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PC Financial® vs Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank)
A side-by-side comparison of ratings, customer experience, products, fees, and pros & cons to help you choose the right bank.
VS
Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) edges ahead on our overall rating (4.1 vs 3.8), but the right pick depends on which products and fees matter most to you.
Overview
PC Financial offers banking services from President’s Choice Bank, which is a Schedule I, federally regulated bank in Canada. Given this setup, the banking products at PC Financial have coverage of up to $100,000 from the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). EQB, parent of EQ Bank, acquired PC Financial in July 2026. Prior to this, the bank was a subsidiary of Loblaws.
PC Financial has a smaller offering than many other Canadian banks. It has only one main account that operates as a no-monthly-fee chequing account with the ability to add on a savings feature, giving you the best of both worlds. Its interest rate applies to all balances in the savings side of the account and is quite competitive considering there is no minimum balance.
The bank also has just a few Mastercard credit cards, with no Visa or American Express options. Lines of credit and mortgages are also not available. It lacks in business banking and insurance products as well, making it a better choice for those who don’t need a full-service banking relationship.
Scotiabank provides well-rounded banking, offering a large branch network and one of the strongest rewards ecosystems among the biggest banks in Canada. As a full-service institution, the bank has investment management and award-winning private banking.
Scotia provides tailored accounts for everyone from students and youth to seniors, while the Scotiabank StartRight® Program is a top pick for newcomers to Canada. The bank also boasts a premium banking experience through the Scotiabank Ultimate Package Chequing. Some fee waiver options are available when you maintain a minimum balance but its interest rates on savings tend to be lower than what you can find through online banks. That said, its network access is more competitive as it is part of the Global ATM alliance.
Scotia’s credit card offering stands out for its travel lineup as well as its partnership with Scene+ rewards. FinlyWealth recently named the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card as our pick for the best overall travel and no foreign transaction fees credit card. In addition to credit cards, Scotia maintains a competitive edge within the mortgage and loan space through flexible financing solutions.
Top chequing accounts
Top savings account
PC Financial® has no savings account listed.
Best for: High interest savings at Big 5 bank
OPEN ACCOUNT
on Scotiabank's website
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 5.00%* for the first 3 months
Regular Interest
Up to 2.2%
Monthly Fee
$0
You can earn up to 5.00%* for the first 3 months if you are not a current Scotia HISA or MomentumPLUS Savings Account holder and haven’t held either account in the last two years.
Regular interest rate
Up to 2.2%
$10,000 minimum Total Relationship Balance1 required to earn interest3
Promo interest rate
Earn an extra 2.8%
Get the promo rate for 3 months, on top of our regular tiered interest rates2 when you keep a Total Relationship Balance1 of at least $10,000. Conditions Apply.2
Not all savings accounts are created equal.
The Scotia High Interest Savings Account (HISA) is different - the more you deposit and invest with us, the higher your interest rate on your HISA account.
It's simple: keep a Total Relationship Balance1 of at least $10,000 to start earning a high interest rate. As the balances across your eligible accounts grow, so will the interest rate on your HISA.
Your HISA interest rate is determined by your Total Relationship Balance1, which is the combined daily closing balance in your eligible chequing, savings, and investment accounts.
- Earn competitive interest rates that increase as your Total Relationship Balance1 grows
- Pay no monthly account fees
- Make unlimited self-service transfers between your accounts4
Top credit card
All products offered
5 products
Chequing
PC Money™ Account