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Email this9:02 am
February 1, 2016
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The information provided here is very timely for us. I have been having trouble getting cheques ordered via our online CIBC account (can't get my name imprinted the way I want it). We don't write many cheques anymore but recently two have gone to a GIC broker and one to a charity. We are down to the last few.
Instead of visiting the CIBC branch I decided to order from ChequesPlus. I went through the online process of providing imprint information for the cheques and that went well up to the time I attempted to add the order to my cart and the information disappeared. After 3 tries with the same result I called for help and was advised ChequesPlus is having technical difficulty with their online system. I was advised to email the information to them. I replied that I don't want to send sensitive banking information via email. A long convoluted alternative response followed which I could not understand. The quality of the agent's telephone was loud and had an echo and her fast-talking eastern accent all added up to make it too difficult for my old ears to understand. I accept that I am handicapped in this regard and my only recourse was to politely advise that we will not proceed with the order at this time.
Will try with another vendor.
5:16 pm
April 6, 2013
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Bad timing: Cheques Plus' web site ordering is busted.
Populating the bank's info based on transit and institution number doesn't work. One needs to enter bank's name and address.
When adding to cart, the cheque is displayed for approval. However, the Approve button doesn't work!
6:33 pm
March 17, 2018
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Norman1 said
Bad timing: Cheques Plus' web site ordering is busted.Populating the bank's info based on transit and institution number doesn't work. One needs to enter bank's name and address.
When adding to cart, the cheque is displayed for approval. However, the Approve button doesn't work!
Approve button works for me, just tried it.
8:17 pm
February 1, 2016
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Norman1 said
Bad timing: Cheques Plus' web site ordering is busted.Populating the bank's info based on transit and institution number doesn't work. One needs to enter bank's name and address.
When adding to cart, the cheque is displayed for approval. However, the Approve button doesn't work!
Briguy said
Approve button works for me, just tried it.
Interesting. My situation was exactly as Norman1 described. No autofill of bank name and address and Approval button did nothing. Windows based PC using Chrome browser.
8:56 pm
April 6, 2013
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I was trying with Microsoft Edge and it didn't work.
Tried again with Microsoft Edge but in Internet Explorer mode. Much better!
I must have ordered from them last time using Internet Explorer. 
4:23 am
September 7, 2018
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Here is another online cheque source
Ace Printing
40 cheques 16.71 - seems good if you dont need many cheques
80 cheques 28.51
160 cheques 39.30
- shipping cost is included
- located in Cornerbrook Nfld
7:42 am
November 18, 2017
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Something to correct: the Free Canadian chequing chart lists Coast Capital Credit Union as serving only British Columbia. They now are federal and are going Canada-wide, with branches in Ontario at least so far.
With Vancouver City Savings Credit Union (VanCity), free cheques are provided with their senior package - and it starts at age 55. I don't use those cheques, though, as I buy no-carbon duplicate cheques for about $50 per 200. That was two years ago and may have gone up since. It's worth it to me. Within the last year or two, they have started adding cheque images to my monthly statements, which I have used to document my rent costs for certain benefits.
I use cheques for, among other things:
-monthly rent
-government payments such as income tax
-merchants with Interac limits
-payments to individuals
-insurance bills (unless they take Amex and I get cash back)
-medical/dental bills (unless they take Amex and I get cash back)
-opening new accounts at financial institutions
-certain bank-to-bank funds moves where EFT links and/or parking are unavailable
RetirEd
RetirEd
9:24 am
February 1, 2016
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Norman1 said
I was trying with Microsoft Edge and it didn't work.Tried again with Microsoft Edge but in Internet Explorer mode. Much better!
I must have ordered from them last time using Internet Explorer.
Bingo! Once again Norman1, you have set me on the straight and narrow.
I dug out Internet Explorer and attempted the ChequesPlus order again and it worked. Still no 'autofill' though. I manually entered the bank name and address. Everything else worked fine.
A lifetime supply of cheques (100) are on there way to us.
Thanks for your effort to 'cheque' this out for me!
10:04 am
November 20, 2022
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Innovation Credit Union become a federal credit union effective June 23, 2023.
3:18 pm
January 10, 2017
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Is this list of free chequing accounts being maintained or has it been abondoned?
6:29 pm
December 12, 2009
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An overdue update, among the highlights:
- Removal of Motus Bank ("motusbank"), following the assumption of deposit accounts by Coast Capital Savings Federal Credit Union later this year
- Removal of Motive Financial, following confirmation from National Bank of Canada that Motive Financial products and brand are being demised by the end of 2025
- Removal of each of Envision Financial, Valley First, Island Savings, and Enderby & District Financial, all divisions/brands of First West Credit Union, Simply Free Chequing Account following the conversion of all said accounts to their new Tru Essentials Account. Tru Essentials offers no monthly fee for the first 12 debit transactions, but Interac e-Transfers and bank-to-bank transfers are no longer free
- Reiterating that LBC Digital's Chequing Account has been removed, following it being stop sold. Eventually LBC Digital is likely to cease entirely and be folded into Laurentian Bank products
- Updated Innovation Credit Union to Innovation Federal Credit Union
- Reiterating that Coast Capital Savings, while notionally national, still does not allow new-to-bank digital account openings for customers outside of British Columbia, hence the British Columbia residency requirement
- Added Wealthsimple Chequing account
Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mbFaFxSU6yybfqApLcAxS1pqDZ4GD4yrZ4OtnkQY--o/edit?usp=sharing
Cheers,
Doug
7:31 pm
August 20, 2019
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Thanks Doug, https://lighthousecu.ca/bank-accounts/ “Currently we do not charge any fees for our Chequing Account. “ and “you can enjoy unlimited transactions in this zero-fee Chequing account, while also earning 2% on your balance. “ In FAQ.
7:44 am
October 27, 2013
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That website is rather dearth on details. I've never seen a website that thin on information... as if they are making it up 'as they go'. No information on Interac e-transfers, Bill Payments, push-pull transfers, ATM network.....nothing! Are they for real?
9:55 am
September 7, 2018
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AltaRed said
That website is rather dearth on details. I've never seen a website that thin on information... as if they are making it up 'as they go'. No information on Interac e-transfers, Bill Payments, push-pull transfers, ATM network.....nothing! Are they for real?
Yes - they are for real. The client service person explains clearly, that they are new and that they are planning to offer those things eventually but are not there yet. In the meantime, they are offering a 4.25% HISA with no fees and a no fee chequing paying 2% - they know they have to offer something that others do not offer to attract customers. We went for the 4.25% HISA with no fees - very satisfied with that - we have a chequing account at another FI to handle bill payments, push pull transfers, ATM so this is no problem for us. Lighthouse Credit Union will not meet your requirements, at this time, if you want the e transfers, bill payments, ATM etc. - I expect it will come eventually.
10:28 am
October 27, 2013
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I was thinking more about the chart Doug maintains. I can't imagine Lighthouse qualifying for the chart if it is very limited. I don't have any digital bank/CU accounts beyond EQ Bank.
11:51 am
September 7, 2018
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AltaRed said
I was thinking more about the chart Doug maintains. I can't imagine Lighthouse qualifying for the chart if it is very limited. I don't have any digital bank/CU accounts beyond EQ Bank.
EQ does not work for those of us who still occasionally need to write cheques. EQ does not offer a "chequing" account. Simplii chequing is excellent and offers unlimited free cheques, in addition to bill payments, interac etransfers (no charge) and great ATMs via CIBC.
1:39 pm
October 27, 2013
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canadian.100 said
EQ does not work for those of us who still occasionally need to write cheques. EQ does not offer a "chequing" account. Simplii chequing is excellent and offers unlimited free cheques, in addition to bill payments, interac etransfers (no charge) and great ATMs via CIBC.
I think you are missing the point. I am not selling EQ Bank for a chequing account. I merely indicate that EQ is the one digital offering that I own and I don't use it for chequing. I use it only for me2me transfers and the EQ Bank card (no forex for foreign currencies).
This thread is all about free chequing accounts with no minimum balance. My view is a chequing account has to offer a number of features to legitimately be called a chequing account, even if deficient in a few areas.
How would Doug fill out the various columns in the table for the Lighthouse offering when almost nothing is known or offered?
2:46 pm
January 10, 2017
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Doug said
An overdue update, among the highlights:
- Removal of Motus Bank ("motusbank"), following the assumption of deposit accounts by Coast Capital Savings Federal Credit Union later this year
- Removal of Motive Financial, following confirmation from National Bank of Canada that Motive Financial products and brand are being demised by the end of 2025
- Removal of each of Envision Financial, Valley First, Island Savings, and Enderby & District Financial, all divisions/brands of First West Credit Union, Simply Free Chequing Account following the conversion of all said accounts to their new Tru Essentials Account. Tru Essentials offers no monthly fee for the first 12 debit transactions, but Interac e-Transfers and bank-to-bank transfers are no longer free
- Reiterating that LBC Digital's Chequing Account has been removed, following it being stop sold. Eventually LBC Digital is likely to cease entirely and be folded into Laurentian Bank products
- Updated Innovation Credit Union to Innovation Federal Credit Union
- Reiterating that Coast Capital Savings, while notionally national, still does not allow new-to-bank digital account openings for customers outside of British Columbia, hence the British Columbia residency requirement
- Added Wealthsimple Chequing account
Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mbFaFxSU6yybfqApLcAxS1pqDZ4GD4yrZ4OtnkQY--o/edit?usp=sharing
Cheers,
Doug
Thanks for the update Doug. Two things I can recommend. 1. For each row - add the date the entry was updated (as we all know nothing stays static). 2. Add a section for "Senior accounts", for age 65 or 60, which have zero fee for up to 12 transactions per month. CIBC example is their "CIBC Smart Account". I believe all the major banks have or will soon have such senior accounts.
3:38 pm
October 27, 2013
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I might suggest just adding it as a footnote that all/most major banks already provide a "limited" bank account for seniors for free (mostly via rebate of the fee). 12 free 'out' transactions a month is typical with unlimited incoming and unlimited transfers within an FI.
Given seniors most likely to have accounts with big banks over the years would default to the senior's account in that FI, I think it should be up to the reader to do the research if this freebie might be limited to digital banking, whether e-transfers are free, free chequebooks (if anyone writes those any more), etc. Nothing is ever quite as simple as it looks on first blush. Spouse has hers at RBC, mine is at Scotiabank.
5:06 pm
December 12, 2009
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AltaRed said
I was thinking more about the chart Doug maintains. I can't imagine Lighthouse qualifying for the chart if it is very limited. I don't have any digital bank/CU accounts beyond EQ Bank.
The concern I have with adding Lighthouse Credit Union is whether or not it is open to all Canadians or just Ontario residents? Not opposed to adding an Ontario-only credit union, but I would note there are many provincial credit unions in Ontario that offer no fee chequing accounts, like FirstOntario Credit Union and DUCA Credit Union, for example.
The main concern is whether they accept online account openings without having to have physical photo ID verified (i.e., micro-deposits, cleared cheque, credit bureau check, etc.).
Cheers,
Doug
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