Best Bank Branches Near Burnaby Metrotown

Metrotown is basically the second downtown for a lot of newcomers. It has everything — a massive mall, tons of restaurants, and yes, pretty much every major bank has a branch within a 5-minute walk of the SkyTrain station. Here's the rundown.

Bank Branches at or Near Metropolis at Metrotown

RBC Royal Bank — 4720 Kingsway, Burnaby

This branch sits right on Kingsway, a short walk from Metrotown station. They offer the full newcomer package and staff speak Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean. Parking is available if you're driving.

TD Canada Trust — Metropolis at Metrotown (inside the mall)

Having a bank inside the mall is clutch when you're already there grocery shopping at T&T. TD's New to Canada bundle gives you 6 months free chequing. The in-mall location means it's open during mall hours.

Scotiabank — 4700 Kingsway

Right across from the mall entrance. Scotiabank's StartRight program waives fees for 12 months and includes a Visa card. The branch is usually less busy than the downtown ones.

CIBC — 4710 Kingsway

CIBC's Welcome to Canada package is competitive. This branch has Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking advisors. It's beside the Scotiabank branch, so you can literally comparison-shop by walking next door.

BMO — 4545 Kingsway (Crystal Mall)

If you're at Crystal Mall — a popular spot for newcomers from China and Hong Kong — BMO has a branch there. Excellent Mandarin and Cantonese service. Their NewStart program is similar to other banks: free account for a year.

Why Metrotown Is Great for Banking

Having all five major banks within a few hundred meters of each other is a newcomer's dream. You can visit 2-3 branches in one afternoon, compare the offers face to face, and pick the best deal. Plus the Expo Line SkyTrain gets you here from downtown in about 20 minutes.

What You'll Need

Passport
Work permit, study permit, or PR card
A local address (even temporary)
SIN number (can add later if you're still waiting)

Once you've got your bank sorted, you'll want to start thinking about your tax obligations — even if you arrived partway through the year, you'll likely need to file.

ATM Access

Metrotown mall has ATMs from all five major banks plus HSBC. There's also an Exchange ATM network machine that works with credit union cards. Tip: avoid using other banks' ATMs — the $2-3 fee per transaction adds up fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an HSBC branch near Metrotown?

HSBC closed most Canadian branches in 2024 when RBC acquired their retail banking division. If you had an HSBC account overseas, you'll want to talk to RBC about transferring your relationship.

Can I open accounts at multiple banks?

Absolutely. There's no rule against having accounts at two or three banks. Some newcomers open a chequing account at one bank and a savings account at another to get the best rates.

Do banks near Metrotown have weekend hours?

Yes — TD inside the mall is open Saturdays and some Sundays. RBC and Scotiabank on Kingsway are open Saturday mornings (10AM-3PM). CIBC and BMO are typically Mon-Fri only at these locations.

References

[1] Statistics Canada, "Census Profile, Vancouver CMA, 2021." https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm

[2] Government of Canada, "Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship." https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html

[3] BC Housing, "Rental Market Reports." https://www.bchousing.org/research-centre/housing-data

[4] Canada Revenue Agency, "Tax Information for Newcomers." https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html

Planning your budget? Use our rent affordability calculator to see how much you can spend on housing once your income starts flowing.