Details of RBC’s mortgage deferral program, obtained by CBC News, reveal the option will available to all mortgage holders but in a way that will add to customers’ debt load and appears to ensure the bank will not lose money in the short term, and possibly even come out ahead.
Canadians couldn’t get answers on mortgage deferrals at Canada’s biggest bank because information and eligibility requirements kept changing almost by the hour, a source who works for RBC tells CBC News..
When the first details were eventually given out to frontline employees at RBC’s Mississauga call centre, they revealed deferrals would be available to all mortgage holders, but in a way that appears to ensure the bank would not lose money in the short term and may even come out ahead.
“Deferrals actually meant that interest accrued from each deferred payment was being added back into the principal balance of the mortgage,” said the source.
“Technically clients would then be [charged] interest on top of interest for those payments [that were] deferred,” they said.
In effect, it’s as though the bank is loaning you the amount that you would have paid in interest during the deferral period and then charging you interest on that loan as well.
“They’re going to make more money because they’ve just loaned you more,” said Peter Gorham, an actuary with JDM Actuarial Expert Services.
“I don’t know that I want to say it’s profiting. I would say it’s not costing them a penny.” he said.
“People are increasing their debt load. If you are not desperate for the financial relief, don’t take it,” Gorham said, adding RBC and other banks are taking on increased risk from deferrals, a risk that could grow significantly if the COVID-19 crisis runs from months into years.
When it comes to repaying the increased debt load from a deferral, there may be other complications for mortgage holders.
“This also means an increase in clients’ payments at their next renewal period due to the increase in mortgage balance,” the source at RBC said.
If the client doesn’t want a bigger payment, they can extend the amortization period, the source added. But that typically requires a full credit application which may affect their credit score.
The other option is making extra payments after the deferral period ends to bring the mortgage back down as quickly as possible to its original amount.
Two other big banks have mortgage deferral polices similar to RBC’s.
In an updated set of deferral FAQs posted on its website, Scotiabank too says interest will continue to accrue.
“You will pay more interest over th