Bank Account for Youth and Students: CIBC Smart™ Start

Get a 12-month Skip+ free trial when you link your CIBC debit card with your Skip account.^ⓘ

Plus, enjoy exclusive savings and rewards with your Skip+ membership.^ⓘ

Learn more About the Smart Account and Skip offer.

Refer a student or youth under 25 and you’ll both earn $50. Learn more

Coming soon

Exciting changes are coming to CIBC Smart Start, starting November 1, 2025.

Learn more about Smart Account updates.

Why you'll love the account that grows with you

With a CIBC Smart™ Account, enjoy all the perks of Smart Start if you’re under age 25.

Enjoy unlimited everyday banking

Get free everyday banking and enjoy unlimited debit and Interac e-Transfer® transactions^ⓘ^,^ⓘ in Canada and no monthly fee until age 25.^ⓘ

Do it all on your phone

Tap your phone to pay with Interac debit, Apple Pay® or Google Pay™ and access your account with our award-winning Mobile Banking® App.

Send money to friends and get paid faster

Split the bill with friends or send money across the country with free unlimited Interac e-Transfer transactions.^ⓘ

Get set for school and beyond

Get student deals and discounts

Students 14 and up save up to 30% on over 450 top brands when shopping online or in-store with a free SPC+ membership.^ⓘ

Get a 12-month Skip+ free trial when you link your CIBC debit card with your Skip account^ⓘ

Plus, enjoy exclusive savings and rewards with your Skip+ membership.^ⓘ

Trade your way to the future you want

Enjoy free online North American stock and ETF trading for young adults 18 to 24 with CIBC Investor’s Edge Opens in a new window..^ⓘ There’s no minimum balance and you’ll pay no annual fees.^ⓘ

Save up to 10 cents per litre on gas^ⓘ

Hit the road for less and save on gas at participating locations^ⓘ when you link and use your CIBC debit or credit card with Journie Rewards.

Will you be 25 or older when you graduate? Continue to pay no monthly fee for as long as you study full time with CIBC Smart™ for Students.^ⓘ

Special offer

Enjoy extra cash and all your banking essentials with the CIBC Best Student Life Bundle

New to CIBC? Bundle CIBC Smart Start with a credit card, savings account and more to save time and money. Canadian and international students can apply online with one easy application.

Learn more

You must have reached the age of majority in your province or territory to qualify.

CIBC Smart Start at a glance

Key features

Special offer

Get $175^ⓘ with CIBC Smart™ Start and $50^ⓘ for each friend you refer — up to 50! Learn how to qualify for the CIBC Smart Start offer..

No monthly fee until you turn 25 on a CIBC Smart Account^ⓘ

Free unlimited Interac e-Transfer transactions^ⓘ

Free unlimited debit and Visa* Debit purchases, withdrawals and bill payments

One free non-CIBC ATM withdrawal in Canada per month^ⓘ

Fees and details

How do I qualify?

CIBC Smart Start:

You must be a Canadian resident under age 25
You’ll need one piece of government-issued photo ID

Teens (14 to 15)

Open an account at any branch with or without parental signing authority.

Teens (16 to the age of majority^ⓘ)

Open an account online or at any branch, with or without parental signing authority.

Young adults (age of majority^ⓘ to 24)

Apply online or meet with us at any branch.

Apply online or meet with us at any CIBC Banking Centre Opens in a new window..

Open an account Learn how to switch to CIBC

Grow your child’s savings

They’ll save up faster with no monthly fee until age 25. Then their account will continue as a regular CIBC Smart Account.

Make allowances easier

Parents can easily set up recurring transfers to deposit their child’s allowance using mobile banking.

Access the account with a tap

Check your balance and get personalized financial tips using our award-winning Mobile Banking App.

Get your child started with all the free benefits of Smart Start

Spend and track with ease

With your consent, your child can sign on to our mobile app. It's easy and safe to check account balances, deposit cheques and transfer money with mobile banking.

Get tips to help your child save up faster

With CIBC Insights, we help your child see where their money is going and provide personalized financial tips to help them save more.

Get the account that grows with your child

Open the account as your child’s signing authority. Then as they grow into their teens, they can use the account independently, learning along the way while enjoying the benefits of unlimited everyday banking.

CIBC Smart Start at a glance

Key features

Special offer

Get $175^ⓘ when you open your child’s first chequing account with Smart Start. Learn how to get $175 with CIBC Smart Start..

No monthly fee until they’re 25 on a CIBC Smart Account^ⓘ

Free unlimited Interac e-Transfer transactions^ⓘ

Free unlimited debit and Visa* Debit purchases, withdrawals and bill payments

One free non-CIBC ATM withdrawal in Canada per month^ⓘ

Fees and details

How do I qualify?

CIBC Smart Start:

You or your child must be a Canadian resident under age 25
You’ll need one piece of government-issued photo ID

Parents of youth (up to 11 years old)

Open an account for your child online or at any branch.

Parents of youth (12 years old)

Open an account for your child at any branch.

Apply online or meet with us at any CIBC Banking Centre Opens in a new window..

Apply now Learn how to switch to CIBC

Students and youth 14 to 24