TORONTO – Some of Canada’s largest banks have moved to disallow third-party AI agents from accessing online banking.
RBC spokesperson Jeff Lanthier confirmed the move in a statement Wednesday, saying the bank has decided to block third-party personal AI agents from direct access to authenticated RBC digital properties, including online banking.
The statement says that while the bank understands the ban may be disappointing for a small portion of clients that use the tools, it made the decision with safety and security in mind.
BMO spokesperson John Fenton also said in a statement Wednesday that it does not permit AI agents to access its digital properties or execute transactions in order to protect clients.
TD Bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while The Canadian Press was awaiting comment from CIBC, National Bank and Scotiabank.
RBC CEO Dave McKay said in a post on LinkedIn on Tuesday evening that while the bank appreciates the benefits of AI being used to save time, “nothing is more important than the security of client information.”
“If AI is going to move beyond the frontier and into the broader economy, trust will matter as much as capability,” the post reads.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2026.
Companies in this story: (TSX:BNS, TSX:NA, TSX:BMO, TSX:RY, TSX:TD, TSX:CM)
