National Bank of Canada Review 2025

Updated March 2025. National Bank of Canada (Banque Nationale) is Canada's sixth-largest bank and the dominant bank in Quebec. While less known outside of Quebec, National Bank has been expanding nationally and offers competitive products, particularly for Quebec residents and French-speaking Canadians. In 2024, National Bank announced an acquisition of Canadian Western Bank.

National Bank: Quick Facts

Category	Details
Full Name	National Bank of Canada / Banque Nationale
Founded	1859
Total Assets	~$450 billion CAD
Headquarters	Montreal, Quebec
Primary Market	Quebec (dominant) + growing nationally
Branches	~350 (mostly Quebec)
Mobile App (iOS)	4.4/5

National Bank Chequing Fees

Account	Monthly Fee	Transactions
The One (entry)	$10.95	20/month
The Total	$22.95	Unlimited
The One+ Student	$0	Unlimited

National Bank's entry-level account includes 20 transactions per month — more generous than most Big 5 basic accounts (typically 12). The Total account at $22.95 falls between TD ($16.95) and the Big 5 all-inclusive packages ($30).

National Bank Credit Cards

National Bank offers credit cards through its ECHO Cashback and World Elite Mastercard lineup:

• National Bank World Elite Mastercard: 5x points on groceries, restaurants, and recurring bills. Travel insurance benefits. $150/year.
• National Bank ECHO Cashback Mastercard: 2% cash back on groceries and recurring bills. $0/year — one of the better no-fee cash back cards in Canada.
• National Bank Syncro Mastercard: Features a unique hybrid design splitting spending into credit and savings.

Wealth Management and Investing

National Bank's investment arm (National Bank Financial) is one of the largest in Canada, particularly strong in Quebec. The bank also offers:

• National Bank Direct Brokerage — competitive commissions
• Robo-advisor services
• Private wealth management for high-net-worth clients

National Bank has a reputation for strong wealth management services relative to its size.

National Bank and Quebec

National Bank is deeply integrated into the Quebec economy and financial ecosystem:

• Largest bank headquartered in Quebec
• Bilingual services (French/English) as a core competency
• Strong relationships with Quebec-based businesses and institutions
• Community investment focused on Quebec cultural and economic organizations

For Quebec residents, National Bank is often a natural choice with dense branch coverage across the province.

National Bank Outside Quebec

Outside Quebec, National Bank has limited branch coverage. However, the bank has been expanding nationally through digital channels and through its advisory and wealth management services. The Canadian Western Bank acquisition will expand its western Canada presence.

Information current as of March 2025. Verify all fees and rates directly with National Bank of Canada.