President's Choice Financial: A Comprehensive Banking Solution

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President's Choice Financial is a comprehensive banking solution that offers a wide range of financial services to its customers.

It provides a variety of savings options, including high-interest savings accounts and tax-free savings accounts, allowing customers to save for their goals.

With President's Choice Financial, customers can also access a range of credit products, including low-interest credit cards and personal loans.

These financial services are designed to help customers manage their finances and achieve their financial goals.

Consumer Banking

President's Choice Financial offers a range of banking services, including the PC Money Account, which was launched in 2020 and is a no-fee debit-like personal banking service.

The PC Money Account is issued directly by President's Choice Bank and can be used to collect PC Optimum points on purchases, both online and worldwide at any retailer that accepts Mastercard.

You can earn points on your spending and interest on your savings with the PC Money Account, with no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and no time commitment.

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The PC Money Account operates on MasterCard's global payment network, unlike conventional chequing accounts in Canada, which use the Interac network for domestic debit purchase transactions.

In the past, President's Choice Financial consumer banking services were ranked as having the highest customer satisfaction among mid-size Canadian banks from 2007 to 2011, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

As of 2017, PC Financial's consumer banking products had approximately 2 million customers, but were later transferred to CIBC's new direct banking brand Simplii Financial.

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Consumer Banking (2020)

In 2020, President's Choice Financial launched the PC Money Account, a no-fee "debit-like" personal banking service.

This account is issued directly by President's Choice Bank, a change from its former banking service, which was provided by CIBC.

The PC Money Account card can be used to collect PC Optimum points on purchases, and can be used online and worldwide at any retailer that accepts Mastercard.

You can earn points for spending with the PC Money Account, and get $10 in value for every 10,000 points you redeem towards the things you love.

There's no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and no time commitment required with the PC Money Account.

Consumer Banking (1996-2017)

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Consumer banking under the President's Choice brand was a joint venture with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce that began in 1996. This partnership allowed CIBC to offer lines of credit, loans, and mortgages using the President's Choice brand under license.

PC Financial bank accounts had the same bank number as CIBC (010) and were located under one transit/branch number (30800). Clients could perform banking transactions on the Internet, at a PC- or CIBC-branded ATM, by telephone, or in person at pavilions located inside Loblaw-affiliated stores.

President's Choice Financial consumer banking services were ranked highest in customer satisfaction among mid-size Canadian banks from 2007 to 2011, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Insurance and Fees

President's Choice Financial offers a variety of insurance options, including home and auto insurance, through their partnership with TD Insurance.

Their insurance products are designed to provide comprehensive coverage and protection for your assets.

For example, their home insurance policy can cover damage to your home and belongings due to theft, fire, or other disasters.

If this caught your attention, see: Sunlife Financial Insurance

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You can also customize your policy to fit your needs, adding or removing coverage as necessary.

Some policies may also include additional features such as identity theft protection and equipment breakdown coverage.

President's Choice Financial also offers a range of fees for their services, including a monthly service fee for their PC Financial chequing accounts.

This fee is waived for customers who maintain a minimum balance in their account.

Insurance

President's Choice offers a range of insurance options, including auto insurance and home insurance, underwritten through a broker model by various Canadian insurance companies.

They also offer pet insurance, underwritten by SecuriCan General Insurance Company.

Travel insurance is available through Travel Guard Canada, which serves as the managing general underwriter and agent for American Home Assurance Company.

President's Choice discontinued their home and auto insurance offerings to new customers in 2009, but they returned in 2010 under a separate broker model.

PC Financial uses strong encryption and secure protocols to protect your data and account, monitoring transactions and having a dedicated team of experts ready to help.

Fees, Interest Rates and Cash Advance: High

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The President's Choice Financial MasterCard has a cash advance rate of 22.97%, which is quite high.

If you're not paying your balance in full every month, you'll be hit with a higher interest rate of 25.97% and a cash advance rate of 27.97%. This is a significant increase that can quickly add up.

Rewards and Bonuses

President's Choice Financial offers a rewards program that can help you earn points and redeem them for free groceries or merchandise. You can earn up to 10% back in points with the PC Optimum program when using the PC Mastercard.

PC Financial has a variety of credit cards that are specifically designed for gas, like the ones mentioned in their "Rewarding Reads" blog section. These cards can help you earn points on your gas purchases.

To give you a better idea of the earning potential, let's take a look at a hypothetical scenario. Assuming you spend $1,119 on the card monthly, you can earn up to 396,878.40 points over a 24-month period, which is equivalent to up to $396.88 in free groceries or merchandise.

Here's a breakdown of the rewards you can earn with PC Financial:

  • Reward points earned: up to 396,878.40 points
  • Total value of rewards: up to $396.88 in free groceries or merchandise

Sign Up Bonus

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If you're looking for a sign up bonus, PC Financial has got you covered. For a limited time, new cardholders can earn one of four $100 e-gift cards upon approval of the President's Choice Financial MasterCard through RATESDOTCA. You can choose from Cineplex, iTunes, Starbucks, or The Ultimate Dining Card.

To take advantage of this offer, you'll need to sign up through RATESDOTCA. This is a limited-time promotion, so be sure to act quickly. The offer is exclusive to new cardholders who sign up through RATESDOTCA.

Here are the e-gift card options you can choose from:

  • Cineplex
  • iTunes
  • Starbucks
  • The Ultimate Dining Card

Remember, this is a limited-time offer, so be sure to sign up today to take advantage of this perk.

Earning Potential: Average

Earning potential is a crucial aspect to consider when choosing a rewards card.

Assuming a monthly spend of $1,119, you can earn a significant amount of points over a 24-month period.

Rewards points earned in this scenario total 396,878.40 points, which can be redeemed for up to $396.88 in free groceries or merchandise.

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To put this into perspective, that's equivalent to a decent chunk of change that can be used towards groceries at Joe Fresh.

However, it's worth noting that you can rack up points faster if you add the PC Optimum card and book vacations through PC Travel.

With this card, you can trade in your points for groceries as soon as you have 20,000 – or $20 worth.

Here's a breakdown of what you can redeem your points for:

  • Free groceries or merchandise
  • Merchandise from Joe Fresh
  • Merchandise from other participating stores (not specified)

However, points cannot be redeemed for prescription medications or alcohol.

Our Final Word:

President's Choice Financial is a subsidiary of Loblaw Companies Limited, a Canadian retail conglomerate.

The company offers a range of financial services, including banking, loans, and insurance products.

President's Choice Financial has a strong online presence, with a user-friendly website and mobile app that allows customers to manage their accounts and make transactions on the go.

The company's banking services include chequing and savings accounts, as well as credit cards and lines of credit.

Recommended read: Financial Audit Services

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President's Choice Financial has a reputation for being a community-focused bank, with a commitment to supporting local initiatives and charities.

Their banking services are designed to be accessible and affordable for all Canadians, with no monthly fees for some of their accounts.

President's Choice Financial has a wide range of financial products and services, making it a one-stop-shop for customers' financial needs.

The company's commitment to community involvement is reflected in its support for local food banks and other charitable organizations.

President's Choice Financial's focus on accessibility and affordability has helped to make it a popular choice for Canadians looking for a bank that truly understands their needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to President's Choice Financial?

PC Financial was rebranded as Simplii Financial on November 1, 2017, transferring its mortgage, loan, investment, and banking services to CIBC. Its credit card and insurance products, however, remained unaffected and continued to be offered by Loblaw subsidiaries.

Is PC Financial a good company to work for?

PC Financial has a 3.2/5 rating based on 432 employee reviews, with 47% recommending it to a friend and 48% having a positive outlook. While it's not perfect, the company has shown improvement over the last year, making it worth considering for those interested in learning more.

Felicia Koss

Junior Writer

Felicia Koss is a rising star in the world of finance writing, with a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics into accessible, engaging pieces. Her articles have covered a range of topics, from retirement account loans to other financial matters that affect everyday people. With a focus on clarity and concision, Felicia's writing has helped readers make informed decisions about their financial futures.

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