I recently changed banks. I cancelled my CIBC chequing account. I have had it since 2007 when I was…read moreemployed there. You do get some good banking perks when you are working for CIBC. However, once you depart the institution, most of those perks go away. I was paying the standard $4 monthly fee for everyday transactions. I decided to cancel this account and look for something better. Recently, I came across an ad for Equitable (EQ) bank. Dan and Eugene Levy were talking about how EQ Bank offers no fees and high interest on everyday banking. Cool! I signed up online. The process was straightforward to open a chequing account. You do need to order a bank card, which acts like a loadable prepaid MasterCard. You have the option of loading funds automatically when your balance is running low or manually loading funds from your chequing account. It took just over a week for my card to arrive in the mail. I activated it online. I did my first transaction when I fetched lunch at work. I inserted my card in the payment machine and it was activated without entering a PIN. What makes EQ Bank appealing is going to any ATM in Canada to withdraw funds. You may get a transaction fee at first. However, a few days later, this fee gets refunded by the bank. It's neat. There are no fees. There is no overdraft. You don't get dinged for non-sufficient funds fees. It's different and refreshing. My chequing account has an interest rate of 2%. Not too shabby. For savings, I have two accounts: - A regular tax-free savings account (TFSA) that earns 2.5% interest - A notice savings account that earns 3.5% interest The notice savings account yields higher interest. If I do need to withdraw money from it, it takes ten days for the funds to be released. The idea is to save your money with high interest and not have the need to take it out often. There's another level. If you want thirty days for your funds to be released, the interest rate is at 3.65%. You can open two notice savings accounts with different notice periods. I have yet to do it. I'm good with two savings accounts! There are other products that EQ Bank offers: - First home savings account - GICs - US dollar account - EQ Bank RSP I made the change to have my pay deposited to my EQ chequing account. I did the change on a Monday and my funds were in my chequing account on Wednesday night just before 10 pm. My payday is every other Thursday, so it was early. No complaints! To add funds, you can either link an external account to your EQ chequing account or send an Interac e-Transfer. The former takes a lot longer. I recommend the latter, which ranges for instantly to thirty minutes, depending on your external bank. All of my Interac e-Transfers have been immediately. I have yet to deposit a cheque. It's a question of taking a photo through the EQ Bank app. The app has worked well for me thus far. I like EQ Bank. I'm happy that I made the switch. (416)

EQ Bank has been my main squeeze for GICs, I came across EQ a couple years ago after looking at GIC…read morerates online. They are not the highest rate, but seems to be more well-known than other online-only banks. I use EQ specifically to rollover/ladder my GICs with extra savings that I might need in a 6-12 month period (emergency funds) instead of the big banks' terrible "high-interest savings" rates. I also have my FHSA accounts here for that sweet GIC interest so that it makes some money in case I need it within the next 6 to 12 months for a down payment. I don't like the idea of having FHSA funds in the market since the whole point is to have it available at a predictable time/amount. So far, my only gripe with EQ (like most online only banks) is their delays on posting deposits as well as withdrawals. Just be aware of their 5 business days EFT delays, expect longer than shorter scenarios... I've never used EQ's referral before, but apparently its $20 to the party opening an account with a min of $100 for 30 days and the referrer also gets $20 up to a lifetime limit of $500. I'll post an update with any details if it ever gets claimed. My Referral Code: join.eqbank.ca/?code=KELVIN6372

A single location credit union but making use of electronics it has a broad reach…read more It originated as a financial tool for the Toronto Finnish community. As I understand it they welcome locals in the area to also join currently. They are capable of transacting business in English or in Finnish. The services rival the big banks in their breath.

I have had an account with TD for my entire life. Big mistake, BIG, HUGE!!!…read moreI rarely go to this particular branch because of the terrible experience I have had with each visit. Firstly, the "Security guard" was listening to music in her headphones and dancing in the window and not being attentive to her surroundings. That didn't make me feel more secure. Secondly, I was there to deposit a CERTIFIED cheque from another branch of TD Bank. After waiting for it to be approved by a manager, I was asked what the cheque was for! That's personal and of no relevance to the transaction...it is a CERTIFIED CHEQUE from TD Bank! Full stop, we cannot proceed further unless I provide an answer. Unbelievable!! Then I was told that there would be a 5 business day waiting period. Really?!?!! I asked why and was told that it needs to be cleared. Again, it is a CERTIFIED CHEQUE from within their own company! It had already been cleared. All this, yet they were happy to cash a stolen cheque drawn on my account without any questions or even verifying the signature on it, which clearly was not mine, and scolded ME for apparently letting someone access my chequebook (they broke into my house, then my locked desk drawer to get to the chequebook). THEY CASHED A FRAUDULENT CHEQUE DRAWN FROM MY ACCOUNT AND TRIED TO BLAME ME!!! I have had enough of this shocking BS with TD Bank and I am closing all of my accounts and moving my wealth to a better bank.

TD bank is the lowest of the low. Too many issues to list here; the latest is I cannot pay my GST…read morethrough my business account. The level of incompetence, and level of service is so egregious that it must be deliberate. Back in the day I switched banks when they did something really stupid. but now it's difficult with RRSPs, investment accounts, and a business account which I can only change after my contract is finished. But despite the difficulty, it will be worth having much less aggravation, I don't expect the bank I switch to, to be perfect, but they will have such a low bar to clear, that even poor customer service will be an improvement

Whenever I need forex I go here, even if it's somewhat inconvenient. They always have better rates…read morethan the banks. If you are looking for "rarer" currencies than CAD, USD, EUR, GBP, etc. call ahead and let them know what you're looking for, and the amount. If they don't already have it on hand, they'll usually be able to get it for you in 4-6 hours.

Confirmed a lower rate than the bank. Only cash to cash so had to go to the bank machine, otherwise…read morea smooth and pleasant transaction.

There is no more currency exchange here... Too bad because this was our go to place for that.read more

Peiter and his team are great to work with. Fast, efficient and trusted. Highly recommend this…read morecompany.

This is one of the better Rbc branches. Even during busy times, they have been fast and efficient…read morein keeping the flow of traffic moving. Best part was to see the Manager helping around at the teller counters. Keep up the good work.

Seeing that the last review was done in 2014 and it was only one star I thought I'd share my…read moreexperience. We've only opened up an account with RBC within the last month so they have a policy that when if you have a new account, the funds for a payroll check are not suppose to be available the same day you deposit it. However, my hubby's employer also banks with RBC so after lengthy discussions with tellers from different branches and often consultations with the branch managers AND providing additional ID besides our bank card, we've been able to cash our checks. Another inconvenience we've encountered at other branches is they would run out of smaller bills WHAT?! You're a bank, you're not suppose to run out of small bills. It was a Tuesday morning and we happened to be having breakfast on Queen Street East so this branch was the closest to us. Hubby and I walked in expecting a line up and a long drawn out process so I was looking for a place to sit and get comfy. There was no line up at all. We were greeted by a friendly teller who cashed our check and gave us small bills and coins without any fuss. No providing extra ID, no calling the manager, no "I'm sorry I can't accommodate your request". Beautiful looking branch inside and out, no line up on a Tuesday morning, fast and efficient teller definitely a branch we're returning to.

I have dealt with this branch (my home Branch) for some 47 years or so, both for personal and for…read morebusiness needs. While there have been a few occasions (mostly my own doing) that have caused me consternation I remain a client (and a large RBC shareholder), because the business is well run(for a bank) and this branch in particular, works for me. I do not go there much personally now as we have moved downtown so I do most of my day to day business with an RBC downtown branch(or online). I can say that I still know some of the staff (they do move on) and my long time advisor there. She has always been great to deal with, can figure out how to get a 'thing' done, and will tell me directly when she can not. RBC interest rates are not great, but buy RBC stock, it is quite liquid and pays 4% dividends. I will name this Advisor because for for going on 20 years she has given me and others great, and constantly excellent service. Go see Joanne.....

My wife and I have had the good fortune of banking with BCU for over twenty years. Service - Simply…read moreexcellent ! Hospitality - Superb ! Truly a pleasant and welcoming banking environment brought about by the hard working , friendly and always courteous members of the BCU team. ....... Ihor Ilnyckyj, Member ( happy and grateful for the services provided by all workers of BCU - Thanks so much ! Stay well ! )

You don't have to be Ukrainian to use Buduchnist, but it helps. (Especially since, as far as I can…read moretell, the tellers consist entirely of Ukrainian women, and some can be a bit surly.) They support local Ukrainian organizations and schools, incidentally. While the credit union does most of the stuff you can get at a bank, you'll have to pay a service fee to use their ATM card elsewhere, since there aren't multiple branches around town. They seem to get bigger and bigger, too: now Buduchnist's financial services are swallowing up the old West Arka next door. Unlike the big banks, their growth comes back to the members, even if the folksy, grassroots feeling is lost in the process.