Banking

One of the first things a newcomer to Kingston should do is open an account at a bank, credit union or other financial institution. It's important to have a safe place to deposit, store and receive money. You don't need a job, permanent address or money to open an account but you will need to provide identification such as your passport, proof of Canadian citizenship, Permanent Resident Card, a valid driver's licence or other identification.

Banks and other financial institutions provide a wide range of services to the public. In addition to providing a secure place for your money, they exchange different currencies and provide loans and mortgages, bill-paying services, advice on sending and managing money, and safety deposit boxes where you can keep important documents and valuables.

Many workers receive their paycheque through a system called direct deposit, in which their earnings are transferred electronically into an account.

Staff at financial institutions will help you decide what type of account you need. Most banks also have automated banking machines (ABMs), or automated teller machines (ATMs), through which funds can be deposited or withdrawn 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Be aware that there are generally added costs and fees to use ABMs from a different bank or financial network than your own (the institution where you have an account).

It's the policy of most financial institutions to provide services in more than one language both on the phone and in person, but you may have to ask first. Some also have packages of information available in different languages specifically for newcomers, students, seniors, etc. Some ABMs are also available in multiple languages.