Holiday Hours
Please note our branches will be closed on Saturday, September 30 and Monday, October 2, in observance of National Truth & Reconciliation Day.
Our Contact Centre will be open to serve our members on Saturday September 30 and on Monday, October 2, from 9:30am to 4:00pm ET. Online banking and ATMs are available for your convenience.
Resource Centre
Senior Support Centre
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Supporting seniors’ banking needs, and those who love and care for them, is fundamental to building stronger communities. This is why Alterna offers easy ways to manage your money and ensures equitable access to all our members no matter how they choose to bank with us.
Ways to Bank
Your longstanding membership with Alterna is greatly appreciated, and we’re dedicated to making sure your member experience is the best it can be. If you cannot visit your nearest branch, you have options – you can call our contact centre or use one of our digital banking options.
Here are some resources to help you bank with confidence:
Support Person: For individuals needing a support person when calling our Contact Centre or visiting a branch, Alterna will:
- Permit the support person on premises/on the phone
- Allow support person, if requested by the member, to attend meetings
- Request permission from member to discuss confidential account information with support person present
- Ensure the member and support person understands that the support person is there to accompany the member and therefore cannot direct or act for the member
How to print your Account Statement: Your monthly Electronic Statement (eStatement) is available in Online Banking for printing and viewing:
- Log in to Online Banking
- Select the “View eStatements” link, found in the left-hand menu on the My Accounts screen.
- Once the eStatements page opens, choose the eStatement you wish to view from the list available.
- You will then be able to view or print your eStatement, including cheque images.
TIP: eStatements are more secure, reliable and better for the environment.
Braille Statements: Can be requested through our Contact Centre by calling 1.877.560.0100 or if you opened your account in a branch, directly there.
Read more about our accessibility standards.
Here are some resources that will help ensure your financial plan continues to meet your future needs:
- Direct Investing: With Qtrade® Investor, make decisions with confidence and achieve your financial goals with tools and resources tailored to your unique situation.
- Power of Attorney (POA) and Joint Deposit Account (JDA): These may be used if you wish to give someone else authority to do banking for you. Keep in mind, there can be both risks and advantages to POAs and JDAs.
- Financial Planning Calculators: We offer calculators that can help you work out the details of your financial plan and assist you in reaching your goals such as:
- Loan Calculator
- Mortgage Calculator
- RRIF Calculator
- TFSA Calculator
- Foreign Exchange Calculator and more.
TIP: The Government of Canada provides programs and services to help you ensure your later years are safe and secure. Visit their website.
Keeping safe when banking online
We are committed to providing you with a safe and secure banking experience that ensures the integrity of your account information. You also have a role to play in staying safe when transacting online.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. There are a variety of methods scammers use to take advantage of their victims. That’s why recognizing and understanding different types of fraud is your responsibility and can keep you and your finances safe.
You can learn more about how Alterna protects you and the role you play in protecting yourself by reviewing our: Security and Privacy section.
TIP: To keep up to date with the most recent scams targeting Canadians, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website, www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
The benefits of online and mobile banking
You can do your banking without ever visiting a branch. It’s easy to pay bills, transfer funds, send and receive Interac e-Transfers® and view your account activity online.
Not signed up for online banking? Register with your account number and current contact information (email or cell phone) on file.
TIP: Create a Strong Password: It’s important to choose a unique word or phrase that you will remember. You should use a combination of both lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers and symbols (such as “!” or “?”). Remember, the more complex the password, the stronger it will be.
Further questions?
First, make sure you’re on the correct website, since Alterna Savings members can’t log in on the Alterna Bank site, or vice-versa. You can either click on the link below, or paste into your address bar.
Alterna Savings https://www.alterna.ca/
Alterna Bank https://www.alternabank.ca
Please note: If your account number or user ID starts with a zero, please enter your ID without the zero and try your login again.
Online Banking will prevent unauthorized viewing of your account information if you are careful to ensure you logout when you’re finished banking. This feature prevents pages from being cached (stored) by your browser and will help ensure clicking a previously viewed page in your Online Banking is not possible. It is always important to fully log out of Online Banking, especially if you are using a public or shared access computer.
For security reasons, your Online Banking password can only be changed through our secure online banking, in the Profile and Preferences section. If you can’t remember your password, call us to have it reset and obtain a temporary password. Then, log in to Online Banking using the temporary password, go to Profile and Preferences, then Change Password to change your password to something you'll easily remember.
Our ‘mobile-friendly’ version of Online Banking is less resource-intensive than our regular site, and is easier to read and use on a mobile screen. The iPhone App has a sleeker appearance and extra features built in, like at-a-glance account balances and accessing secure messages. Both the mobile web and iPhone app will let you perform banking functions, but the iPhone app provides a better user experience, tailored specifically for the iPhone.
Mobile Banking with Alterna is free, whether you use the mobile web or iPhone app. We do not charge for account balance inquiries, bill payments, transfers to, from or between Alterna accounts unless you’ve exceeded what’s included in your banking package. See our Personal Service Fee Listing for details of fees on our other services. However, standard data and messaging rates may apply - check with your mobile device carrier (Fido, Rogers, Bell, Telus, Virgin, etc.) for service fees related to your plan.
Your security is top priority, which is why our Mobile Banking uses the same level of secure protection as our full Online Banking. You log in with the same credentials, and once you log out, your secure session will end.
Further questions? Click here to review more Online Banking and Mobile Banking FAQs.
Here is a list of forms that may assist you when doing your day-to-day banking transactions:
- Direct Deposit/Pre-Authorized Debit Form
- External Account Transfer Authorization Form
- Cheque Order Form
- Joint Account Authorization Form
Please note: to access these forms, you must first log in to your online banking.
Alterna is committed to supporting seniors and protecting them from financial abuse and other fraudulent activities.
Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario (EAPO) is the provincial organization recognized for its leadership in elder abuse prevention in the province, providing education, training, resource development, and information about the increasingly complex issues of elder abuse.
Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
416-916-6728 | www.eapon.ca
admin@eapon.ca
Here are some additional resources from EAPO on Elder Financial Abuse Prevention: Click HERE to open
Examples of Financial Scams Targeting Seniors
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is
Depending on the type of scam, criminals will use a variety of methods to target and approach a potential victim.
Examples:
- They may use reputable websites and newspaper ads to appear legitimate.
- They might give you some money to earn your trust.
- They may pose as potential buyers, sellers, employers, business partners, roommates, relatives, friends, or romantic partners.
- Criminals have even posed as lottery organizations, charities, and diplomats.
The many identities they assume are endless, and they will target anyone. Including you.
Each year thousands of Canadians fall victim to scams. While the scams can take a variety of forms, the end result is the always same: financial loss.
Be vigilant - don’t fall prey to scam artists
Being aware that scams exist and educating yourself on how to avoid them is your best defense.
Here are some examples of financial scams targeting seniors
Grandchild Emergency Scam
Someone calls claiming to be a grandchild and asks for funds due to financial troubles or an emergency situation. Click HERE for more details.
Romance Scam
Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. A fraudster sends a friend request through social media or a dating site. Once the friend request is accepted, they build an online relationship with the senior. The fraudster then asks for money due to fabricated financial troubles or an emergency. Click HERE for more details
CryptoCurrency Scams
Crypto Currencies are a digital medium of exchange across computer networks. While cryptocurrencies have been gaining in popularity, so have the CryptoCurrency Scams. Fraudsters selling fake cryptocurrencies have professional-looking sites and make promises of excellent returns. Click HERE to learn more.
Charity and Donations Scams
Make sure your charitable donations are going to a legitimate organization. Often fraudsters use high-pressure tactics to get you to donate immediately. If you are contacted, take the time to research the organization and send donations through a legitimate website. Click HERE to learn more.
For more information on avoiding scams, visit the Security section of our website and use these helpful resources.
Internet, email and telephone scams - Canada.ca
Internet Fraud and Scams Fact Sheet - Royal Canadian Mounted Police (rcmp-grc.gc.ca)
Current Frauds and Trends Affecting Seniors - Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario (eapon.ca)
Please note that Alterna Savings provides the above information for your personal use only, and will not be held liable for any loss or damage as a result. Alterna Savings does not guarantee that the information provided is complete or accurate. Links from this website to other websites, or references to products, services or publications other than those of Alterna Savings, do not imply that Alterna Savings endorses such websites, products, services or publications.
Chequing Account Banking Packages
Basic
Perfect for a low volume, consistent user.
Features:
- Monthly day-to-day transactions: 20
- Monthly fee: $4
- Senior Discount 60+: $0
- Monthly fee waived with $1,000 minimum balance: Yes
Value
Ideal for a moderate number of monthly transactions.
Features:
- Monthly day-to-day transactions: 35
- Monthly fee: $10
- Senior Discount 60+: $5
Unlimited
Great for active account users.
Features:
- Monthly day-to-day transactions: Unlimited
- Monthly fee: $14
- Senior Discount 60+: $7
Pay as you go
Ideal for low or occasional users.
Features:
- Monthly day-to-day transactions: Pay per use
- Monthly fee: $0
Contact us today and we can help you pick the right option for your needs.
or call us at 1.877.560.0100
Note: Alterna Savings members who previously opened an account in branch should refer to the Personal Service Fee Listing for available banking package discounts for persons who have reached the age of 60 or above. Members on the Seniors GoodLife Account Package can find more details here.
TIP: Need to find a surcharge-free ATM? Visit our ATM Finder.
Seniors Code Annual Report
Alterna is committed to supporting seniors with their banking needs. We at Alterna have put in place all of the requirements needed to meet the Code of Conduct for the Delivery of Banking Services to Seniors (“the Code”), which guides Canadian banks in their delivery of banking products and services to Canada’s seniors.
Alterna has strengthened our policies and procedures to help employees identify incidents of suspected financial fraud, financial abuse and scams, and indicators that a customer may be suffering from diminished capacity. We have also provided details on how to escalate any concerns in this regard. We have updated our branch closure policy to consider market demographics when proceeding with branch closures, including the needs of seniors.
A Seniors Champion was selected to lead the implementation of the Code; build awareness with Alterna employees of matters affecting seniors; and engage with seniors, organizations representing seniors and subject matter expert.
“Supporting seniors’ banking needs, and those who love and care for them, is fundamental to building stronger communities. This is why Alterna offers easy ways for seniors to manage their money and ensures equitable access to all our customers no matter how they choose to bank with us.”
Frugina Ball, Seniors Champion and Region Head, Member Experience, GTA
We’ve made updates on our public website and to our internal information resources to increase visibility and education around banking for seniors. These include:
- The development of the Senior Support Centre which is a new online resource page to provide wide-ranging resources and support for seniors and their support persons. The resources include self-serve banking, banking package discounts, online fraud protection, financial planning, information on powers of attorney and joint accounts, accessibility options and helpful forms.
- Internal resources for employees to create greater awareness about the tools, training and resources available to help them assist and protect seniors including consolidating of this information for ease of reference; and
- The creation of a new annual mandatory training module on the Code for all employees covering powers of attorney, joint deposit accounts, supporting seniors with diminished capacity, financial abuse, fraud, scams, financial harm identification, escalation processes, and the available resources for senior customers and employees.
Call Us
| Contact Centre | Contact Centre hours |
| Toll-free 1.877.560.0100 | Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) |
| Toll-free Fax 1.866.267.1064 | Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EST) |
| Toronto Call 416.252.5621 Fax 416.679.0339 | Lost or stolen Debit Card Toll-Free 1.888.807.4101 Ottawa 613.560.0160 |
| Ottawa Call 613.560.0100 Fax 613.560.0177 | Collabria Credit Card Cardholder Services Call 1.855.341.4643 |
Visit Us
Interested in meeting one of our financial advisors in person? Visit one of our branches across Ontario.
Our branches are open and eager help. Please call your local branch directly for assistance. Individual branch phone numbers and hours can be found here.
Your financial well-being comes first
Welcome to a better way to bank. Our knowledgeable team puts your financial well-being first with good, caring and transparent advice while offering all the products and services you need.
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1.877.560.0100
Find a Branch/ATM
getintouch@alterna.ca