Scotiabank Timeline

By Decade

1975 - The Pas Branch - On August 13 Scotiabank opens a branch in the Opaskwayak Creek Nation, across the Saskatchewan River from The Pas, Manitoba. It is located in the Otineka Shopping Mall, the construction of which was financed by Scotiabank.

This is the first full-service branch to be opened by a Canadian bank on a reserve.

1976 - Scotia 59ers

Scotiabank launches a package of benefits and services specifically for customers aged 59 and older.

1976 - France - Scotiabank enters France on April 1 with the opening of a Representative Office in Paris.

The office closes in 1988.

1976 - Bahrain - Scotiabank enters Bahrain with the opening of a branch in Manama on May 15.

The branch is designated as an Offshore Banking Unit. The branch closes in 1986.

1976 - Australia

Scotiabank enters Australia with the opening of a Representative Office in Sydney on September 27.

1976 - First Female Directors - Marie Wilson McCulloch Saunders, Q.C., of Toronto, President of A.E. Wilson Co. Ltd., serves as the first woman on Scotiabank's Board of Directors.

The following month she is joined by Helen A. Parker of Yellowknife, a social worker and school guidance counsellor.

1976 - Egypt - Scotiabank enters Egypt with the opening of a Free Zone branch in Cairo.

Scotiabank is the first Canadian bank to open in the Free Zone. Scotiabank continues to operate in Egypt until 2015.

1977 - St. Vincent - Scotiabank enters St. Vincent on June 1 with the opening of a branch in Kingstown.

In 2019, as part of a strategic refocusing, Scotiabank completes the sale of its operations in St. Vincent to Republic Financial Holdings Limited.

1978 - ScotiaLine Credit – Scotiabank introduces a new type of borrowing for Canadians.

ScotiaLine Credit is a unique program which features pre-arranged continuing lines of unsecured credit ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.

1978 - United Arab Emirates - Scotiabank enters the United Arab Emirates with the opening of a branch in Dubai. It operates as a Restricted Licence Bank. The branch closes in 1980.

Image by H. Jacobson.

1978 - Venezuela

Scotiabank enters Venezuela with the opening of a Representative Office in Caracas on March 1. Scotiabank no longer operates in Venezeula.

1978 - Republic of Korea - On March 6 Scotiabank opens a branch in Seoul, the first Canadian bank to open a branch in the Republic of Korea.

In 2021 Scotiabank receives permission from the Financial Services Commission to close the branch.