Scotiabank has launched the ‘Your Parents House’ event to help new university students navigate the financial challenges of living independently for the first time.
The one-day activation gave 250 incoming university students a tote bag to ‘shop’ for groceries, pantry staples, personal care items, stationery and snacks, simulating the familiar experience of stocking up at their parents’ house.
The event was designed to resemble a real home, complete with ‘mum’ and ‘dad’ characters who interacted with students as they stocked up on essentials.
The event took place at a house in close proximity to the University of Toronto and within convenient reach of neighbouring institutions, including Toronto Metropolitan University and OCAD, in order to engage students starting their university studies.
In a statement, Scotiabank said: “From social shares to sign-ups, the activation sparked real conversations about student life, budgeting, and smart banking. It proved that Scotiabank doesn’t just talk student life, we live it.”
The event’s launch coincided with the start of the academic year and was designed to support students beginning university as they navigate key milestones, including living independently, managing their groceries, and, most importantly, handling a personal budget for the first time.
The initiative aimed to highlight Scotiabank’s understanding of the challenges students face when living independently for the first time, following a survey that found one in five Gen Z individuals rely on their parents daily for essentials such as groceries and laundry supplies.
It also promoted the Scotiabank Preferred Package for Students and Youth, designed for 16- to 23-year-olds, and its features, including unlimited debit transactions, free Interac e-Transfers, overdraft protection, and more.
For those who missed ‘Your Parents House,’ Scotiabank has also launched a competition offering five $1,000 grocery gift cards to help students stock their pantries.