Tangerine GIC review
- Interest Rate
- 4.2%
- Term
- 1 year
- Minimum Investment
- $0
Our verdict
Grow your savings with a competitive GIC rate.
Tangerine is a 100% online bank offering competitive interest rates. Open a GIC with terms ranging from 90 days to 5 years. Choose from a regular GIC, or take advantage of others including RSP, TFSA, RIF and US dollar.
Best for: Those looking for a 100% online bank offering competitive interest rates.
Pros
-
Competitive interest rates
-
Open an account completely online
-
Different GIC options available
Cons
-
No cashable or market-linked GICs available
-
No physical branch locations
Types of Tangerine GICs
Tangerine offers a variety of GIC types for customers with different investment profiles and spending habits, including guaranteed return, TFSA, RRSP and RIF GICs.
Non-registered
Tangerine offers guaranteed return GICs with terms to maturity between 90 days and five years.
Registered
Tangerine offers Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) and Retirement Income Fund (RIF) GICs with terms of up to five years to a maximum deposit of $100,000 per plan.
Tangerine GIC interest rates
Term | Rate | |
---|---|---|
90 Day | 3.5% | |
180 Day | 4.25% | |
270 Day | 4.35% | |
1 Year | 4.2% | |
1.5 Year | 4.05% | |
2 Year | 3.9% | |
3 Year | 3.8% | |
4 Year | 3.8% | |
5 Year | 3.7% |
How does Tangerine compare to other banks?
Previously known as ING Direct, Tangerine was acquired by Scotiabank in 2012 and has since become one of the top online-only banks in Canada. Tangerine is available to all Canadian citizens. Since Tangerine is a subsidiary of Scotiabank, clients will also benefit from CDIC insurance on their investments.
Benefits of buying a Tangerine GIC
Online banking platform
Tangerine was one of the first to offer several innovative online banking services, including “Cheque-In” which lets customers quickly deposit money into their bank account by taking a photo of their cheque and submitting it to the online banking platform via mobile, tablet or computer.
Competitive interest rates
The bank has become popular for its savings accounts (and GICs) with high interest offerings.
Zero daily banking fees
With no fees, service charges or minimum required balance for its chequing and savings accounts, as a Tangerine customer you won’t have to pay any monthly account maintenance charges.
However, there are still some fees charged (at a low rate compared to the major Canadian banks) for certain transactions.
Customer service
Tangerine has consistently scored the highest in customer satisfaction across banks in Canada, particularly in the areas of top products, low fees, communication, opening accounts and across online and mobile platforms. You can contact a Tangerine advisor via online chat, Twitter DM or by calling its 24/7 customer service hotline.
Potential drawbacks of Tangerine
Online only
If you prefer a bank with bricks and mortar branches that you can easily visit, this online-only bank may not be the right fit for you.
No student, youth or senior accounts
While Tangerine is a great option as an overall online bank, if you’re looking for specific student, youth or senior account products, you may want to compare your other options before settling on Tangerine.
How do I purchase a Tangerine GIC?
To buy a Tangerine GIC, you’ll first have to sign up for a Tangerine customer account. If you’re already a Tangerine customer, you can easily purchase one of its GIC products online upon signing into your client account.
Eligibility requirements
Required documents
You’ll need to provide proof of your residency status, age and social insurance number (SIN) as well as employment information.
If you already bank with Tangerine, you’ll also need to provide your client account details.
Bottom line
Whether you’re already banking within the Scotiabank network or considering what GIC options you qualify for, Tangerine has a decent range for you to consider.