Online brokerage
Scotia iTRADE Review: CIRO-Registered, Fees & Platforms
By ForexCanada Editorial Team · Updated
Canada check
- Canadian status
- CIRO-registered
- Canadian entity
- Scotia Capital Inc.
- CIPF coverage
- Yes (eligible accounts, within CIPF limits)
- OBSI complaints
- Yes — free, independent dispute resolution
- Accepts Canadians
- Accepts Canadian residents
- Licences abroad
- —
- Headquarters
- Toronto, ON
- Ownership
- Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX: BNS)
Our take on Scotia iTRADE
Scotia iTRADE placed near the top of MoneySense's 2026 rankings, helped by a strong desktop trading experience and good account tools. Commissions are $9.99 per online trade, falling for very active traders, and Scotiabank clients get easy funding. It's a capable choice for active investors who prefer the security blanket of a big bank.
Scotia iTRADE traces back to E*TRADE Canada, which Scotiabank acquired in 2008, and it retains a more trader-oriented feel than some bank brokerages. Its active-trader pricing tiers and desktop tools suit people placing many trades a month. Casual investors will pay more per trade than at $0-commission competitors.
Verdict
One of the better bank-owned brokerages for active investors.
What we like
- +Strong desktop platform
- +Active-trader pricing tiers
- +Full registered account range
Watch out for
- −$9.99 standard commissions
- −No forex or CFDs
How Scotia iTRADE scores
Canadian protection carries 40% of the weight, so an unregistered firm can't outrank a registered one on price alone. See the full methodology.
Accounts, markets & platforms
- Platforms
- Proprietary web, Proprietary desktop, Mobile app
- Markets
- Stocks · ETFs · Options · Bonds · Mutual funds
- Pricing
- $9.99 per online stock trade; reduced rates for active traders
- CAD / USD accounts
- ✓ CAD | ✓ USD
- Registered accounts
- TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, RRIF, LIRA
- Demo account
- Not advertised
- French service
- Yes
Figures are taken from the broker's own disclosures at our last review (2026-09) and change often — always confirm on the broker's website. Spot an error? Tell us.
Verify Scotia iTRADE yourself
- Look for the firm on CIRO's list of dealers it regulates.
- Search the legal entity name in the CSA National Registration Search and check it is registered in your province.
- Confirm CIPF membership in the CIPF member directory.
- Search the CSA investor alerts for the brand name and any look-alike websites.
- Make sure the account agreement you sign names the same legal entity — not an offshore affiliate.
Scotia iTRADE: frequently asked questions
Is Scotia iTRADE regulated in Canada?
Yes. Canadian clients are served by Scotia Capital Inc., a registered investment dealer and member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). You can confirm this on CIRO's list of dealers it regulates and in the CSA National Registration Search.
Is my money protected with Scotia iTRADE?
Eligible accounts at CIRO dealer members are covered by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) if the firm becomes insolvent — generally up to $1 million per account category. CIPF does not cover trading losses.
Can I open a TFSA or RRSP with Scotia iTRADE?
Yes. Scotia iTRADE offers TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, RRIF, LIRA accounts. Note that leveraged forex and CFDs can't be held in registered accounts.
Canadian trader reviews
Reviews are submitted by readers and moderated by our editors for relevance and abuse. They are opinions, not verified facts, and never affect our score.
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