Types of First Nations Bank of Canada deposits
- Term deposits. There is a range of term deposit options at First Nations Bank of Canada to earn a guaranteed return and ensure a 100% guarantee to your initial investment.
With a long-term non-redeemable deposit, you can invest as little as $500 for 1 to 5 years and earn interest at a rate ranging from 1.05% to 2.00%, depending on a chosen term.
Long-term redeemable deposits allow you to invest $1,000 and more for 1-5 years at a rate ranging from 0.65% to 1.25%, depending on the term, and withdraw your funds as needed, penalty-free.
Short-term redeemable deposits are suitable for investing $5,000 and more for up to 1 year, providing a 0.30-0.45% interest rate.
With a Wait and See Redeemable term deposit option, you can invest $1,000 and more for one year and earn interest at a 0.10% rate, with a penalty-free early redemption opportunity.
- Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs). Consider a Registered Retirement Savings Plan from First Nations Bank of Canada to save for your retirement and grow your money tax-free. You can contribute to your RRSP until the end of the year when you turn 71. After that, you will have to convert your RRSP into a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) or Life Income Fund (LIF). While your RRSP contributions are tax-deductible, the withdrawals you make aren’t. When holding $5,000 and more in your RRSP, the interest of 0.05% and higher applies. Along with cash deposits, you can hold investment vehicles like term deposits in your RRSP.
- Tax-Free Savings Plans. A Tax-Free Savings Account also allows you to save for any of your goals and grow your funds tax-free. Unlike with an RRSP, there is no requirement to convert your TFSA into a certain fund at a set age. While the contributions you make to your TFSA are not tax-deductible, the withdrawals you make are tax-free. TFSAs provide a 0.15% interest rate. Along with cash deposits, you can hold investment vehicles like term deposits in your TFSA.
- Chequing accounts. First Nations Bank of Canada offers a variety of chequing accounts to deposit funds and conduct your daily banking operations. Chequing accounts differ in the number of monthly transactions, monthly fees, and the balance required to waive them. The number of monthly transactions ranges from 5 to unlimited. The monthly fees start from zero (with accounts for students and seniors) and reach $29.95. Depending on the chosen account, the minimum balance required to waive a monthly fee ranges from $1,500 to $5,000.
- Savings accounts. With a First Nations Bank of Canada savings account, you can earn interest on your deposits at a 0.05-0.15% rate. Most savings accounts involve monthly transaction fees (except tax-free accounts).
- US Dollar accounts. Consider opening a U.S. dollar account with the First Nations Bank of Canada to conduct transactions and earn interest income in U.S. dollars. The U.S. Borderless savings account features unlimited transactions. To start earning interest at a 0.01% interest rate and waive debit transaction fees with the U.S. Daily Interest account, your minimum deposit should be at least $1,000.
Requirements
To apply for an account with the First Nations Bank of Canada, you must be a Canadian resident aged at least 19. In addition, you must not have declared bankruptcy in the last seven years.
Before applying, prepare a photo ID such as your driver’s license, status card, or passport.
Pros and cons
Here are the definite advantages of deposit products from FNBC:
- Eligible deposits have a guaranteed insurance coverage
- There are no monthly fees for student and elders accounts
- Maintaining a minimum balance allows you to waive monthly fees
- You can grow your money tax-free with registered plans like RRSPs and TFSAs
- With redeemable GICs, you can withdraw funds as needed
- You can withdraw funds from your redeemable term deposit before maturity penalty-free
The disadvantages are:
- Most savings accounts involve monthly transaction fees
- Contributions to a TFSA are taxable
- Withdrawals from an RRSP are taxable
How to make a deposit?
You can make a deposit in any of the following ways:
- By transferring funds between accounts through online, mobile, or telephone banking
- By using the “Deposit Anywhere” feature in the First Nations Bank of Canada mobile app
- In person at your local FNBC branch
- At any of the deposit-taking ATMs on THE EXCHANGE® network