Canada's only officially bilingual province — the best banks, caisses populaires, and credit unions for New Brunswickers.
🍁 NB-Specific Rankings 🇫🇷🇬🇧 Bilingual Province 🛡️ CUDIANB Unlimited ✅ March 2026New Brunswick is Canada's only constitutionally bilingual province — roughly 32% of the population is Francophone, concentrated in northern and eastern NB (Acadian Peninsula, Moncton, Caraquet). This means banking in NB has two distinct flavors: English-first institutions in Fredericton, Saint John, and southern NB; and Francophone-first caisses populaires in Acadian communities.
The Mouvement des caisses populaires acadiennes (now part of UNI Coopération financière) serves Acadian NB with French-first banking. KOHO (Banq in QC/Acadian markets) and Desjardins also serve French NB. National Bank of Canada has strong presence in Francophone NB.
CDIC (federal, $100K): KOHO, EQ Bank, TD, RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, National Bank
CUDIANB (NB provincial, unlimited): All NB-licensed credit unions and caisses populaires through the NB Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation — unlimited protection with no dollar cap. Note: UNI Coopération financière (formerly Caisse populaire acadienne) has its own protection framework through their parent organization.
KOHO is the best everyday banking account for all New Brunswickers — whether English or French. KOHO (operating as Banq for Francophone Acadians) is fully bilingual and charges $0/month while paying 3.0% interest. NB's relatively lower cost of living means every dollar saved on fees goes further. Perfect for Moncton's young professional bilingual population.
EQ Bank's 3.75% rate is the best available to NB residents for savings. Pair KOHO (spending) + EQ Bank (savings) for zero-fee banking at maximum interest. TFSA, RRSP, and FHSA accounts available.
UNI (formerly Caisse populaire acadienne) is the financial institution of Francophone New Brunswick, founded in 1936 in Caraquet. It operates 50+ branches across Acadian NB — Moncton, Dieppe, Caraquet, Bathurst, Campbellton — with a French-first approach. All deposits have unlimited protection through their member protection framework. For Acadian NB residents, UNI is the community institution.
Codiac Community Credit Union serves the greater Moncton area with unlimited CUDIANB deposit protection. Member-owned and profit-sharing. Best for English NB residents near Moncton who want a local credit union with unlimited deposit insurance and full in-person banking.
TD has the best digital banking and solid NB presence with branches in Fredericton, Moncton, and Saint John. Best for NB residents who travel outside the province frequently or need national coverage. Monthly fees of $10.95–$29.95 make it expensive compared to KOHO for everyday use.
Scotiabank has a historical Atlantic Canada presence and Scene+ rewards are popular in NB. The international banking network is useful for NB's seasonal workers and those with family in the Caribbean or Latin America. Monthly fees are higher than justified for most NB residents.
| Bank / Institution | Monthly Fee | Interest | Deposit Insurance | NB Branches | French Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOHO (Banq) | $0 | 3.00% | CDIC $100K | 0 | Excellent (Banq) |
| EQ Bank | $0 | 3.75% | CDIC $100K | 0 | Partial |
| UNI / Caisses | $7–$18 | 0.10% | Unlimited | 50+ | French first |
| Codiac CU | $5–$14 | 0.10% | CUDIANB Unlimited | Moncton area | Good |
| TD Bank | $10.95–$29.95 | 0.01% | CDIC $100K | 30+ | Good |
| Scotiabank | $16.95–$30.95 | 0.01% | CDIC $100K | 25+ | Adequate |
KOHO is free in both English and French — the perfect account for New Brunswick's bilingual population. $0 fee, 3% interest, and $100 signup bonus.
Open KOHO / Banq Free — Code 45ET55JSYA for $100 →