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Tangerine alternatives in Canada (2026): after the promo ends

By Benjamin ThomasUpdated 7-min read
The Tangerine logo with an arrow pointing to four alternatives: EQ Bank, Simplii, Neo and Lodavo.
App comparison
AppCostHolds your moneyInterest or returnPrize drawsCDIC-eligible
TangerineNo monthly feesYes0.30%, promo 4.50%1NoMember, $100,000 per category2
LodavoFreeNoNone. You keep your bank’s rateYesYour own bank’s coverage
EQ BankNo monthly feesYes1.00% to 2.75%3NoMember, $100,000 per category4
Simplii FinancialNo monthly feesYes0.30%, promo 4.60%5NoMember via CIBC, $100,000 per category6
Neo FinancialFree, or $9.99 to $14.99/mo7Yes2.00% to 2.75%8NoVia member institutions9
Notes and conditions (9)
  1. 1Tangerine The posted rate is 0.30% on Savings, TFSA and RSP, 0.35% on RIF. New-client promos of 4.50% non-registered and 5.00% on RSP, TFSA and RIF Savings, each running 153 days (5 months) from the day the account opens, on balances up to $1,000,000 per account type (as of September 2026).
  2. 2Tangerine Tangerine Bank is a CDIC member in its own right, so its $100,000 per category sits separately from a Scotiabank balance.
  3. 3EQ Bank 1.00% base, 2.75% with recurring direct deposits of $2,000/month. Notice Savings pays 2.35% (10-day) or 2.75% (30-day); the TFSA, FHSA and RRSP cash accounts pay 1.50%; GICs run 3.70% to 4.25% on 1-to-5-year terms. Some products aren’t offered in Quebec (rates effective September 16, 2026).
  4. 4EQ Bank A trade name of Equitable Bank, the CDIC member, so deposits under both names share one $100,000 limit per category.
  5. 5Simplii Financial The base rate is around 0.30% on the first $50,000. A new-client promo pays 4.60% for 153 days (5 months) from opening, on balances up to $200,000. Simplii opens a new round a few times a year, so check the dates on its page (as of August 2026).
  6. 6Simplii Financial A division of CIBC, not a separate member, so deposits at Simplii and CIBC share one $100,000 limit per category rather than each getting their own.
  7. 7Neo Financial The accounts are free on the Essentials membership. Build ($9.99 a month) and Grow ($14.99 a month) buy the higher savings rates, the credit tools, and waived chequing fees. Both rose from $7.99 and $12.99, for new customers on September 1, 2026 and for existing members on October 1. Until October 1 a savings balance of $5,000 or more still gets a paid membership free, and a Neo World Elite Mastercard includes Build at no cost. A fourth tier, Start, is announced for later in 2026 at $0 with a payroll deposit or $4.99 a month (as of September 2026).
  8. 8Neo Financial Until October 1, 2026 Neo Savings sets the rate by balance, and a balance of $5,000 or more buys the paid membership behind the higher tiers for nothing. From October 1 the rate follows your membership alone: Essentials 2.00% free, Start 2.25% ($0 with a payroll deposit, otherwise $4.99 a month, launching later in 2026), Build 2.50% at $9.99 a month and Grow 2.75% at $14.99 a month. A separate, older High-Interest Savings account pays 1.25%, and Neo Chequing pays 0.1%.
  9. 9Neo Financial Neo isn’t a CDIC member. Neo Savings balances are held in trust at one or more member institutions, while the Neo Everyday account and the older High-Interest Savings account are held at Peoples Bank of Canada.
Figures as of 2026; rates and fees change. Verify with each provider before deciding.

What are the best Tangerine alternatives in Canada?

The four options below each answer a different reason to look elsewhere. For the highest rate that doesn’t expire, look at EQ Bank. For another fresh new-client promo, Simplii Financial. For an everyday savings rate bundled with cash-back cards, Neo Financial. And for a free weekly prize draw on top of most bank accounts, Lodavo. You’ve seen the numbers in the table above. What follows is the why behind them, one pick at a time, so you can match a choice to your plan.

Why look for a Tangerine alternative?

For most people, it comes down to one reason: the rate. Tangerine’s eye-catching number is a new-client promotion (currently about 4.50% on a non-registered Savings Account for roughly five months), and when it ends the base rate falls to 0.30% (opens in a new tab) (as of 2026). That’s a steep drop, and it’s the moment a lot of people start looking around.

Nothing is wrong with Tangerine. It’s a long-established no-fee online bank, owned by Scotiabank, and a CDIC member, so your eligible deposits are protected up to $100,000 per category. The catch is structural. A promo rate is temporary by design. So if you want a rate that stays high, a fresh promo to rotate into, more rewards, or a free upside layered on top of your saving, one of the alternatives below will fit you better. The trick is matching the alternative to what you actually want next, not just grabbing the biggest headline number.

The best Tangerine alternatives in Canada, at a glance

These four do four different things: a plain high-interest account, a second big-bank online bank with its own promo, a savings-plus-rewards bundle, and a free weekly prize draw that works with nearly every bank. Each section below pins down the current rate, the catch, and who it’s for.

EQ Bank, best for a high rate that doesn’t expire

EQ Bank is the cleanest swap if Tangerine’s post-promo drop is what bothers you. It’s the digital arm of Equitable Bank, a CDIC member, and its Personal Account pays a 1.00% base rate, rising to 2.75% with a qualifying recurring direct deposit of at least $2,000 a month (opens in a new tab) (as of 2026), with no monthly fee and no expiry date on the rate. You also get free Interac e-Transfers, plus notice accounts and GICs if you want to lock in more.

The honest limitation: the top rate is conditional. If you can’t route $2,000 a month in direct deposits, you sit closer to the 1.00% base. Even so, that base alone is more than three times Tangerine’s 0.30%, and it never lapses, so you’re not re-shopping every five months. For a rate you don’t have to keep re-earning, EQ Bank beats the rest of this list.

Simplii Financial, best for another fresh promo

Simplii is about as direct a Tangerine alternative as you can get. It’s CIBC’s no-fee online bank, the mirror image of Scotiabank-owned Tangerine, with no-fee chequing, a high-interest savings account, and the same promo-driven playbook. Right now Simplii offers new clients 4.60% for about five months (opens in a new tab) (as of 2026) on balances up to $200,000.

Be honest with yourself about how you’ll use it. Like Tangerine, Simplii’s regular rate drops to a low level once the promo ends, so its best use is as a fresh promo to rotate into when your Tangerine offer expires. Plenty of people bounce between the two every few months to keep a promo rate running, and because both are CDIC-backed online banks, the switch is low-stakes. If chasing promos sounds like a chore, EQ Bank’s steady rate is the simpler path. If you don’t mind it, Simplii is the natural next stop.

Neo Financial, best for an everyday rate plus rewards

Neo Financial bundles saving, spending and rewards together. It pairs a no-fee high-interest savings account with cash-back cards and a rewards marketplace, all in one app, with the savings side delivered through Peoples Bank of Canada (a CDIC member, so eligible balances are covered up to $100,000 per category). Neo Savings pays a tiered rate, 2.00% to start and up to 2.75% on balances above $20,000 (opens in a new tab) (as of 2026), with no promo countdown to watch.

The trade-off is that Neo is at its best when you actually use the cards and the rewards marketplace. The richest rewards come from spending through Neo’s partner network, so if you only want a savings account and won’t touch the cards, EQ Bank is simpler and pays more once you clear the direct-deposit bar. But if you want a steady everyday rate and cash back in the same place, Neo is the closest thing to an all-in-one upgrade on this list.

Lodavo, a free prize draw on your savings

Lodavo works with Tangerine, EQ Bank and Simplii, though it can’t connect to Neo yet. It’s Canada’s first prize-linked savings app, and it isn’t a bank account. It connects read-only to the account you already save in through Plaid (opens in a new tab), and every week of saving earns you free tickets in a cash draw. The more you save, the more tickets you earn. The draw pays out up to $10,000, and at least $100 is guaranteed to a user every week.

Lodavo layers onto the bank you land on, Tangerine included, so the savings you’re already keeping earn you a chance at cash every week. There’s no promo to expire and nothing to re-apply for. Pair it with a high-interest account for the rate rather than using it in place of one. If you’re wondering how a draw on savings differs from gambling, we cover the no purchase necessary and skill-testing rules here, and you can see recent winners on the winning numbers page.

How to choose the right Tangerine alternative for you

The best answer is the one that fits your next step. Match your goal to a pick:

If you wantPickWhy
A high rate that never expiresEQ BankUp to 2.75% with direct deposit, 1.00% base, CDIC member (as of 2026)
Another fresh new-client promoSimplii Financial4.60% for about 5 months, no fee, CIBC-backed (as of 2026)
An everyday rate plus cash-back rewardsNeo FinancialTiered 2.00% to 2.75% savings plus rewards cards (as of 2026)
A chance to win cash every weekLodavoFree weekly draw tickets, at almost any bank

For most people it ends up being two things, not one: a high-interest account holding the balance, and Lodavo giving that balance a chance at a cash prize every week. To go deeper, our guide to prize-linked savings in Canada explains how the whole category works, and the best savings apps in Canada roundup widens the field if none of these four is your match.

Terms and conditions apply. No purchase necessary (alternate method of entry available). Skill-testing question required. Open to legal residents of Canada who are the age of majority. Odds depend on the number of eligible entries received. Full rules and odds at our contest rules.

Tangerine

Pros

  • No-fee chequing and savings with no minimum balance
  • Strong new-client promo rate (about 4.50% for roughly 5 months, as of 2026)
  • Established online bank backed by Scotiabank, a CDIC member

Cons

  • Base rate drops to 0.30% once the promo ends (as of 2026)
  • The top promo rate is for new clients only
  • No prize draws or cash-back card rewards built in

Lodavo

Pros

  • Free entry to a weekly cash draw: at least $100 guaranteed, up to $10,000 in prizes
  • Pairs with almost any bank, Tangerine included
  • Your ticket count follows your balance, not a countdown, and it costs nothing

Cons

  • Pays no interest, so a high-interest account still does the earning
  • No chequing account, no card, no everyday banking
  • Prizes are chance-based, so a win is never something to count on

Frequently asked questions

Is Simplii better than Tangerine?

They're close cousins. Both are no-fee online banks owned by a big-five bank (Simplii by CIBC, Tangerine by Scotiabank), and both lean on new-client promos. Simplii currently offers 4.60% for about 5 months (as of 2026). If you've used up Tangerine's promo, switching to Simplii's is a common move, though the regular rate drops afterward too.

Is there a free alternative to Tangerine?

Yes. EQ Bank, Neo Financial and Simplii all offer no-fee savings accounts, just like Tangerine, and Wealthsimple's Chequing account has no monthly fee either. Lodavo costs nothing either, and while it isn't a bank account, it rewards your saving with free tickets in a weekly draw.

Does Lodavo replace a Tangerine account?

No. Lodavo isn't a chequing or savings account, so it doesn't replace one. It runs on the account you already have, and every week of saving earns you free tickets in the draw. Most people keep a high-interest account like EQ Bank for the rate, then add Lodavo on top.

Are these Tangerine alternatives CDIC insured?

EQ Bank is a CDIC member directly, and Simplii is a division of CIBC, a CDIC member. Neo's savings is CDIC-eligible through Peoples Bank of Canada. Nothing about your coverage changes with Lodavo, since it doesn't hold your money. Always confirm coverage with each provider.

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