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Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs)

What is a GIC? It’s a safe, secure investment that can suit all kinds of financial goals. A GIC protects your principal, so no matter what happens with the market, you’ll never lose your initial investment.  Plus, all of our GICs are CDIC-insured footnote 1. 

  •  Stay safe and secure – Your initial investment is 100% guaranteed.
  •  Enjoy a versatile investment – Choose a GIC to suit your needs.
  •  Save on taxes – Purchase a GIC in an RRSP or TFSA for a number of tax benefits.
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Guaranteed returns and personalized advice.

  • Get up to 40.00% footnote star after 5 years when you invest in the BMO Blue Chip GIC (based on market performance). footnote dagger

What’s the best GIC for you?

GICs come in different forms – let’s find one that will help you reach your investing goals.

Higher return

Non-Cashable Investments

  • Lock in your money for a higher rate of return.
  • Got some time to grow your money? A non-cashable GIC can bring a higher rate of return than a cashable investment, as long as you’re willing to leave it alone for longer.

Ready to compare? Explore our GIC list for the latest GIC rates.

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Flexible access to funds

Cashable Investments

  • Get competitive returns without a big commitment.
  • After you purchase your investment, you can cash out the GIC when you like. It’s a great choice if you might want to access your cash, but you’d like to earn as much interest as you can in the meantime.
  • For example, if you opt for a 1-year cashable GIC, you can take out your money before it matures, no strings attached. Of course, if you leave it in for the full year, you’ll continue to earn interest on it.

Ready to compare? Explore our GIC list for the latest GIC rates.

Secure, stock market-driven return

Market-Linked Investments

  • Enjoy 100% principal protection and the potential for a high return.
  • Interested in equities? If you’re looking for higher growth linked to the stock market, these hybrid GICs may be for you. You can earn great returns when the market performs well, but even when it dips, your initial investment is protected.

Ready to explore market-linked GICs? Learn more about our Progressive GIC Series.

Return on foreign currency

U.S. Dollar Investments

  • Take advantage of this option if you have U.S. dollars you want to grow.
  • Deposit U.S. dollars and earn interest in U.S. dollars – it’s a convenient and safe option when you’re looking to earn some interest on your U.S. funds.

Ready to compare? Explore our GIC list for the latest GIC rates.

GIC Calculator

How does a GIC work? Here’s how your investment can grow footnote 2

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GIC FAQs

  • A GIC is a low-risk investment that guarantees the money you put into it (the principal) and allows you to earn interest over a set period of time (the term).
    GICs typically have a fixed term, often with a fixed interest rate, so you’ll know exactly how much you’ll have when the term is up and your GIC is cashed out.
    For example: Say you invested $2,000 in a 2-year GIC at a 2.00% interest rate. In two years, you’d have $2,080.80 (with compounded interest). Typically, the longer the GIC term, the higher the rate of return, so the more you invest and the longer you invest it for, the more you can earn.

  • There’s no one GIC rate – the rates vary from one GIC to another, and they’re tied to the current interest rates set by the Bank of Canada. Some GIC rates in Canada even depend on market performance. Check out GIC rates.

  • It depends on what type of account they’re held in. If a GIC is in a registered account like an RRSP or TFSA, the money it earns won’t be taxed. But if your GIC is held in a non-registered account, your returns will be taxed like any other income.

  • If you’re holding a GIC in a non-registered account, it’s subject to tax each year. So, if you have a GIC with a three-year term, the interest you earn on each anniversary will be taxed – even if it hasn’t been paid out to you yet. If you hold a GIC in an RRSP, you’ll only pay tax when you withdraw your money.

  • Yes, you can! Cashable GICs can be redeemed before the term ends, although the window can differ according to the type of GIC. Non-cashable GICs can’t be redeemed early without paying a penalty.

  • This type of GIC allows you to withdraw money before the end of your term – handy for when a big purchase pops up or your investment plans change. How much you can redeem, when, and how it will affect your returns will depend on what type of GIC you have.

  • Non-cashable GICs are just as they sound: they’re investments that can’t be cashed in before the end of their term. However, they usually offer higher rates of return than cashable GICs.

  • The main difference is the level of risk: with a GIC, your principal (and often your return) is guaranteed, but a mutual fund can gain or lose value as the market changes. There are several other important differences, too – learn more about investing in mutual funds.

GIC resources to help you choose

    Differences between GICs and mutual funds explained

    A detailed look at how GICs and Mutual Funds compare and how they can benefit your investment goals.

    How to start investing

    A GIC is a good way to start investing. Here are some other things to consider as you begin to grow your money.

    Invest in a GIC

    • Talk to an expert

      Have an investment expert get in touch to kick off the conversation.

    • Visit us

      Drop by your nearest branch to chat about your financial future.

    • Get in touch

      Visit our contact page to find your preferred way to get in touch with a BMO investment professional.

    Already a BMO customer?

    If you have an investment account, you can sign in to purchase GICs online.

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