Canadian Western Bank - Opening a Personal Bank Account

We make it easy to open an account at Canadian Western Bank. Simply visit any branch and talk with one of our Account Opening Specialists. An overview of our accounts can be found here. We make it easy for you to transfer your accounts from another financial institution to Canadian Western Bank too. More information on what you need to open a personal deposit account is shown below.

Access to Basic Banking

In accordance with Bank Act requirements and the Access to Basic Banking Services Regulations, the following conditions are to be met by individuals who are requesting the opening of a retail deposit account.

Provide to the bank:

(a)	Two pieces of original, valid identification from among those set out in Part A (primary) or B (secondary) of the schedule in the Access to Basic Banking Regulations. (See Below). At least one of the two pieces of identification must be from those set out in Part A of the schedule; or
(b)	One piece of identification from among those set out in Part A of the schedule, if the identity of the individual is also confirmed by a customer in good standing with the bank or by an individual of good standing in the community where the bank is situated.

Disclose to the bank, orally or in writing, their name, date of birth, address (if any) and occupation (if any), if the information is not available on the pieces of identification presented.

Consent to the bank's verifying the pieces of identification presented and the bank's verifying whether any of the following circumstances apply to the individual opening a retail deposit account. The bank may refuse to open an account in the following circumstances:

(a)	If the bank has reasonable grounds to believe that the account will be used for illegal or fraudulent purposes;
(b)	If the individual has a history of illegal or fraudulent activity in relation to providers of financial services and if the most recent instance of such activity occurred less than seven years before the day on which the request to open a retail deposit account is made;
(c)	If the bank has reasonable grounds to believe that the individual, for the purpose of opening the account, knowingly made a material misrepresentation in the information provided to the member bank;
(d)	If the bank has reasonable grounds to believe that it is necessary to refuse to open a retail deposit account in order to protect the customers or employees of the bank from physical harm, harassment or other abuse.

Schedule of Acceptable Identification:

This list is provided from the Access to Basic Banking Services Regulations under the Bank Act.

Part A

A valid permanent driver's license issued in Canada, as permitted to be used for identification purposes under provincial law.
A valid Canadian passport.
A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship or a Certification of Naturalization, in the form of a paper document or card, but not a commemorative issue.
A valid permanent driver's license issued in Canada, as permitted to be used for identification purposes under provincial law.
A provincial health insurance card, as permitted to be used for identification purposes under provincial law¹.
A Social Insurance Number card issued by the Government of Canada.
An Old Age Security card issued by the Government of Canada.
A certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada.
A birth certificate issued in Canada.
A document or card, bearing the individual's photograph and signature, issued by any of the following authorities:

Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
Alberta Registries
Saskatchewan Government Insurance
Department of Service Nova Scotia
Department of Transportation, Province of Prince Edward Island
Service New Brunswick
Department of Government Service, Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Department of Transportation of the Northwest Territories
Department of Community Government and Transportation of the Territory of Nunavut

Part B

A credit card, issued in Canada by a well known company bearing the name and signature of the individual.
A Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) client card bearing the individual's photograph and signature.
An employee identity card, issued by an employer that is well known in the community, bearing the individual's photograph.
A bank or automated banking machine or client card, issued by a member of the Canadian Payments Association in the name of, or bearing the name of, the individual and bearing the individual's signature.
A foreign passport.

We reserve the right to verify any identification presented by you, with the issuer.

¹As permitted to be used for identification purposes under provincial law. Ontario, PEI and Manitoba prohibit the use of health insurance cards as ID. Quebec Health Insurance Card can only be used for ID if the cardholder offers it, i.e., the bank cannot request it.

Personal Banking

Opening a Personal Bank Account

Access to Basic Banking

Schedule of Acceptable Identification: