You’re eligible to open a newcomer bank account if you:
- Are 18 years of age or older.
- Have been living in Canada for less than 5 years.
- Have permanent or temporary resident status with a valid work or study permit.
WELCOME OFFER
Bank account for newcomers
Open an account with no fixed monthly fees and you could get up to $600 cashback*
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*Promotional offer is valid until November 3, 2026. View the full terms and conditions.
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$600 promotion | Benefits | Open an account | No fixed fees for up to 3 years | More benefits | Awards
Promotion: You could get up to $600 cashback
Start your life in Canada by taking advantage of our welcome offer: A bank account that allows you to earn up to $600 cashback. Here’s how to get the most out of it.
- Get $300 cashback when you:
Open a chequing account and meet certain criteria.
1. Sign up for online banking.
2. Complete 20 eligible transactions.
3. Receive 3 eligible automatic deposits of at least $100 each.
- Get $100 cashback when you:
Apply for a Mastercard credit card, get approved, and complete 20 purchases with the new card.
- Get $100 cashback when you:
Set up pre-authorized, recurring payments for your National Bank mortgage from your new chequing account.
- Get $100 cashback when you:
Open a High Interest Savings Account and deposit at least $5,000.
Enjoy many benefits with your account for newcomers
Kickstart your Canadian projects with exclusive benefits when you open an account for newcomers.
Bank account for $0/month 1(no fixed fees) for up to 3 years
Keep your money in your pocket by saving on monthly fees for up to 3 years.
Legal assistance
Get 12 months of free legal advice through our partner FBA Solutions. 2 Speak with a lawyer for answers to your everyday questions on topics like immigration, housing, education and more.
Online international money transfers
Send transfers to 19 European Union countries, India, the Philippines, and more. 3
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Open your account in a few simple steps
To take advantage of your newcomer bank account at $0/month 1 (no fixed fees) for up to 3 years and other exclusive benefits, follow the steps below based on your situation.
- I'm already in Canada
- I’m arriving in less than 90 days
Open your account online
If you've arrived in Canada in the past 5 years, fill out our online application form in less than 5 minutes.
Receive your debit card and enjoy your benefits
Once your account is open, you’ll receive an email with your account information. Your debit card will then be mailed to you.
Fill out our online form
It’s quick and secure. In just 5 minutes, complete the first step of opening your account. Please note that you have until November 3, 2026, to apply to open a new account from outside of Canada. After that date, it will no longer be possible to apply from abroad.
Check your email
Within a few days, you’ll receive an email confirming your request. Keep it in a safe place.
Once your account is open, you can transfer money to it and start using it when you arrive*.
Make an appointment when you arrive
Once in Canada, simply book an appointment at a branch to finalize the opening of your account and receive your debit card.
A journey that evolves with you over 4 years
Year 1
Get started with no monthly fees
As soon as you arrive, enjoy all the benefits we offer, without any fixed monthly fees.1
Years 2 and 3
Keep your account free by meeting certain conditions*
Maintain a minimum daily balance of $4,500 in your account
OR
Sign up for the following three products and services:
- A credit card
- Electronic bank statements
- Payroll deposit or the electronic payment of at least two bills per month
Year 4
Automatically switch to The Connected
After your newcomer offer ends, your account
automatically switches to The
Connected® package, which lets you reduce or
even eliminate your monthly fees.
Get even more advantages with your account for newcomers
Best bank or best bank account for newcomers
2026
National Bank of Canada received the award for "Best Bank Account" for newcomers to Quebec by Milesopedia in 2025 and 2026*.
2025
National Bank of Canada has been named best bank for newcomers to Canada for 2025 by MoneySense, for the third year in a row*.
A good start makes all the difference
Don’t miss out on the benefits of a newcomer account. Start saving today.
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Little details that matter
Promotion period:
November 5, 2025 to November 3, 2026
Promotion Description
Up to $600 cashback after opening a chequing account and adding certain products or services, or carrying out certain transactions in the new account listed in the following section:
Eligibility requirements
PRODUCTS, SERVICES OR TRANSACTIONS |
CONDITIONS |
|
|---|---|---|
New National Bank chequing account with an eligible package/offer, online services, and activation of an automatic deposit |
During the promotion period, open your first chequing account as the main account holder with the help of a National Bank branch advisor and sign up for the offer for newcomers* * As of February 26, 2026, opening your first chequing account online by signing up for the Newcomers Privilege Offer (using the redirection link available on the Newcomers Bank Account page of the bnc.ca site) also entitles you to the promotion. However, online opening is only possible for people aged 18 or over. Within 120 days of opening the chequing account and the eligible package/privilege offer, complete the following 3 steps:
3) The following transactions are excluded:
4) Receive 3 eligible automatic deposits of at least $100 each, according to the following schedule:
Eligible automatic direct deposits.
Maintain this package or offer for at least 120 days after opening the new chequing account. Must not have a chequing account, CAD Progress Account, Crescendo Account®, The Strategist Account®, The Natcan Strategist Account, Special Project Savings Account, Superior Flex Line Program®, Home Improvement Line of Credit, personal line of credit, All-In-One Line of Credit®, or must not have had a National Bank High Interest Savings Account, alone or jointly in the past 36 months. All these conditions must be met to receive the following additional amounts. |
$300 (basic discount) |
Apply for a new eligible credit card |
Within 120 days of opening the chequing account and signing up for the eligible package/privilege offer, complete the following 2 steps: 1) Apply for and be approved for one of the following National Bank credit cards as the primary cardholder:
2) Complete at least 20 purchases or cash advances with the new credit card. The following transactions are excluded:
Must not have been holder/primary cardholder or authorized user of a National Bank personal credit card in the past 36 months. |
An additional $100 |
Automatic mortgage loan payment |
Within 120 days of opening the chequing account and signing up for the eligible package/offer, complete the following step: 1) Set up pre-authorized, recurring payments from the new chequing account for a National Bank mortgage. |
An additional $100 |
High Interest Savings Account |
Within 15 days of opening the chequing account and signing up for the eligible package/offer, you must:
Must not have held a National Bank High Interest Savings account alone or jointly in the past 36 months. |
An additional $100 |
Total cashback if all conditions are met |
Up to $600 |
When the cashback will be paid to your chequing account
Consult the following table for the cashback payment date, if you meet the eligibility criteria. This is based on the date the chequing account was opened.
Opening date of the new chequing account: |
Date of deposit of the cashback into the new chequing account: |
Between November 5 and November 30, 2025 |
Cashback deposited to the account by May 15, 2026 |
Between December 1 and December 31, 2025 |
Cashback deposited to the account by June 15, 2026 |
Between January 1 and January 31, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by July 15, 2026 |
Between February 1 and February 28, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by August 15, 2026 |
Between March 1 and March 31, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by September 15, 2026 |
Between April 1 and April 30, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by October 15, 2026 |
Between May 1 and May 31, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by November 15, 2026 |
Between June 1 and June 30, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by December 15, 2026 |
Between July 1 and July 31, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by January 15, 2027 |
Between August 1 and August 31, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by February 15, 2027 |
Between September 1 and September 30, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by March 15, 2027 |
Between October 1 and October 31, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by April 15, 2027 |
Between November 1 and November 3, 2026 |
Cashback deposited to the account by May 15, 2027 |
Other conditions:
- You can receive only one cashback for this chequing account.
- You must be at least 14 years old when you open the new chequing account.
- You must keep the new chequing account and, if applicable, the new eligible credit card for at least 12 months from the date the chequing 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 still remaining.
- You must keep your National Bank chequing
account in good standing until the cashback is paid. For the
purposes of this promotion, the chequing account is not in good
standing if:
- It is overdrawn, meaning it has an unauthorized negative balance.
- It has been used in an inappropriate, unauthorized, illegal, or abusive manner, as described in section 8.7 of the National Bank Deposit Account Agreement.
- You must keep your new credit card account in good standing by meeting the conditions in the Credit Card Agreement (if applicable). 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, CWB® or one of its subsidiaries. Spouses of employees are also not eligible.
- This promotion may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice.
- This promotion cannot be combined with any other National Bank cashback promotion applicable to chequing accounts or banking packages. However, it can be combined with another eligible National Bank credit card, mortgage loan, mortgage insurance, or investment promotion.
® NATIONAL BANK, CWB, CRESCENDO, THE STRATEGIST, THE CONNECTED, THE TOTAL, SUPERIOR FLEX LINE, ALL-IN-ONE, MY CREDIT, ALLURE and ECHO are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.
® Interac is a registered trademark of Interac Corp. Used under licence.
® Mastercard, World Mastercard, MC1, Platinum, and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.
To complete the online application form, you will need:
- A Canadian phone number
- One of the following
documents:
- A valid and eligible passport from a country other than Canada
- A Canadian permanent resident card
- A Canadian driver’s licence
- A Canadian identity card (except in Quebec)
- A Quebec health insurance card (new model)
Three levels of savings possible on your newcomer bank account
1. Baseline savings of $334.92 over three years for the account
You’ll save 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 are 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)
2. Maximum savings on the account: $574.20 over 3 years
- In addition to the basic savings conditions, you must:
- Maintain a minimum daily balance of $4,500
OR
Sign up for the following three products and services before the end of the first year and maintain them until the end of the special offer:
- A Mastercard® personal credit card ;
- Electronic bank statements ;
- Payroll deposit to your bank account at one of our branches at least once a month or payment of at least two bills per month electronically from this bank account
3. Maximum total savings of the offer: $683.30 over 3 years
To reach these savings, you must meet all the conditions for maximum savings on the account (above) and take advantage of the following services:
- First check order free ($67.10/order)
- Free paper bank statements for the first year ($42)
Please note:
- The savings depend on meeting all the requirements for the entire duration of the offer (3 years).
- If you do not meet all the conditions in a given month, your savings will be reduced.
- If you no longer have the bank account or the Newcomer Package, the savings will no longer apply.
At the end of the third year, the Newcomer Package will automatically be migrated to The Connected® package, along with any applicable benefits. No action is required on your part. You can also browse all our packages to find the one that best suits your needs.
Only one wire transfer can be made before you arrive in Canada and it must be an inter-bank transfer. This means the transfer can’t be made through a third-party money transfer service.
To transfer funds to your new account from abroad, you must provide the following information to the sending bank (limit of one transfer before you arrive in Canada):
| SWIFT message | MT103 |
|---|---|
| SWIFT code |
BNDCCAMMINT |
| Bank code | This information is provided in the email confirming the opening of your account. |
| Branch transit and address | This information is provided in the email confirming the opening of your account. |
| Canadian account number | This information is provided in the email confirming the opening of your account. |
| SWIFT message | |
|---|---|
| MT103 | |
| SWIFT code |
|
|---|---|
| BNDCCAMMINT | |
| Bank code | |
|---|---|
| This information is provided in the email confirming the opening of your account. | |
| Branch transit and address | |
|---|---|
| This information is provided in the email confirming the opening of your account. | |
| Canadian account number | |
|---|---|
| This information is provided in the email confirming the opening of your account. | |
Please note that sending a wire transfer before you arrive in Canada is available until November 3, 2026, and only if you opened a new account before that date.
Some associated banks may charge additional fees on the payment sent. Refer to the Fee Guide for Personal Banking Solutions [PDF] for details on applicable cases.
® 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.
© National Bank of Canada, 2026. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of National Bank of Canada.
*National Bank of Canada was named the best bank for newcomers to Canada by MoneySense in 2025, for the third year in a row. Every year, the MoneySense website establishes its annual rankings by selecting some of the largest financial institutions and comparing them in terms of fees, access to credit, and services offered to newcomers.
National Bank of Canada was also named the best bank for newcomers to Canada by the money.ca website in 2025.
National Bank of Canada received the "Best Bank Account" award for its account for newcomers to Quebec by the Milesopedia website in 2025.
1. Our banking offer is available 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 FBA Solutions, valid for 12 months from your account opening date. The content of the packages and terms described are subject to change.
3. The Mastercard® and Interac ® international money transfer service may take 3 to 5 business days for funds to be deposited into the recipient’s account. The service costs $5.95 per transaction, regardless of the type of account you hold. It allows you to send money to the United States, India, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the following 19 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
4. Freight and taxes extra.
5. A fee of $2.50 per withdrawal, transfer, withdrawal for bill payments at the counter applies as of the 13th month.
6. The bank statement by mail is free of charge for the first 12 months following enrollment in the offer for newcomers. Starting on the 13th month, a fee of $3.50/month per account will be charged.
7. 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).
8. 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.
9. Subject to credit approval by National Bank.
10. Applicable to online brokerage transactions for Canadian and U.S. stocks and ETFs. Other fees may apply.
