Canadian banks & card issuers
28 institutions and 131 products, from the Big Five to online banks, credit unions and fintechs. Pick one to see its full lineup with fees, reward rates and approval odds side by side.
Unusual in being both an issuer and a payment network. Membership Rewards is among the most valuable Canadian currencies thanks to 1:1 transfers to Aeroplan, though acceptance is narrower than Visa or Mastercard.
Canada's oldest bank. BMO cards centre on the BMO Rewards program and the eclipse family, which earns strong multipliers on everyday categories.
A smaller Canadian issuer known for cards with no foreign transaction fees and a built-in merchant offer network.
Issuer of the Triangle card family, built around Canadian Tire Money earned across the Triangle Rewards network.
One of Canada's Big Five banks. Its card lineup is built around the Aventura travel points program and the Dividend cash-back family, with a broad range of no-fee and student options.
Quebec's largest financial cooperative, and the dominant issuer in that province. Its BONUSDOLLARS program works as a straightforward cash-equivalent currency.
A Canadian trust company best known for secured cards aimed at building or rebuilding credit, and for no-foreign-transaction-fee options.
A Quebec-based bank serving both retail and commercial customers.
A TD-owned issuer specialising in no-fee and balance-transfer cards, often with among the lowest promotional transfer rates in Canada.
Ontario's largest credit union, offering member-owned alternatives to the big banks.
Quebec-headquartered Big Six bank with a strong presence in Eastern Canada.
A Canadian fintech offering cashback-focused cards with tiered category rates and no traditional branch network.
Loblaw's banking arm. Cards earn PC Optimum points, redeemable at Loblaws-family grocery and pharmacy stores.
Canada's largest bank by assets. Its Avion Rewards program is one of the more flexible in Canada, transferring to Aeroplan and British Airways Avios.
The banking arm of Rogers Communications, focused on cashback cards with elevated returns on U.S.-dollar purchases.
Home of the Scene+ program, which is unusually simple: points are worth a flat cent each whether you redeem for groceries, travel or statement credits. Several Scotiabank cards also waive foreign transaction fees.
CIBC's online bank, offering no-fee everyday banking and a straightforward cashback card.
Scotiabank's online bank. Its Money-Back card is notable for letting you choose your own bonus cashback categories.
Big Five bank whose cards split between the Aeroplan lineup and TD Rewards, a fixed-value program redeemed through Expedia for TD.
A Canadian fintech better known for investing, offering a card tied to its broader account ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
Who are Canada's Big Five banks?
RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC. Together they hold the large majority of Canadian banking assets, and each runs its own credit card lineup and rewards program. National Bank is often added as a sixth.
Are online banks safe in Canada?
Yes, provided the institution is a CDIC member: deposits are insured up to $100,000 per category per member. Many online banks are subsidiaries of larger institutions: Tangerine is owned by Scotiabank and Simplii by CIBC, for example.
Should I keep all my accounts at one bank?
Rarely worth it. Loyalty gets you very little in Canadian banking, and the best chequing account, best savings rate and best credit card are almost never at the same institution. The main argument for consolidating is a relationship-balance fee waiver, which is worth checking against what that idle money could earn elsewhere.
Compare across banks, not within one
The best card for your spending is rarely at the bank you already use. Run your numbers through the card finder, or compare savings rates and chequing fees across every institution at once.