ING Direct

Customer service has gone downhill since Scotia took over… wait times during non-​peak hours during the day have increased from a couple of minutes to 20 minutes!
ING Direct clients were right to worry that Scotia would destroy it with the takeover… new name Tangerine, not so sweet service!

I have used ING Direct (ING) for high rate savings for a few years. I am happy with the online services that I have received so far.
ING can offer above average interest rates for their regular saving account, tax-​free saving account and GIC because it is an online bank. Per my experience, the website is easy to maneuver, and the transfer instructions are executed in a reliable manner. This is a testimony of how well the software is written. There is no minimum balance requirement, and is no fee for unlimited transactions. Therefore, I use the saving account as a cash management account, leaving minimum float balance in a regular checking account at a brick-​and-​mortal bank. I have never used its mortgage service, so I cannot attest to it. It, though, has competitive posted rates.
ING was bought by Scotia Bank (BNS) in 2012. BNS indicated that it would leave ING as an independently run business; it would be business as usual to ING customers. Only time will tell if these high rates will stay. In the meantime, ING customers enjoy the good time as long as it lasts.

Too many gimmick promotions. I’ve had nothing but bad experience with this bank. First they ran some daily deal with RedFlagDeals for $ 185 bonus if payroll deposit was changed before August 31. I missed this deal by ONE day because their customer support got back to me AFTER the promotion was over. Then I signed up for the next promotion of $ 100 bonus if payroll deposit was switched to them by Aug 31. It took them FOREVER to process my application and by the time my account was activated and I went to change the payroll info from my company’s system, it tells me that it can only process the new deposit info for payday of Sept 2! When I called their customer support to explain the situation, they basically said ‘too bad nothing they can do.’
So much for appreciation of my hard earned dollars.
In summary: Gimmick promotions. Don’t care attitude from client ‘care’ team. Long wait time for creating an account.
You get what you pay for. Or in this case, do NOT pay for.
I’m out of there.

I been with ING Direct for over 10 years! I must say that I am really impressed with what they offer in terms of services and interest rates!
No fees! No minimum deposit!
All the money transfers in and out of my bank account always in a prompt manners
Interest Rate. Sweet! Tax Saving Account is at 3% with no commitment/​minimum! I love all the incentives they provide: referral bonus, early TSA contribution bonus…
ING direct deposits always eligible under the protection of CDIC.
I love their website design and their sense of humour!
I never ever talk to anyone in person because I never have any problems with them at all!
One draws back is you have to have another account in a full service bank! sigh…