For applicants wondering whether IRCC actually checks the bank balances submitted as proof of funds:
- Assume verification is possible. Visa offices can, in some cases, coordinate with a bank's head office by phone to confirm the account information you've submitted — whether this happens depends on the reviewing officer's discretion, not a guaranteed universal check.
- Don't try to work around the funds requirement. If your available funds don't match what's declared in your application, the safest approach is not to attempt to game or circumvent the system, since verification is a real possibility and misrepresentation carries serious consequences for an immigration application.
In short: treat your declared proof of funds as something that could be checked directly with your bank, and never submit figures that don't reflect your actual available funds.