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Everyday account offer for newcomers to Canada

Our offer includes an everyday account (chequing account)1 with a free monthly plan2 for newcomers who meet eligibility requirements.

Outside Canada? Fill out the form to open an account from abroad.

Feel right at home with our offer

Whether you’ve come to study, work or settle in Canada, we can help you navigate your new financial journey with personalized products and services.

Our offer3 includes an everyday account (same thing as a chequing or bank account) and legal assistance service. You can also apply for a credit card or insurance and access our resources and advice.

Everyday account with a free monthly plan

If you’re eligible, get the benefits of an everyday account with the free Unlimited plan, which includes unlimited regular transactions.2

Use it to make deposits, payments, withdrawals or transfers.

Free legal assistance service

Speak with lawyers and notaries to get information on your rights and obligations with free legal phone assistance for the 2 years4 after you open your account.

Offer eligibility and duration

Once you open your account, you can access our legal assistance service4 for 2 years. The duration of the free monthly Unlimited plan depends on certain conditions.2

Youth offer

You’re eligible for this offer for as long as you meet either of these requirements:

  • You’re between 18 and 24
  • You’re between 25 and 30 and you’re a full-time student at a recognized university, college or vocational school in Canada5
Offer for newcomers

You’re eligible for this offer for 2 years if you’re 25 and over and you’re a permanent resident or a temporary resident with a work permit valid for more than 8 months, AND:

  • You’ve lived in Canada for 3 years or less
  • You’re not a Desjardins member or have been a member for less than 1 year

Opening an account from abroad

Follow these steps to open your account online if you're outside Canada.

  1. Make sure you have a valid passport and know your future address or that of your employer in Canada.
  2. Fill out the form to open an account from abroad.
  3. You’ll receive a welcome email within 24 to 48 hours following confirmation, with next steps and information about your account.
  4. You can make 1 money transfer for a fee before you leave6, 7 by following the instructions in the email and filling out the Incoming wire transfer (bilingual, PDF, 199 KB) form.
  5. Two weeks before you leave, follow the instructions in the email to book an appointment at a caisse or branch.
  6. At your appointment, we’ll finish opening your account. Bring the required documents (listed in your email) to your appointment to confirm your identity and pick up your debit card if you requested one.

Your account application is valid for 12 months. If you move to Canada after these 12 months, you’ll have to submit a new application.

Features of the Unlimited plan

Our offer includes the free Unlimited plan and several other perks.

  • Unlimited regular transactions on AccèsD, with the debit card (upon request), at an ATM8 and at the teller
  • Free Interac e-Transfers®, included with your unlimited regular transactions
  • Access to the AccuLink® ATM network
  • Free online account statements

Fees may apply on other services.

Personalized legal support

Use this free phone service to get information on your rights and obligations in Canada.4 Calls are unlimited and confidential.

You can open a file 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A legal advisor will call you within 2 business days to answer questions related to various legal matters, including:

  • Housing (leases, tenant rights, owner rights)
  • Labour (work contracts, accidents, wrongful dismissal)
  • Property (assets) and ownership (insurance, damage to movable or immovable property)
  • Consumer protection (purchase or sale contracts, financing, warranty)

Contact our legal assistance service at 514-875-4137  Desjardins legal assistance service for the Montreal area. This link opens your phone app. or at 1-877-435-6098  Desjardins legal assistance service elsewhere in Quebec and Canada. This link opens your phone app. and mention that you have the welcome offer for newcomers.9

Credit cards

Once you arrive in Canada, you can apply for a credit card10 to start building up your credit report.

Choose from one of our cards with no annual fee, such as the Cash Back Visa*, the Cash Back Mastercard® or the Bonus Visa*, or check out our other cards.

To apply, talk to your advisor. You can also call us at 1-800-224-7737 (1-800-CAISSES) Phone number for AccèsD customer service. This link opens your phone app..

Cash Back Visa and Cash Back Mastercard

  • No annual fee11
  • 20.9% interest rate on purchases and 21.9% interest rate on cash advances of up to $2,50012
  • Up to 2% cash back on purchases13
  • Travel insurance for trips of up to 3 days14

Bonus Visa

  • No annual fee11
  • 20.9% interest rate on purchases and 21.9% interest rate on cash advances12
  • Up to 2% of your purchases in BONUSDOLLARS15
  • Travel insurance for trips of up to 3 days14
See all our credit cards

Need insurance?

Start your life in Canada on solid ground by planning for the unexpected.

Visitors to Canada Insurance

Get healthcare and emergency medical services in case of accident or illness while you wait for provincial coverage or when you travel to Canada.

Learn more about Visitors to Canada Insurance.

Car insurance

This type of insurance is required in Canada if you drive a car or any other motor vehicle. Previous driving experience in your home country may be recognized and lower your premium when you request an auto insurance quote16.

Learn more about auto insurance.

Tenant insurance

If you're a tenant, your landlord's home insurance won't cover your belongings. Tenant insurance covers not only your belongings but also your relocation expenses and liability in the event of a loss.

Learn more about tenant insurance.

Travel insurance

Travel with peace of mind. Get coverage to avoid unexpected stressors that may affect or even derail your trip.

Learn more about travel insurance.
See all our insurance options

Perks that make a real difference

Transfer money before you arrive

Transfer funds to your new Desjardins account so you have access to your money as soon as you arrive in Canada. Fees for sending and receiving money may apply and depend on your financial institution.67

International money transfers

You can also make international money transfers of up to $25,000 per day 17 for a fee.

Support for every step of your Canadian journey

Our multilingual team is here to support you and give you the resources you need to make informed decisions.

Explore our resources and advice for newcomers to Canada.

Why choose us?

Expertise

We’re the largest cooperative financial group in North America18, with more than 7 million members and clients19. We offer a wealth of financial and insurance services.

Commitment

Become a member of a financial cooperative that shares your values. The well-being of our members and communities is what drives our actions.

Convenience

To better support our members and communities, visit one of the 200 caisses or branches and over 600 points of service in Quebec and Ontario.

Ranked one of the world’s best financial institutions by Forbes

Desjardins Group has been named one of the world’s best banks in 2025 External link. by Forbes. The global media company ranks the top financial institutions in 34 countries based on a consumer survey with over 50,000 participants.

Manage your account online

AccèsD makes it quick and easy to access your accounts and keep an eye on your finances. Use it anytime, anywhere.

Discover our online services

Download the Desjardins mobile services app

FAQ

What documents and information do I need to open an everyday account from abroad?

To open an account from abroad and benefit from the offer for newcomers, you need to have a valid passport and know your future address or that of your employer in Canada.

Can I make an international money transfer to my Desjardins account before I arrive in Canada?

Yes, you can transfer money to your Desjardins account before arriving in Canada. Note that you can only make 1 international money transfer before you arrive.

Fill out our Incoming wire transfer (bilingual, PDF, 170 KB) form with your new account information that you received by email and ask your financial institution in your home country to send a transfer.

Once an advisor confirms your identity at a point of service, you can start making transactions, including fund transfers.

Are there fees to make an international money transfer to my Desjardins account?

Yes, fees apply when sending and receiving transfers. They vary depending on the amount transferred.6,7

Contact your financial institution in your home country to find out which fees and exchange rates apply when transferring money to your Desjardins account. To learn more, visit our Service fees page.

I’m a full-time student. Can I benefit from this offer?

To be eligible, you must be between 25 and 30 and a full-time student at a recognized university, college or vocational school in Canada.

You must call us to confirm your full-time student status each year. You can do this starting on the first business day of the month following your birthday. You may be asked to provide proof of your status at any time.5

If you’re between 18 and 24, you’re automatically eligible and don’t need to confirm your status.

What will I have to pay when the free offer for newcomers ends?

Once the offer ends, the monthly fees for the Unlimited plan will apply. You can keep the Unlimited plan or choose another plan that better fits your needs. Your plan will remain free if you keep the monthly minimum required amount in your everyday account.

Your account statement is free online, but there may be a fee for a paper copy depending on your plan.

Open an everyday account

Online

It takes about 15 minutes to open an account.

Open an account for newcomers.

Outside Canada? Fill in the application to open an account from abroad.

AccuLink ® is a registered trademark owned by the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA), used under licence. Interac® and Interac e-Transfer ® are registered trademarks of Interac Corp. Used under licence. The Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec and Desjardins caisses in Quebec are financial services cooperatives governed by the laws of Quebec. Deposits made there are protected by the Autorité des marchés financiers.Offer subject to change or termination at any time without notice. Certain conditions apply.This offer is available upon request and is subject to change without notice at any time. Other terms and conditions may apply. Contact an advisor to confirm your eligibility for this offer.Certain restrictions apply. The legal assistance service is intended solely to provide general information. It does not include legal consultations, document review or case analysis. Matters related to tax law or those not governed by provincial or federal laws are excluded from the scope of this service.If you're between 25 and 30, you'll need to confirm your student status the month after your birthday every year. We may ask you to provide proof of enrollment at any time. The offer will be automatically withdrawn if you're no longer eligible.Applicable fees are calculated on the transferred amount received, or, as the case may be, on the amount in Canadian dollars resulting from the conversion of foreign currency. The conversion rate corresponds to market rates in effect at the time funds are received. Some correspondent banks may impose fees or additional charges, which will be deducted from the amount transferred.Account openings and money transfers from certain countries may be subject to strict regulations under Canadian and international economic sanctions.Additional fees of $1.50, $3.00 or $5.00 may apply to withdrawals made from non-Desjardins ATMs affiliated with the Interac and PLUS* networks. Some ATM operators also charge their own fees to use their machines. They must notify you via an on-screen message before processing the transaction, so you can choose to cancel the transaction. These fees are added to the amount of the withdrawal and are paid directly to the ATM operator. For more information, see the Service fees page.Certain conditions and restrictions apply. A legal advisor will call you back within 2 business days once you open your account. Advisors are available Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 8 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, except for statutory holidays.Credit cards are issued and credit limits are set based on the applicant's credit risk. Contact an advisor to confirm your eligibility for this offer. Some restrictions apply.You have 21 days from the date the monthly statement is issued to pay the full balance on your account without interest, except on cash advances.The minimum payment is 5% of the following: your outstanding balance, interest on purchases, monthly installments that were not paid by the due date for the previous period, regular purchases and cash advances from the current statement period, plus interest on cash advances. This amount will also include any other amounts due under your credit card contract. Here are some examples of applicable interest for a 30-day billing cycle: If the regular annual interest rate is 19.9% and your average daily outstanding balance is $100, you'd be charged $1.64 in interest. If it's $500, you'd be charged $8.18 in interest, and if it's $1,000 you'd be charged $16.36 in interest.Subject to credit approval. Maximum amount depends on your credit limit. Cash advance interest starts to accrue on the transaction date.Cash back is calculated as a percentage of the purchases made with the card. Merchandise returns, cash advances, equal payment cash advances, RRSP cash advances, promotional and regular cheques, in-store Accord D financing, interest charges, purchases of foreign currency, electronic funds transfers, money orders and any type of purchase made in a casino do not earn cash back.This coverage is offered by Desjardins Financial Security and applies to people ages 75 and under. Coverage applies to cardholders, their spouse and dependent children when travelling with the cardholder. Some exclusions and restrictions apply. See your policy for coverage details.BONUSDOLLARS are calculated as a percentage of the purchases made with the card. Merchandise returns, cash advances, equal payment cash advances, RRSP cash advances, promotional and regular cheques, in-store Accord D financing, interest charges, purchases of foreign currency, electronic funds transfers, money orders and any type of purchase made in a casino do not earn BONUSDOLLARS.Applicable to principal drivers. In Quebec only. Contact one of our damage insurance agents or advisors to verify your eligibility. Certain restrictions, exclusions and limitations may apply. Damage insurance products are underwritten and distributed by Desjardins General Insurance Inc., provider of auto, home and business insurance.Certain conditions, exclusions and limitations may apply.Source: Exploring The Cooperative Economy, World Cooperative Monitor, December 2022.Source: Social and Cooperative Responsibility Report 2023, Desjardins, December 2023.