Banks in Canada 2026: a ranking built on verified facts
A ranking of banks in Canada that serve private customers, built only on verifiable facts: since when the bank has been licensed or operating, whether its deposits are insured by CDIC or a provincial scheme, whether it holds its own current rating from a recognised agency, whether it publishes reports, whether you can open an account remotely, and whether its tariffs and complaints procedure, including the external ombudsman, are published. Every fact links to its source with the date we checked it. We do not compare the size of rates or fees. This is not financial advice. Places are not for sale.
| # | Company | Who it serves | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIBC | 96 | 1867 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments |
| 2 | Desjardins | 96 | 1900 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments |
| 3 | Scotiabank | 93 | 1832 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments |
| 4 | EQ Bank | 91 | 1970 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments |
| 5 | TD Canada Trust | 89 | 1855 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Instant payments |
| 6 | National Bank of Canada | 86 | 1859 | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating Account online Instant payments |
| 7 | RBC Royal Bank | 84 | Not verified | Yes | Yes | Deposit protection Agency rating App Account online Instant payments |
| 8 | Tangerine | 78 | 1997 | Yes | Not verified | Deposit protection App Account online Instant payments 24/7 |
| 9 | ATB Financial | 71 | 1938 | Yes | Not verified | Deposit protection App Instant payments |
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- Licensed since
- 1867
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 100% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1900
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 96% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1832
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 93% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1970
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 97% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1855
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 89% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1859
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
Details Visit site ↗ 90% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- Not verified
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Yes
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Holds its own current rating from a recognised agency
- Publishes annual reports
Details Visit site ↗ 84% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1997
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Not verified
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Has a mobile app
Cons
- No annual report found on the website
Details Visit site ↗ 89% backed by facts
-
- Licensed since
- 1938
- Deposit protection
- Yes
- Agency rating
- Not verified
Pros
- Wide range of products for private customers
- Long track record as a licensed bank
- Member of a deposit protection scheme
- Publishes annual reports
Details Visit site ↗ 71% backed by facts
How we calculate the Score
40%
Safety
The year the bank was licensed (from the central bank's register or, where the register shows no date, from the official website), membership of a deposit protection scheme, a current rating of the bank itself from a recognised agency (a parent group's rating does not count) and published annual reports.
25%
Digital services
Whether there is a mobile app, whether a new customer can join without visiting a branch, whether the bank supports the national instant payment system, and whether 24/7 support with a human agent is available.
15%
Products
How many of six main retail lines the bank offers: current account, savings or deposits, cards, consumer loans, mortgages and investments.
20%
Transparency
Whether tariffs and current deposit rates are published without logging in (we count the fact of publication, not the level of the rate), whether the complaints procedure is described, and how many branches the bank has in the country.
How to choose a bank
Check the licence in the register
Only banks licensed by the central bank or supervisor may take deposits. Find the bank in the register on the regulator's website and make sure the licence is valid: the National Bank in Belarus, the Bank of Russia, ARDFM in Kazakhstan, KNF in Poland, BaFin in Germany.
Find out whether your money is protected
Check whether the bank belongs to a deposit protection scheme, which accounts it covers and what the compensation limit is. These are national rules and can change, so read them on the scheme's own website.
Read the tariffs, not the advert
The cost of an account is set by the contract and the price list: maintenance fees, cash withdrawals, transfers, conditions for a free plan. Make sure the document is current and keep a copy of the terms you signed up to.
Compare rates on the day you decide
Deposit and loan rates change often, so we do not publish them. Look up the rate on the bank's official website on the day you apply, and read the terms: duration, top-ups, early withdrawal, effective rate.
Think about how you will use the bank
If you need cash and face-to-face help, look at branches near you; if not, look at the app and support. Your account in one bank does not have to be your only one.
Protect access to your account
Install the app only from a link on the bank's official website, check the site's address, and never share codes from messages. Bank staff do not ask for them on the phone.
Know where to complain
First file a written complaint with the bank and keep its reference number. If the answer does not satisfy you, go to the financial ombudsman where one exists or to the supervisor, then to court. The route is usually published on the bank's website.
Frequently asked questions
Which bank is the best?
The bank in first place has the highest Score under our open methodology. That is not advice: look at what matters to you. If stability matters, look at the Safety factor; if convenience matters, look at Digital services. Always read the contract and tariffs for the specific account.
Where does your data come from?
From the registers of central banks and supervisors (National Bank of Belarus, Bank of Russia, ARDFM and the National Bank of Kazakhstan, KNF in Poland, the Bundesbank in Germany), from the lists of deposit protection schemes and from banks' official websites. Every fact links to the page and shows the date we checked it.
Why are there no deposit or loan rates in the ranking?
Rates change often and depend on the amount and term, so an outdated number could mislead. We only record whether the bank publishes its rates, and re-check that every 60 days. For the current rate, see the bank's website.
Why don't you use reviews and media rankings?
Reviews and media rankings cannot be reliably verified, and the number of complaints depends on a bank's size. We count an agency rating only as a yes or no, without comparing grades, and only if it is current and belongs to the bank itself.
Does the ranking guarantee my money is safe?
No. The ranking shows how openly a bank operates and which services it offers. It does not assess a bank's financial condition or predict the future. Deposit protection is set by the law and the guarantee scheme of your country.
Can a place in the ranking be bought?
No. The Score uses one formula for all banks. Paid placements, if they ever appear, will be a separate block marked as advertising and will not affect the Score.