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Bank of Canada Says More Rate Hikes Could Be Coming: What It Means for Your Mortgage and HELOC

  Canadian Money Brief  |  November 11, 2026 Bank of Canada Says More Rate Hikes Could Be Coming: What It Means for Your Mortgage and HELOC By the MoneySavings.ca team  •  6 min read The Bank of Canada raised its key rate on October 28, the first increase since 2023. Yesterday it signalled it may not be done. The summary of deliberations, released Tuesday, says Governing Council agreed there could be a need to raise the policy rate further, while taking decisions one meeting at a time. If you carry a variable-rate mortgage or a home equity line of credit (HELOC), that is a headline worth a few minutes. Here is what the Bank said, what another hike would cost, and what you can do before the next decision on December 9 . 2.50% Policy rate since Oct 28 4.70% Big-bank prime since Oct 29 3.5% BoC CPI forecast, end of 2026 Dec 9 Next rate decision What the Bank actually said The core of the story is energy. The Bank notes that the war in the Middle East is in its eig...
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Banks face challenges as fiscal year ends

                                     

The fiscal year 2023 has been a tough one for Canada’s major banks, as they faced rising costs, regulatory pressures and credit risks. Analysts expect their fourth-quarter earnings, which will be reported this week, to show a decline from last year.

Some of the challenges that the banks encountered this year include:

  • Cost-cutting measures: Some banks, such as RBC and Scotiabank, have reduced their work force and real estate holdings to lower their expenses. Others, such as BMO, have completed or planned major integrations of their acquisitions.
  • Regulatory scrutiny: TD Bank is awaiting the outcome of investigations by U.S. authorities over its anti-money-laundering practices, which could result in fines or other penalties. RBC’s proposed takeover of HSBC’s Canadian unit has also faced opposition from political and environmental groups.
  • Credit risks: As interest rates rise and inflation persists, the banks have increased their provisions for potential loan losses, anticipating higher defaults from their borrowers. The banks are also required to hold more capital by the banking watchdog, OSFI, to cushion against an economic downturn.
  • Slow loan growth: The demand for lending has been dampened by the high cost of borrowing and the uncertainty over the economic recovery. The banks have also faced stiff competition from fintechs and other non-bank lenders, who offer more convenient and cheaper alternatives.

Despite these headwinds, the banks are still well-positioned to weather the storm, as they have strong capital ratios, diversified businesses and loyal customers. The banks are also investing in digital transformation, innovation and growth opportunities, especially in international markets. Analysts and investors will be looking for signs of resilience and optimism from the banks as they wrap up the fiscal year.

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