Connect with us

Technology

Digital doorway opens financial future for newcomers to Canada: RBC launches 15-minute self-serve Pre-Arrival Account Open capability

Published

on

Prospective newcomers who currently live in Hong Kong, China, India and six other countries are eligible to use RBC’s self-serve Pre-Arrival Account Open capabilityAhead of leaving their home country, newcomers can transfer up to C$75,000 in one to three instalmentsNew digital process continues RBC’s legacy of helping more than one million newcomers build their financial future in CanadaRBC also helps newcomers unlock immediate savings and value through unique offers

TORONTO, Sept. 10, 2026 /CNW/ — One crucial first step for newcomers wanting to make Canada their home has just become much more convenient with the launch of RBC’s new self-serve Pre-Arrival Account Open capability.

This user-friendly digital experience takes 15 minutes or less to complete, allowing newcomers to open an RBC Advantage Banking account before they come to Canada and transfer up to C$75,000 in one to three instalments. Upon their arrival in Canada, they can activate their account to immediately gain access to their funds.

Having a Canadian bank account set up before newcomers arrive means they can hit the ground running. They’ll be better able to pay for what they need from day one and get their new life off to a strong start.

“Beginning life in a new country is challenging enough; setting up a bank account to access your money shouldn’t be,” said Jay Acharya, Senior Vice President, Everyday Banking, RBC. “By making it easy for newcomers to take care of this important first step before leaving their home country, we’re helping them be financially ready when they arrive, ensuring they have one less thing to think about as they begin building their future in Canada.”

Why bank with RBC?
Beyond the new self-serve Pre-Arrival Account Open capability, Acharya notes that RBC has a long track record and extensive expertise in working with newcomers, having helped over one million newcomers build their financial future in Canada.

“Our support is based on a deep understanding of the newcomer experience, as many of our newcomer specialists were once new to Canada themselves,” added Acharya. “Providing assistance designed for newcomers by newcomers makes such a difference to everyone we welcome through our doors – digitally or in-branch.”

There are many other reasons for newcomers to make RBC their bank of choice to help them establish themselves in Canada, including:

Support in more than 200 languages. Newcomers can speak with someone in their preferred language, by phone, video chat or in person at any RBC bank branch.Extensive banking network. RBC has the largest combined bank branch and ATM network in Canada, with more than 1,100 branches and 4,000 ATMs across the country.Convenient and secure digital access: Bank safely anytime through RBC Online Banking and through the RBC Mobile app.Savings and rewards: RBC helps newcomers unlock immediate savings and value through unique offers – more details are available at www.rbc.com/startoffers 

For more information about RBC’s comprehensive banking solutions and resources for newcomers, including the new self-serve Pre-Arrival Account Open capability, please visit www.rbc.com/coming-to-canada 

Questions about RBC’s new self-serve Pre-Arrival Account Open capability? We have answers!

Can I transfer money to Canada before I arrive? Yes, if you currently live in one of the nine international countries listed below, you can digitally set up an RBC Advantage Banking account up to 12 months before you arrive in Canada. Transfer in up to C$75,000 – in one to three instalments – and then you can activate your account when you arrive in Canada, ensuring you have ready access to your funds.Newcomers in which home countries are eligible for RBC’s new self-serve Pre-Arrival Account Open capability? Newcomers who currently live in Hong Kong, China, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago are eligible to use this new self-serve capability.How do I activate my RBC personal banking account? Upon your arrival in Canada, you can activate your account by visiting any RBC branch.How can I begin building my credit history in Canada? After activating your account, you can qualify for a credit card with a limit of up to C$15,000* – with no Canadian credit history required* – and begin building your credit history here by using your credit card and making on-time payments. * Eligibility and other terms and conditions apply. See www.rbc.com/new-to-canada for full details. Does it cost money to open my bank account? No – and the RBC Advantage Banking account waives its monthly fee for the first year after your arrival in Canada.Why is setting up a Canadian bank account an important first step for Temporary Foreign Workers and International Students before they arrive in Canada? By opening a Canadian bank account before they arrive here and transferring in up to C$75,000, Temporary Foreign Workers and International Students can obtain the ‘proof of funds’ document they need for their visa requirement. For Temporary Foreign Workers, employers in Canada typically pay wages through direct deposit, which requires a Canadian bank account. Having this account set up early can make it easier to receive wages without delays. Where can I find out all the details about RBC’s self-serve Pre-Arrival Account Open capability? This couldn’t be easier – simply visit www.rbc.com/coming-to-canada 

Disclaimer
This is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. The information presented is believed to be factual and up to date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 105,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.‎

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

Media contact:
Kathy Bevan, RBC Corporate Communications, 647-618-2287

SOURCE RBC Royal Bank

Continue Reading

Technology

The World Is Taking Notice: TIME Recognition Fuels VinFast’s Global Journey

Published

on

By

On a rainy Tuesday morning in Paris, a driver waiting at a red light on Boulevard Haussmann might not immediately place the badge on the SUV beside them. Thousands of miles away, a driver in California might have a similar moment seeing the same badge on an American road. It is not German, nor one of the familiar Asian names that have become common across established automotive markets. It belongs to VinFast ,  a Vietnamese automotive brand that is steadily making its presence felt across Europe and North America, and whose global journey reflects a much larger story unfolding inside its parent group, Vingroup.

PARIS , Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — That journey reached a new milestone this year. Vingroup has been ranked 340th in TIME’s World’s Best Companies 2026, produced jointly with the research firm Statista, placing it among the world’s top 350 businesses and marking a rise of nearly 500 places from the previous year. It is the only Vietnamese company to appear on the list for two consecutive years.

A Ranking Built on More Than Growth

TIME and Statista do not rank companies on size alone. Their methodology weighs three dimensions: revenue growth, employee satisfaction and sustainability transparency. Vingroup earned an overall score of 81 out of 100, rising from 817th to 340th worldwide.

The revenue figures behind that score are substantial. In the first half of 2026, Vingroup posted consolidated net revenue of VND 222.9 trillion, up 72 percent year on year, with profit after tax reaching VND 20.904 trillion, more than four and a half times the figure recorded over the same period in 2025. That growth was driven largely by the Group’s industrial manufacturing and real estate businesses, earning Vingroup an “Outstanding” rating on the revenue metric.

Employee satisfaction told a similar story of momentum. Vingroup climbed to 398th globally, up 496 places, in a workforce that now spans roughly 400,000 people across 12 countries.

On sustainability, the Group’s contribution came through a different kind of infrastructure – green transition projects, urban development, and long-term investment in the systems that sustain a livable city rather than a single quarter’s balance sheet. Vinhomes, the Group’s real estate arm, has extended this thinking through its ESG++ model, adding Regeneration and Resilience to the conventional three pillars of Environmental, Social and Governance work, applied across urban developments spanning thousands of hectares.

Two new business lines added to that picture in 2025: infrastructure, through VinSpeed’s high-speed rail projects connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Can Gio and Hanoi to Quang Ninh, and green energy, through VinEnergo’s projects across multiple provinces. Together, they represent an attempt to build not just individual businesses, but the connective tissue – rail, power and mobility – that a modern, low-carbon economy runs on.

Making the EV Transition More Accessible

Within that broader ecosystem, VinFast represents one of the clearest expressions of Vingroup’s global aspirations. The company’s expansion across Asia, North America and Europe is bringing the Group’s vision for a greener future to an increasingly international audience, while putting a Vietnamese automotive brand directly into competition in some of the world’s most established markets.

For customers considering a new automotive brand, however, global vision is only the starting point. The more important question is whether a new entrant can earn the trust required to become part of everyday life.

Research from the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility offers a useful, if counterintuitive, perspective. Surveying thousands of European car buyers, McKinsey found that Europeans open to considering an Asian market entrant show an overall 53 percent likelihood of switching to a new brand when they move to an electric vehicle – a figure that rises as high as 63 percent in the United Kingdom. Brand loyalty, in other words, is proving more fluid in the EV era than it was in the age of the internal combustion engine.

That shift creates an opening for new EV brands. But winning customers requires more than a competitive vehicle. It requires making electric mobility accessible while building the sales, service and ownership infrastructure that gives customers confidence throughout the ownership journey.

With an increasingly diverse and accessible product portfolio, VinFast remains committed to its mission of making electric vehicles more accessible to everyone and enabling customers to transition to green mobility with greater ease and confidence.

In Europe, the company is expanding its presence with products designed around local priorities of efficiency, design and accessibility, including the VF 6 and VF 8, while electric buses such as the EB 8 and the fully European-certified EB 12 further extend its contribution to the region’s transition toward greener transportation.

Across North America, the same vision is being supported by the expansion of VinFast’s sales and service network and the development of its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. Together, these initiatives are designed to build a more comprehensive ecosystem around the customer, extending beyond the vehicle itself to the services and support that shape the ownership experience.

Vingroup was the first Vietnamese company to qualify for TIME’s World’s Best Companies list in 2025, while VinFast has earned recognition among TIME100 Most Influential Companies and Asia-Pacific’s Best Companies of 2025. These milestones reflect growing international recognition of Vingroup’s and VinFast’s aspirations, capabilities and expanding global reach.

The latest TIME recognition for Vingroup therefore arrives at a moment when that global reach is becoming increasingly visible. For VinFast, the challenge and opportunity now extend across multiple continents ,  from European cities where a new badge is gradually becoming familiar, to North American roads where the company is building its presence and customer ecosystem. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-world-is-taking-notice-time-recognition-fuels-vinfasts-global-journey-302876595.html

Continue Reading

Technology

XLCS Partners advises CID Capital on its investment in Kaiser Garage Doors & Gates

Published

on

By

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as advisor to CID Capital on its investment in Kaiser Garage Doors & Gates, LLC (Kaiser).

Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, Kaiser is a leading installer and servicer of residential and commercial overhead doors and gates serving the Phoenix, Tucson, and White Mountains markets. With over 30 years of proven operations, the company has established a strong regional footprint, a reputation for quality and reliability, and long-standing customer relationships.

Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, CID Capital is a private equity firm with decades of experience partnering with high-quality, lower middle market companies. CID makes control investments in companies with a proven track record of success and works alongside management teams to provide strategic guidance, resources, and capital for the next phase of growth, combining a focus on founder- and family-owned companies with a collaborative approach to building long-term value.

Kaiser is the third platform investment made from CID’s latest fund, CID Capital Opportunity Fund IV, L.P. In conjunction with the closing, industry veteran Eric Farley stepped in as CEO to lead the business under CID’s ownership, partnering with Dean Bennett, COO, and the existing Kaiser team.

XLCS acted as buyside advisor to CID Capital in connection with its investment in Kaiser, which was completed on August 14, 2026. The engagement was supported by Jay Cremer, Vice President, and David Silva, Senior Associate.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is a leading global investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services. Visit www.xlcspartners.com for more information.

Media Contact: 
Kendra Span
kspan@xlcspartners.com
615-379-7783

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xlcs-partners-advises-cid-capital-on-its-investment-in-kaiser-garage-doors–gates-302876631.html

SOURCE XLCS Partners, Inc.

Continue Reading

Technology

PlanetiQ Selected for NOAA’s Space-Based Environmental Monitoring IDIQ

Published

on

By

Selection builds on PlanetiQ’s long-standing relationship with NOAA and adds thermospheric neutral density to its environmental data offerings

GOLDEN, Colo., Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PlanetiQ, a leading provider of commercial satellite-based environmental data, today announced that it has been selected as an industry partner under NOAA’s new Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Through the SBEM IDIQ, PlanetiQ will be eligible to compete for task orders to provide NOAA with two types of commercial environmental data: Global Navigation Satellite System-Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) observations for atmospheric profiling and ionospheric monitoring, and thermospheric neutral density data for satellite orbit prediction.

“This selection builds on our long-standing partnership with NOAA and expands the ways our data can support the agency, from high-resolution atmospheric and ionospheric observations to thermospheric neutral density for satellite orbit prediction,” said Ira Scharf, CEO of PlanetiQ.  

The SBEM IDIQ, established by NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) through its Commercial Data Program. The contract has a five-year base period followed by a five-year option and is effective from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2036.

Under SBEM, PlanetiQ will provide data from its existing satellite constellation as well as additional satellites planned for launch later this year. The company’s GNSS-RO observations provide high-resolution atmospheric profiles for numerical weather prediction and measurements of the ionosphere, including Total Electron Content (TEC) and scintillation. PlanetiQ will also introduce thermospheric neutral density data as a new commercial data product for NOAA NESDIS, supporting improved satellite orbit prediction and space-weather applications.

“PlanetiQ has built its business around delivering high-quality GNSS-RO data with the precision needed to improve weather forecasting,” said Ira Scharf, CEO of PlanetiQ. “This selection builds on our long-standing partnership with NOAA and expands the ways our data can support the agency, from high-resolution atmospheric and ionospheric observations to thermospheric neutral density for satellite orbit prediction. We look forward to continuing to work with NOAA to advance weather forecasting and space weather applications.”

Per NOAA’s own press release, NOAA is expanding its procurement and use of new commercial environmental satellite data streams that will enhance weather forecasting and space weather monitoring. The SBEM IDIQ contract is a key part in the agency’s ongoing effort to boost U.S. weather forecasting capabilities.

PlanetiQ currently provides GNSS-RO data to NOAA NESDIS under the agency’s previous commercial data contract vehicle. The company’s most recent task order, announced in August, provides GNSS-RO and ionospheric data and bridges the transition to the new SBEM contract.

About PlanetiQ

PlanetiQ provides the highest-quality GNSS radio occultation (RO) data available from a commercial constellation of satellites, offering unmatched temporal and spatial resolution. The data drive accurate, high-impact weather and climate forecast models, helping improve Numerical Weather Prediction and AI forecasts, safeguard lives and property from severe weather. In 2025, PlanetiQ was awarded NOAA’s largest-ever contract for satellite weather data, valued at $24.3 million. PlanetiQ is a space-tech company that serves the most mission-critical government, defense, and industry leaders, including international weather agencies, enabling more resilient operations across sectors. Founded in 2015 and privately owned, PlanetiQ designs, builds, and operates the preeminent commercial constellation of GNSS-RO satellites, setting the standard for precision and reliability in atmospheric monitoring. For more information, contact info@planetiq.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/planetiq-selected-for-noaas-space-based-environmental-monitoring-idiq-302876567.html

SOURCE PlanetiQ

Continue Reading

Trending