Have bills to pay? Want to start saving money? Learn what you need to open a bank account.

Did you know? In Canada, you have the right to open a bank account at a bank or a federally regulated credit union as long as you show proper identification.* 

You can open an account even if you: 

• don’t have a job 
• don’t have money to put in the account right away 
• have been bankrupt 

To open an account, you usually have to: 

• go in person to a financial institution 
• provide an acceptable form of identification 

Contact the financial institution to find out if there are other ways to open an account. Financial institutions that operate only online may require that you have an existing account with another financial institution before opening an account for you. 

Also note that ID requirements vary by province – more information on your rights, and how to open a bank account across Canada including the ID needed in your province can be found at the link below:  

https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/banking/opening-bank-account.html 

*If you don’t yet have your required ID please connect with your child welfare worker. If this is your first time opening an account or you are still unsure about what is required please consider bringing a friend, family member or support person such as a youth worker or social worker with you.