What is the daily debit card spending limit in Canada?

Daily Interac debit purchase limits vary by bank, and most of Canada's Big Six banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC) do not publish a single flat figure at all -- it is set per account and viewable only in each bank's app or online banking. Among banks that do publish a figure: Tangerine sets a flat $2,500/day that can't be changed online, and the EQ Bank Card (a prepaid Mastercard) has a daily spending limit of $10,000. Simplii does not publish a flat figure at all -- its debit purchase limit, like its ATM withdrawal limit, is set per client for security reasons. The limit applies to in-store and online debit purchases combined, and resets at midnight.

Can I spend more than my debit limit in one day?

No — once you hit your daily debit purchase limit, further purchases will be declined even if your account has sufficient funds. To make a large purchase above your limit, contact your bank before the transaction to request a temporary increase, or split the purchase across two days if the merchant allows it. Alternatively, use a credit card and pay it off immediately.

Are online debit purchases counted toward my daily limit?

Yes. Online purchases made with your Interac debit card (Interac Online, Interac e-Commerce) typically count toward your daily debit purchase limit. Some banks track in-store and online limits separately — confirm with your bank. Interac e-Transfers are subject to separate transfer limits.

Does tapping (contactless) count toward my daily limit?

Yes. Contactless Interac debit payments (tap to pay) count toward the same daily debit purchase limit as chip-and-PIN. However, many banks apply a separate contactless tap limit per individual transaction (e.g., $250 per tap without PIN) and a contactless daily limit (e.g., $300–$500) before requiring PIN entry. These contactless-specific limits reset or require PIN verification once exceeded.

Debit Card Purchase Limits in Canada — All Major Banks (2026)

Daily Debit Purchase Limits at Major Canadian Banks

These limits apply to point-of-sale (POS) Interac debit purchases. Separate limits may apply to ATM withdrawals and Interac e-Transfers.

Bank	Standard Daily Debit Purchase Limit	Notes
RBC	Not a flat published figure – set per account	Adjustable per account in RBC Online Banking/app; no published default
TD	Not a flat published figure – set per account	Personalized per account, viewable in TD EasyWeb or the TD app
Scotiabank	Not a flat published figure – set per account	Adjustable in Scotia app
BMO	Not a flat published figure – set per account	Adjustable per account in BMO Online Banking/app; no published default
CIBC	Not a flat published figure – set per account	CIBC calls it your daily debit purchase limit; set per account/profile, viewable in CIBC Online Banking or the app
National Bank	Not a flat published figure – set per card	National Bank’s own help centre states there is no single published figure; view and maximize your limit in the National Bank app under your card’s Options
Tangerine	$2,500 (flat, per Tangerine’s own FAQ)	Cannot be changed online; call 1-888-826-4374 to ask about a change
EQ Bank	$10,000 (EQ Bank Card daily spending limit; max card balance $10,000)	Prepaid Mastercard, not a traditional debit card
Simplii Financial	Not a flat published figure – set per client	Check the CIBC ATM screen, your product letter, or ask Simplii to confirm your limit
Desjardins	$1,000 (default, adjustable up to your available balance)	Contactless capped at $250/transaction, $1,000/day; adjustable in AccèsD (source: desjardins.com, verified 2026-09-15)
Credit unions	Varies significantly by institution	Confirm with your specific credit union

Contactless (Tap) vs. Chip-and-PIN Limits

Most banks apply a secondary contactless limit per transaction:

Bank	Per-Tap Contactless Limit	Cumulative Contactless Limit (then requires PIN)
RBC	$250	$250 per transaction, no cumulative cap
TD	$250	$250 per transaction
Scotiabank	$250	$250; PIN required above
BMO	$250	$250 per transaction
CIBC	$250	$250; PIN required above
Tangerine	$100–$250	Varies by card

The $250 per-transaction contactless limit is a Visa/Mastercard/Interac standard across Canada. For purchases above $250, chip-and-PIN is required even if the merchant terminal supports tap.

What Counts Toward Your Daily Debit Limit?

Included in daily debit limit:

In-store chip-and-PIN purchases
Contactless tap purchases
Online Interac debit purchases (Interac Online/e-Commerce)

Separate limits:

ATM cash withdrawals (separate daily limit)
Interac e-Transfers (separate send/receive limits)
Bank-to-bank wire transfers (separate limits)

Not subject to debit limits:

Bill payments through online banking (these go through a different system)

How to Temporarily Increase Your Limit

For a large one-time purchase (car, furniture, etc.)

Call your bank the day before your purchase and request a temporary 24-hour increase
Online banking / mobile app — most major banks allow same-day temporary increases:
- RBC: “Manage Cards” → adjust daily POS limit
- TD: EasyWeb → “Manage my ATM/POS limits”
- Scotiabank: Scotia app → “Card Controls”
- BMO: Digital banking → “Card Management”
- CIBC: “Card Services” → spending limits
Visit a branch — always an option for same-day increases

Temporary increases are typically available for 1–7 days and can usually be set to a specific dollar amount.

Permanent limit increases

For permanently higher limits, contact your bank. Some institutions require a minimum account tenure or balance. Premium and Private Banking accounts come with higher default limits.

When Your Debit Purchase Is Declined Despite Having Funds

Common reasons:

Reason	Solution
Daily debit limit exceeded	Call bank for temporary increase, or use credit card
Funds on hold (recent deposit)	Wait for hold to clear; or ask bank to release
Suspected fraud flag	Call bank’s fraud line to confirm identity
Merchant’s terminal incompatibility	Try chip-and-PIN instead of tap
International merchant (if card locked for international)	Enable international purchases through your banking app

Debit vs. Credit: Which to Use for Large Purchases?

For purchases near or above your daily debit limit, consider using a credit card instead:

Credit cards typically have higher per-day spending limits
Credit cards provide purchase protection and extended warranty
Credit cards can earn rewards points or cash back
Pay the balance immediately to avoid interest

Many Canadians use their credit card as their primary spending tool and treat it like a debit card (paying the full balance monthly).