National Bank Mortgages, Explained
National Bank of Canada is one of the Big Six banks — and it’s in the middle of a comeback to the mortgage broker channel. For Alberta, prime broker access isn’t live just yet, but it’s coming soon. In the meantime, National Bank’s alternative-lending arm — Optimum — is already available through us. Here’s the honest picture.
National Bank’s return to the broker channel
National Bank left the broker channel years ago, then began coming back. It returned first in Quebec in 2019, expanded into Ontario in 2021, and in 2026 announced it is rolling its prime mortgages out to brokers nationwide through Canada’s largest broker networks. The plan is to reach brokers coast to coast over 2026–2027.
What that means in Alberta: as of now, we can’t yet submit a prime National Bank mortgage for an Alberta client — that access is expected soon. When it lands, we’ll be ready to include National Bank in your comparison. If you’d like us to flag you the moment it’s available, just ask.
National Bank’s 5-year fixed posted rate over time
Posted rates are a bank’s advertised “sticker price” — they sit well above the discounted rate a broker secures once National Bank’s prime broker channel is available to you. Here’s how National Bank’s posted 5-year fixed has moved:
The point isn’t the exact figure — it’s the gap between posted and brokered pricing. Ask us for today’s sharpest comparable rate before you accept any branch quote.
Who is National Bank?
National Bank of Canada is one of the country’s Big Six banks and its sixth-largest, headquartered in Montreal with its deepest roots in Quebec. In 2025 it acquired Canadian Western Bank, which brought Optimum — a well-established alternative mortgage lender — under the National Bank umbrella. So today National Bank spans both prime lending and, through Optimum, alternative lending.
Optimum — National Bank’s alternative arm (which we place today)
Here’s the useful part for Alberta borrowers right now. Optimum is National Bank’s alternative (“B”) lending channel, and unlike the prime broker channel, we already work with it. Optimum is built for borrowers who don’t fit the big-bank prime box — the self-employed, newer-to-Canada buyers, clients with bruised credit, or those with non-traditional income or rental portfolios.
If your file is straightforward prime, we’ll place it with one of the lenders available to us today and add National Bank to the mix as soon as its Alberta broker channel opens. If your file needs an alternative lender, Optimum is on the table now. See our Optimum profile →
National Bank’s mortgage line-up
| Product | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed-rate mortgage | Rate locked for the whole term | Predictable payments and peace of mind |
| Variable-rate mortgage | Rate moves with National Bank’s prime rate | Buyers comfortable with some rate movement |
| All-in-One account | A re-advanceable mortgage-and-line-of-credit combined in one account | Tapping equity for renovations, investing or debt consolidation |
| Optimum (alternative) | National Bank’s B-lending arm for non-prime files | Self-employed, bruised credit or non-traditional income — available to us now |
How a Calgary mortgage broker helps with National Bank
National Bank is a moving target in Alberta right now — that’s exactly where a broker earns their keep:
- We track when National Bank’s prime broker channel opens in Alberta and add it to your comparison the moment it does.
- We can place Optimum, its alternative arm, today for files that don’t fit prime.
- We put every option head-to-head with 30+ banks and monolines on rate and penalty structure.
- It’s free, with no credit hit to start and no obligation.
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Frequently asked questions
Does National Bank work with mortgage brokers?
Can I get a National Bank prime mortgage through a broker in Alberta?
What is Optimum, and can you place it now?
What is the National Bank All-in-One account?
Is National Bank a Big Six bank?
Want National Bank in your comparison? Let’s talk
We’ll place the best lender available to you today — including Optimum where it fits — and add National Bank the moment its Alberta broker channel opens. Apply online in about two minutes, or book a no-pressure discovery call.
Free · No credit check to start · No obligationThis article is general information, not financial, mortgage or legal advice. Lender availability, products, rates, features and penalty structures vary by region, are subject to change and depend on lender approval. National Bank of Canada and Optimum are not affiliated with Mortgages for Less and no endorsement is implied. Please speak with a licensed mortgage professional about your specific circumstances. Mortgages for Less with INDI Mortgage.