Canadian banks and no (low) fee banking accounts?

[franta]

Hey guys,

first of all I'm sorry for opening this topic in Settlement Issues, but I haven't found anything more appropriate - there's a similar topic below, but I have a different questions in my mind - are there any Canadian websites where people gather information about banking products? Comparisons of particular products?
I'll be opening a banking account in Edmonton in mid-June for a few months, so I guess it could be useful to get to know how it works over there in Canada. Basically, I don't want much from the account itself:
-3 withdrawals a month
-online banking (w/ receiving SMS authorisation codes or other measure)
-debit card
-no minimum deposit (or very low one)
-free incoming wire transfers from Canada (I don't suppose this to be a problem)
-fee as low as possible (wouldn't protest about no fee at all)
-plenty of ATMs (not necessarily)


I live in the Czech Republic where clients have many options, so it is not impossible to get an account like this for free - in fact it is very common, we usually pay for non-standard services.

As indicated, I have no experience with Canadian banking system, so that's why I'm asking. I'm looking forward to every single reply! Cheers!

 

[Bargeld]

http://www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/eng/resources/publications/banking/costofbanking-eng.asp

 

[franta]

Thank you, Bargeld. Looks very detailed, which is good!

Do you anyone, by chance, know if a nonresident can open a student account if provided with ISIC card?

By the way, if anyone has a particular recommendation, I would highly appreciate that as well. I can't pretty much say which banking institutions are widely spread in Canada and which are not - that makes a difference, too.

 

[amikety]

Thank you, Bargeld. Looks very detailed, which is good!

Do you anyone, by chance, know if a nonresident can open a student account if provided with ISIC card?

By the way, if anyone has a particular recommendation, I would highly appreciate that as well. I can't pretty much say which banking institutions are widely spread in Canada and which are not - that makes a difference, too.

I opened an account as a Visitor by myself. I just had to go in and take my paperwork with me.

SuperStore has the President's Financial Banking and Sobey's BMO has banking as well. Both have no maintaince fees and low other fees. Give them a google.

 

[mic8400]

If you havent yet, look into RBC, they have a decent program for people new to Canada.

 

[mic8400]

Actually, here is the link http://www.rbc.com/canada/banking-packages/index.html

 

[amikety]

Actually, here is the link http://www.rbc.com/canada/banking-packages/index.html

Did you get a job at RBC or something?

RBC is currently in PR nightmare because they abused the TFW program and laid off Canadians. I wouldn't bank there if you paid me.

 

[mic8400]

Minus your sarcasm, that was informative. No I don't work for RBC, I live in the states currently. No need for sly remarks and what not, I was simply trying to help considering I was looking for similar information myself a few months ago.

 

[amikety]

Minus your sarcasm, that was informative. No I don't work for RBC, I live in the states currently. No need for sly remarks and what not, I was simply trying to help considering I was looking for similar information myself a few months ago.

There's also no need to necropost threads almost a year old or spam the same information repeatedly. Just sayin

 

[mic8400]

The thread is not a year old, and I wasn't spamming, I was legitimately trying to help. But perhaps that was my mistake to do so.

 

[gosia]

Look into Scotia Bank too, they have better options as well