Guides

Best student bank accounts in Canada (2026)

Updated September 2026

Advertised details as of September 2026. Confirm on the official site.

This guide is for students in Canada who want a no-fee (or student-fee) everyday account, ATM access, or a simple place to keep cash while they study. It is the same advertised comparison as Marketplace — not a ranking you can treat as advice, and not a live rate feed.

Canada banking snapshot

Advertised details as of September 2026. Confirm on the official site.

EQ Bank Personal Account

Fees: $0
ATM access: ATM via EQ Bank Card (operator fees may apply)
Advertised perk: Interest up to 2.75% with qualifying direct deposit; 1.00% base
Best for: Best for interest on cash

Open EQ Bank account

Tangerine Chequing

Fees: $0 forever (not student-only)
ATM access: Free Scotiabank ATMs
Advertised perk: Welcome offers change often. Confirm the current offer on Tangerine
Best for: Best for no-fee after graduation + ATM network

See Tangerine student banking

RBC Advantage Banking for Students

Fees: $0 while a full-time student (fee returns after)
ATM access: RBC ATMs + non-RBC Canada withdrawals per RBC terms
Advertised perk: Branch access / student perks
Best for: Best if you want a big bank and branches

See RBC student chequing

Wealthsimple

Fees: $0
ATM access: App / card per Wealthsimple terms
Advertised perk: Investing + cash in one app
Best for: Best if you already want to invest

Open Wealthsimple

TD Student Chequing Account

Fees: $0 until 23 or with full-time proof of enrolment
ATM access: Free TD ATMs; $2 non-TD ATM in Canada
Advertised perk: $0 monthly fee until 23 or with full-time proof of enrolment; unlimited transactions; free Interac e-Transfer
Best for: TD branches + $0 student fee

See TD student chequing

Scotiabank Preferred Package for Students and Youth

Fees: $0 if under 25 or full-time student
ATM access: Scotiabank ATMs; 1 free non-Scotia Interac ATM in Canada per month then $2
Advertised perk: $0 monthly fee if under 25 or full-time student; unlimited debit + e-Transfer; Scene+. Confirm the current welcome offer on Scotiabank
Best for: Scene+ / branch bank

See Scotiabank student banking

BMO Student Banking

Fees: $0 while a student
ATM access: BMO ATMs; 1 free non-BMO Canada ATM/month then $2
Advertised perk: $0 monthly fee while a student; unlimited debit + e-Transfer. Confirm current student offer on BMO
Best for: BMO branches

See BMO student banking

CIBC Smart for Students

Fees: $0 for eligible full-time students
ATM access: CIBC ATMs; 1 non-CIBC Canada ATM rebate per month
Advertised perk: $0 monthly fee for eligible full-time students (CIBC Smart Start is the under-25 version)
Best for: CIBC students 25+ / Smart Start if under 25

See CIBC student chequing

Simplii Financial No Fee Chequing

Fees: $0 for everyone (not student-only)
ATM access: Free CIBC ATMs
Advertised perk: $0 monthly fee for everyone, not student-only; unlimited transactions
Best for: no-fee after graduation

See Simplii chequing

Product	Fees	ATM access	Advertised perk	Best for	Open site
EQ Bank Personal Account	$0	ATM via EQ Bank Card (operator fees may apply)	Interest up to 2.75% with qualifying direct deposit; 1.00% base	Best for interest on cash	Open EQ Bank account
Tangerine Chequing	$0 forever (not student-only)	Free Scotiabank ATMs	Welcome offers change often. Confirm the current offer on Tangerine	Best for no-fee after graduation + ATM network	See Tangerine student banking
RBC Advantage Banking for Students	$0 while a full-time student (fee returns after)	RBC ATMs + non-RBC Canada withdrawals per RBC terms	Branch access / student perks	Best if you want a big bank and branches	See RBC student chequing
Wealthsimple	$0	App / card per Wealthsimple terms	Investing + cash in one app	Best if you already want to invest	Open Wealthsimple
TD Student Chequing Account	$0 until 23 or with full-time proof of enrolment	Free TD ATMs; $2 non-TD ATM in Canada	$0 monthly fee until 23 or with full-time proof of enrolment; unlimited transactions; free Interac e-Transfer	TD branches + $0 student fee	See TD student chequing
Scotiabank Preferred Package for Students and Youth	$0 if under 25 or full-time student	Scotiabank ATMs; 1 free non-Scotia Interac ATM in Canada per month then $2	$0 monthly fee if under 25 or full-time student; unlimited debit + e-Transfer; Scene+. Confirm the current welcome offer on Scotiabank	Scene+ / branch bank	See Scotiabank student banking
BMO Student Banking	$0 while a student	BMO ATMs; 1 free non-BMO Canada ATM/month then $2	$0 monthly fee while a student; unlimited debit + e-Transfer. Confirm current student offer on BMO	BMO branches	See BMO student banking
CIBC Smart for Students	$0 for eligible full-time students	CIBC ATMs; 1 non-CIBC Canada ATM rebate per month	$0 monthly fee for eligible full-time students (CIBC Smart Start is the under-25 version)	CIBC students 25+ / Smart Start if under 25	See CIBC student chequing
Simplii Financial No Fee Chequing	$0 for everyone (not student-only)	Free CIBC ATMs	$0 monthly fee for everyone, not student-only; unlimited transactions	no-fee after graduation	See Simplii chequing

How we pick these

We list no-fee or student-fee everyday accounts already on Marketplace — not every bank in Canada or the US.

Fees, ATM access, and advertised perks are as of September 2026. Confirm them on the bank’s site before you apply.

No product button is an affiliate link: we earn nothing if you open an account. If that ever changes, we'll label it clearly.

Featured means editorial. Nothing is sponsored; a paid slot would be labeled “Sponsored · Paid placement” and kept apart from table order.

Organic table order is editorial. No bank paid for its rank in the comparison table.

Government hubs (FAFSA, NSLSC, provincial aid) are never affiliate or sponsored.

Short picks

Best for interest on cash: EQ Bank Personal Account — Interest up to 2.75% with qualifying direct deposit; 1.00% base. Confirm on the official site.
Best for no-fee after graduation + ATM network: Tangerine Chequing — Welcome offers change often. Confirm the current offer on Tangerine. Confirm on the official site.
Best if you want a big bank and branches: RBC Advantage Banking for Students — Branch access / student perks. Confirm on the official site.
Best if you already want to invest: Wealthsimple — Investing + cash in one app. Confirm on the official site.
TD branches + $0 student fee: TD Student Chequing Account — $0 monthly fee until 23 or with full-time proof of enrolment; unlimited transactions; free Interac e-Transfer. Confirm on the official site.
Scene+ / branch bank: Scotiabank Preferred Package for Students and Youth — $0 monthly fee if under 25 or full-time student; unlimited debit + e-Transfer; Scene+. Confirm the current welcome offer on Scotiabank. Confirm on the official site.
BMO branches: BMO Student Banking — $0 monthly fee while a student; unlimited debit + e-Transfer. Confirm current student offer on BMO. Confirm on the official site.
CIBC students 25+ / Smart Start if under 25: CIBC Smart for Students — $0 monthly fee for eligible full-time students (CIBC Smart Start is the under-25 version). Confirm on the official site.
no-fee after graduation: Simplii Financial No Fee Chequing — $0 monthly fee for everyone, not student-only; unlimited transactions. Confirm on the official site.

See the same products on Marketplace (Canada).

We list products on editorial merit; no link on this site earns us a commission. If that ever changes, we'll label it clearly. Advertised details as of September 2026. Confirm on the official site. WealthNutz does not guarantee rates and is not a bank or advisor.

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