The new external account showed up in online banking and the mobile app next business day. I had uploaded a three-page PDF (completed two-page Funds Transfer Agreement form plus a scan of the void cheque) through their online banking site.

Mad_Scientist said I recently opened a Manulife Advantage account. One reason why I opened this account is because I should be able to link this account to external accounts by submitting a signed copy of their Funds Transfer Agreement and void cheques of the bank accounts to be linked. Several attempts to upload these documents have failed. I have sent a query via the “online contact me” and to the manulife_bank@manulife.ca. I have not heard back from either. As a last resort, I sent the signed documents by mail to their office in Waterloo on August 6, 2026. More than a week has elapsed and there is still no linkage to my external accounts. It does not appear that bank is interested in getting new customers, and I certainly will not be depositing any funds in the new account unless a response is forthcoming.  

Thanks for the headsup, as I learned earlier in this thread that it would be a straightforward process.

Since I never do account-linking using Flinks/Plaid/etc shadowy third parties, I was also counting on the manual form option via online banking.

Hoping you succeed in doing it. Though this snail mail route is definitely discouraging me now.

Please keep us posted!

I have sent a query via the “online contact me” and to the manulife_bank@manulife.ca. I have not heard back from either.

As a last resort, I sent the signed documents by mail to their office in Waterloo on August 6, 2026. More than a week has elapsed and there is still no linkage to my external accounts.

It does not appear that bank is interested in getting new customers, and I certainly will not be depositing any funds in the new account unless a response is forthcoming.

Manulife Bank didn't increase the regular rate on its Advantage accounts. All existing accounts that were opened before July 2 are still earning just 1.5%.

One is also not going to receive 3% if one opens a new Advantage account and transfers funds into the new account from another Manulife Bank account.

someusername7 said
Why does the Manulife 3% rate (total rate) not appear on the following list?

https://www.highinterestsaving......ca/chart/

If someone is using this web site and reviewing that list, they would miss an opportunity to get 3% +/- for ~2 years.  

The reason is because it's a promotion, so it appears on this page instead: https://www.highinterestsaving.....romotions/

We have balance-related or direct deposit related promos at the bottom of the table, but not time-limited promos. The 2-year period is unprecedented, but if we started to include time-limited promotions there, the question is where to draw the line?

https://www.highinterestsaving......ca/chart/

If someone is using this web site and reviewing that list, they would miss an opportunity to get 3% +/- for ~2 years.

NokomisStation said

JC: Thanks for sharing that. I just logged onto Manulife and it is showing this on my account now as well. Oddly enough, I just withdrew 2/3 of my cash balance today to fund a debenture purchase in one of my brokerage accounts. However, Manulife will likely be where I park my surplus cash for the next 23 months.

On the "Account Details" page they also have a link to the Terms and Conditions which is a nice touch and value added from my perspective.  

Yes, the T&C's on the desktop site is a new thing, it was only available in the app in previous promos. Indeed, those are nice touches.

JohnnyCash said
I see when logging in the account details now show 3% with the breakdown indicating a Base Rate of 1.5% and Promotional Rate of 1.5%. The promotional end date is also showing, not sure if I recall seeing that previously.  

JC: Thanks for sharing that. I just logged onto Manulife and it is showing this on my account now as well. Oddly enough, I just withdrew 2/3 of my cash balance today to fund a debenture purchase in one of my brokerage accounts. However, Manulife will likely be where I park my surplus cash for the next 23 months.

On the "Account Details" page they also have a link to the Terms and Conditions which is a nice touch and value added from my perspective.

I have no concerns now with upping my balance significantly, once some better ones I have elsewhere expire, end of Sept.

One can choose to have the one-time code to the mobile phone number or the e-mail address. A message will also be sent to the other method notifying that a one-time code was sent.

The fine print doesn't say I have to continue to maintain my July 1 Manulife Bank account balances.

Norman1 said

rebel88 said

However, since you opened a new account to qualify for the 3% offer, can you slowly transfer what you have in your original advantage account to another financial institution? Or does Manulife keep track of all your funds thereby disallowing the 3% in your new second account once you transfer your funds from your first account?

While transferring funds into the new Advantage account from external accounts, I reduced the balance of my earlier Advantage account by debit card spending, bill payments, and ATM withdrawals. There was no reduction in the promo interest paid for July.

July 1½% promo interest was within ½¢ of what I calculated and matched the regular 1½% interest paid. Consequently, the entire balance of the new Advantage account was considered to be "Eligible Deposits".  

That's interesting as the T&C's state:
" All funds held by the client in existing Manulife Bank account(s) on July 1,
2026, will not count as Eligible Deposits. "
So they're not enforcing it, or the workaround is to move the funds out to an external account?

rebel88 said

However, since you opened a new account to qualify for the 3% offer, can you slowly transfer what you have in your original advantage account to another financial institution? Or does Manulife keep track of all your funds thereby disallowing the 3% in your new second account once you transfer your funds from your first account?

While transferring funds into the new Advantage account from external accounts, I reduced the balance of my earlier Advantage account by debit card spending, bill payments, and ATM withdrawals. There was no reduction in the promo interest paid for July.

July 1½% promo interest was within ½¢ of what I calculated and matched the regular 1½% interest paid. Consequently, the entire balance of the new Advantage account was considered to be "Eligible Deposits".