Best Hybrid Bank Accounts In Canada 2023

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As the market changes and innovation continues, people continue to look for banking and financial solutions that are tailored to their personal and financial situations, and that doesn’t stop with traditional chequing and savings accounts, or with online banking. People want more flexibility in how they can manage and access their money, and a hybrid bank account is one innovative way of achieving that.

What Is A Hybrid Account?

Resembling a high-interest savings account, a hybrid bank account boasts a similar interest rate to a high-interest savings account, with the flexibility of a regular chequing account. Depending on your financial needs, you have the flexibility to let your money stay in the account and grow interest or you can use your account daily to pay bills, send e-transfers, and withdraw money. Most hybrid accounts offer interest rates ranging from 0.05 – 2%, while most chequing accounts offer low to no interest at all. In short, a hybrid bank account gives you the interest-accumulating power of a savings account, combined with the freedom of a chequing account.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Hybrid Account

While a hybrid bank account has many advantages for the right person, there are also a couple of negative factors to consider before deciding to sign up for one. Take a look at these pros and cons before making a decision:

Pros Of Hybrid Bank Accounts

Low fees – Many hybrid accounts are offered by online-only banks. Their lower management costs lead to lower or no fees for their clients.
No physical bank branch – As mentioned, hybrid accounts are generally offered by digital banks. This means everything can be managed online from the comfort of your home.
Unlimited transactions – Hybrid accounts usually have unlimited transactions and withdrawals. It’s designed to provide the user with the flexibility of a chequing account while still allowing the user to save and earn interest on their balance like a savings account. Do note, while many hybrid bank accounts offer unlimited transactions it can vary by provider, so be sure to read the fine print.
High-interest rates – Many hybrid accounts come with high-interest rates, especially compared to the big banks like TD, BMO, RBC, CIBC, etc.
Easy access online – You can open, manage or close your account all online.

Cons Of Hybrid Bank Accounts

No physical bank branch – If you prefer doing your banking in person, then a hybrid account may not be the best option as many are offered by online-only banks.
Limited functions – Compared to other credit and debit cards, a hybrid bank account may have limited functions.
Limited ATMs for cash withdrawal – The number of free ATMs for cash withdrawal may be limited based on the provider you choose.

Best Hybrid Accounts In Canada

	Fees	Interest	Main Features
Neo Money™ Account	None	2.25%*	– No monthly fees – No min balance – Unlimited free transactions – Unlimited free Interac® e-Transfers
Simplii Financial™ No-Fee Chequing Account	None	0.05%	– No monthly fee – No min balance – Unlimited free e-Transfers – Free access to all CIBC ATMs
KOHO Account	$0 – $19/monthly	up to 4.5%	– Cashback on purchases – Credit building service
EQ Bank Savings Plus Account	None	2.00*%	– One of the highest interest rates – Absolutely no fees – No min deposit – Max deposit of 200,000
Manulife Advantage Account	None, unless account balance is under $1,000	3.75%	– No fees with balances over $1,000

Neo Money™ Account

The Neo Money™ account offers one of the best daily interest rates, 2.25%*, for a hybrid high-interest savings and everyday spending account. Not only will account holders earn interest on their balances (up to $200,00), but they will benefit from no monthly or annual fees, no minimum balance requirements, and unlimited free transactions.

The Neo Money™ account can be used to save for the future, pay bills, and send Interac® e-Transfers for free. Furthermore, the Neo Money™ account comes with the Neo Money™ card. This card can be used to make purchases in-store and online. And users can earn cashback for their purchases. For example, users can earn up to 15% cashback on their first-time purchases at over 10,000 Neo partners and enjoy an average of 5% cashback.

If you’re looking for a bank account that’s free, doesn’t require a minimum balance, and offers unlimited free transactions, the Neo Money™ account is a great option to consider.

Sign Up Bonus

Open a Neo Money™ account today and receive a $5 bonus².

Open account and get $5

Interest Rate	2.25%*
Monthly Fee	Free
Welcome/ Bonus Offer	Open a Neo Money™ account today and receive a $5 bonus²
Mobile App	Yes (Android & Apple) – Pay bills – Transfer funds – Track your spending with Neo’s insights dashboard – Mobile cheque deposit – Virtual Neo Card – Track Cashback rewards

Simplii Financial No-Fee Chequing Account

While Simplii Financial’s No-Fee Chequing Account offers a relatively low-interest rate for your deposits, up 0.10%, this account truly shines because of its no-fee structure. There is no monthly fee and no minimum balance to meet. Unlimited debit transactions, bill payments, and withdrawals. And account holders can send unlimited Interac e-Transfers for free. Clients also have access to any CIBC ATM in Canada for free.

Simplii™ provides its clients with free daily banking, which for many Canadians, is an important part of creating a budget and meeting financial goals.

Open Account

Interest Rate	Up to 0.10%
Monthly Fee	Free
Welcome/ Bonus Offer	$350 welcome bonus for new clients
Mobile App	Yes (Android & Apple) – Pay bills – Transfer funds – Check your balance – Mobile cheque deposit

KOHO Account

KOHO offers four tiers of accounts that you can use to spend and save money. When you open a KOHO account, you can earn up to 4.5% interest on your entire KOHO account balance, depending on your account type and balance amount. Additionally, KOHO lets you earn up to 2% cashback on your purchases and up to 5% cashback when you shop with their partners. So, you’re earning interest and extra money just for making purchases using your account.

Interest Rate	Earn up to 4.5% interest on your entire KOHO account balance, depending on your account type and balance amount.
Monthly Fee	– KOHO Easy Account: $0 – KOHO Essential Account: $4 (or $48/year) – KOHO Extra Account: $9 (or $84/year) – KOHO Everyday Account: $19
Welcome/ Bonus Offer	Get $20 when you sign up for a free KOHO account with code LOANSCANADA and make your first purchase.
Mobile App	Yes (Android & Apple) – Track your spending + balances – Lock your card in-app – Sign up for credit building tool

EQ Bank Savings Plus Account

The EQ Bank Savings Plus Account is an attractive choice for consumers who like to keep a large balance in their chequing account but are looking for the benefits of a savings account. There is no minimum balance required but the total balance cannot exceed $200,000. This hybrid account offers a high-interest rate of 1.50%* (calculated day, paid monthly) on all deposited funds, which is one of the highest out of all the hybrid accounts listed here. Moreover, there are no fees and deposits are CDIC protected.

Interest Rate	1.50%*
Monthly Fee	$0
Welcome/ Bonus Offer	N/A
Mobile App	Yes (Android & Apple) – Mobile cheque deposit feature

*Interest is paid monthly and calculated daily on the total closing balance. Rates are subject to change without notice

Manulife Advantage Account

Manulife’s Advantage Account has a relatively low-interest rate for your deposited funds – 0.15%. The account has no fees, the same flexibility as most hybrid accounts, and there is no minimum balance to start earning interest. There is also no monthly fee but account holders need to keep a minimum balance of $1000 to take advantage of free unlimited everyday banking transactions

Interest Rate	0.15%
Monthly Fee	$0
Welcome/ Bonus Offer	N/A
Mobile App	Yes (Android & Apple)

Additional Reading

How Do I Transfer Money To A Bank Account?

Will Closing a Bank Account Affect My Credit Scores?

Canadian Bank Institution Numbers

Hybrid Account FAQs

Is interest earned on the hybrid accounts taxable?

Yes, similar to other high-interest savings accounts, you must pay taxes on the interest you make with a hybrid account. Note that you only need to pay taxes on the interest amount, not the amount of money originally put into the account.

Is a hybrid account better than a high-interest savings account?

It depends on your financial scenario. Hybrid accounts are generally more beneficial to bigger spenders, as they have the opportunity to make interest on money that would otherwise already be sitting in their chequing account. People who keep most of their money in savings, however, might be better off with a high-interest savings account.

Is my money protected by the CDIC with Hybrid accounts?

Your money is safe with hybrid accounts, as the money deposited and interest made is protected by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). KOHO and EQ hybrid accounts are insured up to $100,000 by the CDIC, while Wealthsimple Cash accounts are insured up to $1,000,000 by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

Final Thoughts

Hybrid bank accounts are great options for people who want more flexibility in their banking. They are especially good for those who keep large amounts of money in their chequing accounts, as they have the opportunity to generate interest. Make sure to inquire about all the incidentals in your bank agreement, such as minimum deposits, CIDC insurance, interest rates, and any administrative fees.

Neo Money^TM is provided by Concentra Bank.

® Trademark of Interac Inc. Used under license.

*Interest is calculated daily on the total closing balance and paid monthly. Rates are per annum and subject to change without notice.

¹ The Neo Money^TM account is provided by Concentra Bank, a CDIC member institution, and is eligible for CDIC deposit protection. Deposits held in Neo Money^TM accounts are combined with eligible deposits held at Concentra Bank, for up to $100,000 of deposit protection, per category, per depositor. For more information about CDIC deposit insurance, please consult CDIC’s website cdic.ca.

²Limited-time offer. Only new Neo Money™ customers are eligible for this offer. This offer is only awarded if a new customer opens a Neo Money™ Account and deposits a minimum of $50 within the next 90 days. Offer is subject to the Rewards Policy, the Neo Platform Terms and Conditions and all other applicable terms and conditions. Offer may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice.

Chrissy Kapralos

Chrissy is a Toronto-based communications advisor. With an English degree from the University of Toronto and editing courses under her belt from Ryerson University, she has continued her lifelong passion for writing and editing. In addition to working for Loans Canada on a variety of financial topics, Chrissy has a few years of resume writing and editing under her belt, and takes great pleasure in helping people find work that fits with their experience and passions. When she isn't working, you can find her practicing yoga, hanging out with her dog, reading up on financial and real estate news, or planning her next trip abroad.