TD Precious Metals vs CanAm Bullion
TD Precious Metals vs CanAm Bullion: Buying Gold Through a Bank or a Dealer
Canadians often start their gold search at their bank. Both TD and CanAm are registered BULLION DNA dealers with the Royal Canadian Mint. The real differences are inventory depth, how pricing is shown, and where you can actually collect metal.
Quick answer
TD Canada Trust is a registered BULLION DNA dealer with the Royal Canadian Mint, so its RCM product is genuine. Access runs through the bank's own channels and its Toronto TD Bank Tower location. CanAm is a dedicated dealer where bullion is the only business.
If you want a deep in-stock catalogue, live per-product pricing, and a counter you can walk into: a dedicated dealer is the more direct route. For buying through an existing banking relationship: TD.
Why so many Canadians search for gold at TD first
TD is one of Canada's largest banks, so it is a natural starting point when someone decides to put money into gold. That instinct is not misplaced. TD Canada Trust appears on the Royal Canadian Mint's own dealer directory as a registered BULLION DNA dealer, with a listed location at the TD Bank Tower on King Street West in Toronto. Buying Maple Leaf product through TD means buying genuine RCM metal.
So the question is not whether a bank can sell you real gold. It can. The question is what the buying experience looks like, and that is where a bank and a dedicated bullion dealer diverge.
A bank treats precious metals as one product line among hundreds. Access tends to run through banking channels, selection is narrower than a specialist inventory, and pricing is usually surfaced through an advisor or a branch rather than published per item. A dealer like CanAm runs the opposite model: a physical inventory business where every bar and coin has its own page, its own live price, and its own stock status, and where the staff handle nothing but metal all day.
Neither model is wrong. They suit different buyers. If your gold purchase is one line inside a broader banking relationship, the bank route is convenient. If you want to see exactly what is in stock, compare premiums across mints and weights before committing, and collect or vault the metal directly, the dealer route is built for that.
Bank versus specialist dealer: the practical differences
| Consideration | CanAm Bullion | TD Precious Metals |
|---|---|---|
| Core business | Physical bullion dealer | Bank with a precious metals line |
| Physical product selection | ✓ Gold, silver, platinum across many mints | Narrower selection than a specialist |
| Per-product pricing shown online | ✓ Live price on every product page | Typically via branch or advisor |
| Walk-in purchase | ✓ Windsor, ON counter | ✓ TD Bank Tower, Toronto |
| Insured vault storage | ✓ Brink's in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary | Bank custody options |
| Specialist product knowledge | ✓ Bullion is the only business | General financial advisory |
| Direct phone line for bullion | ✓ 1-877-513-9399 | General bank channels |
| GST/HST on 99.5%+ gold | Exempt (investment-grade) | Exempt (investment-grade) |
TD Canada Trust is listed as a registered BULLION DNA dealer on the Royal Canadian Mint's dealer directory. Bank offerings vary by branch and change over time. Confirm current availability and pricing with TD directly.
What actually changes when you buy from a dealer
You see the price before you commit
Every CanAm product page shows the current price for that specific bar or coin. There is no need to book an appointment or speak to an advisor to find out what a one ounce Maple Leaf costs today.
You choose the exact product
Weight, mint, and format are all buyer decisions. A one gram bar, a ten ounce bar, an RCM Maple Leaf, or a Valcambi wafer are all separate purchases rather than a single generic gold allocation.
Selling back is straightforward
Because bullion is the core business rather than a side product line, buy-back is a routine transaction handled by the same team that sold you the metal.
Same metal, different counter
Both TD and CanAm can sell you a genuine Royal Canadian Mint Maple Leaf. What differs is everything around the coin: how many weights and mints are in stock, whether the price is visible before you commit, how quickly you can collect, and whether selling back is a routine daily transaction or an exception. CanAm carries a physical inventory in Windsor, publishes a live price on every product, stores metal with Brink's in three cities, and employs people whose entire job is precious metals.
Browse physical gold at CanAm
Buying gold partly as a hedge against a weakening Canadian dollar? CanAm Currency Exchange handles FINTRAC-regulated CAD/USD conversion under the same ownership.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy physical gold from TD?
Yes. TD Canada Trust is listed on the Royal Canadian Mint's dealer directory as a registered BULLION DNA dealer, with a location at the TD Bank Tower in Toronto. Availability and selection vary by branch and are narrower than a specialist dealer's inventory, so confirm what is in stock before travelling.
Is it cheaper to buy gold from a bank or a dealer?
It depends on the product and the day, but dealers typically publish a live price per product so you can compare against spot before you buy. Bank pricing is more often quoted through an advisor or branch, which makes direct comparison harder. Check the specific product price at each on the day you intend to purchase.
Is buying gold from a bank safer?
Authenticity is equivalent here: both TD and CanAm appear on the Royal Canadian Mint's registered dealer directory, so RCM product from either is genuine. Safety then comes down to storage. CanAm offers insured Brink's vault storage in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, alongside an A+ BBB rating and a 4.9 Google rating.
Do I pay GST or HST on gold in Canada?
Investment-grade gold at 99.5% purity or higher and investment-grade silver at 99.9% purity are generally exempt from GST/HST in Canada. This exemption applies to the metal itself regardless of where you buy it. Numismatic and collectible pieces can be treated differently.
Can I sell gold back to a bank?
Buy-back terms at banks vary and are often tied to the specific product purchased through them. A dealer that trades physical metal daily treats buy-back as routine. CanAm Bullion can be reached at 1-877-513-9399 to discuss selling.
What is the minimum to start buying gold?
At a dealer, the practical minimum is the price of the smallest product in stock, which can be a one gram bar. That makes entry considerably more accessible than many account-based minimums. Current prices are listed on each product page.
See the actual price before you buy
Every product at CanAm Bullion shows its live price. Royal Canadian Mint authorized, A+ BBB, 4.9 on Google, with insured Brink's storage available.
Shop Gold Bullion Or call 1-877-513-9399