Scotiabank Reviews 1,452

So I tried to fill out for a new checking account online 4 times. It told me to go to a branch. I walked there 15 minutes one way in a HAIL STORM. Just the other day. When I arrived, bank was empty 4 or 5 tellers . I go to info desk the lady starts to take down ALLL my info they keptd me waiting 40 mins and I explained jn detail as she's still typing like crazy , putting mY info in the system,
All staff at the bank are starring at me I felt centered out and like I wasn't welcomed in the bank , never in my life has this happened to me and says al9t about soctiabank I show my aboriginal card a photo bc I applied for another one so I keep waiting feeling like I shunt have gone there , and guess what ??? A manager that was asian starring at me whispers something to her and she says , ummm.... MAAAAAAYBE ,u can come back with the physical Card , EXCUUUUUUSE YOU. They take copy of it anyways I have three pieces and they refused me and made me feel ashamed , SHAME ON THAT BRANCH !!!!!! if anyone shud feel out of place it shud be all of them , and thank so much for making me feel like a lowlife dirt bag

I had a very disappointing experience with a staff member named Takashi Rey Alarcio at Scotia Bank. He instructed me to open an account via phone and assured me multiple times that I could continue using my previous debit card. Unfortunately, this was not true, and I could not withdraw money from an ATM or use the card anywhere over the long weekend.
I emailed him explaining the issue, but I never received a response. His unprofessional attitude and lack of follow-up caused a lot of stress and inconvenience.
If this staff member is still assisting customers, I would strongly advise caution, especially for anyone new to Canada. This experience reflects poorly on Scotia Bank, and I hope the bank takes action to protect its customers in the future.

Scotiabank has a credit card - Scotiabanki Passport Infinity. I signed up for this card because it offered as part of the benefits - 6 airport lounge passes a year.
This has stopped - for no reason. No one at Scotiabank Visa customer service has a clue what this benefit is other than reading off the advert which I read too when I signed up. I am a good customer and spend a lot on the card and pay on time. DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS CARD

Just wow, Their website and app is incredibly unreliable, page errors all the time, login problems, 2FA horror stories (authentication and authorization that never work), took me 3 hours to activate my visa card with this mess! I will be cancelling this scotia visa and going elsewhere. This is 2026, not 1992, Scotia Bank!!! GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER!!!!

I've been on mortgage and I 've recently ran into financial hardship. I provided the valid and accurate documents stating my income is low, but the mortgage assisstance team did not do anything for me. They make decision based on a rediculous ratio. They look for an excuse to decline the applications for mortgage relief. They don't care about customers' finantial trouble. Keep away from getting mortgage trough Scotia Bank.

Wanted to contact my local branch to have a mistake they made corrected - dialed that branches number and only after a telephone snakes & ladder game, I found myself talking to some one in Asia! He couldn't help. A transaction that I was told would complete in 24 hours took 72. The old website worked just fine but didn't look good enough so now the new web site wastes my time but looks great to children I guess?!?
The staff were always trying to be their best but the banks functionality is slow and communication just sucks....go somewhere else and let the CEO and Co move south or to russia. A Canadian bank shouldn't have customer service agents based in Asia - 21st century slavery!

They breached an agreement concerning debt repayment. I was a victim of fraud unfortunately which they had no compassion for but acted like loan sharks. Calling me 4 to 5 times per day aggressively, and made unfair demands. We made a deal to settle the debt in return for my credit not to be effected and closed. But they kept this tradeline open, filled it with the details as this was not part of our agreement.

I attempted to withdrawal $200. out of my chequing account from the Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Scotiabank branch.
The ATM did not dispense the cash, a message came onto the screen stating the following:
Your money is being held, call this number............

I called while outside of the bank on Jan.24th 2026 to file the issue. I was told an investigation would be done, taking 7-10 business days.

Called back on Jan. 28th, was told there was no record of the dispute. Again, I gave all the pertinent information, very straight forward. I was given a case #........

Once again, I called to follow up on Feb.6th. I was told the dispute was being investigated, then the guy informs me that they were investigating the wrong transaction. Was on the phone for 30 mins. explaining what transaction I was disputing.

I called again today, Feb. 10th, 2026 to do another follow up. I spoke with the Disputes dept. and was told there was no investigation on record.
Clyde, the rep. I spoke with stated:
We will need to investigate this dispute and you should receive the money into your account within 7-10 days. Right back to the beginning!

Scotiabank "apparently" records their telephone calls. I provided Clyde with the dates, times and durations of all the calls.
I am beyond frustrated by the lack of customer service I have received, as well as being lied to!

These calls that are "being recorded?" need to be investigated by Scotiabank and these so called representatives, should be all terminated.

I literally just went through FOUR telephone agents representing Scotiabank, all of which kept placing me on hold and never resolving a very simple question regarding interest rates. Like I have all damn day to sit and wait for an answer that should have taken less than 10 minutes. Even that's too long. I have dealt with Scotiabank for years and I have to say that your customer service has gone for a complete shit. All FOUR so called "Customer Service" reps didn't have a clue (Scotiabanks fault for shitty incompetent management). Every one of them passed me onto another department as I waited on line for several minutes for an answer, only to be placed on hold repeated times. Scotiabank, you're sliding big time. Your customer service has become as pleasant as Telus and your agents clearly need better training, better customer service skills and a better wage for them to give a shit about your long time dedicated customers. I'm thinking of moving banks just over today's shitty experience.

They have just attempted to redesign their customer use web site for the second time in three years. They failed the first time and now failed again leaving out a very important aspect of investment information. Children running the daycare. Truly embarrassing.

0 stars is a better rating.

I went in to the Royal Bay branch in Colwood BC today at 1:35 pm. There was a customer in front of me who took about 5 minutes. When she left I waited another 5 minutes until I asked the clerk if there was someone who could help me. He took a few more minutes then It was my turn. I was converting $175 CAD to USD. He did not have a clue how to do that. He took another 15 minutes going back and forth to the safe and to his co-worker. Finally at 2 pm I told him to cancel the request, deposit the money into my account and give me a receipt. That took him another 3 or 4 minutes. I am at a loss how ScotiaBank Royal Bay Colwood BC would let a person that cannot do simple transactions, deal with the public. He did not have a clue about what he was doing. I usually use the machine when I bank. This is why AI has already replaced bank clerks. If you are going to train someone, have them shadow someone who knows the job. This fella was completely lost.

I've never asked for help from my bank in two years,but when I asked a removal on my welfare check they automatically refused. Cruel and inhuman bank with it's own citizens.

Scotiabank itrade is shitter then you think! pathetic & sad customer service, long waits upto 2 hrs, unnecessary long hold on your funds, no response to your email regarding their inferior service, they just dont care

Stopped in at the Village Green branch in Vernon and was greeted by a friendly teller named Johnson. He knows my name and remembers I have twin brother. The banking transaction was swift and courteous, this man is a serious asset to the Scotia Bank.

I deposited a large inheritance cheque to the port credit branch, I set up a telephone appointment with an advisor to discuss how to invest the money. The advisor called me fifteen minutes late and when I mentioned it, I was told "my bad".
He did review my profile prior to calling and asked to take time off work and come in to the branch. I told him I am retired and disabled and need to discuss my phone.
One week later I received a call from my branch, Bovaird in Brampton.
The advisor was very pushy and I felt rushed in making a decision, but I did and transferred the funds to a momentum account. I was focuaed on my scheduled for surgery.
After a week of recovery I sent her an email requesting a time to discuss next steps to grow the account. The email went unanswered for 5 days. I followed up with a phone call and that went unanswered for 3 days. She finally responded to my email and we set up a call for Friday of the same week, she never gave me a time and she never called.
I will have to use the call center to get advice and answers.
Never have I had such a bad customer service experience from two different branches of the same company.
They were both unprofessional and I am so disappointed that I am tempted to move to another bank and yes willing to do the paperwork for my PAD payment.
I will never recommend Scotiabank to family or friends. The worst customer service I have encountered.

I'm done. After 30 years as a loyal customer they overcharged me by $800 on a purchase from an online store in USD and said there was nothing they could do because it's part of their policy. This was after they made me lose substantial money on an investment due to their slow reaction time. Goodbye.

Customer care people are rude and don’t feel like they want to help you
Called 2 times got different person each time and they were both not helpful and rude
After explaining my situation he grunted and finally ask ed for my card number
I hung up on him
Scotiabank your customer care people need retraining

I was going to get a high interest savings account but now?? No way! The president of this bank supports the dictator to the south and thinks the way he does business will be profitable for him. Anyone who supports the man who is fleecing the American people, is not someone I would trust my money with

Scotiabank. There are so many bad experiences, I can’t pick just one. My mom had her accounts there, and I needed to enact my power of attorney due to her inability to handle her finances anymore due to Alzheimer’s Disease. They didn’t accept my POA and stopped interacting with me. I was her only daughter and next of kin, yet they were cold, corporate, and unhelpful. Next: we used them for our mortgage. As part of this they pressured us to move all our banking to Scotiabank, gave us the hard sell on all their insurance products, sent a ridiculous amount of mail to us, left messages and sent emails on the level of harassment, and on. The day we went to the bank to start using our accounts, the teller we spoke to talked to my spouse and I angrily, like we didn’t know anything and were criminals. Then she messed up the process to take our ID and get our bank cards, making what should be a quick process take a hour. She seemed to be on an angry power trip. My mother passed away recently, and I went into the branch to finalize the process of closing her accounts, etc. The person I interacted with barely spoke English, shook my hand as though it’s dirty, and barely mentioned anything about her passing. All I can say is there is no comparison between Scotia and RBC. Also, EQ bank is excellent as a high interest, low fee bank. There is NO NEED to put up with the likes of Scotiabank. They clearly pay their employees low wages, which explains the quality they get, and they have nothing over and above other banks. Even their banking app sucks… it’s dumbed down to the point that you can barely do anything with it. They are cheap, yet expensive, high pressure sales, low quality… I DO NOT recommend them.

waited an hour and a half to speak to someone and when i finally got connected, i got hung up on because i couldn't understand their beyond broken english. switching banks ASAP.