Scotiabank Reviews 1,452

TrustScore 1 out of 5

1.2

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 188 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Many customers expressed significant dissatisfaction with the customer service, citing rude and unhelpful staff who often lacked knowledge and provided incorrect information. People frequently encountered issues with payment processing, including incorrect deductions, charges for unsuccessful transfers, and difficulties with account access, leading to financial stress and inconvenience. Reviewers also reported problems with the bank's systems, such as frequent outages, locked accounts, and difficulties with online banking and ATM transactions. Some people also felt that communication was poor, with a lack of notifications regarding important account changes and long hold times when trying to reach support. However, a few other people also felt that some individual staff members provided exceptional service, making them feel comfortable and well-informed during their interactions.

What people talk about most

Customer service

Clients share negative opinions on customer service, with many reviewers reporting issues such as unhelpful... See more

Payment

Reviewers express significant dissatisfaction with payment processes, citing issues like unexpected charges... See more

Staff

Users describe negative interactions with staff, citing widespread rudeness, poor communication, and a lack... See more

Service

People report negative experiences with service, with many considering switching banks due to frustrating and... See more

Customer communications

Consumers express significant frustration and dissatisfaction with contact methods, often spending many hours... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very poor communication skills. I happen to miss 2 bi-weekly payments and got no notification nothing. They are supposed to be pulling payments out of another account. No attempts been made.... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They didn’t do their due diligence to verify credit applicants and easily gave out credits to fraudsters during covid-19 pandemic and as a result they lost a ton of money. And what they did? Walked of... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

All calls I've made to resolve a $1600 ATM graband mistake promised a resolution by May 16. I've been lied to for a month. Scotiabank is cheating me out of 0ver 1600 dollars. Scotiabank took twice the... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Misleading instructions, wasted time, and rude management. I was told to visit by January but still got threatened with charges for not funding an account I couldn’t access yet. My government IDs wer... See more


Company details

  1. Bank
  2. Currency Exchange Service
  3. Financial Institution

Information provided by various external sources

The Bank of Nova Scotia, operating as Scotiabank, is a Canadian multinational bank.


Contact info

1.2

Bad

TrustScore 1 out of 5

1K reviews

5-star
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1-star

No history of asking for reviews

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Their negligence is part of fraud

They didn’t do their due diligence to verify credit applicants and easily gave out credits to fraudsters during covid-19 pandemic and as a result they lost a ton of money. And what they did? Walked off and filled innocent people. They shouldn’t exist with their lack of sense of today’s security environment. Their negligence is part of fraud.

29 May 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

A model for incompetency; broken appointments and rudeness

I had some money in a savings account which I wanted to withdraw to pay bills resulting from a an accident that left me with very limited mobility and on wheel chair. The senior financial advisor ignored my repeated messages; gave 3 appointments and only called me when I raised a complaint with a central complaint dept. Still she managed to miss yet another promised appt.
In the mean time, and in every step she had to discuss with the branch manager who as God's rep on earth refuse to speak with customers. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS THE SCOTIA BRANCH ON STRANDHERD DR INSIDE THE CENTER OF BARRHAVEN, OTTAWA

27 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

SHOUT OUT TO, INGRID, (Bank Manager)

Initially, we were greeted by the Manager, INGRID, which we were very impressed by as she came to the door to greet us personally
However, we had several communications prior to meeting with INGRID, which she expressed concern and open to listening to our situation. She made us feel very comfortable, warm & open. Which we found so refreshing!
' SHOUT OUT TO, INGRID!'
In fact, she impressed us so much, I made , "Scotia False, Creek", Vancouver, my home branch!
Dana & Marion

31 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Formal Complaint Improper Handling of Fraud Block on Scotiabank Passport Visa

I am writing to formally report a serious issue with the handling of my Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card.

Recently, my card was blocked after I made a purchase at Holt Renfrew. When I called to verify the transaction and unblock my card, the representative required me to disclose exact personal details of what I purchased, which I found highly inappropriate and unnecessary.

I fully verified my identity ( she asked my driver license expiry date) and confirmed the transaction amount, merchant name, and location. However, the representative refused to unblock the card unless I revealed private information about the items I bought. I was also told that the supervisor was “in a meeting,” and I was instructed to go to a branch with two pieces of ID even though I had already completed identity verification on the phone.

This experience caused significant inconvenience, embarrassment at the store, and wasted nearly 40 minutes of waiting. I would like Scotiabank to:

Review and correct the handling of this incident.

Confirm that personal purchase details will not be demanded in the future.

Provide an apology and assurance that my account will not be improperly blocked again.

Ensure staff are trained to follow proper fraud-verification procedures.

I have been a loyal customer, and this situation has caused me to question the level of service and professionalism. I look forward to a prompt response and resolution.

24 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I was waited my mortgage refinancing…

I was waited my mortgage refinancing papers to be reviewed one moth. Still they come beyond the dead line. I had to signed them with another bank. Too much bureaucracy and condition for the routine refinancing.

24 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I've been banking with Scotiabank for a…

I've been banking with Scotiabank for a while and the experience has become more frustrating than helpful
Recently they put an unexpected hold on my deposit and gave me different explanations every time i called
Nobody seems to know the actual policy and getting a clear answer took days.
Customer service is not much better long wait times , constant transfers and reps who simply gave me excuses istead of solving the issue
Even basic account information's feels hard to access unless you go through multiply peoples
Day-to-day banking works fine but the moment you need real support everything become slow and overly complicated. For a major Canadian bank i expected a lot more because at a moment it's a 2 stars experience at best

14 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Lost all ID, so they closed my accounts?

They refused to work with me when I lost all forms of identification due to a robbery. When presented with not a single option on how to proceed, I asked what was possible. Being frustrated I can't access my business accounts or personal accounts, being told there was NOTHING i could do. Instead, the Assistant branch manager at Ottawa Hazeldean location decided to power trip and force close all my accounts due to me being flustered, leaving me completely stranded. Absolutely HORRIBLE Banking service that I will NEVER be returning back to, and now forever warning everyone about. Shame as my family has worked with them for over 60 years, several family members. Mother was forced to sue scotiabank some 20 years ago whilst pregnant with myself as they refused Maternity leave. (same branch as mentioned previously). Assistant branch manager should be immediately terminated. Incredibly rude, unhelpful, and doesn't understand banking policy. When a customer has no form of identification, the next step is to seek out a birth certificate, yet I was told there was nothing i could do. Absolute morons. Been with TD now almost a year, never had one single issue with them. Oh, i also opened my accounts, WITHOUT ID. They are getting all of my business and personal banking now. DO NOT EVER USE SCOTIABANK. ESPECIALLY IN OTTAWA.

17 January 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

If I could give it no stars

If I could give it no stars, I absolutely would. The WORST bank ever! I recently opened a new account with them because I started a new job and so I knew they were going to hold my first paycheque for 5 days and only take out $200 but the teller told me that they’re going to do this with ALL my cheques for 90 days. Who the hell could even live like that?!?! Holding MY hard earned money in a stupid account which I pay their dumb fees for?!?! I don’t know about you, but the morons who came up with this policy should be fired ASAP!!! Unless you’re rich me and everybody else I know cannot survive on $200 out of MY money for 90 days. Avoid this bank at all costs. They don’t give a damn about you!

8 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Excessive charges

Excessive charges, no remedial process for complaints, delay in responding to legitimate customer complaints.

9 November 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

My mortgage is up for renewal

My mortgage is up for renewal. I had been calling several times prior to the renewal date. I was always old that their mortgage systems are down. My renewal date is 3 days away now, and the exact date falls on a Sunday. Today is Friday. Of course, they still are saying that the mortgage system is down and cannot access the mortgage account. What is going on here? Been a week that the system is down? Very inconvenient.

7 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Money grabbers

Any bank that solicits customers to take out more credit when the country is in a Debt crisis should be fined. If I could give Scotia a no-star rating I would. I want my bank to find me ways to get out of debt faster in every way I bank.

5 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Does not provide transaction info on an account!

I have 2 checking accounts and one credit card account and can see all relevant information for those accounts. I just added an auto loan account and cannot see the transaction history. Called customer support and was told they do not provide this information. I could not believe the agent was correct and escalated to a manager who confirmed the system does not provide the transaction history for the account. This is utterly incompetent! To not provide such basic information in the 21st century is incomprehensible! They said they could mail it to me in 5-10 business days. Unbelievable!

4 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

ScotiaBank Saint-Hilaire the worest ever

ScotiaBank 300 Boulevard Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Mont-saint-hilaire QC, J3H3N7, one of the worest customer service you may see in your life from unprofessional agents over the counter, they are far away from any professionalism. They attack you verbally as a scammer or fraudster despite all your asked government ID. They are always Skeptical with no reason, They think themseleves SMARTS unfortunately?!!!. In my opinion, absolutely no any recommandation to deal with this Branch, it might be useful as a piggy bank for kids. STAY AWAY at all cost.

30 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Frauding Scotia Bank Accounts. The date noted event happened is only date I could add but there is at least 100 more occasions than this.

Will alter/change/re arrange your previous statements or/and current months (go back to past dates aka back in time).Transaction dates/purchases will change from (a day or even days) after you had received the funds and made purchases to a DAY BEFORE you even received the funds, putting you in neg and then CHARGE YOU $5.00 PER purchase (even though you had funds and called to verify funds were available) they switch /purchases dates to where funds were not in account (usually to a day before. Scotia wont approve me for o.d coverage because I DONT have overdraft and EVERYTIME I have called BEFORE making the purchase to insure the money is in the bank this STILL happens and I'm charged interest on top of the 5.00 overdrawn handling fee.
FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY IF IVE EVEN SEEN ANY YET STILL SOMEHOW CONTINUING HAPPENING AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT.

19 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They shouldn't get away with this treatment My sister who has been with Scotiabank…

My sister who has been with Scotiabank for 25 years had 9000 dollars transferred by international money transfer to the USA. She has never owned or used a mobile phone or done online banking.
The bank refused to give her her money back accusing her of giving her details to someone.
How could she give away details she didn't have.
My brother and I went to Canada to confront the bank but we got nowhere so we are taking her case to the ombudsman (OBSI ) and also the FCAC .This is against the banking code of conduct and they need to be held to account

9 April 2025
Unprompted review

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