Our Methodology

Transparency matters. Here’s exactly how Centsable researches, rates, and ranks Canadian financial products.

How We Select Products to Review

We review financial products that are: available to Canadians nationally or in major provinces, offered by regulated financial institutions (CDIC members, provincially regulated credit unions, or federally chartered banks), and relevant to the categories we cover (savings, GICs, mortgages, credit cards, chequing, brokerages, and personal loans).

How We Collect Rate Data

Rates are collected directly from financial institution websites, published rate sheets, and broker rate boards. We update rate data monthly — typically in the first week of each month. Rates shown are the best available advertised rates at time of publication and may not reflect promotional or negotiated rates.

How We Score Products

Each product is scored on a 5-star scale across the following criteria:

• Rate / Return (40%) — The interest rate, cash back percentage, or other return metric, relative to the category average.
• Fees (25%) — Monthly fees, annual fees, transaction fees, and any conditions required to avoid them.
• Features (20%) — Account features, mobile app quality, CDIC/deposit insurance, ease of use, and additional benefits.
• Accessibility (15%) — Income requirements, minimum balances, credit score requirements, and province availability.

Editorial Independence

Our editorial ratings and rankings are determined independently of our affiliate relationships. A product does not receive a higher rating because it has an affiliate program, and a product is not excluded because it doesn’t. If a product with no affiliate relationship offers the best value, it will rank first.

Affiliate Disclosure

Some links on Centsable are affiliate links. When you apply for a product through our site, we may earn a referral commission. This never affects our ratings. See the full Affiliate Disclosure for details.

Limitations

Rate information reflects publicly available advertised rates at time of publication. Actual rates offered may differ based on your credit profile, province, and the institution’s discretion. Always verify rates and terms directly with the financial institution before applying.

Ready to put this into practice? Browse our product comparisons, or learn more about Centsable.