The “Big Five” Canadian banks include Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto Dominion Bank (TD Canada Trust), Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of Montreal and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). Are there other viable options?
Latest News
Making sense of the markets this week: November 27, 2022 Nov 26th
This week, Cut the Crap Investing founder, Dale Roberts, shares financial headlines and offers context for Canadian investors.
It’s wonderful to be back writing “Making sense of the markets this week” at MoneySense. I am gladly filling in for a few weeks while Kyle Prevost is away on a drea.... More »
How do mortgage brokers get paid? Feb 18th
Q. Is it typical to pay a mortgage broker fee in advance, and before closing?
My broker is saying that I have to pay cash one week before closing, and that he will pay other persons who are involved. I am confused as to why brokers payment in advance and in cash.
–Adil
A. A mortgage broker can obt.... More »
Stock news for investors: Big gains for Canada’s banks in Q1 Feb 27th
Here’s a round-up of news for Canadian investors this week.
Scotiabank
EQB
National Bank
BMO
RBC
TD
Featured RRSP Accounts
featured
EQ Bank
Build your retirement savin.... More »
Video: How the Bank of Canada’s interest rate affects you Apr 13th
Think of the Bank of Canada (BoC) as the “influencer of all influencers” when it comes to interest rates. Banks and other financial institutions follow its lead. Learn more about how the BoC’s overnight interest rate impacts you in this short video, featuring MoneySense executive editor Lisa H.... More »
Oil sinks 5% as Moodys banking downgrade drops another shoe on crisis By Investing.com - Investing.com + MORE Mar 14th
Oil sinks 5% as Moodys banking downgrade drops another shoe on crisis By Investing.com Investing.comOil Falls Again As Traders Remain Concerned About U.S. Banks OilPrice.comWTI crude settles at the lows of the year. The chart is daunting ForexLiveOil Sinks to Three-M.... More »
Should You Use a Balance Transfer to Help Pay Credit Card Debt?
– ratesupermarket.ca

Many Canadians have high credit card debt. The prospect of paying off those balances can seem overwhelming. So, when a 0% balance transfer offer comes to your attention, it might be tempting. But how does a balance transfer work exactly? It can be an effective way to pay off debt, if used in combination with other sound financial strategies to stop the bills from rising again.
What Is a Balance Transfer?
When you carry a credit card balance, you pay a high amount in interest and fees every month. If you have multiple cards to keep track of, you may feel like you are forever transferring money to cover off the monthly payments. It can feel like two steps forward and one step back each month. A balance transfer lets you put all of your debt onto one card, which can make you feel more comfortable managing your debt. But more critically, balance transfer offers often give you an opportunity to pay your debt down with a much lower, or even 0% interest rate.
You can apply for a new credit card that offers a balance transfer option…


