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If your bank account closed, changed, or was merged into a different institution, your OAS or GIS direct deposit may be failing silently.
The failure is not visible: the payment does not bounce back to Service Canada, and you are not contacted by email or text. You only find out when the deposit is missing from your statement.
The fix is straightforward and free, but requires care to avoid a missed payment during the changeover. In 2026, the most common triggers are bank mergers, a spouse’s death that closes a joint account, and a switch to a digital-only bank.
What you need before you start
You need three pieces of information from your new bank:
- Institution number — 3 digits
- Branch transit number — 5 digits
- Account number — 7 to 12 digits
These are available in your online banking profile under “Direct deposit information” or on the bottom-left corner of a void cheque.
The institution and transit number identify the bank and branch; the account number identifies your specific account at that branch. For digital banks, the transit is often 0001 and the institution number is the four-digit code assigned by the Canadian Payments Association.
Three methods to update your direct deposit
Online is the fastest and most reliable. The new account is verified before any payment is sent, so there is no risk of a missed payment during the changeover.
Phone is the second fastest; the agent reads back the numbers as you provide them and confirms before submitting. In-person is the most thorough for unusual situations (joint accounts, trust accounts, or accounts in a different name from the recipient) but takes the most time.
Online
Log into My Service Canada Account at canada.ca, navigate to Direct deposit → Update banking information, enter the three numbers, confirm, and submit. Processed within 1 to 2 payment cycles; a confirmation letter follows by mail.
Phone
Call 1-800-277-9914 (8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Mon to Fri) with the same details; allow 10 to 15 minutes.
In-person
Visit any Service Canada Centre with your new banking details and photo ID; no appointment is required. The printed receipt is your proof of submission, useful if the change is ever questioned.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common errors in 2026:
- Using the transit number from the old branch — if you switched branches, the institution number is the same but the transit is different.
- Transposing digits in the account number — not caught until the first payment is attempted, then the payment is rejected and held.
- Closing the new account before the change is verified — keep the new account active for at least 2 months after the change, or longer if the change happens close to a payment date.
- Updating through the bank instead of Service Canada — the bank can update its internal record but cannot update the Service Canada record.
Next step in the guide
If the direct deposit update is part of a larger change (spouse’s death, divorce, move to a new bank), other Service Canada records may also need updating.
The most common is the proof-of-life attestation, which may need to be re-submitted if the file was flagged during the changeover. See the 2026 update on OAS/GIS proof of income requirements →
How long does it take for a new direct deposit to take effect?
What if my new bank is a digital bank with no branch?
What happens to a missed payment during the changeover?
Is this guide an official Service Canada publication?
Independent guide. Not affiliated with Service Canada or the Government of Canada. All figures are estimates for 2026 and may change quarterly. Confirm current procedures on the official site at canada.ca/service-canada before acting on any information here. Banking procedures and direct deposit formats are managed by the Canadian Payments Association and may change.