Banking in Canada can be a murky subject – one that we hope to shed some light on with a series of highly informational articles.
Latest News
The best 5-year fixed mortgage rates in Canada May 22nd
Mortgage rate comparison tool
Customize the filters to compare rate types and terms.
powered by
Why trust us
MoneySense is an award-winning magazine, helping Canadians navigate money matters since 1999. Our editorial team of trained journalists works closely with leading personal finance .... More »
Making sense of the markets this week: May 22 May 21st
Million Dollar Journey editor and Canadian Financial Summit founder Kyle Prevost shares financial headlines and offers context for Canadian investors.
All that glitters is not Crypto
“It’s going to replace the world’s currency for day-to-day transactions.” they said.
“The fees are.... More »
The best GIC rates in Canada for 2024 Jun 6th
Investing
The best GIC rates in Canada
Find the best GIC rates in Canada. Plus, everything you need to know about how they work.
Compare now
Why trust us
MoneySense is an award-winning magazine,.... More »
The best no-fee credit cards in Canada for 2024 + MORE Jun 21st
Spend
The best no-fee credit cards in Canada for 2024
From cash back to rewards points (and perks like no foreign transaction fees), here's a list of Canada's best no fee cards.
Compare now
powered by.... More »
Watch: How to open a bank account Sep 23rd
Looking for a better interest rate? Want more accessible ATMs? Tired of paying fees for things like bank drafts? Whatever your reason, changing banks or opening a new bank account can take just a few clicks—if you’re prepared. Watch this two-minute video to see what documents you’ll need (even.... More »
Should I Get a Variable or Fixed Mortgage? RBC Cuts Rates and the Answer is No Longer Clear
– ratesupermarket.ca
Last week, Canada’s biggest bank, RBC, cut its five-year fixed rate by 15 basis points. This gave customers the option to lock in their mortgage rate at 3.74 per cent, for a five-year term. And surely enough, TD Bank and BMO Bank of Montreal followed suit and cut their five-year fixed rates to the same level. Currently, CIBC is asking all customers to call in for more details on its five-year fixed rate, and Scotiabank is not showing the same 15-basis-point cut.
The move by some of Canada’s commercial banks is overdue. Unlike variable-rate loans that are affected by the Bank of Canada’s benchmark rate, fixed rates are tied to the bond market, and bond yields have been sinking over the last two months.
The yield for the Government of Canada benchmark five-year bond fell from a high of 2.48 per cent last October to a low of 1.76 per cent on January 3. At the time of writing this article, the bond yield has recovered slightly but still remains lower than two per cent. This means it’s cheaper for commercial banks to borrow money at a fixed rate and, therefore, they can pass down those interest rate savings to their mortgage customers…
Should I Get a Variable or Fixed Mortgage? RBC Cuts Rates and the Answer is No Longer Clear
– ratesupermarket.ca
Last week, Canada’s biggest bank, RBC, cut its five-year fixed rate by 15 basis points. This gave customers the option to lock in their mortgage rate at 3.74 per cent, for a five-year term. And surely enough, TD Bank and BMO Bank of Montreal followed suit and cut their five-year fixed rates to the same level. Currently, CIBC is asking all customers to call in for more details on its five-year fixed rate, and Scotiabank is not showing the same 15-basis-point cut.
The move by some of Canada’s commercial banks is overdue. Unlike variable-rate loans that are affected by the Bank of Canada’s benchmark rate, fixed rates are tied to the bond market, and bond yields have been sinking over the last two months.
The yield for the Government of Canada benchmark five-year bond fell from a high of 2.48 per cent last October to a low of 1.76 per cent on January 3. At the time of writing this article, the bond yield has recovered slightly but still remains lower than two per cent. This means it’s cheaper for commercial banks to borrow money at a fixed rate and, therefore, they can pass down those interest rate savings to their mortgage customers…
