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RBC Royal Bank of Canada – Welcome to Canada – Glossary

Glossary

 
 

Many financial terms differ from country to country. This page contains an alphabetical list of key banking words and phrases that are used throughout this website, along with their definitions.

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Account balance — The amount of money currently in your bank account.

Amortization period — Number of years it takes to repay the entire amount of a mortgage.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM) — A self-service machine where you can complete basic banking transactions and withdraw cash using your Client Card and a PIN. Also known as an Automated Banking Machine (ABM).


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Banking card (see Client Card).

Banking machine (see Automated Teller Machine).


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Cheques — A way of paying for goods or services. A cheque is written for the amount to be paid, and when the recipient cashes the cheque, the money is transferred from the payer’s account into the payee’s account.

Client Card — This is provided to you when you open an account. It allows you to access your accounts while in your bank branch, at an ATM or store, or through online banking, often in combination with your Personal Identification Number (PIN) or RBC Online Banking password. Also known as a bank card or debit card.

Credit bureau report — Your credit history is compiled by Canada’s central credit bureaus. When a bank or utility considers an application for credit or an account, it will request the applicant’s credit report.

Credit card balance — The total amount owing on your credit card.

Credit history — A list of facts, gathered from financial institutions, retailers and other lenders, about how you have handled credit in the past. Most of this information stays in your file for seven years. This information forms a profile of your credit-worthiness, called your credit rating. Your credit rating is used to help banks and other companies to decide whether they will allow you to borrow money, and how much.

Credit limit — The amount of credit a financial institution will give a client. Can also be the maximum amount a credit card company allows someone to borrow on one credit card.


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Dealer financing — Car loans or leasing offered directly by the car dealer, either through the car company itself or a third-party financing company.

Debit — Money that you’ve authorized to be taken out of your account, such as cheques that you’ve written, ATM withdrawals, INTERAC®-based transactions, bill payments made over the phone or online, pre-authorized payments and transfers to another account.

Debit card (see Client Card).

Down payment — The amount of your own money that you use to buy a car or home — with the rest of the purchase price being financed.


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Fixed rate — A loan whose interest rate is the same throughout the term of the loan.


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INTERAC® — RBC Client Card holders may use any ATM or direct payment machine bearing the INTERAC symbol.

Interest rate — The rate of return the lender receives for permitting the borrower to use money for a specified term. The interest rate is usually expressed as an annual rate. The compounding frequency (for example, semi-annual compounding) will depend on the type of loan or mortgage you select.


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Lease — An agreement under which a person pays a monthly amount for the right to use a specific asset, such as a car, for a specified length of time.

Line of credit — A type of credit that offers a person immediate access to part or all of a pre-determined amount of cash upon demand. A line of credit may be either unsecured or secured with personal assets such as bonds, term deposits or equity in a home. A secured line of credit results in a lower rate of interest for the borrower.

Loan — An agreement under which a borrower receives cash from a lender (often a bank) for a predetermined length of time at a given interest rate, generally with a stated repayment schedule. The principal must be paid back at a specified future date. Interim payments may consist of interest only or a blend of interest and principal. With a fixed-rate loan, the interest rate stays the same for the term of the loan. With a variable-rate loan, the interest rate changes with market rates.


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Money orders and bank drafts — A way of making secure payment. The money order or bank draft is purchased from the bank and issued to the vendor.

Mortgage — A loan secured by real property, typically a home.


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N.S.F. (“Non-Sufficient Funds”) cheque — When a cheque is written for an amount that exceeds the funds available in the account, the item is marked “NSF” to indicate that there are insufficient funds. A penalty is charged for NSF items.


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Online banking — A convenient and secure way of making many transactions, such as transfers and bill payments, by accessing your account via the Internet from any computer.

Overdraft protection — By paying a small monthly fee, you receive protection should you become overdrawn on your account.


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Personal Identification Number (PIN) — A password, usually four digits, created by the user to access his or her account, in combination with a Client Card, when making an ATM or point-of-sale transaction.

Principal — The amount of the loan or mortgage owed to the lender at any specified time, not including interest.


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RBC Royal Bank Visa* card — A type of credit card that is widely accepted across Canada and around the world.

Rent — The amount of money, usually paid monthly, that a tenant pays a landlord in exchange for living accommodations.

Residual value — The value of the car at the end of the loan or lease term.


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Security deposit — A sum of money that a tenant gives to a landlord, on top of rent, when he or she first moves into a rented property. The landlord is required to return the money at the end of the rental period and to pay interest on it annually.

Security pledge — An amount of money equal to the amount of credit you wish to receive on an RBC Royal Bank Visa card. The security pledge is held by Royal Bank of Canada in case you are unable to pay the amount owing on the credit card.


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Telephone banking — Clients can make transactions remotely by telephone.

Term — The period of time for which a loan, lease or mortgage agreement is in effect. May range from several months to several years.

Trade-in — A car you own that can be sold to the car dealer when buying a new car. The trade-in reduces the price of the new car.


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Variable rate — A loan whose interest rate moves up or down with changes in market interest rates.

*Registered trademark of Visa International Service Association. Used under license.

The content of this website is provided for the general guidance and benefit of our clients. This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific advice. See full disclaimer.

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