Chequing account · Scotiabank
Scotiabank Preferred Package: fees and true cost
Scotiabank’s Preferred Package charges $16.95/mo, or $0 with a $4,000 minimum balance, with unlimited transactions. For our “Everyday” example that comes to $203 a year, #10 of 33 chequing accounts offered nationwide.
CDICOffered in all ten provinces
Fees retrieved November 1, 2026
Mitey tallies a year of Scotiabank’s Preferred Package: $203 for the Everyday profile.
How much does Preferred Package from Scotiabank cost a year?
For a typical household (43 transactions and a $1,000 low balance a month), Preferred Package costs $203 a year, #10 of 33 chequing accounts offered nationwide. The $16.95 monthly fee is waived with a $4,000 minimum balance. Cheaper for the same banking: Personal Account at EQ Bank ($0). Eligible deposits are insured by CDIC up to $100,000 per category.
Who does Scotiabank Preferred Package suit?
- Best fit: the Everyday profile (household account, a few e-transfers), where it ranks #10 of 33 chequing accounts offered nationwide. It costs most for the Branch and cheques profile: $230 a year.
- Allowance: unlimited everyday transactions, so heavier use doesn’t add fees.
- Waiver or fee? Keeping $4,000 waives the $16.95 fee ($203 a year). The same money at 3% (30 Day Notice Savings Account, EQ Bank) would earn about $120 a year, so holding the balance is the cheaper way to run this account.
- Versus the cheapest: for everyday use it costs $203 a year more than Personal Account (EQ Bank), $1,017 over five years.
What would it cost you in a year?
| Usage | Fees a year | Why | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Mostly card and app, small balance | $203 | Monthly fee $16.95 | 22 of 33 |
| Everyday Household account, a few e-Transfers | $203 | Monthly fee $16.95 | 10 of 33 |
| Heavy Lots of card, bill and e-Transfer payments | $227 | Monthly fee $16.95 | 11 of 33 |
| Branch and cheques Teller visits, cheques, paper statement | $230 | Monthly fee $16.95 | 15 of 26 |
Try your own numbers in the true-cost finder. Is keeping $4,000 in the account worth it? Run it in the account-fee calculator.
Every fee FCAC lists for this account
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $16.95/mo, or $0 with a $4,000 minimum balance |
| Included transactions | Unlimited |
| Debit purchase in Canada (beyond included) | No extra fee |
| Online or mobile bill payment | No extra fee |
| Interac e-Transfer | No extra fee |
| Online transfer between your accounts | No extra fee |
| Own-bank ATM withdrawal | No extra fee |
| Withdrawal at another institution’s ATM | $2.00 |
| ATM withdrawal in the United States | $3.00 |
| ATM withdrawal in other countries | $5.00 |
| Debit purchase in the United States | No extra fee |
| In-branch withdrawal | No extra fee |
| Bill payment in branch | No extra fee |
| Cheque (as a payment) | No extra fee |
| Mailed monthly statement | $2.25 |
| Non-sufficient funds (NSF) | $10.00 |
| Overdraft protection, monthly | $5.00 |
| Overdraft protection, per use | $5.00 |
| Overdraft interest | 21% a year |
Notes from the institution
Stop-payment fee: Assisted: $30.00 Self-Serve: $0.00 Avoid fees by making stop payments directly through online banking or the Scotia app. Ongoing $40 annual fee rebate (on eligible credit cards)
Lower prices for some customers
| Who | Monthly fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seniors' Discount, 60 and older ($4.00 off $16.95) | $12.95 | Scotiabank |
| Preferred Package for Students and Youth: under 25, or full-time post-secondary students 25+ (Canada/U.S.) | No monthly fee | Scotiabank |
Scotiabank rebates the access fee on 1 other-bank ATM withdrawal a month; the yearly cost includes that rebate.
Is the money protected?
CDIC member. Eligible deposits are covered up to $100,000 per category at each CDIC member — see the deposit safety tool.
Cheaper for everyday use, at other institutions
- Personal Account (EQ Bank) — $0 a year
- Wealthsimple Chequing (Wealthsimple) — $0 a year
- Neo Chequing account (Essentials) (Neo Financial) — $0 a year
Other chequing accounts at Scotiabank
- Basic Bank Account — $3.95/mo, no balance waiver
- Basic Plus Bank Account — $11.95/mo, or $0 with a $3,000 minimum balance
- Preferred Package for Students and Youth — No monthly fee
- Ultimate Package — $30.95/mo, or $0 with a $6,000 minimum balance
Source: FCAC Account Comparison Tool (data submitted by the institution), retrieved November 1, 2026 · Scotiabank’s product page
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