Bilingual Banking in New Brunswick

Banking en français et en anglais au Nouveau-Brunswick — your complete guide to bilingual financial services in Canada's only officially bilingual province. 2025.

New Brunswick: Canada's Only Officially Bilingual Province

New Brunswick is the only constitutionally bilingual province in Canada. Both English and French are official languages of the province under the New Brunswick Official Languages Act. Approximately 32% of New Brunswick's population identifies as Francophone — the largest concentration of Acadians in the world outside of Quebec. This bilingual reality has a profound impact on financial services in the province.

Your Right to Bank in French in NB

Under New Brunswick law and federal consumer protection regulations, you have the right to conduct business in either official language with federally regulated financial institutions (banks). All chartered banks must provide services in both English and French in New Brunswick. Provincial credit unions serving Francophone communities are also required to provide French-language service.

Bilingual Banking Options Comparison

Institution	French Service Quality	English Service Quality	Monthly Fee
Caisse populaire acadienne	Excellent (primary language)	Good	Low
National Bank / Banque Nationale	Excellent	Good	$4–$27
TD / TD Canada Trust	Good	Excellent	$4–$30
RBC / Banque Royale	Good	Excellent	$4–$30
Scotiabank / Banque Scotia	Good	Excellent	$4–$30
KOHO	Excellent (full FR app)	Excellent	$0

Caisse Populaire — The Heart of Acadian Banking

For New Brunswick's Francophone community, the Caisse populaire network is far more than just a bank — it is a community institution rooted in Acadian cultural identity. Founded on cooperative principles by Alphonse Desjardins in the early 20th century, Caisses populaires serve as the primary financial institution for hundreds of thousands of Acadians across NB. Services are provided in French as a matter of course, with English available when needed.

National Bank in Francophone NB

National Bank (Banque Nationale) has a significant presence in New Brunswick's Francophone communities, particularly in Moncton/Dieppe, Bathurst, and Edmundston. As a Quebec-headquartered institution with deep Francophone roots, National Bank provides seamless French-language service and has strong relationships with the Acadian business community.

Digital Bilingual Banking with KOHO

KOHO is fully available in French and English, with the app, customer service, and all documentation available in both official languages. For New Brunswick residents who prefer to manage their finances in French, KOHO offers a genuinely bilingual experience at zero cost. The app can be switched between languages at any time in settings.

Banking Resources in French / Ressources bancaires en français

• Caisse populaire acadienne: caissepopadie.com
• Banque Nationale: bnc.ca
• ACFO-NB (Association des communautés francophones et acadiennes): financial literacy resources in French
• CAFI: settlement financial services in French for newcomers in Moncton/Dieppe
• KOHO en français: koho.ca (langue sélectionnable dans l'application)