There is no Scotiabank retail bank in Guatemala. Banco de Antigua, Scotiabank's Guatemalan bank, was sold to Orca Credit Holding in May 2013; Scotiabank's global site (read 8 October 2026) does not list Guatemala, and the SIB's Semana Santa 2026 hours list has no Scotiabank. Canadians bank with a Guatemalan bank and move money in by wire or a transfer service. Guatemalan deposit insurance covers up to Q20,000 per person per bank (Ley de Bancos Art. 87), and Guatemala is not on Canada's direct-deposit country list for federal payments.
The Scotiabank name leads many Canadians to expect a Scotia branch when they arrive in Guatemala. There isn’t one, and an earlier version of this page got that wrong. This guide sets out what the record shows, what it means for a Canadian with a Scotia account, and what the alternatives cost on the day we checked.
For broader context on opening an account in Guatemala, our main banking in Guatemala guide compares the local banks.
What happened to Scotiabank in Guatemala
- 2013 exit. A May 2013 news digest (MONEC, citing Prensa Libre, Siglo XXI and El Periódico of 24 May 2013) reported that Banco de Antigua sold its shares to the Orca Credit Holding group, based in Delaware, with an SIB resolution of 17 May authorizing the sale. It said Scotiabank was leaving the country after five years in the local market, while keeping a corporate office. We could not confirm whether that corporate office still exists.
- Today. Scotiabank’s global site, read on 8 October 2026, lists its countries; Guatemala is not among them (nor are El Salvador or Costa Rica). Banco de Antigua still appears as a separate bank on the SIB Semana Santa 2026 hours list (1-5 April 2026, captured in September 2026), with no Scotiabank on that list.
- The El Salvador mix-up. Banco Cuscatlán’s own history says its parent, Inversiones Cuscatlán Centroamérica, bought Scotiabank El Salvador and Scotia Seguros in 2019. Banco Cuscatlán entered Guatemala separately, through Tarjetas Occidente in 2022 and Banco Inmobiliario in 2024.
What this means for a Canadian:
- There is no Scotia account to open in Guatemala and no Scotia branch that can see your Canadian account.
- Any transfer from Scotia Canada lands at a different bank, so it is an ordinary international transfer.
- Your Scotia card works as a foreign card, with whatever fees your card and the ATM owner charge.
Correction, 8 October 2026. Earlier versions of this page said Scotiabank Guatemala was spun off around 2018, sold to Imperia Intercontinental/Banco Cuscatlán and still operated Scotiabank-branded accounts, ATMs and branches in Guatemala, and gave account-opening steps, wire and ATM fee ranges, and a CPP/OAS direct-deposit tip for it. None of that could be supported: Scotiabank left Guatemala in 2013, the 2019 Cuscatlán purchase was Scotiabank El Salvador, and Guatemala is not on Canada’s direct-deposit country list. We removed the claims we could not source.
Moving money from Canada to Guatemala
Scotiabank Canada’s International Money Transfer page, read 8 October 2026, says:
- Transfers go directly to bank accounts in 73 countries.
- The transfer fee is C$1.99, currently waived; Scotiabank’s foreign exchange rate applies.
- The country list is not in the page text we captured, so check in the Scotia app whether Guatemala is offered before you count on it.
For a market comparison, Wise publishes comparison data for its own and other providers’ quotes. For CAD 2,000 to GTQ, collected 30 October-1 November 2026:
| Provider | Fee (CAD) | Exchange rate (GTQ per CAD) | Recipient gets (GTQ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instarem | 0.00 | 5.4236 | 10,847.20 |
| Remitly | 3.99 | 5.4044 | 10,787.24 |
| Xoom | 0.00 | 5.3663 | 10,732.60 |
| Western Union | 1.99 | 5.3362 | 10,661.86 |
| Wise | 78.75 | 5.4696 | 10,508.45 |
| BMO (collected 30 October) | 0.00 | 5.2454 | 10,490.72 |
Scotiabank was not in that comparison. Quotes change daily, depend on the payout method, and come from Wise’s dataset, so get a live quote before sending. Our send money from Canada to Guatemala guide covers the options in more detail.
A bank-to-bank wire can still make sense when you need a formal transfer record, for example for a property purchase handled by a notary. Ask both banks for their current fees; we have not confirmed Scotiabank’s outgoing wire fee. For incoming USD wires, BAM publishes US$ 8.00, Promerica $10.00 and BAC $15 (checked 1 November 2026).
Using your Canadian Scotia card in Guatemala
- Purchases: the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card has no foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and Scotiabank’s product page describes the typical fee it avoids as 2.5% (read 8 October 2026). Other cards may charge it.
- ATM withdrawals: we could not confirm Scotiabank’s foreign-ATM fees or Guatemalan ATM owners’ fees from a primary source today. Check your card’s fee schedule and the fee the ATM displays.
Where to bank in Guatemala instead
Pick a Guatemalan bank on branch access, fees and app quality for your situation. One measurable point: on the SIB Semana Santa 2026 hours list (1-5 April 2026), Banco de Desarrollo Rural (Banrural) had the most rows (307), followed by Banco Industrial (193) and BAM (113). That is a holiday-hours list for one week, not a count of branches, ATMs or service points.
Deposit insurance
| Guatemala (FOPA) | Canada (CDIC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Up to Q20,000 or its foreign-currency equivalent per person with deposits in a bank (Ley de Bancos y Grupos Financieros Art. 87) | Up to $100,000 per insured category, principal and interest (CDIC) |
| In CAD | About CAD 3,725 at Wise’s mid-market rate of Q5.36924 per CAD on 8 October 2026 |
Art. 87 also says the Junta Monetaria must revise the amount when accounts at or below the limit fall under 90% of all deposit accounts, so check the current figure before relying on it. Balances above the limit depend on the bank’s own solvency; spreading money across banks or keeping it in Canada are the obvious options.
Tips specific to Canadians
- Federal benefits: Guatemala is not on the Government of Canada’s list of countries available for direct deposit to a foreign bank account (page dated 2026-08-26). Keep a Canadian account for CPP/OAS-type payments.
- Reference letters: if a Guatemalan bank asks for a reference from your Canadian bank, request it before you leave.
- Disputes: the Canadian Embassy in Guatemala page has the consular contact details.
Bottom line for a Canadian
There is no Scotiabank retail bank in Guatemala, and there has not been one since 2013. Open an account at a Guatemalan bank, compare live transfer quotes (Scotia’s own International Money Transfer, if it offers Guatemala, against services like Remitly, Western Union or Wise), and keep your Canadian account for federal benefit payments.
For the bigger picture, our moving from Canada to Guatemala hub, Canadian taxes guide, and Canadian health insurance guide cover the rest of the system.
Keep Reading
- Banking in Guatemala for Foreigners: comparison of Guatemalan banks.
- Send Money from Canada to Guatemala: transfer options compared.
- Moving from Canada to Guatemala (hub): pre-departure checklist.
- CAD to Quetzal Exchange Rate: live CAD/GTQ rate and trend.
- Today’s Exchange Rate: USD/GTQ live tracker.
- Canadian Embassy in Guatemala: consular contacts.
- SAT NIT (Tax ID) Registration: Guatemala’s tax ID.
Sources checked 8 October 2026: Scotiabank global site (country list); MONEC news digest of 24 May 2013 citing Prensa Libre, Siglo XXI and El Periódico (Banco de Antigua sale); SIB Semana Santa 2026 hours list, 1-5 April 2026 (captured 20 September 2026); Banco Cuscatlán Guatemala, Acerca de nosotros; Scotiabank Canada International Money Transfer and Passport Visa Infinite pages; Wise comparison data, CAD 2,000 to GTQ; Ley de Bancos y Grupos Financieros Art. 87; CDIC; Government of Canada direct-deposit country list. Bank terms change: confirm with the bank before relying on any figure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Scotiabank Guatemala?
Not as a retail bank today. Scotiabank’s global site, read on 8 October 2026, lists no Guatemala among its countries, and the Superintendencia de Bancos (SIB) Semana Santa 2026 hours list (1-5 April 2026, captured in September 2026) has no Scotiabank among the banks. In May 2013 Banco de Antigua, Scotiabank’s bank in Guatemala, was sold to Orca Credit Holding with SIB authorization dated 17 May; press reports at the time said Scotiabank was leaving the country after five years and would keep a corporate office.
Didn't Banco Cuscatlán buy Scotiabank's Guatemalan operations?
No. Banco Cuscatlán’s own history says its parent bought Scotiabank El Salvador in 2019. In Guatemala it entered through Tarjetas Occidente (2022) and Banco Inmobiliario (2024). An earlier version of this page mixed up the two countries.
Can I do a wire transfer from Scotiabank Canada to a Guatemalan bank?
There is no Scotia bank on the Guatemalan side, so any transfer goes to a Guatemalan bank such as Banco Industrial, Banrural or BAM. Scotiabank Canada’s International Money Transfer page, read 8 October 2026, advertises transfers to 73 countries with a C$1.99 fee that is currently waived, plus Scotiabank’s exchange rate; the captured page text does not list the countries, so check in the app whether Guatemala is offered.
What does it cost to send CAD 2,000 to Guatemala?
Wise’s public comparison data for CAD 2,000 to GTQ, collected 30 October-1 November 2026, showed the recipient getting between Q10,490.72 (BMO) and Q10,847.20 (Instarem); Wise’s own quote was a C$78.75 fee at Q5.46959 per CAD for Q10,508.45. Scotiabank was not in that comparison. Quotes move daily.
Can I use my Canadian Scotiabank card in Guatemala?
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card has no foreign transaction fee on purchases in a foreign currency; Scotiabank’s product page describes the typical fee it avoids as 2.5%. We could not confirm Scotiabank’s or Guatemalan banks’ ATM fees from a primary source, so check both before relying on ATM cash.
Is my money insured in a Guatemalan bank?
Article 87 of Guatemala’s Ley de Bancos y Grupos Financieros sets the Fondo para la Protección del Ahorro (FOPA) coverage at up to Q20,000, or its foreign-currency equivalent, per person with deposits in a bank. That is about CAD 3,725 at Wise’s mid-market rate on 8 October 2026. In Canada, CDIC insures eligible deposits up to $100,000 per insured category.
Can CPP or OAS be deposited directly into a Guatemalan bank account?
Guatemala does not appear on the Government of Canada’s list of countries available for direct deposit to a foreign bank account (page dated 2026-08-26, read 8 October 2026). Plan on a Canadian account or another method for federal benefit payments.
