Meridian Credit Union vs Tangerine Bank
A side-by-side comparison of ratings, customer experience, products, fees, and pros & cons to help you choose the right bank.
VS
Tangerine Bank edges ahead on our overall rating (4.4 vs 3.9), but the right pick depends on which products and fees matter most to you.
Overview
Meridian Credit Union is the largest credit union in Ontario, describing itself as number three in size out of credit unions in Canada. The institution operates as a not-for-profit with 100% member ownership. Given its size, Meridian has a larger range of products compared to many other credit unions in the country. It does, however, lack some higher end services like private banking and a full insurance offering with universal life coverage. Both of which you can find through a major Canadian bank.
Meridian has a credit card selection with cashback, travel rewards, and USD cards. They exclusively offer Visa, with no option for Mastercard or American Express. Monthly banking fees come in below those of the biggest banks in Canada, with its most basic account about a dollar less per month in comparison. Digital banks, however, tend to have an edge with account fees. As is the same with interest rates. Meridian’s high-interest savings rates can be more competitive than some traditional bank savings accounts, though they fall behind some other Canadian credit unions and digital institutions.
Members of Meridian have access to investment accounts through the credit union and through Qtrade Direct Investing. The financial institution does not have its own full-service brokerage. They do provide financial planning, which isn’t always the case with credit unions.
Tangerine Bank, or Tangerine as it’s known, is a subsidiary of Scotiabank, formerly part of ING Direct. Operating with its own coverage from the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), Tangerine has a sound reputation. Forbes even ranked the institution as number one in Canada on its list of the World’s Best Banks 2026 for two consecutive years.
The institution has a strong lineup for a digital bank, offering no-fee chequing and savings accounts as well as highly rated credit cards. Tangerine also provides lending services to its customers with mortgages, HELOCs, and lines of credit, and even has business banking, though it’s not a complete offering.
Unlike the major Canadian banks, many of its premium services come from partners or the Scotiabank network, rather than Tangerine itself. For example, the bank has insurance through its partner Sonnet Insurance and free ABM access through Scotiabank and its Global ATM Alliance. Tangerine does, however, have an in-house offering of mortgages and lending services.
Overall rating
3.9
4.4
Customer experience
3.4
3.5
Best for
Ontario residents who want branch access without choosing a major bank
Tangerine is best suited for Canadians who want low-cost digital banking and competitive cashback rewards.
Pros & cons
Pros
Part of THE EXCHANGE® Network providing access to more than 40,000 ATMs with no additional charges
More competitive account fees than the Big Six Canadian banks
Lower minimum balance waiver requirements compared to the major banks
Full service banking lineup with basic investment and financial planning
Deposit insurance from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA)
Cons
Premium offerings (private banking, universal life insurance, etc) are not available
Branch access concentrated in Ontario, making the credit union less appealing to customers outside the province
Product lineup is not as broad as the Big Six Canadian banks especially for insurance and premium wealth management services
Savings rate may still fall behind digital institutions
Credit card selection is limited comparatively
Mixed customer reviews
Pros
No fee chequing account with unlimited transactions
Minimum balance not required for savings or chequing accounts
Competitive no-annual-fee credit cards
Attractive promotional rates for eligible customers
Backed by Scotiabank, making it more reliable than standalone digital banks
Free access to over 3,500 Scotiabank ABMs in Canada and 44,000 international machines through Scotiabank’s Global ATM Alliance
Cons
No traditional branch network or in-person service
Ongoing savings rates are relatively lower than competing products from other digital banks
Narrow product lineup compared to the major banks
Mixed customer service reviews
Limited premium rewards
Top chequing accounts
on Meridian's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Monthly Fee
$14 (waivable)
Account Type
Chequing • Personal
- Fee waiver with $3,000 minimum balance
- Includes unlimited self-serve¹ transactions
- In-branch transactions and cheques cost $1.25 each if your account balance is below $3,000
- Rebates on up to 99 Interac e-Transfers³ each month
- Access to 3,600 Meridian ATMs and 40,000 ATMs on THE EXCHANGE® Network
Account Fees
Monthly Fee
$14
eStatement
Included
on Meridian's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Monthly Fee
$19 (waivable)
Account Type
Chequing • Personal
- Fee waiver with $5,000 minimum balance⁵
- Unlimited transactions, both self-serve¹ and in-branch²
- Rebate on 99 Interac e-Transfers³
- Unlimited cheques⁴
- Access to 3,600 Meridian ATMs and 40,000 ATMs on THE EXCHANGE® Network
Account Fees
Monthly Fee
$19
eStatement
Included
Best for: No fee everyday banking
on Tangerine's website
+ Move your pay to earn $250. Terms and conditions apply.(1)
Limited offer · ends
Welcome Bonus
Move your pay to earn $250. Terms and conditions apply.(1)
Regular Interest
Up to 0.1%
Monthly Fee
$0
Account Type
Chequing • Personal
Move your pay to earn $2501
- Become a client: sign up in minutes on your phone and get ready to have simple banking at your fingertips.
- Open your Chequing Account: It’s the original no monthly fee digital bank Account, designed to uncomplicate your life.
- Switch your payroll deposits to earn $2501: Move your paycheques to your Tangerine Chequing Account for 2 consecutive months, and we’ll give you $250.
Offer validity: May 1, 2024 - October 31, 2026
No monthly Account fees with no minimum balance
You don’t have to keep a bunch of money in the Account just to avoid a fee. No monthly fee means no monthly fee at all.
Free Interac e-transfer® transactions
Send money securely within Canada, directly from your Account. And when you register for Autodeposit, any money sent to you via Interac e-Transfer is deposited into your Account automatically.
Shop with confidence
With Interac & Visa Debit Zero Liability protection, you’re protected from unauthorized purchases.
Unlimited number of daily transactions
This includes an unlimited number of debit purchases, bill payments, and pre-authorized transactions.
Account Fees
Monthly Fee
$0
eStatement
Included
Transactions
Transactions
Unlimited free
Interac e-Transfers
Unlimited free
ATM Fees
Own Network
$0
Canadian ATMs
$1.5
USA
$3
International
$3
International & Currency
Foreign Currency Conversion
2.5%
Other Fees
NSF (Non-sufficient Funds)
$10
Overdraft Interest
19% annually (if used)
Bank Draft
$10
Top savings account
on Meridian's website
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Regular Interest
0.85%
Monthly Fee
$0
- Earn 0.85% in interest on all balances* in the account
- Available for non-registered accounts, TFSAs, RRSPs, FHSAs and RRIFs
- No minimum balance needed
- No limit on self-serve or in-branch transactions1, 2
- $1.00 per Interac e-Transfer in non-registered accounts
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3.7 Our rating
on Tangerine's website
+ Earn 4.50% for 5 months
Limited offer · ends
Welcome Bonus
Earn 4.50% for 5 months
Regular Interest
0.3%
Monthly Fee
$0
- Earn a 4.50% Savings rate for up to 5 months2
- Available to new clients who open an Eligible Savings Account and/or an Applicable Registered Savings Account within the first couple months of Client Number creation. Conditions apply.
- Offer validity: July 28, 2026 to November 30, 2026
Great rate with no minimum balance
Grow your savings on every dollar in your Account.
No unfair fees or service charges
We simply don’t believe in unfair fees. So you won’t have to pay to save with us.
Reach your goals faster
A Tangerine Savings Account comes with tools to make it super simple to reach your goals.
Automate your savings
With an Automatic Savings Program, you can save without even thinking about it.
Top credit card
on Meridian's website
This card is only available to residents of Ontario.
Welcome Bonus
Earn 7,000 reward points‡ on first purchase (up to $70 value)
Annual Fee
$99 $0
Interest Rates
19.50% / 21.99%
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
4.2/5
The Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card stands out primarily for its flexible reward options and considerable insurance coverage. With the ability to earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases and double points on foreign currency transactions, it offers a competitive edge for frequent travelers. Its extensive insurance benefits, including rare price protection, further bolster its appeal, making it a strong contender for those who meet the income requirements and reside in Ontario.
Pros
- Versatile Rewards
- Impressive insurance coverage
- First-year fee waiver
Cons
- Restricted to Ontario residents
- High income requirements
Rewards
- Earn 3 reward points for every $1 spent (3% cash back) on purchases made outside Canada in foreign currencies
- Earn 1.5 reward points for every $1 spent (1.5% cash back) on other eligible purchases
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
Up to 1 year
Mobile Device Insurance
Up to $1,000 per occurrence
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$1M per insured person per trip
Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)
48 daysTravel Medical Insurance (65 to 75)
15 days
Trip Cancellation
$2,000
Trip Interruption
$2,000
Baggage Delay
$500
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$1,000.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
Max car value of $65k, up to 48 days
Price Protection
$100 per item, $500 per year
Benefits
Details
Visa Infinite Exclusive Benefits
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$60,000 personal or $100,000 household
on Tangerine's website
Welcome Bonus
Get $120 with a Tangerine® Money-Back World Mastercard®* and a limited time promo rate on balance transfers
Annual Fee
$0
Interest Rates
20.95%* / 22.95%*
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
4.6/5
While we think Tangerine World Mastercard isn't the best single credit card to own, it's still a valuable card to have in your arsenal for maximizing your rewards. It offers one of the highest cashback rates for pharmacy and recurring bill payments, areas where your other credit cards might not provide significant rewards. For no annual fees
Pros
- Customizable cashback
- No annual fee
- Unique cashback categories available
- High recurring transactions optimization
- High pharmacy purchase optimization
- Airport lounge membership
Cons
- Income requirements
- Low base earn rate
Rewards
- 2% Money-Back Rewards on your choice of two categories from the 13 offered by Tangerine (Grocery, Restaurants, Gas, Entertainment, Furniture, Hotel-Motel, Drug Store, Reccurring Bill Payments, Home Improvement, Public Transportation and Parking and more). Change them up every 90 days to match spending habits.
- Have your Money-Back Rewards deposited into a Tangerine Savings Account and get a third 2% Money-Back Category.
- 0.5% cashback on all other eligible purchases.
Insurance
Coverage
Purchase Protection
90 daysExtended Warranty
1 yearMobile Device Insurance
$1,000Car Rental Damage & Theft
31 days
Benefits
Details
Airport Lounge - Dragon Pass
Pass only. No Complimentary visits!
Wireless Credit
FlexiRoam 1GB Global Data Roaming Plan and 15% off on purchase of Data Plans.
Mastercard On-Demand and Subscription Services
Access 50+ live-stream sports channels and save $30 on your first three months of Fubo (excludes Quebec)
Eligibility
Credit Score
GoodAnnual Income
$50,000 personal or $80,000 household
All products offered