Banking: arranging your finances in your new country

Opening a bank account is essential for living in Canada long term. You will need a bank account to be able to access some services like getting a phone line or renting a house, so it should be one of the first things you do when you arrive in Canada.

Do some shopping around, however, essentially most banks offer the same services including, online banking and Automatic Banking Machines (ATMs).

When opening an account you will usually be asked for a few forms of identification and proof of address. As a new migrant you will also be asked to provide a reference from your employer.

The biggest Canadian banks are:

· Royal Bank of Canada (www.royalbank.com)

· TD Canada Trust (www.tdcanada.com)

· Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (www.cibc.com)

· Bank of Nova Scotia (www.scotiabank.com)

· Bank of Montreal (www.bmo.com)