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RBC High-Interest Savings Account Review: Is It Worth It?

Sep 26, 2025
RBC’s high-interest savings account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, but its ongoing interest rate is lower than some competitors.
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Written by Shannon Terrell
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RBC High Interest eSavings Account
4.3/5
4.3
NerdWallet rating
RBC High Interest eSavings Account
Interest rate4.70%*Promotional rate
Bonus offerN/A
Monthly fee$0

RBC High Interest eSavings Account at a glance

Best pick for:

RBC's High Interest eSavings account offers a consistent interest rate on all cash balances. You can access your funds freely, without worrying about a minimum balance.

The account offers free access to RBC’s MyAdvisor service: a digital platform that creates personalized plans for your financial goals.

The account may be ideal for new RBC customers who want to take advantage of limited-time promotional rates and free, unlimited transfers to their other RBC accounts.

Not ideal for:

The RBC High Interest eSavings account offers a base interest rate comparable to other Big Banks. However, you might find higher rates with credit unions and online banks, especially if there are bonus rates involved.

For convenient access to your funds, explore alternative savings or hybrid accounts that offer fee-free withdrawals and e-transfers.

Without an RBC chequing account, you won't benefit from free, unlimited transfers between RBC accounts. You're limited to one free withdrawal per month, and subsequent withdrawals incur significant excess fees.

RBC High Interest eSavings account full review

Logo, Text, Dynamite

The RBC High Interest eSavings account currently earns 5.10%* interest on all cash balances and charges no monthly fees. You can manage your account through RBC’s online banking portal or mobile app. Transfers between RBC accounts are free.

Types of RBC savings accounts

RBC’s savings account repertoire includes:

  • RBC Day to Day Savings: earn interest with no minimum balance requirement.

  • RBC Enhanced Savings: tiered interest rates on balances of $5,000 or more.

  • RBC U.S. High Interest eSavings: a USD savings account.

None of RBC’s savings accounts charge monthly fees.

The Royal Bank of Canada is a well-established Canadian financial institution incorporated in 1869 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It’s one of Canada’s illustrious Big Six Banks and offers personal and business banking services across the country and around the world.

RBC has Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) insurance, so customer deposits of up to $100,000 are covered in the unlikely event RBC goes under. The Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) covers RBC investor portfolios for up to $1M of investor assets in the event of insolvency.

RBC customers also benefit from its Digital Banking Security Guarantee, which promises to reimburse 100% of funds lost from an RBC account in the event of fraud, so long as you follow its digital banking terms and conditions.

RBC Royal Bank ranks first in customer satisfaction with retail banking advice, according to J.D. Power’s 2025 Canada Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study, a survey of 2,582 retail bank customers in Canada .

RBC Royal Bank ranks third in online banking and mobile app satisfaction according to J.D. Power’s 2025 Canada Online Banking Satisfaction Study, a survey of 9,857 retail bank and credit card customers nationwide .

At the time of this writing, RBC had a Trustpilot rating of 1.3 out of 5 possible stars after more than 1,600 customer reviews.

At the time of this writing, RBC had a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of 1.1 out of 5 possible stars after more than 80 customer reviews.

Grow your money faster

Compare the best high-interest savings accounts in Canada

How RBC High Interest eSavings Account features stack up

NerdWallet Canada's editorial team rates savings accounts based on several criteria in our evaluation methodology, including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more. Here are the key banking features that our team scored on a scale of one to five, rounded for simplicity.

Promotional rate

RBC’s high interest savings account currently offers a promotional interest rate of 4.95% until Jan. 14, 2025.

Ongoing interest rate

The ongoing interest rate for RBC’s high interest savings account is 1.00% as of Jan. 14, 2025.

Minimum balance

The RBC High Interest eSavings account has no minimum balance requirements. You’ll earn the same interest rate no matter how much you have in your account.

Monthly fee

There are no monthly fees for RBC’s high interest savings account.

Transfer fee

Interac e-transfers from the RBC High Interest eSaving’s account cost $1 per transfer. Online transfers between RBC accounts are free.

Withdrawal fee

The account comes with one free withdrawal from an RBC ATM monthly. After that, a $5 excess transaction fee applies to any withdrawal made at an RBC branch or ATM. You’ll also pay an additional $2 to $5 for withdrawing funds from non-RBC ATMs.

You only get one free withdrawal monthly, and after that, you’ll pay a $5 withdrawal fee per additional transaction. However, online transfers between RBC accounts are free.

You can manage your RBC High Interest eSavings Account using online, ATM, phone or in-branch banking services. Be aware of the monthly transaction limits and the fees incurred for additional withdrawals made at an RBC branch or ATM.

RBC High Interest eSavings account details and eligibility

Who qualifies for an RBC High Interest eSavings account?

To open an RBC High Interest eSavings account, you must:

  • Live in Canada.

  • Be over the age of majority in your province or territory.

  • Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN).

How to know if an RBC High Interest eSavings account is right for you

An RBC Royal Bank HISA could be a fit if you’re comfortable earning modest interest and won’t regularly dip into your account, which could lead to unnecessary fees.

How to open an RBC High Interest eSavings account

Method and general steps

An RBC High Interest eSavings account can be opened online from RBC’s website. You can fill out the application from a computer, tablet or mobile device and the process typically only takes a few minutes to complete.

You can also apply by calling 1-800-769-2561 — phones are answered around the clock. Or, you can make an appointment to open an account at an RBC location during business hours.

RBC High Interest eSavings account deposits can be made by cash, cheque, electronic funds transfer or Interac e-transfer.

Online transfers between your HISA and other RBC accounts are free and unlimited. You get one free RBC ATM withdrawal monthly. After that, you’ll pay a $5 excess transaction fee for any withdrawal you make at an RBC branch or ATM. In addition to the excess transaction fee, you’ll pay an additional $2 to $5 for using a non-RBC ATM.

Reach out to the RBC customer service team:

  • By phone. Call 1-800-769-2511 to speak to a customer service representative.

  • In person. Make an appointment to visit an RBC branch during business hours.

How to maximize the benefits of an RBC High Interest eSavings account

  • Download the RBC mobile banking app. Check your account balance and monitor your account on the go with the RBC app.

  • Make withdrawals from another account. The eSavings account only comes with one free withdrawal monthly, but transfers between RBC accounts are unlimited. Avoid the $5 excess transaction fee by making withdrawals from a different RBC account.

RBC high-interest savings account alternatives

High-interest savings accounts, often referred to as HISAs, are popular, which means most Canadian banks and credit unions offer them. If RBC’s high-interest savings account doesn’t seem like a functional fit for your finances, there are numerous RBC savings account alternatives. You may also choose a registered savings account, such as the RBC TFSA or RBC RRSP.

RBC High Interest eSavings vs. RBC Enhanced Savings

Neither of these RBC accounts have a monthly fee, and they both come with one free transaction monthly, but interest rates and excess transaction fees vary.

RBC HIGH INTEREST ESAVINGS

RBC ENHANCED SAVINGS

Monthly fee

None

None

Standard interest rate

1.00%

Up to 0.01%

Min. balance to earn interest

N/A

$5,000

Online transfers between RBC accounts

Free and unlimited

Free and unlimited

Excess transaction fee

$5

$2

Frequently asked questions


An RBC high-interest savings account can help you build an emergency fund or nest egg for future expenses. While higher interest rates exist, it may be a practical fit if you already bank with RBC and want to keep all of your accounts in one place.

Rates across Canadian financial institutions vary, but the Big Six Banks tend to offer lower rates than those of credit unions and online-only banks.

Check out our picks for the best savings accounts to find the bank that offers the highest savings account interest rate to match your needs.

NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.

  1. J.D. Power. J.D. Power’s 2025 Canada Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study. Accessed Sep 27, 2025.
  2. J.D. Power. J.D. Power’s 2025 Canada Online Banking Satisfaction Study. Accessed Sep 27, 2025.