Scotia iTRADE Review 2024

Scotia Review Summary:
  • Scotiabank’s Online Fees and Commissions
  • Account Options
  • ETF Trading Fees
  • Customer Service
  • User-Friendly Platform and Mobile App
  • Overall Banking Convenience
3.4

Scotia iTRADE Review Summary:

Scotia iTRADE is the online brokerage platform from The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank). If you’re already a Scotiabank customer and place a lot of value on having your investments under the same umbrella as your mortgage and chequing account, then perhaps a Scotia iTRADE is worth the price premium for you.

When compared to other big Canadian banks, it is true that Scotia iTRADE stands out in terms of the quality of the tools offered for active traders, as well as a wide offering of educational resources.

When compared to the best Canadian online brokers however, it just doesn’t stand up to the competition. Some of the reasons include a poor performing app and even poorer customer service.

Read this Scotia iTRADE review to find out why as we break down iTRADE’s offerings, fees and commissions (spoiler alert: they are too high!), active trader features and more.

Pros

  • Well known and trusted company
  • Good for day traders and large portfolios
  • Excellent desktop platform
  • 100+ commission-free ETFs
  • Practice accounts available

Cons

  • Fees are on the high side even for big bank
  • Bad reviews for their mobile app
  • Terrible customer service reviews

Scotia iTrade is not the best Canadian brokerage due to high fees and no available signup bonus.

View Alternative, Better Rated Canadian Brokers

What is Scotia iTRADE?

Scotia iTRADE launched in 2008, after Scotiabank acquired E*Trade Canada and immediately rebranded it. This purchase was a smart move, effectively doubling the Scotiabank online client base overnight.

Scotia iTRADE made a name for itself in the active day trader community because of its discounted flat rate commissions for active traders. They still offer these discounts, but the discounted fees have climbed from $1.25+ per trade to $4.99+ per trade, putting it on par with (and in some cases higher than) other big banks. 

Although it has some good qualities, Scotia iTRADE is not one of our most recommended DIY brokers. For investors looking for low fees and enhanced customer service, we would recommend online trading platforms such as Qtrade and Questrade, which have a number of free and low-cost trading options as well as excellent customer service

Scotia iTRADE Logo
scotia itrade screenshot2
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Scotia iTRADE: Safe and Trusted?

Scotiabank was founded in 1832. It’s one of Canada’s Big Five Banks and is used and trusted by tens of millions of clients worldwide. Scotia iTRADE has been in operation since 2008 – and its original parent company, E*Trade, is about as old as the internet (it began operations in 1982). 

Scotiabank is Canadian Investment Protection Fund (CIPF) insured and regulated by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC). 

When it comes to data security, Scotia iTRADE is on par with the other big banks – meaning that it’s as secure as you can get when it comes to online transactions. Scotiabank requires 128-bit encryption, uses firewalls and system monitors, and offers its users free security software. 

Which is a long way of saying yes, Scotia iTRADE is both safe and trusted. The only risk you incur by investing with them is the risk you incur when you make any investment decisions. 

Scotia iTRADE Review: 100+ Commission-free ETFs

Scotia iTRADE offers investors commission-free trading on over 100 ETFs from a range of companies including: 

  • Vanguard
  • Horizon
  • iShares
  • Emerge
  • Scotiabank

Free ETF trading is increasingly common – and so is the catch: like other big bank investment platforms, including BMO Investorline, Scotia iTRADE will only waive the commission if you hold onto the ETF for at least 24 hours. 

That means that regular investors can take advantage of the savings but day traders are better off looking elsewhere. 

Trading Fees and Commissions

Aside from their commission-free ETFs, Scotia iTRADE’s trading fees are higher than we’d like to see. Stocks and non-exempt ETFs cost $9.99 for average traders to buy or sell (active traders can qualify for discounts- see more below). 

Scotiabank’s trading fees and commissions are in line with their main competitors’ at RBC, TD, and BMO.  The $9.99 per trade fee is standard across most of the Big Banks’ discount brokerages. 

This is obviously a higher price than Questrade, Qtrade and other low cost online brokers. That said, there is something that Canadians love about the safety and convenience of using our well-known banks.  Certainly there is a long track record of excellence and trust at Scotiabank, and to a lot of people, that’s worth paying more for. 

Account and Transaction Fees

Scotia iTRADE’s account fees are a bit nuanced.  While the Scotia iTRADE TFSA is free to open at any price point, the RRSP, RRIF, or LIRA will cost you $100 per year unless you meet one of the following conditions.

  • $25,000 in combined assets across all of your Scotia iTRADE accounts.
  • 12 commissionable trades per year.

The Scotia iTRADE RESP account fee is $25, but that fee is waived if your combined accounts add up to more than $15,000.

It’s also worth noting that if you don’t make one commissionable trade each quarter, Scotia iTRADE is going to hit you with a $25.00 inactivity fee!

Below is a quick chart of the more common Scotia iTRADE account fees that you might run into.

Canadian Controlled Corporation Setup$300
Canadian Controlled Corp. Annually$100
RSP Withdrawals$50
TFSA Withdrawals$0
Home Buyers Plan & Life Long Plan Withdrawals$50
Confirmation Replacement$2
Copies of Statements, Confirms, Cheques and Tax Receipts$5
Research Account Inquiries$50 per hour
Certificate Registration$100
Wire fee (out)$25 + Clearing Fee
Wire fee (in)Free
Estate Account Processing$200 per account

Options Trading Fees

If options trading is what you’re after, the Scotia iTRADE options trading fee is $9.99 plus a $1.25 contract fee.  

Much like their general trading fees, when it comes to trading options contracts, Scotia’s online trading commissions match up closely with the other Canadian big banks.  

Scotia iTRADE iClub: Benefits for Active Traders or High Balances

Like some other big banks including BMO, Scotiabank offers reduced fees and special benefits to active traders and investors who have high balances. Here’s a look at the requirements and rewards for the Scotia iTRADE iClub Gold and Platinum membership tiers. 

Scotia iTRADE iClubGold MembershipPlatinum Membership
Eligibility Requirements30+ trades per quarter or $250,000 in assets$150+ trades per quarter or $1,000,000 in assets
Special Pricing/FeesAnnual administration fees waived Special $4.99/trade fees, annual administration fees waived
Other Benefits-Dedicated client service line for Gold Members
-Free access to FlightDesk premium service
-Priority registration to iClub members only webinars and educational events
– Personalized service with dedicated relationship managers
– Free access to FlightDesk premium service with full customization options
– Priority registration to iClub members only webinars and educational events
-Exclusive invitations to member appreciation events

Scotia iTRADE Review: Account Types (TFSA, RRSP, Non-Registered)

While iTRADE isn’t going to outcompete the rest of Canada’s online brokers on price, they aren’t going to be beat when it comes to account offerings.  They offer every account type you can think of, including:

  • Non-registered accounts (both CAD and USD)
  • Margin Accounts
  • RRSP (both CAD and USD)
  • TFSA 
  • RESP (both CAD and USD)
  • RRIF
  • LIF
  • LIRA
  • Business Accounts (Sole proprietorship, corporate, partnership)
  • Canadian Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC)
  • Informal Trust
  • Investment Club
  • Trust or Estate
  • Charity or Unincorporated Organization

Scotia iTRADE Review: Practice Account

One of Scotia iTRADE’s features that does stand out is their practice account. The Scotia iTRADE Practice Account is an online trading simulator that gives you (an entirely fictional) $100,000 CAD and $100,000 USD to invest. 

The practice account is a risk-free way for new investors to get used to the platform and process—and a way for more experienced investors to test out new investment strategies. We don’t see a lot of practice accounts in the DIY investing space, and we’d be happy to see them catch on.

Scotia iTRADE Review: Cash Optimizer Account

The unique Scotia iTRADE Cash Optimizer account is a holdover from iTRADE’s origins as E*Trade. Basically, it’s a non-registered account within iTRADE that allows investors to get high-interest savings account-level returns on the investment funds they have sitting in cash. 

To be honest, we’re not big fans of having a lot of cash sitting in your investing account. Either put your money to work in an investment portfolio or toss it in an actual high interest savings account to get the best interest rate possible. See our EQ Bank Review for more details on that decision.

Scotia iTRADE Review: Mobile App

While the Scotia iTRADE app looks fine to me, (I wouldn’t recommend doing any serious trading on a phone anyway – and it looks like it could handle basic transactions just fine) the 1.39k reviews in the Google Play Store tell a different story. 

While it has jumped from 1.4 stars to 3.2 since our last update, it is still in need of improvement. Users continue to report many app crashes and long-term inability to log in as being the main issues.

The Apple App Store only gives the platform a 4.4 star rating with only 89 reviews, with the complaints mirroring those in the Google Play Store. Clearly, the Scotia iTRADE Mobile App needs to be an area of improvement for the overall platform going forward. For better rated apps, read our comparison of the best stock trading apps in Canada.

scotia itrade app screenshot
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Scotia iTRADE Customer Service

Every time we update our Scotia iTRADE review we get new comments complaining about the customer service. And it’s not just our readers, either: Scotia iTRADE has 100% negative reviews on Trustpilot. Most complaints centre around wait times and app usability. 

Though many of their features are robust and helpful, if you can’t use the app for basic transactions and you can’t get help when you need it, everything else fades in comparison. 

Response times and mobile app functionality should be high on Scotiabank’s list of things to improve. 

Scotia iTRADE vs Qtrade

Now that we’ve explored Scotia iTRADE in depth, it’s time for a quick comparison to our top online broker in Canada – Qtrade.

Scotia iTrade

Qtrade

ETF Fees

$9.99

$0-$8.75

Mutual Fund Trade Fee

$0

$0

Account Fees

$300 set up fee + $100 annual fee for investment accounts

$25 per quarter, can be waived if certain requirements are met

Inctivity/Low Activity Fee

$25 per quarter

$0 (as long as certain requirements are met *see above)

Tradable Assets

Bonds, Equities, ETFs, GICs, New Issues, Mutual Funds, Options

ETFs, Equities, Exchange-traded debentures, Fixed income, Mutual Funds, Options

User Experience

Average mobile and online trading platform and poor app ratings

Easy to use mobile and online trading platform and moderate app ratings

Customer Service

Many negative customer service reviews due to long wait times, no response to calls or emails, and inexperienced staff

Highly rated customer service

From this comparison, we can understand the reason why some Scotia iTRADE customers have jumped ship to get better value and service elsewhere.

Scotia iTRADE Review – Frequently Asked Questions

So, Who Is Scotiabank’s Online Trading Broker Best For?

If you have been hanging around our site for a while, you know that big banks usually offer at most convenience if you are already a customer. You won’t find the lowest fees, best platforms, or even best customer service.

It’s not to say they aren’t doing anything right. If you are a day trader or have a high account balance, you reap the rewards of having lower fees and better customer service. There are in fact several good reasons Scotia iTrade has won a number of awards over the years.

The main point is, times have changed, and banks like Scotiabank are just not keeping up with other top discount DIY brokerages. If you’re looking for the best Canadian online brokerage, we recommend Qtrade. Find out why it beats out iTRADE and the rest in our full Qtrade review.

FT

FT is the founder and editor of Million Dollar Journey (est. 2006). Through various financial strategies outlined on this site, he grew his net worth from $200,000 in 2006 to $1,000,000 by 2014. You can read more about him here.
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John Baird
10 months ago

I agree and now the switch to tradepro is a bomb so far IMO. Any suggestions on a good platform would be appreciated.

Annikka Johansen
11 months ago

My bad, but I didn’t realize there was an inactivity fee per quarter. It almost went to collections, despite receiving no notification that I owed money. I know it’s my responsibility to pay applicable fees every quarter, but even a small notice in my iTrade account could have alleviated the stress of being sent to the collections department.

Dave Townsend
1 year ago

I have had it with iTrade moving my portfolios to another company. I waited 4 hours to get through on the phones and in the end I was given wrong information from some helpdesk in India. Goodbye iTrade you don’t care about customer service and giving misinformation I will move somewhere else.

Alain
1 year ago

Constantly have issues with i-trade. The people at customer service are generally nice and for the most part helpful but the web access to their services is a nightmare. More often than not I incur unwanted surprises, restrictions, problems, etc. Processes with illogical restrictions, poor explanations of steps, ambiguous descriptions, and a labyrinth to find anything. Between iTrade and Scotia bank it’s a wonder I don’t just put my money under a mattress.

Last edited 1 year ago by Alain
Jerry
2 years ago

scotia itrade is a horrible place to trade. hours of wait time for phone calls, backoffice errors, high fees, mystery charges to your account and no one to talk to when it happens. it actually took 2 months for me to get an email response once.. do NOT use this bank – find yourself anyone else to deal with on the planet…

Javier
2 years ago
Reply to  Jerry

Totally agree

Handy
2 years ago
Reply to  Jerry

same experience on the phone on wait time even they have given me the Gold Club access number

Dave Townsend
1 year ago
Reply to  Jerry

I used to have iTrade before Scotia took over and it was good now its horrible. Its amazing how a company can be so bad but continue to stay in business. I wouldn’t recommend them to anybody.