Rate guide · data as of 2026-10-16
Best escalator GIC rates in Canada
An escalator GIC pays a different rate each year of its term, rising as the years go by. Every year's rate is listed here, with the effective yield the institution quotes for the whole term — ranked term by term, because a 3-year climber and a 5-year climber are not the same product.
Best escalator rates in All Canada
Yield is the effective annual yield the institution prints for the full term. Each row is a brand's best escalator for that term under the filters above.
1-year escalators · 3-month steps
| # | Institution | Mo 1–3 | Mo 4–6 | Mo 7–9 | Mo 10–12 | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hubert Financial1 Year Quarterly · Non-reg, RRSP, RRIF, TFSA · redeemable | 3.45% | 3.65% | 3.85% | 4.05% | 3.75% |
16-month escalators · 8-month steps
| # | Institution | Mo 1–8 | Mo 9–16 | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coast Capital Savings16 Month Flex GIC · redeemable | 0.80% | 4.25% | 2.53% |
18-month escalators · 6-month steps
| # | Institution | Mo 1–6 | Mo 7–12 | Mo 13–18 | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integris Credit UnionPromo18 Month Escalator | 2.70% | 3.00% | 3.30% | 3.00% |
| 2 | Community Savings Credit Union18 Month Step · RRSP, RESP, RDSP, RRIF, TFSA | 2.50% | 2.60% | 2.80% | 2.65% |
2-year escalators
| # | Institution | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BMO Bank of MontrealBMO RateRiser® Plus GIC · Non-reg, RRSP, RESP, RDSP, RRIF, TFSA, FHSA · redeemable | 2.15% | 3.75% | 2.95% |
3-year escalators
| # | Institution | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meridian Credit Union3-Year Escalator GIC · RRSP, RRIF, TFSA | 3.60% | 4.00% | 4.40% | 4.00% |
| 2 | Kootenay Savings Credit UnionRateClimber (3 Year) | 3.00% | 3.55% | 5.00% | 3.85% |
| 3 | VancityEscalating Term Deposit 3-Year · RRSP, RESP, RDSP, RRIF, TFSA, FHSA | 3.30% | 3.40% | 4.85% | 3.85% |
| 4 | Cambrian Credit Union3 Year Rate Climber · redeemable | 3.50% | 3.70% | 3.85% | 3.68% |
| 5 | Northern Credit Union3-YEAR ESCALATOR | 3.00% | 3.50% | 4.50% | 3.67% |
| 6 | Mainstreet Credit Union3-year Rate Booster GIC | 3.55% | 3.60% | 3.65% | 3.60% |
| 7 | Coast Capital Savings3 Year Rising Rate GIC | 2.50% | 3.50% | 4.50% | 3.50% |
| 8 | Prospera Credit Union3 Year Rate Climber, Paid Annually · Non-reg, RRSP, TFSA, FHSA | 2.50% | 3.50% | 4.50% | 3.50% |
| 9 | SASCU3 Year Rate Riser | 3.10% | 3.65% | 3.75% | 3.50% |
| 10 | Sunshine Coast Credit Union3 YEAR NON-REDEEMABLE ESCALATOR TERM DEPOSIT | 2.50% | 3.50% | 4.50% | 3.50% |
4-year escalators
| # | Institution | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr 4 | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Community Savings Credit UnionEarly Riser - 4 Year · RRSP, RESP, RDSP, RRIF, TFSA | 2.50% | 2.60% | 2.80% | 3.10% | 2.75% |
5-year escalators
| # | Institution | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr 4 | Yr 5 | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meridian Credit Union5-Year Escalator GIC · RRSP, RRIF, TFSA | 3.60% | 3.80% | 4.00% | 4.20% | 4.90% | 4.10% |
| 2 | Northern Credit Union5-YEAR ESCALATOR | 3.10% | 3.25% | 3.75% | 4.25% | 6.00% | 4.07% |
| 3 | Cambrian Credit Union5 Year Rate Climber · redeemable | 3.80% | 3.90% | 4.05% | 4.20% | 4.25% | 4.04% |
| 4 | VancityEscalating Term Deposit 5-Year · RRSP, RESP, RDSP, RRIF | 3.30% | 3.60% | 3.85% | 4.10% | 4.65% | 3.90% |
| 5 | Desjardins - CaissesRedeemable Climbing-Rate Term Savings rates · Non-reg, RDSP, TFSA, FHSA · redeemable | 2.90% | 3.10% | 3.45% | 4.45% | 5.35% | 3.85% |
| 6 | Mainstreet Credit Union5-year Rate Booster GIC | 3.70% | 3.75% | 3.80% | 3.85% | 3.90% | 3.80% |
| 7 | YNCUSTEP UP GIC - ESCALATING RATE, 5 YEAR | 2.95% | 3.45% | 3.90% | 4.20% | 4.50% | 3.80% |
| 8 | Kindred Credit Union5-Year Step Term · Non-reg, RRSP, RRIF, TFSA · redeemable | 2.90% | 3.05% | 3.50% | 3.60% | 5.70% | 3.75% |
| 9 | HMECURate Riser Special · redeemable | 2.90% | 3.20% | 3.50% | 4.00% | 4.50% | 3.62% |
| 10 | SASCU5 Year Rate Riser | 3.10% | 3.45% | 3.65% | 3.80% | 4.00% | 3.60% |
7-year escalators
| # | Institution | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr 4 | Yr 5 | Yr 6 | Yr 7 | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coast Capital Savings7 Year Rising Rate GIC | 0.60% | 0.70% | 0.80% | 0.90% | 1.00% | 1.50% | 2.00% | 1.07% |
10-year escalators
| # | Institution | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr 4 | Yr 5 | Yr 6 | Yr 7 | Yr 8 | Yr 9 | Yr 10 | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UV InsuranceVia Broker10-Year Step-Up Uniflex · min $500,000 | 3.05% | 3.45% | 3.70% | 3.90% | 4.10% | 4.25% | 4.40% | 4.65% | 4.90% | 5.15% | 4.16% |
We hunt. You gather.
Escalator schedules change with every rate sheet. Get rate alerts from Ratehunter and you'll know when a climber's top year moves.
Get rate alertsEscalator GICs, explained
What an escalator GIC is
A fixed-rate GIC pays one rate for the whole term. An escalator (also sold as a rate climber, step-up, rising-rate or rate-riser GIC) pays a schedule: one rate in year one, a higher rate in year two, and so on to the end of the term. The final year's rate is usually the eye-catching one; the yield across all the years is what you actually earn.
How to read the table
Each column is one year of the term, in order. The Yield column is the effective annual yield the institution quotes for the full schedule. Where an institution prints no yield, we show the simple average of its yearly rates and mark it “avg”. A registered-only schedule names its plan under the product; a redeemable one says so.
Why they rank apart
A yield is an average of several years, not a single guaranteed annual rate, so we never rank an escalator against fixed-rate GICs. Here they compete only with other escalators of the same term.
Redeemable escalators
Some climbers let you cash out on an anniversary. A redeemable schedule is noted on its row; the yield assumes you hold to the end.
Escalator GIC questions
Is the top year's rate what I earn?
Only in that year. Over the whole term you earn the schedule, which the Yield column summarises as an effective annual rate.
Are escalator GICs insured like other GICs?
Yes — deposit insurance follows the institution, not the product shape. Each institution's page states its coverage.
Why is a 5-year escalator's yield sometimes lower than a 3-year's?
Because the schedules are set independently. Compare within the same term, and compare the yield with the institution's fixed-rate GIC of the same length before choosing.