Wealthsimple Chequing Account: A free alternative to traditional chequing accounts (+ $25 cash back with this offer)


Wealthsimple is an investment management company founded in 2014 in Canada. It offers five different financial services: Wealthsimple managed investing, Wealthsimple Chequing, Wealthsimple Trade (formerly self-directed investing), Wealthsimple Crypto and Wealthsimple Tax.
Wealthsimple has since launched Wealthsimple Family to manage household finances.
Their recently enhanced Wealthsimple Chequing product offers a hybrid between a chequing account, a savings account and a prepaid Mastercard with rewards. Let’s explore its features in detail.

The Wealthsimple chequing account is much more than just a bank account. It’s a comprehensive financial platform designed to simplify and optimize your money management. Whether you are managing your daily expenses, saving for short-term goals, or planning your long-term financial future, the Wealthsimple chequing account has everything you need.
For travellers, this account and its associated prepaid Mastercard represent an excellent option to avoid conversion fees on foreign currency expenses and to withdraw money from international ATMs at a lower cost.
With a Wealthsimple Chequing account, you can:
Plus, there’s no limit to the number of transactions you can make in a month. Deposits are insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) up to $1,000,000.
In addition to all the functions of a traditional chequing account, the Wealthsimple chequing account is also a high-interest savings account.
The interest rate offered in the Wealthsimple checking account varies between 1.25% and 2.25% annually. All clients receive a minimum of 1.25% interest, then may qualify for higher rates based on their assets under management across all their combined Wealthsimple accounts.
Here are the eligibility requirements for each Wealthsimple tier:
| Wealthsimple Level | Assets with Wealthsimple | Interest rate |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Less than $100,000 | 1,25 % |
| Benefit | Between $100,000 and $499,999 | 1,75 % |
| Generation | More than $500,000 | 2,25 % |
These current rates are not promotional. They will remain as such until Wealthsimple decides to change them, in accordance with the recommendations and policy interest rate of the Bank of Canada.
Interest is calculated daily and deposited monthly (on the first day of the month) into your Wealthsimple Chequing account.
Since 2023, the interest rate is increased by 0.5% (up to a total rate of 2.25%) if you choose the Wealthsimple chequing account as the account for your direct deposits.
The offer is also valid for clients who already use the Wealthsimple chequing account to receive their direct deposits. Upon the next deposit, Wealthsimple will check if you have received more than $2,000 in the last 30 days and will automatically adjust the interest rate.

When travelling outside Canada, the prepaid Mastercard offers valuable benefits.
With the Prepaid Mastercard from Wealthsimple, you can access the money available in your chequing account with Wealthsimple.
With this welcome offer, you can get $25 cash back as a new client of Wealthsimple. All you have to do is open an account and deposit at least $1 within 30 days.
You can invest your money in an investment account or the cryptocurrency of your choice. You also earn interest on the balance of your Wealthsimple chequing account! Wealthsimple Generation clients can get an interest rate of up to 2.25%.
Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees on any purchase made in a currency other than the Canadian dollar, and no annual fee.
The Wealthsimple Prepaid Mastercard does not charge any fees for ATM withdrawals worldwide. Fees will be charged by the ATM provider (usually around $3 CAD), but Wealthsimple automatically reimburses them, with no maximum amount and no limit on the number of reimbursements, for clients who have a chequing account.
Unlike the Visa Wise prepaid card, there is no monthly limit on free withdrawals. ATM withdrawal limits are set at the equivalent of CAD $3,000 per day and CAD $10,000 per week.
The prepaid Mastercard is accepted worldwide, anywhere Mastercard is accepted. However, restrictions apply in certain countries. You will not be able to use the card in these destinations for either withdrawals or transactions. The full list of excluded countries can be found here.
For these locations, the Wise card is a good alternative for ATM withdrawals. Since both Wise and the Wealthsimple Chequing account are free cards, I signed up for both. In addition, I carry both cards in my travel wallet (in addition to my Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card) in case I lose one or one of my accounts is blocked. The perfect trio for travel!
The features of the Wealthsimple chequing account are available in the mobile app and on the Wealthsimple website.
All account types with Wealthsimple are now unified in the same application with a single username and password. To open an account, you must be a Canadian resident, have reached the age of majority in your province and have a valid Canadian telephone number.
Do you have children who are minors? Once your chequing account is open, you can open a kids and teens account for them, with its own prepaid Visa card and parental controls. See our article on the Wealthsimple kids and teens account for the conditions and limits. It is not available in Quebec yet.
The process is fairly straightforward, and once you’ve created your Wealthsimple login and verified your e-mail address, you can open your first account. Verification of your phone number will also be required.



In summary, the Wealthsimple chequing account offers a complete and convenient financial solution, with a chequing account, a high-interest savings account, and a prepaid Mastercard.
It is a modern and fee-free option, ideal for all-in-one financial management, whether you travel or are looking to simplify your finances!
The Wealthsimple Chequing account is an all-in-one financial platform that combines the features of a chequing account, a prepaid Mastercard, a high-interest savings account, and an investment solution. The mobile app aims to simplify everyday money management.
The Wealthsimple Chequing account does not charge monthly account fees, annual fees for the prepaid Mastercard, or fees for ATM withdrawals. However, potential charges apply for additional services such as instant transfers to external accounts.
No, prepaid Mastercard cards are Mastercard Debit cards. Card membership won’t “hit” your credit report, and spending won’t be reported to the credit bureaus either.
No, the Wealthsimple Chequing account does not charge the usual 2.5% fee for foreign currency transactions. The amount will be converted into Canadian dollars at the Mastercard rate of the day.
Yes, you can use your prepaid Mastercard to withdraw cash at ATMs anywhere Mastercard is accepted. These transactions are free of charge on the Wealthsimple side, but the ATMs charge their own fees.
Yes, the Wealthsimple Chequing account offers Interac e-Transfers and instant transfers to other Wealthsimple Chequing accounts. Registration is required.
Clients can open joint chequing accounts through the Wealthsimple mobile app, with a limit of up to 8 joint accounts per person.
The Roundup feature was discontinued as of April 11, 2025
Yes, data security is a priority for Wealthsimple. Your personal and financial information is encrypted and protected according to the same security standards as all Canadian banks.
To open a Wealthsimple Chequing account, you must be a resident of Canada. You can use the Mastercard in most countries, except for the exceptions listed here.
For most everyday banking, yes. As of October 2026, the account receives payroll direct deposits, sends Interac e-Transfers, pays bills and handles pre-authorized debits. You can also deposit a Canadian cheque by photographing it in the app (amounts above your instant deposit limit become available after 3 to 8 business days), deposit cash for free at more than 5,300 Canada Post locations, and order a bank draft. However, Wealthsimple is not a bank and has no branches: your balance is held in trust with CDIC member institutions, which extends protection up to $1,000,000. USD cheques are not accepted. Keeping a no-fee account at a traditional bank remains a good backup.
Terms and conditions apply. For the most up-to-date product details, please visit Wealthsimple.com.
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