Is The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) halal? Not Halal. Based on AAOIFI screening, The Bank of Nova Scotia has involvement in prohibited business activities with a compliance score of 0/100 (Grade: F).

The Bank of Nova Scotia

BNS: Is The Bank of Nova Scotia Halal?

Not Halal

The Bank of Nova Scotia

NYSEFinancial ServicesCA

$80.64

+2.58%

About The Bank of Nova Scotia

The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various banking products and services in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, and internationally. It operates in four segments: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets. The company offers financial advice and solutions, and day-to-day banking products, including debit and credit cards, chequing and saving accounts, investments, mortgages, loans, and insurance to individuals; and business banking solutions comprising lending, deposit, cash management, and trade finance solutions to small, medium, and large businesses, including automotive financing solutions to dealers and their customers. It also provides wealth management advice and solutions, including online brokerage, mobile investment, full-service brokerage, trust, private banking, and private investment counsel services; and retail mutual funds, exchange traded funds, liquid alternative funds, and institutional funds. In addition, the company offers international banking services for retail, corporate, and commercial customers; and lending and transaction, investment banking advisory, and capital markets access services to corporate customers. Further, it provides online, mobile, and telephone banking services. The company operates a network of 954 branches and approximately 3,766 automated banking machines in Canada; and approximately 1,300 branches and a network of contact and support center internationally. The Bank of Nova Scotia was founded in 1832 and is headquartered in Halifax, Canada.

Sector: Financial Services 路 Industry: Banks - Diversified

Shariah Compliance Status

AAOIFI Standard 21Updated Jun 18, 2026
F

Non-Compliant

Fails Shariah screening

0Score

Business Activity Screen

Failed

Checks if the business is involved in prohibited activities (alcohol, gambling, pork, conventional banking, etc.)

  • Prohibited industry: Banks - Diversified

Financial Ratio Screen

Failed

Financial ratios must be below AAOIFI thresholds

Debt / Market Cap476.0% / 30.0%

Compliance History

Not Halal, unchanged since May 2026.

No status changes recorded since we began tracking.

Tracked since May 2026. Updates automatically on each re-screen.

Screened: Jun 18, 2026Fiscal: FY 2025Source: FMP

Financial Overview

Market Cap

99.4B

Price

$80.64

Sector

Financial Services

Industry

Banks - Diversified

Halal Alternatives in Financial Services

This stock is not Shariah-compliant. Here are halal alternatives from the same sector, ranked by compliance score:

Free 路 No credit card required

Track BNS and 10,000+ stocks with AI insights

Create your free account to unlock AI-powered compliance analysis, track your portfolio, calculate purification, and get unlimited AAOIFI screening.

10,000+ assets AAOIFI standards Free watchlist

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) halal to invest in?
The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) is rated Not Halal under AAOIFI Standard 21 screening. It fails either the business activity screen (primary involvement in prohibited sectors such as conventional banking, alcohol, or gambling) or one of the quantitative financial ratio thresholds. Muslim investors should avoid or exit this position.
Why did The Bank of Nova Scotia get a F compliance rating?
The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) received a grade of F (Non-Compliant) based on three AAOIFI Standard 21 financial ratios: debt-to-market-cap of 476.0% (limit 30%); interest-bearing deposits of 102.1% (limit 30%); prohibited income of 78.72% (limit 5%). The grade reflects the margin of safety across all three ratios relative to their thresholds.
What could change The Bank of Nova Scotia's Shariah verdict?
The Bank of Nova Scotia's verdict is re-evaluated at each annual re-screen. Three events could change it: (1) the debt-to-market-cap ratio crossing 30%, typically from new debt issuance or a major drop in share price; (2) interest-bearing deposits exceeding 30% of market cap; or (3) prohibited revenue (alcohol, gambling, conventional finance, etc.) exceeding 5% of total revenue. Verdict flips are tracked in the compliance history section above.
How often is The Bank of Nova Scotia re-screened for Shariah compliance?
The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) is re-screened annually using the most recent full-year financial data from SEC filings. HalalScreener also triggers an on-demand re-screen whenever the stored data is more than 7 days old, ensuring the ratios reflect the latest available financial statements. Last screened: Jun 18, 2026.

Screened according to AAOIFI Standard No. 21 路 For informational purposes only. Consult a qualified Islamic finance advisor before investing.

Disclaimer: This screening is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or religious advice. Compliance is evaluated using AAOIFI financial standards (debt, deposits, and prohibited income ratios) and publicly available data. Ethical, political, social, or environmental considerations are outside the scope of this screening. Individual scholars and methodologies may differ. Always consult a qualified Islamic finance advisor before making investment decisions.