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In this higher-rate environment, investors continue to look for yield and capital protection. National Bank’s Extendible Flex GICs are one such solution, allowing investors to earn returns between 4% and 8% per annum.
“Since 2022, we’ve seen a major increase in interest rates,” explained Kory Brewster, Managing Director, Structured Solutions Group, with National Bank Financial Markets. “Now with the rate of return for GICs a lot higher, it’s more attractive. Our volume of issuance has increased tenfold.”
So how do Extendible Flex GICs work compared to traditional bank GICs? Traditional GICs tend to be shorter term, from a few months up to five years, he said. Meanwhile, Extendible Flex GICs tend to have a longer term to maturity, from two years up to 15.
Our goal is to focus on investors’ needs, protecting their principal and generating strong returns.
“Another important difference is the ability to customize,” noted Brewster. “With traditional GICs, customization options are limited. But with Extendible Flex GICs, advisors can work with their clients to create a solution that matches their needs. For example, they can pick the currency, minimum term, maximum maturity, how often they want to receive coupon payments or, if interest is accrued and paid at maturity, whether it has compounding or linear growth.”
The Flex feature provides investors with the ability to sell the GIC early, at market price, if they need access to capital for any reason.
Brewster provided an example to further explain how Extendible Flex GICs work. Let’s say it’s a seven-year Extendible Coupons Flex GIC. There’s a minimum term of one year, and the rate of return (as of Nov. 7, 2024) is 4.40% per annum, paid annually. Following that year, National Bank has the right to extend the maturity for at least an additional year. So instead of the Flex GIC maturing after one year, it may last two years, and the client gets another coupon payment of 4.40%.
“At the end of the second year, the bank can decide to extend to a third, fourth, fifth, or sixth year, up to the final maturity of seven years,” he said. “Investors know they’re getting paid a 4.40% annual coupon, their principal is fully protected at maturity, and they can sell it early at market price if they want to. They just don’t know how long it’ll last if they don’t sell their Flex GIC early, but they get compensated with a higher rate of return compared to traditional GICs that were available at the time of purchase.”
One consideration for investors regarding the extension feature is how interest rates fluctuate during the term of the Flex GIC. Using the same example, say in one year’s time, interest rates go higher and a new product could offer a rate of return at 5.4%, Brewster said. The bank would likely extend the current Flex GIC, and the client would get 4.40% for another year. Alternatively, if after one year, a new product is at 3.4%, the bank could decide not to extend the term of the current Flex GIC, have it mature, and then issue a new product at the lower rate.
“The bank is going to extend or not extend the Extendible Flex GIC when it’s most favourable for the bank, and investors are being compensated for that up front,” he said.
Brewster noted that National Bank is the only bank to offer these solutions in the Flex GIC format. While many may offer Principal Protected Notes (PPNs), which are a comparable solution, what makes Flex GICs even more unique is that they’re backed by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, and they are non bail-inable so they sit higher in the bank’s capital structure, offering more safety. Combining that extra safety and daily liquidity at market price means Flex GICs offer the best of both worlds.
“Our goal is to focus on investors’ needs, protecting their principal and generating strong returns,” said Brewster.
For more information on National Bank’s Extendible Flex GICs, visit https://nbcstructuredsolutions.ca/rates.
A look at National Bank’s Extendible Coupons Flex GICs
CAD options:
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- A 7-year Extendible Coupons Flex GIC (extendible annually after one year) pays 4.40% p.a.
- Traditional 1-year and 5-year National Bank GICs pay 3.80% p.a. and 4.00% p.a. respectively
- The Extendible Coupons Flex GIC provides a yield pickup of 0.60% p.a. and 0.40% p.a. respectively over 1-year and 5-year GICs
USD options:
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- A 7-year Extendible Coupons Flex GIC (extendible annually after one year) pays 5.75% p.a.
- Traditional 1-year and 5-year National Bank GICs pay 4.65% p.a. and 4.30% p.a. respectively
- The Extendible Coupons Flex GIC provides a yield pickup of 1.10% p.a. and 1.45% p.a. respectively over 1-year and 5-year GICs
Note: All figures current as of Nov. 7, 2024.
DISCLAIMER
The Flex GICs referred to herein constitute direct, unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of National Bank. These Flex GICs are not conventional fixed income investments, are not suitable for all types of investors and are subject to risk factors. Investors should consult the relevant offering document before investing in National Bank’s Flex GICs.
National Bank’s Flex GICs are deposits eligible for deposit insurance by the CDIC, subject to the maximum dollar limit of CDIC coverage and to applicable conditions. More information about CDIC deposit insurance can be found in the “Protecting Your Deposits” brochure (available online at www.cdic.ca or by telephone at 1-800-461-2342).