Saint John is New Brunswick's largest city and an energy industry hub. Our updated 2025 guide covers the best banks, credit unions, and digital accounts for Saint John residents.
New Brunswick charges land transfer tax of 1.0% of the assessed value (not purchase price). Assessed value is set by Service NB and typically approximates purchase price for recently updated assessments. Confirm the exact amount with your real estate lawyer.
Atlantic Canadians are switching to KOHO for its zero monthly fees and cash back on everyday purchases. Works everywhere Visa is accepted — perfect for Maritime living.
Get KOHO Free — Code 45ET55JSYAKOHO's free Visa prepaid card earns cash back with zero monthly fees — ideal for New Brunswick residents looking to eliminate the $15–$30 monthly fee charged by Canada's Big Five banks.
EQ Bank leads Atlantic Canada with a 4.00% high-interest savings account, no monthly fees, and free Interac e-Transfers. Perfect for building a home down payment faster.
UNI Financial Cooperation (formerly Caisse populaire) is New Brunswick's largest credit union and a major financial institution in Atlantic Canada. Saint John members benefit from bilingual services, competitive mortgage rates, and annual dividends.
TD offers extended banking hours and a robust mobile app — popular with families who need reliable branch access and strong mortgage and lending products.
RBC covers mortgages, RRSPs, TFSAs, investments, and travel rewards under one roof. Canada's largest bank with a reliable local presence in Atlantic Canada communities.
Scotiabank's Scene+ program earns points at Sobeys — the dominant grocery chain in Atlantic Canada. Strong mortgage products and competitive rates for homebuyers.
Saint John, the Fog City, is New Brunswick's largest city by population and its most important industrial hub. Situated on the Bay of Fundy — home to the world's highest tides — Saint John has been a commercial port since the Loyalist settlement of 1783. Today the city is defined by its energy sector, with the Irving Oil refinery being the largest in Canada.
The Irving Oil refinery and associated petrochemical facilities employ thousands directly and tens of thousands indirectly through the supply chain. Irving-affiliated companies — including construction, shipping, media, and forestry — dominate Saint John's economy in a way unusual even by Atlantic Canada standards.
Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, located 40 km west of Saint John, provides NB Power with clean baseload electricity and employs hundreds of specialized workers who often reside in Saint John. The energy sector broadly — refining, nuclear, LNG, and renewable development — makes Saint John one of Atlantic Canada's most economically significant cities.
Real estate in Saint John has historically been some of the most affordable among Canadian cities its size. Average detached homes trade in the $280,000 to $380,000 range, with some North End and South End neighbourhoods still offering properties below $200,000. The city's Victorian and Edwardian architecture gives it considerable charm for buyers willing to invest in restoration.
New Brunswick's 1.0% land transfer tax (on assessed value) adds a manageable closing cost. On a $320,000 Saint John home with a matching assessed value, the tax is approximately $3,200 — reasonable compared to HRM's 1.5% or Ontario's sliding scale. KOHO and EQ Bank are increasingly popular with Saint John's younger workforce for fee-free banking.
See also: Best Banks in New Brunswick | Best Banks Moncton NB | Best Banks Fredericton NB