Bank of Nova Scotia today unveiled a new savings program that helps people save when they make everyday purchases with their debit card. The service is a first for Canadian customers.

With the “Bank the Rest” savings program, customers using their ScotiaCard to make debit card purchases can choose to round up the total purchase amount to the nearest dollar or $5, and have the difference deposited automatically into their Scotiabank Money Master High Interest Savings account where their money will continue to grow.

“Canadians enjoy the flexibility of using their debit cards to make purchases and we are building on that service to provide greater value to our customers by adding a savings option,” says Gillian Riley, Scotiabank managing director & head, retail deposits and services. “The Bank the Rest program starts from that premise and enables people to build savings into their routine as they use their debit card for daily purchases on everything from gas to groceries. It’s a simple but powerful way to save.”

More information and an online tool that lets people see how the nickels, dimes and quarters add up is available by visiting www.banktherest.com.