Features At-a-Glance
No monthly fee for full-time studentslegal bug 3
Pay $0/month for your account
Unlimited debit transactions in Canada
FREE Interaclegal bug ‡ e-Transfer transactions legal bug 4, legal bug 5
No RBC fee to use another bank’s ATM in Canadalegal bug 6,legal bug 7
Up to $48 rebate on the annual fee of an eligible credit cardlegal bug 8
An app built for you—RBC Mobile Student Editionlegal bug 9
Tap to pay with your mobile phone
Virtual Visa Debitlegal bug 10 for safe online shopping
No monthly fee for full-time studentslegal bug 3
Pay $0/month for your account
Tap, click and swipe as much as you want
Unlimited debit transactions in Canada
FREE Interaclegal bug ‡ e-Transfer transactions legal bug 4, legal bug 5
No RBC fee to use another bank’s ATM in Canadalegal bug 6,legal bug 7
Up to $48 rebate on the annual fee of an eligible credit cardlegal bug 8
An app built for you—RBC Mobile Student Editionlegal bug 9
Tap to pay with your mobile phone
Virtual Visa Debitlegal bug 10 for safe online shopping
Other Features Included in this Account
Avion Pointslegal bug 11 | Enrol your account in the Value Program to get a minimum of 1 Avion point for every $10 you spend in-store and online using your enrolled account. |
Online, Mobile and Telephone Banking | FREE |
eStatements or Monthly Paper Statements | FREE |
Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) Fee | 1 NSF fee rebated every calendar year legal bug 15 |
Personalized Cheques | Fees Apply |
Optional Services
Using a PLUS System ATM in Canada or the U.S. legal bug 6 | $3 each |
Using a PLUS System ATM Outside Canada or the U.S.legal bug 6,legal bug 7 | $5 each |
Cross-Border Debitslegal bug 17 | $1 each |
Overdraft Protectionlegal bug 18 | $5/month, plus overdraft interest (if used) |
Safe Deposit Box | Regular Fees Apply |
Bank Drafts | $9.95 each |
For details about other services, see additional account services.
Unlock powerful benefits with RBC Vantage every day. Only at RBC.
Rewards, savings, and more with a student bank account.
See all your cost savings and rewards—in one place.
Keep track of the benefits you get with an eligible RBC bank account using the Vantage Snapshot in the RBC Mobile app.
Never worry about a lost card.
Easily lock a misplaced debit or credit card in the RBC Mobilelegal bug 13 app. Unlock it just as fast.
Check your credit score for free.
Easily access your credit scorelegal bug 19 in RBC Online Bankinglegal bug 20 without impacting your credit rating.
Get a head start on investing.
Pay no management fees when you open an RBC Direct Investing account as a student.legal bug 21
See more of your favourite events.
Receive exclusive access and ticket discounts to see some of your favourite artists, sporting events and performances.
Safely shop online.
With Virtual Visa Debitlegal bug 10, you can make secure online purchases using the money in your bank account.
See all your cost savings and rewards—in one place.
Keep track of the benefits you get with an eligible RBC bank account using the Vantage Snapshot in the RBC Mobile app.
Never worry about a lost card.
Easily lock a misplaced debit or credit card in the RBC Mobilelegal bug 13 app. Unlock it just as fast.
Check your credit score for free.
Easily access your credit scorelegal bug 19 in RBC Online Bankinglegal bug 20 without impacting your credit rating.
Get a head start on investing.
Pay no management fees when you open an RBC Direct Investing account as a student.legal bug 21
See more of your favourite events.
Receive exclusive access and ticket discounts to see some of your favourite artists, sporting events and performances.
Safely shop online.
With Virtual Visa Debitlegal bug 10, you can make secure online purchases using the money in your bank account.
Build Your Savings and Credit History, Too
Build Your Savings and Credit History, Too
RBC High Interest eSavings
RBC ION+ Visa
Support & Resources
How can we help you today?
Your Top Questions Answered
Your Top Questions Answered
To open an RBC Advantage Banking account for students, you need to be at least age 13 (14 in Quebec), meet our requirements for a full-time student and provide proof of ID when you apply—for example, a valid driver’s licence or passport.
To be considered a full-time student, you must attend a primary or secondary school or be enrolled in a program at the post-secondary level at a college, university or other educational institution (whether in Canada or not). If you are a post-secondary student, you must take at least 60% of the usual course load for the program in which you are enrolled in any particular semester. Proof of enrollment may be requested at our discretion.
Yes, international students living in Canada can open a bank account in Canada. At RBC, you can open an RBC Advantage Banking account for students if you meet our definition of a full-time student and reside in Canada at the time you open the account. Learn more about opening a bank account as an international student.
To be considered a full-time student, you must attend a primary or secondary school or be enrolled in a program at the post-secondary level at a college, university or other educational institution (whether in Canada or not). If you are a post-secondary student, you must take at least 60% of the usual course load for the program in which you are enrolled in any particular semester. Proof of enrollment may be requested at our discretion.
When you have an RBC bank account, you can request a Virtual Visa Debit card, which you can use to make safe, online purchases using the money in your primary chequing account.legal bug 22 No credit card needed!
Your credit score is a number that indicates your ability to borrow and repay money. A high credit score can help you qualify for loans, credit cards and/or higher credit limits when you apply for them. Learn more about how students can build a good credit score.
A great place to begin is to understand the benefits of a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) and a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). These are popular investment accounts that give you the opportunity to grow your money faster than you could in a traditional savings account. Check out these 4 things to know about TFSAs and RRSPs.
In some cases, yes. You can apply to open an RBC Advantage Banking account for students online if you meet our definition of a full-time student and you are:
- 18 years of age or the age of majority in your province
Note: Ages 13+ (or 14+ in Quebec) can apply to open an account using the RBC Mobilelegal bug 9 app. - Opening a sole account in your own name
- Living in Canada
To be considered a full-time student, you must attend a primary or secondary school or be enrolled in a program at the post-secondary level at a college, university or other educational institution (whether in Canada or not). If you are a post-secondary student, you must take at least 60% of the usual course load for the program in which you are enrolled in any particular semester. Proof of enrollment may be requested at our discretion.
Full-time studentslegal bug 3, including students as young as age 13 (14 in Quebec), can open an RBC Advantage Banking account for studentslegal bug 1 and enjoy unlimited debits in Canada and other great benefits for no monthly fee.
Send an Interac e-Transferlegal bug 4,legal bug 5 without ever needing to log in to the RBC Mobilelegal bug 1,legal bug 3 app! Simply enable Siri in the app and you'll be able to quickly and easily send money.
Going away to school or thinking of staying local? There are several factors that can impact how much a college, university or other post-secondary education might cost you. Use the RBC Student Budget Calculator to get an estimate of how much money you might need.
Upon the graduation date you provided when you opened your RBC Advantage Banking account for students, your monthly fee waiver for full-time students will expire and you’ll be charged the monthly fee for the RBC Advantage Banking account. However, you may be able to qualify for a monthly fee rebate through the Value Program and could pay as little as $0 per month for your account.
This offer is available to any Eligible Student Client without a Personal Banking Account with Royal Bank of Canada at the beginning of the Promotional Period or in the three-year period before the start of the Promotional Period, and who otherwise comply with the Terms of the offer. The Promotional Offer is $100 Bonus Amount deposited in your Eligible Personal Banking Account and a $100 Charitable Bonus donated by RBC to one of eight RBC-approved charities as selected by you, if you have fulfilled all Qualifying Criteria and conditions of the Promotional Offer.
To qualify for the Promotional Offer you must open your first new Eligible Personal Banking Account by 9:00 PM EST on January 31, 2024 and complete one of the following Qualifying Criteria by 9:00 PM EST on March 29, 2024 using your Eligible Personal Banking Account:
i. a minimum of three (3) debit transactions; or
ii. register your Eligible Personal Banking Account for Interac auto deposit and make one (1) e-Transfer using RBC Online Banking or the RBC Mobile app; or
iii. enroll for a Virtual Visa Debit Card and make one (1) transaction
NOTE: Qualifying Debit Transactions are defined as Bill Payments or purchase transaction using any of the following: your RBC Client Card, an RBC Virtual Visa Debit card associated with your Eligible Personal Banking Account, Interac Flash, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay Transactions carried out at an RBC Royal Bank branch or through the RBC Royal Bank ATM network, and bank fee transactions, are not included as qualifying transactions.
NOTE: You must be at least 14 years of age to obtain an RBC Virtual Visa Debit card. As such, option iii. (above) is only available to individuals who meet this minimum age requirement; if you are below the age of 14 and participate in this Promotional Offer, you must select one of the other eligible transaction types described.
The $100 cash component of the Promotional Offer will be deposited into your Eligible Personal Banking Account within 2 to 8 weeks of completing the Qualifying Criteria, if applicable. Royal Bank of Canada may follow up with Eligible Student Clients to remind them to complete the Qualifying Criteria.
To claim the charitable bonus offer:
Beginning December 5, 2023, we will notify you by way of an email to the email address we have recorded in your client profile, when you have fulfilled the Qualifying Criteria and qualified for the Charitable Bonus portion of the Promotional Offer. This message will be sent at any time up to seven (7) business days after all Qualifying Criteria have been completed. The message will contain a link that will permit you to visit a webpage where you will be able to select a charitable cause of your choice from among the options presented thereon. After you have made your selection, RBC will donate the Charitable Bonus amount to an RBC-approved charity that supports the charitable cause you selected. In order to have your Charitable Bonus allocated accordingly, you must make your selection by April 30, 2024.
This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other Personal Banking Account offers. Royal Bank of Canada reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time without notice, even after acceptance by you. For full details including defined terms visit rbc.com/getgiveofferterms.
Subject to credit approval. If you are a post-secondary student and an owner or co-owner of an RBC Advantage™ Banking Account for students (“Eligible Student Bank Account”) and the primary cardholder of one of the eligible RBC Royal Bank credit cards listed below (each, an “Eligible Credit Card”), the annual fee of your Eligible Credit Card may be fully rebated, every year:
Eligible Credit Cards | Annual Fee Rebate |
---|---|
RBC ION+ Visa | $4 a month ($48 annually) |
WestJet RBC MasterCard | $39 |
Signature RBC Rewards Visa | $39 |
Visa Cash Back Card | $19 |
For any other RBC Royal Bank credit card, regular annual Fees Apply as they are not eligible for a rebate. For the annual fee of your Eligible Credit Card to be fully rebated, every year, you must: i) complete the Student Information section of the credit card application in full, ii) remain a student, and iii) be an owner or co-owner of an Eligible Student Bank Account throughout your studies. The annual fee of your Eligible Credit Card will continue to be fully rebated: i) until you close your Eligible Student Bank Account, or ii) until the Expected Graduation Year you have provided at the opening of your Eligible Student Bank Account, whichever comes first. Thereafter, the annual fee will no longer be rebated. If, for some reason, the Expected Graduation Year you have provided at the opening of your Eligible Student Bank Account differs from the one you have indicated on your credit card application, the Expected Graduation Year you have provided at the opening of your Eligible Student Bank Account will prevail and be used for determining the expiry of this offer. Additional cardholders (co-applicant and authorized user(s)) do not qualify for the annual fee rebate even if they are also owners of an Eligible Student Bank Account. Only one credit card annual fee rebate per Eligible Student Bank Account is allowed. If you already have an Eligible Student Bank Account, the rebate will be applied at the time you open your Eligible Credit Card account. If you open your Eligible Student Bank Account after you have opened your Eligible Credit Card account, the rebate will be applied at your next annual renewal and won't be applied retroactively. Other conditions and restrictions may apply. Royal Bank of Canada reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time, even after acceptance by you.
The offers program is available to clients with an RBC Royal Bank (i) debit card tied to a personal or business chequing account, and/or (ii) personal or business credit card, other than an RBC Commercial Visa or RBC US Dollar Visa card.
Eligibility criteria for an offer: (a) is determined by RBC, (b) may vary depending on the offer, and (c) may be based on the client’s preferences and account status. Eligible clients will refer to the terms and conditions applicable to each specific offer for more details.