You could save over $280¹ with the Newcomer Banking Plan.

Start your financial journey in Canada by opening a chequing account and an enviro™ Visa* credit card with Vancity — we’re here to help you settle in with confidence.

Account with no monthly fee for 2 years¹

Credit card with limit of $3,500²

Meet with us today to sign up:

Get the plan

Newcomer Banking Plan details.

Select an eligible chequing account as part of your Newcomer Banking Package by appointment today.

Essential

Monthly fee waived for 2 years, then $9.75/month after.¹

  • 25 free Everyday Transactions per month¤
  • Free Interac e-Transfers®
  • Free first cheque order and first bank draft
  • Free online and mobile banking
  • Access 4,000+ ding-free® ATMs

No monthly fee with balance of $1,500.⁴

Essential +

$5.00/month for 2 years, then $14.75/month after.²

Everything in the Essential account plus:

  • Unlimited Everyday Transactions¤
  • Free first cheque order and first bank draft
  • Annual fee rebate up to $150 for the first year on select credit cards

No monthly fee with balance of $3,000.⁵

Total Chequing

$16.00/ month for 2 years, then $25.75/month after.³

Everything in the Essential + account plus:

  • Free cheque orders
  • Free bank drafts
  • Annual fee rebate up to $150 on select rewards credit cards††
  • No Vancity fee to use any ATM worldwide§

No monthly fee with balance of $6,000.⁶

You may be eligible if you’ve come to Canada within the past 5 years and are at least 19 years old and a resident of BC. See terms & conditions for full details on this offer.

Spend with convenience & earn rewards.

We’ve made it easy for you to get the credit card you want — even without credit history in Canada.8

Join Vancity today through a Newcomer appointment and you may be eligible for any of our personal credit cards with a newcomer credit limit of $3,500.

Features we love.

  • No annual fee options⁹
  • Earn rewards for cashback¹⁰, travel, and more
  • Canadian credit history not required⁸
  • Use it to build your credit history
  • Newcomer credit limits to help you settle in⁷

You may be eligible if:⁷

  • You are or become a Vancity member at the time of application¹¹
  • You have verifiable income like pay stubs, proof of payroll deposits etc.¹²
  • You are at least 19 years old and a resident of BC
  • Select cards may have additional income requirements††

To be eligible to receive the Newcomer benefits, you must apply by appointment.

Get more as a member.

As a Vancity member, you'll also get great member perks and discounts from our business members and community partners like:

  • Vancouver
  • Surrey
  • Burnaby
  • Richmond
  • Coquitlam
  • Victoria
  • And 8 more municipalities!

Outside of our branches, Vancity members can also access over 1000+ ATMs free throughout Canada.

Book an appointment

Get more as a member.

Vancity is one of Canada’s largest credit unions with 54 locations throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. You can find us in cities including:

  • oxio
    Get 1 month of internet free.
  • Fresh Prep
    Save $90 across your first 3 Fresh Prep orders.
  • Modo
    Get $50 free drive time.

View all member perks

Get your credentials recognized.

Are you coming to Canada as a trained professional? If you’re seeking to have your credentials recognized in Canada, you can find financial support through the Foreign Credential Recognition loan.

Some examples of professions that can apply for the loan include:

Pharmacists
Ms. Talei is a temporary resident who came to Canada in May 2023 from Iran. She is currently in the process of becoming a licensed pharmacist in BC and has secured a loan to write the PEBC evaluation exam in October 2024.
Nurses
Ameneh, a nurse from Iran, came to Canada in 2021 aiming to become a Registered Nurse. With FCR support, she secured a job as a full-time Health Care Aide and continues working toward her nursing license.
Engineers
Kaushik, a mechanical engineer from India and now an international student at UCW, used the FCR loan to pay his tuition and continue his studies in Canada.
Teacher
Pegah arrived in Canada in 2024 with a background in English Translation and teaching. With support from the FCR loan program, she’s completing her ECE certification while gaining experience as a childcare provider.
Read their stories

Looking for more?

We have what you need. Vancity is a full service, values-based, financial institution offering personal banking, investments, loans, mortgages and business banking solutions.

Tell us where you’re in your journey, and we’ll show you the way:

Exchange currency and transfer money

  • Send and receive wire transfers
  • Exchange foreign currency
  • Free CAD transfers between Vancity members

Learn about banking in Canada

  • Find out how to send and receive money in Canada
  • Discover why credit cards are so popular with Canadians
  • Learn how to protect yourself from scams and fraud

Learn about credit cards and credit score

  • Learn how to build your credit score
  • Find out how interest is charged
  • Set up alerts and automatic payments

Get credentials recognized

  • Borrow to have your professional or trades credentials recognized in Canada
  • Pay for courses, certification or living expenses while you attend school

Buy a home

  • Meet with our multilingual mortgage specialist team
  • Choose from a variety of length and rate options
  • Get special mortgages for construction

Start your investments

  • Receive tax-free or tax sheltered benefits through registered accounts like TFSA, RRSP, RESP, RRIF, RDSP
  • Choose from mutual funds, bonds, stocks, term deposits and more
  • Invest online or through a professional

Set up your business

  • Find solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes
  • Including accounts, financing, point of sale and more!