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Everyday account welcome offer for newcomers to Canada

Our offer includes financial services for newcomers 25 and older. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can open an everyday account with a free monthly plan 1 .

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

Under 25, or under 30 and studying full-time? See our youth offer for international students and newcomers to Canada.

Our welcome offer for newcomers to Canada

Our welcome offer 2 includes an everyday account for your day-to-day transactions and gives you access to legal assistance 3 when you get here. You can also apply for a credit card or insurance. We're here to help.

Everyday account with a free monthly plan

Enjoy all the benefits of an everyday account with the free 1 Unlimited plan and get unlimited regular transactions for 2 years. Use it to make deposits, payments, withdrawals or transfers.

Legal assistance

Speak with lawyers and notaries to get information on your rights and obligations with free legal phone assistance for the 2 years 3 after you open your account.

Are you eligible?

Welcome offer eligibility requirements:

  • You're 25 or older
  • You're not a Desjardins member yet, or have been one for under a year
  • You've been living in Canada for 3 years or less
  • You're a permanent resident or a temporary resident with a work permit that extends beyond 8 months

If you're an international student between 25 and 30 and enrolled in full-time studies, you can open an account with our youth offer.
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 leave 4 , 5 by following the instructions in the email and filling out the Incoming wire transfer (bilingual, PDF, 199 KB) This link will open in a new window. form.
  5. Follow the instructions in the email to book an appointment at a caisse or branch 2 weeks before you leave.
  6. At your appointment, we'll finish opening your account. Bring the required documents to your appointment to confirm your identity and pick up your debit card if you requested one.

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 ATM 6 and at the teller
  • Free Interac e-Transfers®, included with your unlimited regular transactions
  • Access to the AccuLink® ATM network
  • Free online account statements

Service Fees may apply.

Credit cards

No credit history? Speak with an advisor about applying for a card to build credit in Canada 7 .

Learn more about credit reports

Need insurance?

Start your new life in Canada on solid ground and prepare 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 quote 8 .

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 insurance products

Perks that make a real difference

Transfer funds before you leave

Transfer funds to your new Desjardins account to access your money when you arrive in Canada. Fees for transferring and receiving money may vary according to your financial institution 4 5 .

International money transfers

You can also make international money transfers of up to $5,000 total per day 9 for a fee.

Here for you throughout this transition

Looking to make informed financial decisions for your move to Canada? We have resources and a multilingual team of experts to guide you.

Explore our resources for newcomers.

Why choose us?

Expertise

We’re the largest cooperative financial group in North America 10 , with more than 7 million members and clients. 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.

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 newcomer offer, you need to have a valid passport and know your future address or that of your employer in Canada.

Plan to arrive within 12 months of applying. If not, you'll have to fill out a new application.

 What fees will I need to pay when the newcomer offer ends?

Once the offer expires, your free legal assistance ends and you'll need to pay the monthly Unlimited plan fees in force.

You can keep the Unlimited plan or choose another plan that better meets your needs. You won't need to pay a monthly fee if you maintain a required minimum balance in your everyday account.

Open an everyday account

Online

It takes about 15 minutes to open an account.

Open an account for newcomers ages 25 and over

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. 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 conditions and restrictions apply. For more information, call 514-875-4137 This link will launch your default phone software. or 1-877-435-6098 This link will launch your default phone software. and mention that you have the Welcome Offer for Newcomers to Canada. 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. 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. 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.