up to 3 years.¹
Get 12 months of legal support² and consult directly with a lawyer about your everyday concerns.

Open your chequing account

Earn more cashback within 120 days of opening your chequing account

Get $100 when you sign up for an eligible credit card

Apply for a National Bank^® Platinum*, World or World Elite^® Mastercard^® credit card.³

+

Make at least one online payment to pay off your credit card balance from your new chequing account.

*The Platinum Mastercard is on promotion from April 1 to August 4, 2025. Don't miss out!

Choose your card

Get $50 by activating systematic savings

Set up recurring monthly deposits of at least $50 from your new chequing account into one of our investment products, such as mutual funds or a Cash Advantage Solution.

Get $100 by setting up pre-authorized payments

Get $100 by setting up recurring pre-authorized payments for your National Bank mortgage from your new chequing account.

Discover all the conditions in detail

Make it happen in Canada with these practical tips

Picto of National Bank documents with a maple leaf

Canadian immigration guide

Take advantage of a complete guide to life and finance in Canada to accompany you every step of the way.

Check out our guide

Even more resources

To ease your transition, we’ve put together a series of articles to answer the most common questions newcomers have about housing, employment, finances and more.

Browse our articles

More than just a bank account

Discover our offer for newcomers

2 min 16 Transcript

Take advantage of a wide range of banking products and services to manage your finances more confidently and realize your projects in Canada.
Unlimited electronic transactions and Interac e-transfers^®; plus access to mortgages, auto loans³, business accounts, investment solutions and more.
Come visit us at one of our over 361 branches, or access one of our 2,071 ABMs across Canada.³
Access your funds abroad by making withdrawals at an ABM using our network partners around the world.⁴
Rest assured: your deposits with National Bank of Canada are protected by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC).
Save on your first order of 100 cheques (not including tax and shipping).

Open your chequing account

Talk to us about your projects in Canada

Contact us on Messenger

Send us your questions on Facebook Messenger. We’ll answer them from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) on weekends and holidays.

Start a chat

Take advantage of the offer

Complete the application form with a Canadian phone number, and a valid and eligible foreign passport, or a Canadian permanent resident card.

Open an account online

Need more information?

Check out our Help centre to find the information you’re looking for.

Find an answer

Little details that matter

Be a newcomer and at least 18 years of age or older
Apply to open an account from your home country up to 90 days before you arrive in Canada, or within 5 years of your arrival
Be the only account user
The offer for newcomers is open to permanent residents, temporary workers and international students

Baseline savings of $334.92 over three years for the account

Save a minimum of $334.92 over three years if you meet the following conditions:

Open a bank account online before arriving with our secure form or visit a branch upon arrival.
Sign up for our offer for newcomers

Savings of $334.92 based on:

First year: no flat monthly fee (savings of $15.95/month for 12 months)
Second year: flat monthly fee of $7.98 instead of $15.95 (savings of $7.97/month for 12 months)
Third year: flat monthly fee of $11.96 instead of $15.95 (savings of $3.99/month for 12 months)

To be eligible for savings, you must commit to keeping the account and package for a minimum of 36 months. You will receive no further discounts if the products are cancelled. The full flat monthly fee of $15.95 will be applied to your banking package from the fourth year. You’ll be able to browse our packages and choose the one that best suits your needs.

** Maximum savings of $574.20 over three years for the account

Your savings will be $574.20 over 3 years with your newcomer’s banking package on a fixed monthly fee ($15.95/month x 36 months) if you meet the following conditions.

Visit a branch and open a bank account.
Sign up for our offer for newcomers.
During the first year after signing up for the offer for newcomers to Canada:
- Apply for and activate an eligible National Bank Mastercard personal credit card²
- Sign up to receive eStatements
During the second and third years after signing up for the offer for newcomers to Canada:
- Set up salary deposits to your National Bank account and have your pay deposited at least once a month; OR
- Make at least two electronic bill payments from your National Bank account every month.

To be eligible for this, you agree to maintain this account for a minimum of 36 months. You agree that there are no additional savings available from the moment you longer keep these products. You’ll pay the full fixed monthly fee of $15.95/month for your banking package starting in the fourth year after you sign up for the offer for newcomers. You’ll be able to browse our packages and choose the one that best suits your needs.

Overall savings of up to $671.30 over 3 years

You could enjoy a maximum overall savings of $671.30 over 3 years without the following fees being charged:

The flat monthly fee for the Newcomers to Canada package for 3 years ($15.95/month for 36 months)
The fee for your first order of cheques ($67.10/order)
Statements sent by mail free of charge for the first year ($30)

Note on savings

To enjoy the full savings, you must keep the products and services and carry out all required transactions for a minimum of 36 months unless otherwise indicated. If you fail to meet the conditions of the offer, your savings will be lower. Your savings will be lower if you do not order cheques and/or choose to not receive paper statements by mail for free the first year.

If during a given month, you keep your bank account and banking package but do not keep all of the other products and services indicated or do not carry out all the required transactions (e.g. only one electronic bill payment per month instead of two), you will be charged National Bank's service fee for that month. The service fee will be $7.98 monthly for the second year and $11.96 for the third. You will still enjoy monthly savings of $7.97 during the second year and $3.99 during the third.

Finally, if you no longer hold a bank account or banking package for newcomers, you will no longer be eligible for savings.

Description of the promotion:

Promotion valid from April 1 to July 31, 2025.

Up to $550 cashback after opening a chequing account and adding certain services or carrying out certain transactions and signing up for a new eligible credit card.

Eligibility conditions:

Products, services or transactions	Conditions	Cashback
a. Chequing account for newcomers at National Bank and registration for online services and activation of direct salary deposits or retirement pension.	Open an account for newcomers during the promotion period. Maintain this account in good standing for at least 120 days after opening. Be the main holder of the account. Sign up for online banking, and online bank and tax statements within 120 days of opening the account. Activate the automatic deposit of your eligible salary or pension in your new chequing account at least once a month for a minimum of 2 consecutive months. This deposit must continue uninterrupted until at least the 120^th day after the new chequing account is opened. Automated deposits eligible for the promotion are: › Salary › QPIP benefits (Québec Parental Insurance Plan) › Private pension plans › Government pension plans (provincial or federal) › Old Age Security (OAS) › War Veterans Allowance › Employment insurance benefits › CNESST indemnities You must not have had a National Bank chequing account (single or joint) in the past 24 months. All these conditions must be met to receive the following additional amounts.	$300 (Basic cashback)
b. Signing up for a new eligible credit card	Sign up for an eligible credit card (National Bank Platinum, World or World Elite^® Mastercard^®) within 120 days of opening the chequing account. Make at least one online payment (e.g., minimum payment) for your new credit card from your new chequing account within 120 days of opening the eligible chequing account. Be the primary cardholder of the eligible credit card. You must not have had or used a National Bank credit card in the past 24 months.	An additional $100
c. Automatic mortgage loan payments	Set up an automatic and recurring payment from the new eligible chequing account for a National Bank mortgage loan within 120 days of opening the eligible chequing account. The payment can’t be made to an All-In-One^® mortgage line of credit.	An additional $100
d. New systematic savings	Set up a systematic savings plan for a minimum of $50 a month to an eligible investment product distributed by National Bank or National Bank Savings and Investments, within 120 days of opening the new eligible chequing account. Eligible investment products are mutual funds offered by National Bank Savings and Investments or the Cash Advantage Solution offered by National Bank only. Other subsidiaries and their divisions are excluded from this promotion: (e.g., National Bank Financial, National Bank Direct Brokerage, etc.). Make systematic savings transfers from the new chequing account for at least 2 consecutive months and keep them uninterrupted at least until the 120^th day after the new eligible chequing account is opened. Be the main holder of an investment product. Have not set up a systematic savings plan with National Bank or National Bank Savings and Investments within the past 24 months.	An additional $50
Total cashback if all conditions are met: $550

When will the cashback be paid to your chequing account

The total cashback to which you are entitled will be deposited to your new chequing account no later than 180 days after the account is opened.

Other conditions:

You must be at least 14 years old when you open the new chequing account.
You need to keep the new chequing account and the new eligible credit card (if applicable) for at least 12 months starting when the account is opened. If you don’t meet this condition, you’ll have to reimburse a portion of the cashback for the product you didn’t maintain corresponding to the period remaining.
You must keep your chequing account in good standing for 120 days after the account is opened by complying with the conditions set out in the Deposit Account Agreement. For example, you need to pay the monthly fees of the chequing account when applicable.
Keep the account in good standing by complying with the conditions set out in the Credit Card Agreement. For example, all minimum payments must be made on time.
The new eligible credit card (if applicable) is granted subject to credit approval from National Bank. You must be 18 years old when you sign up for the new card. Other conditions apply to the issue of the card.
You must not be employed by National Bank or one of its subsidiaries.
This promotion may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice.
This promotion cannot be combined with any other chequing account, special offer or banking package promotion. However, it can be combined with another promotion applicable to National Bank's credit cards, mortgage default insurance, mortgages and investment products.

At National Bank of Canada, we are committed to guiding you as you settle in your new country.

Did you know? National Bank of Canada is one of the 6 largest banks in the country. It counts more than 360 branches all over Canada and more than 940 automated banking machines offering services in 6 different languages.

Our objective? To make banking easier when you arrive in Canada.

We support you before and after your arrival.

Before your arrival: first, open your account online in just a few clicks! Then, we’ll schedule an appointment to complete the process together at a branch when you arrive.

Need to transfer money? You can do it from your home country to your new bank account before you leave.

Already in Canada? Open your bank account in a few minutes entirely online! Or visit a branch and speak with an advisor.

Take advantage of a great offer for newcomers that includes up to 3 years of no fixed monthly fees. The offer is valid up to 5 years after your arrival.

In Canada, it’s important to build your credit history and we can help you achieve this by giving you access to a credit card.

Need to make an international transfer? Several options are available to you depending on the destination. Take advantage of our rates starting at $5.95 for certain countries.

Do you need to talk to a lawyer?

Get answers to your questions regarding immigration, housing, or employment with our legal assistance service, free of charge through our Assistance Network. This service is available 7 days a week for the first year.

Manage your finances with confidence in Canada.

In addition to our legal assistance service, a banking advisor will assist you as soon as you arrive to help you realize the projects you care about. Buying a car, buying a property, saving for retirement, saving for your children, and much more.

Our National Bank of Canada family wishes to give you real peace of mind by helping you manage your finances and build a life in Canada.

We are here to answer your questions.

^® NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^® World Elite and Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank

^® Interac and Interac e-Transfer are registered trademarks of Interac Corp. Used under licence.

1. Our banking offer is available to newcomers from their home countries up to 90 days before arriving in Canada or at any point during your first 5 years in Canada. See the above terms and conditions of the offer for no fixed monthly fee for 3 years. The offer may be modified, extended or withdrawn, without prior notice, at any time. The offer may not be combined or used with any other National Bank offer, promotion or benefit. Fees may apply for transactions not included in the banking offer for newcomers. For more information on transaction fees, see our Guide to Personal Banking Solutions [PDF].

2. Telephone assistance service offered by National Bank Assistance Network, valid for 12 months from your account opening date. The content of the packages and terms described are subject to change.

3. National Bank ABMs or ABMs in THE EXCHANGEᴹᴰ network. Use all our ABM features in six languages (French, English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Punjabi, and Arabic).

4. Locate CIRRUS, Maestro^® and NYCE^® ABMs and payment terminals with the logos on the back of your card. You can then use your debit card at these ABMs in the United States and around the world, including our network of partners Accel^®, Cirrus^® and Allpoint^®. Administrative or exchange rate fees may apply

Open a bank account in Canada