Open a brokerage account | National Bank

We are currently receiving a high volume of calls, emails and account applications, which causes longer than usual waiting times. We thank you for your patience.

Good to know

You can open several accounts at the same time.
You will need a photo ID and your banking information to complete the form.
You can continue where you left off at any time.

Frequently opened
accounts at NBDB

TFSA
RRSP
Cash account
Margin account
Margin/Short-selling account
Combination of the above accounts

Access Form

Other types
of accounts

Registered accounts (RRIF, LIRA, etc.)
RESP
Joint accounts
Combination of frequently opened accounts with one or more of the above account types.

Access form

Accounts for legal entities

Company account

Sole proprietorship account

Partnership account

Association account

Trust account

1-800-363-3511

Transfer your investments to NBDB

We'll refund your transfer fees, up to $135 plus taxes* if you transfer:

$10,000

or more

in an InvestCube account

$20,000

or more

in another
type of account

Advantages

Transfer your assets without having to sell them.
Enjoy better pricing on commissions and tools depending on the number of trades you carry out.
Get an overview of all your assets and simplify how you manage your investments.

InvestCube

Take the worry out of investing. Choose InvestCube and your Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)¹ portfolio will be automatically rebalanced in response to market changes. It's a hassle-free solution.

Learn more

The fine print

Information required by account type

For brokerage accounts:

Your full name (as it appears on official identity documents)
Your date of birth
Your full home and mailing address
Your job title and the full address of your employer
Telephone numbers where we can reach you
Your social insurance number (SIN)
Your bank account information (provide a void cheque). You can also link a bank account held at another financial institution.

For accounts with spousal contributions (RRSP or RRIF):

The full name of your spouse (as it appears on official identity documents)
His or her date of birth
His or her social insurance number (SIN)

For RESP accounts:

The full name of the beneficiary (as it appears on official identity documents)
The beneficiary's date of birth
The beneficiary's home address
The beneficiary's social insurance number, to apply for federal grants and provincial ones in certain provinces (an RESP cannot be opened without the beneficiary's SIN)

For special accounts:

Consult our forms and call us at 1-800-363-3511.

Submitting the account opening documents

*Note for clients who don't have a printer: You can request the account opening forms by mail.

For your account opening application to be processed, please send us the following within 25 days:

The appropriate forms for your account type, duly signed.
A copy of both sides of a recognized identity document: driver's licence, health insurance card (except for residents of Ontario, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island), permanent resident card, Canadian passport or birth certificate (if under 21 years of age).

You can send us the documents in two ways:

Mail them to:
National Bank Direct Brokerage
1100 Robert-Bourassa Blvd., 7^th Floor
Montreal, QC H3B 2G7

Bring them to the National Bank branch of your choice. Find a branch.

N.B.: The opening of a brokerage account is subject to certain terms and conditions and must be approved by National Bank Direct Brokerage.

Processing times

The time it takes to open an account will depend on the type of account you choose.

For personal and joint accounts

One business day (24 hours), if the information received is in order.

If your bank account is not held at National Bank, your brokerage account will still be opened within 24 hours, but it will not be activated until all verifications are completed.

For margin accounts and/or accounts with option trading

3 business days (72 hours) following the receipt of the original, duly completed and signed account opening documents.

Procedure: If you apply to open a margin account, a cash account will be opened pending receipt of the signed account opening documents. Once your margin account is opened (after verification), any cash and securities held in your cash account will be transferred to your margin account.

For Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs)

You will not be able to make your first contribution until we have received all grant application forms.

For personal and joint accounts

One business day (24 hours), if the information received is in order.

If your bank account is not held at National Bank, your brokerage account will still be opened within 24 hours, but it will not be activated until all verifications are completed.

For margin accounts and/or accounts with option trading

3 business days (72 hours) following the receipt of the original, duly completed and signed account opening documents.

Procedure: If you apply to open a margin account, a cash account will be opened pending receipt of the signed account opening documents. Once your margin account is opened (after verification), any cash and securities held in your cash account will be transferred to your margin account.

For Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs)

You will not be able to make your first contribution until we have received all grant application forms.

N.B.: The opening of a brokerage account is subject to certain conditions and must be approved by National Bank Direct Brokerage.

Technical support

New client?

Contact one of our Technical Support Specialists at 1-800-363-3511 - option 4 - Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (ET) to get a username and password.

Already a client?

Sign in to your account.