rbc posts

So, you're in Florida on your winter vacation and you fall off your jet ski and break your leg. The hospital slaps you with a $35,000 bill, but it's OK. You have insurance, right? Um, please say you have travel health insurance.

Sure, it's not often that you break a leg, so you think the chances of it happening during your holiday are low. But, then again, how often do you play around on a jet ski? And think about more common traveller health complaints, such as food poisoning or that trip to the hospital to relieve your child of that scary asthma attack.

Royal Bank of Canada says about one in 10 Canadians will travel outside Canada this spring break, according to a poll of more than 1,000 Canadians.

The smell of flames is in the air as Canada's leading banks rush to be the first out of the gate to market a digital wallet. "We're almost there; it's close. It's going to be out in the next 3 or 4 weeks," RBC's Dave McKay told Reuters recently.

This announcement comes just months after CIBC and Rogers announced their partnership to create a digital wallet that uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

As the competition among the big five banks heats up, Canadian consumers are warming to the idea.

I have debt, as do most of the people I know. In fact, those I know who are actually debt-free, all seem to be a lot older than I am. Wiser? Quite possibly in some cases; undoubtedly in others.

The big part of their debt-free status, though, seems to come from this one fact: They've all been in the game for a lot longer than I have.

If you're in the market for a new house or simply looking to
renew your existing mortgage, I'm sure you've noticed the "Mortgage War" being waged by most of Canada's big banks. RBC, TD, Scotiabank and BMO have been offering long term, fixed rate mortgages for 2.99 per cent. This is among the lowest fixed rate mortgages you're likely ever to see.

On the one hand, this has been a bit of a strange move from an industry that has expressed worries in the past about mortgage debt in Canada. On the other hand, now might be a terrific opportunity for first-time buyers to get into the market. So, what should you be conscious of if you're thinking about a rock-bottom mortgage rate?

Money can't buy you love but strategic spending can greatly increase the chances that you'll be on the receiving end of a few more "come-hither" looks from your partner this Valentines Day. And you don't have to be rich to get them to, ahem, appreciate your assets.

Start a Modest Savings Plan for a Vacation Together
Central bankers are telling you to save a little more but when what you've socked away disappears into the car repair fund, all those pennies seem for naught.
You're more likely to be disciplined about putting cash aside if it's for a specific reason like a surprise few days in Paris or the Caribbean for you and your partner. It doesn't have to be much. Set aside $150 a month and you can get away in October or November when low season deals make airfare and accommodation very reasonable for most sun-kissed destinations and European capitals.

Remember cute 12-year-old Haley Joel Osment in the film Pay It Forward? In case you missed it, the film is about a young boy who tries to make the world a better place by helping three people who, in turn, will help other people. This Hollywood film sets an excellent example for anyone who wants to succeed in life and in business.

On occasion we may hear stories about how a millionaire paid a financially struggling woman's late electric bill or a celebrity who left a 200% tip to a waitress. Kind gestures, indeed. But you don't need to have the wealth of Oprah and her 1% peers to make a positive change in someone's life.

Everyday people can and do make a big difference.

There are two main players on the market for your pre-paid gift giving pleasure (or for your own personal use). RBC's VISA Gift Card and somewhat newer on the market, BMO's prepaid MasterCard.

BMO's card is interesting and specifically targeted to traveling, replacing those pesky travelers cheques (do people still use those?) In any event, as a frequent road warrior myself, I do know the trepidation of having one's credit card shut down or suspended (by no fault of your own) just when checking in or out of a hotel, or when paying for a large party's tab. As the credit card companies have become ultra-sensitive to any unusual purchases on credit card holders accounts, they`re also quicker to shut down cards, issue news ones (leaving you without a credit card), or place a restrictive hold until you give them a call and tell them yes, it was you trying to make 'that' purchase. Because we're 100% protected from fraud with both VISA and MasterCard, they`re making using their own cards challenging at times.

The steady decline in mortgage rates combined with slow house price appreciation has made the past few months some of the most affordable in recent years to buy a home in Canada. In fact, a report by the Royal Bank of Canada shows that housing affordability improved for a second straight quarter at the end of 2010.

However, as the Canadian economy continues to improve, the experts say that these attractive buying conditions will not last.

It's important to have a good relationship with your bank; after all, you're entrusting it with your life's savings, investments and debts -- and paying fees to boot. Luckily for Canadians, we've an array of good banks. But which one should you choose?

In terms of general customer satisfaction, credit union customers are Canada's happiest bankers, according to a Financial Post article based on a poll of more than 2,000 adults compiled by Forum Research in March. The poll shows that 74% of credit union members are "very satisfied" with their institution.

Among the big banks, Bank of Montreal has the highest percentage of happy customers, with 72% saying they are "very satisfied" with the service they receive. But not all banks perform so well.