EQ Bank: Our Review of Their Financial Products

Updated Aug 22, 2025
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Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève Leclerc Marie-Ève Leclerc
Marie-Ève, Web Director at Milesopedia, is an expert in budget travel and a slow travel enthusiast. Specializing in Aeroplan, Scene+, and Marriott Bonvoy programs, she spends nearly six months a year abroad, making travel her way of life. Constantly seeking the best waves to surf, excellent coffee, and strategies to extend her travels, she is often found in coworking spaces with fellow digital nomads or by the sea, watching the sunset.
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EQ Bank
To the point EQ Bank is an Equitable Banking entity. Get an expert’s opinion on the financial products offered by EQ Bank, including their savings accounts and Mastercard card.

EQ Bank is part of Equitable Bank, an independent financial institution with over 50 years’ experience. It has no physical headquarters, and all its financial activities are carried out online. By saving on branch-related expenses, EQ Bank is able to offer a variety of financial products with excellent interest rates to its customers. In this article, we’ll explore the main financial products offered by EQ Bank, including its Personal Account, savings accounts (TFSA, RRSP, GIC), and its Mastercard.

EQ Bank Financial Products

EQ Bank offers a wide range of financial products: chequing accounts (personal account), joint accounts, savings accounts, Mastercard, etc. In addition, all of its deposit products are eligible for CDIC deposit insurance.

EQ Bank Review - Personal Account

The Personal Account from EQ Bank (formerly known as Savings Plus Account) is a no-fee account that offers a generous interest rate of up to 2.75%* to all customers on everyday banking services:

  • 1.00% interest on everyday banking services;
  • Up to 2.75% interest when you set up direct deposit of $2,000 or more per month for your pay.

This account also offers several free features, such as:

  • Interac transfers;
  • Daily operations;
  • Bill payments;
  • Deposits and withdrawals.

Finally, there is no minimum balance required for this type of account.

EQ Bank Review - Joint Account

Discover EQ Bank’s Joint Account and get an interest rate of up to 2.75% with no monthly fees.

Enjoy free transactions, including bill payments and Interac transfers, with no minimum balance required. Your deposits are protected by CDIC deposit insurance up to $100,000.

Register online in just a few minutes and start saving together.

EQ Bank Review - TFSA Savings Account

Maximize your savings with the EQ Bank TFSA Savings Account. Enjoy a 1.50% interest rate tax-free, with no monthly fees.

Benefit from free, flexible withdrawals and easy recurring contributions from your current account.

All deposits are protected by SADC up to $100,000.

EQ Bank Review - RRSP Savings Account

Unfortunately, RRSP Savings Accounts and RRSP GICs are not currently available in Quebec.

Maximize your retirement savings with the EQ Bank RSP Savings Account.

Enjoy a high interest rate with no monthly fees and no minimum balance required.

Manage your account easily online and benefit from SADC deposit insurance.

EQ Bank Review - GIC Savings Account

Unfortunately, RRSP GICs are not currently available at Quebec. But other GICs are available in Quebec.

EQ Bank offers a wide variety of short- and long-term GICs (Guaranteed Investment Certificates) for both non-registered and registered accounts (TFSAs, RRSPs, etc.). Of course, deposits are eligible for Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) protection.

EQ Bank Review - Notice Savings Account

Unfortunately, the notice savings account is not currently available in Quebec.

Maximize your savings with the EQ Bank Notice Savings Account.

Enjoy an interest rate of up to 2.50% with no monthly fees or minimum balance required.

Plan your withdrawals with 10 or 30 days’ notice and benefit from interest calculated daily.

Transfers are free and unlimited.

EQ Bank Review - Mastercard

With EQ Bank Card, you pay no foreign exchange fees for purchases made abroad or in foreign currencies. This Mastercard is a reloadable prepaid card with which you can make free withdrawals at any ATM in Canada.

Plus, you get the same great rate as your Personal Account, plus 0.5% cash back on every purchase you make with EQ Bank Card.

Since it’s a Mastercard, you can use it anywhere in the world, as well as at Costco warehouses in Canada.

For more details, read our full review of the EQ Bank Card.

EQ Bank Review - Products Not Available in Quebec

Banque EQ does not currently offer the following products in Quebec:

  • US Dollar Account
  • RRSP Savings Accounts and RRSP GICs
  • FHSA Savings Account and FHSA GIC
  • Business Accounts and Business GICs
  • Notice Savings Account
  • International funds transfer
  • Transfer between EQ accounts

EQ Bank vs Tangerine - Comparison with Other Banks

The EQ Bank Personal Account stands out among Canadian bank checking accounts thanks to its high interest rate, no monthly fees, no minimum balance and numerous free transactions. The EQ Bank Card prepaid card, on the other hand, offers no conversion fees and cash back. On the savings side, the Banque EQ notice-based savings account is attractive, but not available in Quebec. Several competing alternatives exist.

Chequing Accounts

In our opinion, the EQ Bank chequing account, called Personal Account, is one of the best choices available on the Canadian market. First of all, it stands out from other Canadian banks for its high interest rate, no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirement. But also, by the many free features such as Interac transfers, day-to-day transactions and bill payments. However, other online banks also offer attractive chequing accounts. For example:

To compare other chequing accounts, use our bank account comparator.

Savings Accounts

In our opinion, the EQ Bank savings account, called the Notice Savings Account, is a good choice. However, it is not available to Quebec customers. What’s more, other financial institutions have tempting offers, mainly from online banks. For example:

To compare other savings accounts, use our bank account comparator.

Prepaid Card

In our opinion, the EQ Bank Card is one of the best no foreign transaction fee cards available in Canada. It stands out for several reasons, including its competitive interest rate of up to 3.50% applied to your card balance (until it is spent). Additionally, it offers 0.5% cashback on all your purchases and no foreign currency conversion fees when shopping abroad.

Finally, since it’s a Mastercard, you can use it at Costco. However, other excellent prepaid cards or credit cards with no conversion fees are available in Canada. For example:

To compare other credit cards according to your needs, use our credit card comparator.

EQ Bank Review

In our opinion, the financial products offered by EQ Bank are very interesting. Bank accounts such as the Personal Account and Joint Account have no monthly fees and include many free features: Interac e-Transfers, everyday transactions, and bill payments.

What’s more, the EQ Bank Card is one of the best cards with no conversion fees. It also stands out for its attractive interest rate on the card balance and its cashback on your spending.

Savings accounts are interesting, but several are not available in Quebec, such as the Notice Savings Account and the RRSP Savings Account.

In short, competition among Canadian financial institutions is fierce, but EQ Bank is doing well with its range of products and services. However, it must continue to innovate and extend its products to all Canadians.

EQ Bank Review - Bottom Line

EQ Bank stands out as one of the best banks in Canada for those looking for a high-interest savings account over the long term. With its efficient app, it’s easy to open a personal account, joint account, or other accounts tailored to your needs, without any monthly fees. The online bank also offers a convenient debit card and reimburses ATM fees at any machine across Canada. A secure and competitive solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is EQ Bank?

EQ Bank is the online brand of Equitable Bank, an independent financial institution that has been active in Canada for over 50 years. It offers 100% digital banking products such as current accounts, savings accounts and a prepaid Mastercard, all without physical branches.

Who owns EQ Bank?

EQ Bank is owned by Equitable Bank, an independent, publicly-traded Canadian company.

What's the difference between EQ Bank and Equitable Bank?

EQ Bank is part of Equitable Bank, an independent financial institution with over 50 years’ experience. It offers several financial products, including a Personal Account, savings accounts (TFSAs, RRSPs, GICs) and a Mastercard.

Is EQ Bank safe?

Yes, EQ Bank is secure. It is regulated in Canada, and all its deposit products are protected by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) up to $100,000 per account category. What’s more, our platforms use advanced security protocols to protect your information and transactions.

What's the difference between the Personal Account and the EQ Bank Notice Savings Account?

The Personal Account and the Notice Savings Account are two accounts offered by EQ Bank that pay interest on your account balance. The main difference is that you must give notice before making a withdrawal with the Notice Savings Account, which allows you to earn a higher interest rate.

Does EQ Bank Card have a credit card?

EQ Bank Card offers a Mastercard, but this is a reloadable prepaid card, not a traditional credit card. This card offers an interest rate on the balance, cash back and no conversion fees for foreign purchases.

EQ Bank vs Tangerine, which institution to choose?

EQ Bank and Tangerine are two Canadian online banks offering no-fee accounts and competitive interest rates. EQ Bank stands out for its high rates on hybrid accounts and reimbursement of withdrawal fees at all ATMs in Canada, while Tangerine offers a wider range of products, including credit cards and free access to Scotiabank ATMs. Both institutions protect your deposits through CDIC.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Vincent Morin
Vincent Morin
Vincent reached financial independence and retired early (FIRE) at the age of 35. After a career in financial technologies for a large American investment bank, he founded Retraite101, a personal finance site that reaches more than 350,000 unique visitors per year and has more than 40,000 followers on social media. Passionate about personal finance, cycling, reading and gardening, he continues to write to inspire and motivate Quebecers to take charge of their finances.
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