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Open Canadian bank account before arriving in Canada

bobbysocks888

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Oct 9, 2013
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Is it possible to open a Canadian bank account before arriving in Canada? I'm based in the UK. If it can be done, which banks offer this facility.
 

ldn123

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Nov 3, 2013
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I don't think is possible. The banks will ask you to provide proof of address and perm residency card or landing docs.

In regards to hsbc I don't thinkthis route is possible. Even if it was there aren't many hsbc banks in canada. You would struggle to find hsbc atm.

My advise is to open an account with TD Bank when you arrive. What ever you do don't go with bmo bank..they're customer service is crazy!

Btw, why would yu want to open an account before landing?
 

steaky

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ldn123 said:
I don't think is possible. The banks will ask you to provide proof of address and perm residency card or landing docs.

In regards to hsbc I don't thinkthis route is possible. Even if it was there aren't many hsbc banks in canada. You would struggle to find hsbc atm.

My advise is to open an account with TD Bank when you arrive. What ever you do don't go with bmo bank..they're customer service is crazy!

Btw, why would yu want to open an account before landing?
From personal experience, it is possible. People might want to open an account before landing because they want to transfer funds to Canada from another country. There are lots of hsbc branch at least in metro Vancouver in Canada. There is no struggle in finding atms.
 

sharat_joshi77

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bobbysocks888 said:
Is it possible to open a Canadian bank account before arriving in Canada? I'm based in the UK. If it can be done, which banks offer this facility.
It is possible.
There are Scotia bank branches/ partnered banks across globe.
I know Kotak mahindra Bank in India is in partnership with Soctia Bank and one can open an account from India.

You can call up customer service from Soctia Bank and check if its possible to open account from UK...
 

bobbysocks888

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Thanks for the advice regarding TD Bank.

As for why I want to open an account.... kindly, mind your own business.

ldn123 said:
I don't think is possible. The banks will ask you to provide proof of address and perm residency card or landing docs.

In regards to hsbc I don't thinkthis route is possible. Even if it was there aren't many hsbc banks in canada. You would struggle to find hsbc atm.

My advise is to open an account with TD Bank when you arrive. What ever you do don't go with bmo bank..they're customer service is crazy!

Btw, why would yu want to open an account before landing?
 

bobbysocks888

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Oct 9, 2013
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Thank you.

sharat_joshi77 said:
It is possible.
There are Scotia bank branches/ partnered banks across globe.
I know Kotak mahindra Bank in India is in partnership with Soctia Bank and one can open an account from India.

You can call up customer service from Soctia Bank and check if its possible to open account from UK...
 

bobbysocks888

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Oct 9, 2013
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Thank you.

steaky said:
From personal experience, it is possible. People might want to open an account before landing because they want to transfer funds to Canada from another country. There are lots of hsbc branch at least in metro Vancouver in Canada. There is no struggle in finding atms.
 

hassankm

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Hello.. did anyone manage to open a bank account before landing? i tried to contact scotia bank, the person said that i have to be canada..
 

PMM

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Jun 30, 2005
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Hi

no HSBC here.. or you mean that i can contact HSBC in canada, even if there's no HSBC in my country?
1. From the HSBC website, you need a local HSBC office to open an international, so it would appear that you are out of luck with them.
 

NZ_ozzie

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Has anyone tried Citi bank in their home country ?
 

starlordavuthu

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It is possible.
There are Scotia bank branches/ partnered banks across globe.
I know Kotak mahindra Bank in India is in partnership with Soctia Bank and one can open an account from India.

You can call up customer service from Soctia Bank and check if its possible to open account from UK...
This is wrong statement. Scotia bank is not partner with any bank outside Canada. They are not even partners with Bank of America in US. You can use BOFA debit card to withdraw money from Scotia bank with no ATM charge, that's about it. I have personally called Scotia bank and BOFA regarding Auto loan transfer and I was told they are not partners but they have an mutual understanding regarding ATM charges.