If you're looking for a 5 year mortgage, but you also want the option of paying it off whenever you want, you might be interested in a Scotiabank open variable mortgage. Open variable mortgages generally have 5 year terms with flexible repayment options – offering you complete control over how and when you pay them off, but still at competitive mortgage rates...for a time.
The trick with variable mortgages, of course, is that if the prime rate goes up, your mortgage rate is also going to go up. If you don't really need the repayment flexibility, you're going to be better off getting a 5 year closed fixed rate mortgage and locking those low rates in for the full term of your mortgage.
Scotiabank open variable mortgage features
Scotiabank open variable mortgage product rating: 4.3 stars
The Scotiabank open variable mortgage offers a flexible 5 year term, but with a higher interest rate than you'll find with some other banks. You also have the flexibility to convert it to a fixed term product at any time, also with no additional prepayment penalties.
Rating methodology
To calculate our Genius Ratings, we compare the features of the account or product in question with other similar products in Canada. We give each feature a score out of 5 based on that comparison. Once we’ve rated all the features, we run them through our proprietary algorithm to produce a final rating out of 5.
Learn more about our rating methodology.
Scotiabank open variable mortgage alternatives
| Account | Scotiabank Open Variable Mortgage | Coast Capital Closed Fixed Rate Mortgage | nesto | Alterna Closed Fixed Mortgage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genius Rating | ||||
| Why You Want It | Flexible prepay options + Get mortgage protection with 4 coverage types. | Rates as low as 3.86%* APR on a high-ratio 5-year fixed mortgage | Get the lowest rate guaranteed + 150 day rate lock | Easily lock in your mortgage online + Get up to $800 in closing costs covered. |
| Mortgage | Variable (Open)
| Fixed Closed
High-Ratio Closed
| Fixed Closed
| Fixed Closed
|
| Rate Type | Variable Open | Fixed Closed | Fixed Closed | Fixed Closed |
| Pre-approval | ||||
| Rate Guarantee (days) | 120 | 120 | 150 | 120 |
| Bank Prime Rate | 4.45% | 4.45% | 4.7% | 4.7% |
| # Of Prepayments Allowed Per Year | See Issuer for Details | 1 | See Issuer for Details | See Issuer for Details |
Show More | ||||
| See rates & details See more Scotiabank products Compare | See rates & details See more Coast Capital Savings products Compare | See rates & details See more nesto products Compare | Learn More See more Alterna products Compare |
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone, and is not endorsed or sponsored by a bank, credit card issuer, rewards program or other entity. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website.
Hot Money Deals This Month
- Get even more cash back with exclusive offers only available on the GeniusCash app
- Explore bigger GeniusCash offers that you won't find anywhere else.
- Connect your credit cards and unlock bonus cash.
- Explore customized recommendations to level up your rewards.
- Refer your friends and family to earn bonus levels and extra cash back.
- Take control of your money with a full-featured chequing account + $100 GeniusCash
- Get up to $500 in cash when you open a new account, complete specified actions, and open 2 registered investment accounts.
- Unlimited free transactions – including debit and Interac e-Transfers®.
- Earn Scene+ points on every debit transaction.
- $100 GeniusCash on approval – ends Dec 31, 2025.*.
- Unlimited transactions + Free identity theft protection + $125 GeniusCash
- Unlimited transactions and Interac e-Transfers.
- Free identity theft protection and access to Coursera online learning.
- $125 GeniusCash on approval – ends Dec 31, 2025.*.
- A low cost online broker with a $2,000 bonus + $80 GeniusCash
- Get $150 when you open and fund your new accounts with at least $1,000.
- No minimum investment requirement.
- Plenty of trade-free ETFs to choose from.
- $80 GeniusCash on approval – ends Dec 31, 2025.*.
- Bonus: Get one of the lowest brokerage rates from an online broker from a Big 5 Bank →


















