Scotiabank e-Transfer Limit 2026: $3,000/day

Scotiabank is one of Canada's Big Five banks, with more than 10 million customers nationwide. Unlike most of its competitors, Scotiabank does not publicly list specific default Interac e-Transfer limits on its website. Instead, your e-Transfer limits are tied directly to your account's overall transaction limits, which can make things confusing if you are trying to figure out exactly how much you can send.

Here is everything you need to know about Scotiabank Interac e-Transfer limits, fees, and how to get your limits increased.

Scotiabank Interac e-Transfer Limits

Scotiabank handles e-Transfer limits differently from banks like RBC or TD. Rather than publishing a separate e-Transfer limit, Scotiabank bundles e-Transfers under your account's daily transaction limit. This means your e-Transfer capacity shares space with other withdrawals and payments from the same account. For comparison, banks like RBC and TD publish their e-Transfer limits separately and clearly.

That said, the commonly reported defaults for most personal chequing accounts are $3,000 per transaction and $3,000 per day. These figures are not formally published by Scotiabank and may vary depending on your account type, banking history, and relationship with the bank.

Scotiabank does not publicly disclose separate weekly or monthly e-Transfer caps for personal accounts. Your effective limit is governed by your overall daily transaction allowance.

Limits shown are defaults for standard accounts and may vary by account type. Dash (—) means the bank does not publish a separate limit for that period. Last verified March 2026.

Scotiabank e-Transfer Fees

Every current Scotiabank chequing option includes Interac e-Transfers. The Ultimate Package and Preferred Package include unlimited transactions, so e-Transfers are free no matter how many you send. The Basic Plus Bank Account (25 transactions a month) and Basic Bank Account (18 a month) count e-Transfers toward their included transactions, with $1.25 for each transaction beyond that. Older accounts outside these packages may still pay $1.00 per e-Transfer.

If you send a lot of e-Transfers on a basic account, compare the cost of extra transactions against the Preferred or Ultimate monthly fee to see whether upgrading would save you money.

Receiving e-Transfers is always free at Scotiabank, no matter which account you have.

How to Increase Your Scotiabank e-Transfer Limit

Because Scotiabank ties e-Transfer limits to your account transaction limits, increasing your e-Transfer capacity means raising your overall daily transaction limit. Here is how to do it:

1. Use the Scotia app. Go to More, then Profile and settings, then Manage transaction limits, and adjust the slider. The change is self-serve, with no phone call needed.
2. Call Scotiabank at 1-800-472-6842. If you need more than the app allows, an advisor can review your account.
3. Visit a Scotiabank branch. Bring government-issued ID if you'd rather make the change in person.

Keep in mind that any increase to your transaction limit also raises the ceiling for other withdrawals and payments from that account, not just e-Transfers.

Scotiabank Interac e-Transfer Not Working

If your Scotiabank e-Transfer is failing or stuck, here are the most common causes and how to fix them:

• You have hit your daily transaction limit. Since e-Transfers share your account's overall transaction limit, other withdrawals or purchases earlier in the day may have used up your remaining capacity. Check your available limit in the Scotia app.
• Incorrect recipient details. A typo in the recipient's email address or phone number will prevent delivery. Verify the contact information and try again.
• Autodeposit routing. If the recipient has Autodeposit registered with a different email address or at another bank, the transfer may not arrive where expected.
• Interac system maintenance. Interac periodically performs scheduled maintenance that can delay transfers. Check interac.ca for current service status.
• Account holds or restrictions. New Scotiabank accounts or accounts flagged for unusual activity may have temporary e-Transfer restrictions. Contact Scotiabank at 1-800-472-6842 to check.

How Long Does a Scotiabank e-Transfer Take?

When the recipient has Autodeposit enabled, Scotiabank e-Transfers are typically deposited within minutes. Without Autodeposit, the recipient must accept the transfer by answering a security question, and the funds become available once they do.

Unclaimed transfers remain available for 30 days by default. After that, the transfer expires and the funds are returned to your account. If a transfer seems delayed beyond a few hours, contact Scotiabank at 1-800-472-6842 or check Interac's service status page.

How to Cancel a Scotiabank e-Transfer

You can cancel a pending Interac e-Transfer as long as the recipient has not yet deposited it:

1. Log in to Scotiabank Online Banking or the Scotia app.
2. Go to Transfers and find the pending e-Transfer.
3. Select Cancel to stop the transfer.

If the recipient has Autodeposit turned on, the money is deposited immediately and cannot be cancelled. You will need to contact the recipient directly and ask them to send the funds back. Be cautious of e-Transfer scams that rely on pressuring you into sending money under false pretenses.

Scotiabank Business e-Transfer Limits

Scotiabank business accounts offer significantly higher e-Transfer limits than personal accounts. Interac e-Transfer for Business (through ScotiaConnect) allows up to $25,000 per transfer, with no limit on receiving, a big step up from the $3,000 limit on most personal accounts.

If you are a freelancer, contractor, or micro-business owner who regularly processes e-Transfer payments above $3,000, switching to a Scotiabank business account can remove a real bottleneck. Business accounts also come with features like multiple authorized users and better record-keeping tools.

How Scotiabank Compares to Other Banks

Scotiabank's $3,000 daily limit is on the lower end among Canada's Big Five banks, though its fees are competitive: its Preferred and Ultimate Packages include unlimited e-Transfers, and its Basic accounts count them within their monthly transactions, much like BMO's plans. RBC and TD are free on personal chequing, while CIBC charges $1.50 outside its waived accounts. It is also worth noting that Tangerine, which is a Scotiabank subsidiary, offers free unlimited e-Transfers on all accounts — as do Simplii Financial, Wealthsimple, and EQ Bank. For a full fee-by-fee breakdown, see our Canadian Interac e-Transfer fees comparison. Here is how Scotiabank stacks up against every major Canadian bank:

Limits shown are defaults for standard personal accounts. See our complete bank comparison for full details. Last verified March 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Scotiabank Interac e-Transfer limit?

Scotiabank ties your e-Transfer limit to your account's transaction limit. The default for most personal accounts is commonly $3,000 per transaction and $3,000 per day. Specific amounts are visible in Scotia Online under your ScotiaCard limits.

Does Scotiabank charge for e-Transfers?

Not on its current chequing accounts. The Ultimate and Preferred Packages include unlimited e-Transfers, and the Basic Plus and Basic Bank Accounts include them within their monthly transaction count (25 and 18), with $1.25 per extra transaction. Accounts outside these packages may pay $1.00 per e-Transfer.

How do I increase my Scotiabank e-Transfer limit?

In the Scotia app, go to More, then Profile and settings, then Manage transaction limits, and adjust the slider. For more than the app allows, call 1-800-472-6842 or visit a branch.

How long does a Scotiabank e-Transfer take?

With Autodeposit enabled, transfers arrive within minutes. Standard transfers with a security question are typically available within 30 minutes.

Can I cancel a Scotiabank e-Transfer?

Yes, as long as the recipient has not deposited the funds. Cancel through Scotia Online or the Scotiabank mobile app.