Scotiabank has aggressively pushed the Scotia Total Equity Plan (STEP) for over a decade. If your Scotia mortgage was set up in the last ten years, it's very likely registered as part of a STEP collateral charge at up to 125% of your home's value. Understanding that is the entire game at Scotia renewal time.
How Scotiabank delivers your renewal offer
Scotia mails the renewal notice 21 days before maturity. It also posts in Scotia Online under Accounts → Mortgage → Documents. The offer usually shows three term options at Scotia's 'promotional' rate. In our experience, Scotia's first offer runs 30–70 bps above what retention will approve on a call.
STEP and collateral registration
STEP bundles a mortgage, a line of credit, and often a credit card under a single collateral registration. This lets you readvance credit as you pay the mortgage down. It also means switching to another lender at renewal requires full legal discharge and re-registration of every sub-account — a $700–$1,100 legal cost that switch programs rarely cover.
If you never used the line of credit portion, ask Scotia at renewal to collapse STEP down to a straight amortizing mortgage. This does not remove the collateral registration, but it simplifies the file and prevents Scotia from cross-marketing you into higher-cost products.
Scotia Ultimate Package considerations
Many Scotia mortgages are bundled with an Ultimate Package chequing account that waives the monthly fee while the mortgage is at Scotia. If you switch lenders, that waiver ends — building an extra $10–$30/month cost into the switching decision unless you also move your chequing account.
Negotiation questions that work at Scotia
Scotia's retention line is 1-800-472-6842. Effective language: 'I have a broker quote at X.XX%. Can you review your offered rate under the mortgage retention discretion policy?' The retention agent will usually offer a partial move — say, 20 bps — and ask you to accept. Do not accept the first counter. Politely say 'I appreciate that, but the broker quote still beats it. Is there any additional room?'
Also ask for a 20% annual prepayment privilege upgrade if your current mortgage caps out at 15% — Scotia will usually grant this at renewal at no cost.
Jay Klair — FSRA Level 2 mortgage agent — will personally review your offer for free. One business day reply.
Where to find your Scotia mortgage details
In Scotia Online, click the mortgage account, then Documents. Pull the Annual Mortgage Statement for balance, maturity, rate, amortization. To confirm your charge type and total registered amount, request a copy of the Charge/Mortgage of Land document from your closing lawyer or through Scotia at 1-800-472-6842.
Real example
Oakville homeowner, $528,000 balance, Scotia 5-year fixed with STEP, maturing March 2026. Scotia renewal offer: 4.89%. Broker quote at First National (standard charge): 4.19%. Discharge and re-registration cost: $875. Five-year interest savings from the 0.70% improvement on $528K: approximately $17,200. Net after legal: $16,325. Scotia retention matched to 4.34%; homeowner still switched to eliminate the collateral charge for future flexibility.
Official Scotia renewal resources
Scotia's renewal information lives at scotiabank.com/ca/en/personal/mortgages/renewals and retention can be reached at 1-800-472-6842.
Frequently asked
Is STEP worth keeping at renewal?
Only if you actively use the revolving credit portion. If you don't, you're carrying the collateral-charge switching penalty for no benefit. Ask Scotia to collapse STEP into a straight amortizing mortgage.