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Best Banks for Newcomers to Quebec?

mtlexplorer

Full Member
Jun 6, 2016
40
0
45
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Category........
QSW
Visa Office......
London
NOC Code......
2171
App. Filed.......
07-10-2011
Doc's Request.
04-04-2015
Nomination.....
08-02-2016
AOR Received.
08-02-2016
IELTS Request
Waivered
File Transfer...
25-05-2016
Med's Request
04-12-2016
Med's Done....
15-12-2016
Interview........
NR
Passport Req..
04-03-2017
VISA ISSUED...
17-03-2017
LANDED..........
29-09-2017
Dear Folks,

Which are the best banks for New Comers to Quebec?
Also, How Quickly are the Credits Cards Processed?

Regards,
 

sunnymks

Champion Member
Mar 24, 2012
1,289
334

APPNOV2014NY

VIP Member
Nov 21, 2014
3,005
1,099
I had used Scotia mostly because Scotia in Canada had partnership with BOFA in USA and I was able to withdraw cash from my BOFA account using Scotia's ATM without any surcharge. I was satisfied with their StartRight program ( google it) except that I regret taking their super tiny but free for first year locker box.

Checked my first credit card statement from Scotia. I entered Canada on 15th Jan and went to bank 1-2 days later for the first time. My first Credit Card transaction was on 5th Feb. So I had my Credit Card in hand in approximately 3 weeks. Also, please note that Bank will give you debit card in first visit ( or may be in 1-2 days) but Credit card will arrive via mail to your home address in couple of weeks.
 

mtlexplorer

Full Member
Jun 6, 2016
40
0
45
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Category........
QSW
Visa Office......
London
NOC Code......
2171
App. Filed.......
07-10-2011
Doc's Request.
04-04-2015
Nomination.....
08-02-2016
AOR Received.
08-02-2016
IELTS Request
Waivered
File Transfer...
25-05-2016
Med's Request
04-12-2016
Med's Done....
15-12-2016
Interview........
NR
Passport Req..
04-03-2017
VISA ISSUED...
17-03-2017
LANDED..........
29-09-2017
Folks,
What about National Bank? Do you think it is any good. They are giving a 3 Year No Fee Offer (2nd, 3rd Year Some Conditions).
Cohen Law Firm Recommends this Bank. What do you guys think?
 

mtlexplorer

Full Member
Jun 6, 2016
40
0
45
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Category........
QSW
Visa Office......
London
NOC Code......
2171
App. Filed.......
07-10-2011
Doc's Request.
04-04-2015
Nomination.....
08-02-2016
AOR Received.
08-02-2016
IELTS Request
Waivered
File Transfer...
25-05-2016
Med's Request
04-12-2016
Med's Done....
15-12-2016
Interview........
NR
Passport Req..
04-03-2017
VISA ISSUED...
17-03-2017
LANDED..........
29-09-2017

APPNOV2014NY

VIP Member
Nov 21, 2014
3,005
1,099
Dear,

Click on the link below:
https://www.nbc.ca/forms/account/newcomers.html
and then click on the Overview of Newcomers Offer.
This looks better than startRight program from Scotia. Please wait for response form others. Also please post in other forums.

Scotia waives off monthly fees only if minimum balance is maintained in Checking account. Though they gave me $100 credit after 3 months of banking. Unable to recall details. It was 2.5 years back. :)

Wondering if I can new comer account again after landing :)
 

poisonapple

Hero Member
Nov 3, 2014
953
494
Montreal
Category........
QSW
Visa Office......
Sydney/Ottawa
NOC Code......
2171
App. Filed.......
14-11-2016
AOR Received.
15-02-2017
Med's Done....
20-04-2017
Passport Req..
.....

POLYNING

Hero Member
Mar 7, 2016
386
129
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
I suggest the RBC, for the master card, maybe Cashback card. YOU can get 1% cash back no matter where you spend the money on the master card.
 

poisonapple

Hero Member
Nov 3, 2014
953
494
Montreal
Category........
QSW
Visa Office......
Sydney/Ottawa
NOC Code......
2171
App. Filed.......
14-11-2016
AOR Received.
15-02-2017
Med's Done....
20-04-2017
Passport Req..
.....
I suggest the RBC, for the master card, maybe Cashback card. YOU can get 1% cash back no matter where you spend the money on the master card.
The problem is most of the institutions in Montreal (not sure if it is same across canada) don't accept MasterCard ..they want to go with Visa or Debit Card...
 

cherti

Hero Member
Aug 25, 2015
426
167
Category........
QSW
In Montreal , Visa is accepted everywhere. Not Mastercard. Cannot charge STM metro cards online with Mastercard for example. So go with a bank which gives visa debit card. Tangerine is good with no monthly fees, but when it comes to other services or getting a statement and in future getting a loan etc, I don't think Tangerine is a good partner in the long run. Many banks offer new immigrant packages like no fees for 1 year or so. You have to maintain a minimum balance in your account to be exempted from monthly fees after the fee free period.

Credit Cards require good history. New comers will not get credit cards and don't bother applying for it as it will impact your history. Some banks might give it based on case by case basis, like if you can impress the banking executive with a lot of cash in hand.
There is a CapitalOne secured card for newcomers who do not have any history.

In my opinion TD bank has many ATMs everywhere and they give Visa debit card. They are also open late into the evening so that you can bank after your office hours.
So my advice would be TD Bank new immigrant package + Capital One Secured Card or TD Bank's

https://www.tdcanadatrust.com/planning/life-events/new-to-canada/index.jsp

Now if you really really have plans to stay put in Quebec, there are credit unions, one of the major one is Desjardins and they give the cheapest mortgage etc.
 
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mtlexplorer

Full Member
Jun 6, 2016
40
0
45
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Category........
QSW
Visa Office......
London
NOC Code......
2171
App. Filed.......
07-10-2011
Doc's Request.
04-04-2015
Nomination.....
08-02-2016
AOR Received.
08-02-2016
IELTS Request
Waivered
File Transfer...
25-05-2016
Med's Request
04-12-2016
Med's Done....
15-12-2016
Interview........
NR
Passport Req..
04-03-2017
VISA ISSUED...
17-03-2017
LANDED..........
29-09-2017
In Montreal , Visa is accepted everywhere. Not Mastercard. Cannot charge STM metro cards online with Mastercard for example. So go with a bank which gives visa debit card. Tangerine is good with no monthly fees, but when it comes to other services or getting a statement and in future getting a loan etc, I don't think Tangerine is a good partner in the long run. Many banks offer new immigrant packages like no fees for 1 year or so. You have to maintain a minimum balance in your account to be exempted from monthly fees after the fee free period.

Credit Cards require good history. New comers will not get credit cards and don't bother applying for it as it will impact your history. Some banks might give it based on case by case basis, like if you can impress the banking executive with a lot of cash in hand.
There is a CapitalOne secured card for newcomers who do not have any history.

In my opinion TD bank has many ATMs everywhere and they give Visa debit card. They are also open late into the evening so that you can bank after your office hours.
So my advice would be TD Bank new immigrant package + Capital One Secured Card or TD Bank's

https://www.tdcanadatrust.com/planning/life-events/new-to-canada/index.jsp

Now if you really really have plans to stay put in Quebec, there are credit unions, one of the major one is Desjardins and they give the cheapest mortgage etc.
Dear Folks,

Thanks for all the info you'll are putting on here. Just curious, If Most Institutions are not accepting MasterCard, then why are Banks
such as BMO, and others offering MASTER and not VISA.

Also, does TD Offer Car Financing? Just in Case. Your suggestion for TD Bank sounds like good advice.

Regards,
 

cherti

Hero Member
Aug 25, 2015
426
167
Category........
QSW
Dear Folks,

Thanks for all the info you'll are putting on here. Just curious, If Most Institutions are not accepting MasterCard, then why are Banks
such as BMO, and others offering MASTER and not VISA.

Also, does TD Offer Car Financing? Just in Case. Your suggestion for TD Bank sounds like good advice.

Regards,
Its the contracts. The contracts will run long for many years. So BMO might have had a contract with MasterCard a very long time ago. Similar was AMEX + Costco (not anymore). The acceptance goes like this - Cash/Debit > Visa > MC > AMEX . Most immigrant grocery store prefers Cash (wink, wink).

NB: I forgot to mention that BMO's mobile app do not have photo check deposit option. The mobile check deposit will be useful if your employer pays in check. You don't have to go to an ATM to deposit the check in the brutal winters.

Car financing in TD, I can't comment on that, because I haven't thought about buying a car yet. In Montreal, car is more of a liability than a convenience. Main reasons being parking tickets, very badly maintained roads, unscientific road planning, finding a parking spot, very bad drivers, shovelling snow etc.

As an exercise, see the parking rules below and figure out when you can park.

 

mtlexplorer

Full Member
Jun 6, 2016
40
0
45
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Category........
QSW
Visa Office......
London
NOC Code......
2171
App. Filed.......
07-10-2011
Doc's Request.
04-04-2015
Nomination.....
08-02-2016
AOR Received.
08-02-2016
IELTS Request
Waivered
File Transfer...
25-05-2016
Med's Request
04-12-2016
Med's Done....
15-12-2016
Interview........
NR
Passport Req..
04-03-2017
VISA ISSUED...
17-03-2017
LANDED..........
29-09-2017
Oh Those Signboards look like an Immigration Project too. :-!

What is so good about Quebec that we are moving there then?