Everyone likes a deal. And your older clients, regardless of how well off they may be, are interested in getting value for their money — if only to have more to spend. A wealth of discounts are available to Canadians age 60 and over, and some discounts are offered to those younger than 60.

> Bank Accounts. All the chartered banks and some other financial institutions offer discounts to clients 60 and over. Account fees alone can amount to a tidy sum over a year. Some banks stipulate that clients who want these cost benefits must inform the bank when they turn 60.

TD Canada Trust’s Plan 60 account, for example, has no monthly fee (compared with monthly fees as high as $24.95 on some accounts), unlimited transactions, free personalized cheques, free bank drafts, no commissions on Canadian and U.S. travellers’ cheques, and $5 discounts on safety boxes.

Bank of Montreal’s Senior Discount Program automatically moves its Standard Plan clients who are age 60-plus into its Performance Plan, which offers unlimited monthly transactions through any BMO channel, no monthly fees (compared with the regular monthly fee of $13.95) and no-fee single-signature travellers’ cheques.

Vancouver-based Vancity Credit Union offers savings to clients of age 55 and over, who automatically become Gold Club members. The Gold Club chequing account provides unlimited free transactions, free personalized cheques, complimentary travellers’ cheques and interest calculated daily and paid monthly. Vancity Gold Club members also get a 0.25% bonus on monthly income term deposits and save $5 on annual safety deposit fees. Gold Club benefits apply to both partners in joint accounts, even if one is under age 55.

> Insurance. At age 50, your clients can join Canada’s Association for the 50 Plus for $19.95 a year for individuals or two partners living at the same address. Membership includes nine issues of CARP Magazine for the 50 Plus and access to some terrific deals and discounts, including eight lower-cost insurance plans put together by CARP’s insurance provider, the McLennan Group of Waterloo, Ont.

CARP critical illness insurance provides coverage to age 85 — longer coverage than many company plans offer — and policies can be purchased up to age 75. CARP’s travel insurance has relaxed terms for many pre-existing conditions, making it easier to qualify for coverage. Multi-trip annual plans cover unlimited travel in Canada and trips of up to eight, 15, 30 or 60 days outside Canada.

A bonus is CARP accidental death and dismemberment insurance; it is available free to CARP members who enroll in the plan at 1-800-461-5796. It provides coverage of $2,000 for members under age 70 and $1,000 for those 70 and over.

> Long-Distance Calls. There are a number of long-distance telephone programs that calculate what their members’ monthly long-distance bills would run under the various plans offered by a few phone companies, and then select the plan that costs the least that month. Some programs allow members to charge their balances to their credit cards, earning them loyalty points.

> Entertainment. Most movie chains have discounted prices for the 60-plus group. Ticket prices at Cineplex Odeon theatres vary across the country, but seniors get at least $2 off the regular adult ticket price. Most theatre companies offer seniors’ discounts. Theatre Calgary, for example, offers seniors’ rates of $23.73-$33.80 for Friday and Saturday evening performances, compared with regular adult prices of $36.50-$52.

> Travel. Travellers of age 60 and over are eligible for Via Rail’s 10% senior’s discount and get a second ticket free of charge for economy travel, except during the Christmas season. There’s no restriction on the travel companion’s age.

Most airlines offer discounts on selected fares, usually to selected destinations, to passengers over the age of 60 or 65. Air Canada offers travellers of age 60 and over a 10% discount on many of its base fares, before taxes and surcharges. (Seniors’ discounts cannot be booked on the Web site.)

Greyhound bus passengers of age 62 and older are eligible for a 10% discount on unrestricted fares. Or they can buy one regular fare and get 75% off a second ticket.

Many Canadian hotel chains offer seniors’ discounts. CARP members receive discounts at a variety of hotels and motels across the country; visit www.carp.ca for participating businesses. CARP members also get discounts on Avis car rentals, including a free (third) weekend day on selected models.

@page_break@Parks Canada offers its 12-month National Parks Pass for $53.50 to the 65-plus, compared with $62.40 for other adults. The National Historic Sites Pass costs seniors $41.60, compared with $48.50 for a regular adult pass.

British Columbia seniors of age 65 and over don’t have to pay passenger fares on B.C. Ferries’ boats Mondays through Thursdays, except for holidays.

And Canadian Snowbird As-so-ciation members save on converting their Canadian dollars into U.S. currency.

> Shopping. Many stores and re-tail chains offer seniors’ discounts. For example, Shoppers Drug Mart, with 975 stores across Canada, offers 20% discounts on “seniors’ days” to shoppers of age 65 and older who carry the store’s Optimum loyalty card. IE