About us

About CHIP Reverse Mortgage^®

For over 35 years, HomeEquity Bank has provided the CHIP Reverse Mortgage^® to Canadian homeowners aged 55+. It is a safe and secure financial solution that enables homeowners to access the equity in their home without the need to move or sell. CHIP empowers our customers to live retirement their way, in the home they love.

CHIP Reverse Mortgage at a Glance

CHIP Reverse Mortgage:

Allows you to access up to 55% of the appraised value of your home in tax-free cash.
Gives you options for a lump sum payout or scheduled advances over time.
Offers flexibility to use the loan for any number of purposes- the choice is yours!
Does not burden you with any monthly mortgage repayments – the loan becomes due only when you decide to move or sell your home.
Ensures that you stay in the home you love and retain its full ownership.

CHIP Reverse Mortgage is a simple, effective and stress-free solution that enhances your quality of life and helps to give you the retirement you deserve. We want to help Canadian homeowners live in the safety and comfort of their homes, because there is no better place to retire than home!

Vision, Values and Goals

Our vision is to empower all Canadian homeowners to live retirement their way.

Who says you have to leave your home when you retire? We believe that as a Canadian homeowner, you have earned the right to enjoy what you have invested in. CHIP Reverse Mortgage focuses on helping you realize your home’s true value without needing to sell to benefit from that value. With the ability to access up to 55% of the value of your home in tax-free cash, you can retire on your terms.

Our mission is to help Canadian homeowners stay in the home they love, until they are ready to leave on their own terms.

We know that the vast majority of Canadians want to stay in the home they love into retirement, and the importance of aging in place to their wellbeing. CHIP Reverse Mortgage is designed to help Canadian homeowners aged 55+ do just that, by allowing you to access up to 55% of the appraised value of your home in tax-free cash, and to use that cash as you see fit.

Our values

Excellence in products and services: Our goal is to deliver exceptional products with customer-centric services and experiences that build trusting relationships.

Professional conduct: We understand the emotional challenges of transitioning into retirement, and the importance of financial anchors in navigating this journey. The impact of our products in enriching retirement lifestyles makes us determined and principled about the work we do in helping Canadians aged 55+ through their retirement years.

Care and respect: At HomeEquity Bank we are dedicated to helping Canadians aged 55+ live a more comfortable retirement in the home they love. We believe in helping to educate Canadians about the home equity solutions available to them, and helping them make a decision that is right for them. We promise to always listen carefully, offer useful information, respect your privacy and to never apply pressure.

We are deeply committed to our values, and align our products, processes and services around these core beliefs. As a responsible Federally Regulated Schedule I Bank, we prioritize your safety, security and comfort.

Our history and heritage

Here’s a brief look at the history of reverse mortgages and how CHIP has contributed to the development of this popular retirement finance product in Canada:

1400
Since the early 1400s, it was commonplace for Europeans who did not have sufficient retirement finances to sell their homes to investors, with an arrangement to live rent-free in the home until they passed away. Upon their death the investors would sell the home and keep the proceeds, or find a new paying renter.
1929
During the Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that came immediately after, financial experts in the UK created a product called Home-Equity Reversion. Homeowners sold all or part of their home to a reversion company in exchange for a rent-free living arrangement in their own home until they died.
1979
Over the next 50 years, several versions of reversion products sprung up across Europe, eventually reaching North America in the 1970s. These products were called ‘Home Equity Conversion Loans’, or ‘Reverse Mortgages’.
1986
In 1986, a chartered accountant named William Turner introduced a different variant of the reverse mortgage to the residents of Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded as the Canadian Home Income Plan (CHIP), this version of the reverse mortgage allowed Canadian homeowners 55+ to retain full ownership of their homes, along with access to a portion of their home’s equity for fortifying their retirement finances.
1995
In 1995, CHIP expanded to Ontario.
1998
In 1998, Steven Ranson was appointed President and CEO.
1998
In 1998, In response to strong customer demand, CHIP expanded to Alberta. This was followed by expansion across Canada from 1998 to 2000.
2002
In 2002, CHIP changed its name to HomEquity Income Trust and became a publicly traded company on the TSX under the stock symbol “HEQ.UN”.
2009
In 2009, HomeEquity Income Trust received permission from the Minister of Finance to begin operating as HomeEquity Bank, a Schedule 1 Chartered Bank.
2012
In 2012, the Bank was acquired by Birch Hill Equity Partners who partnered with us to usher in a new era of growth and progress.
2013
In 2013, HomeEquity Bank introduced Income Advantage, offering an opportunity for Canadian homeowners to develop a comprehensive retirement plan with monthly or quarterly deposits to supplement traditional retirement income, inclusive of assets in their portfolio (investments, pensions and home equity).
2018
In 2018, HomeEquity Bank introduced CHIP MAX, a reverse mortgage solution designed to provide Canadian homeowners 55+ access to a higher initial percentage of their home equity.
2020
In 2020, HomeEquity Bank introduced CHIP OPEN, a short-term reverse mortgage solution with no prepayment penalties for Canadian homeowners 55 and over in need of short-term cash flow and bridge financing.
2022
In 2022, HomeEquity bank was acquired by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. With a 35 year track record of success, the acquisition by Ontario Teachers’ helped position the Bank for continued success on its mission to empower Canadians 55 and over to stay in the homes the love.
2024
In 2024, Steven Ranson retired as President and CEO and was succeeded by Katherine Dudtschak.
2024
In 2024, HomeEquity Bank introduced HomeBridge, a new digital solution designed to help Canadian homeowners establish their living legacy by using their home equity to gift their family.

CHIP continues to cater exclusively to the financial needs of Canadian retirees

In a study done by HomeEquity Bank through Ipsos, it was clear that 9 out of 10 Canadian retirees preferred to remain in their current home through their retirement years. Maintaining an independent lifestyle, staying close to family or friends, remaining in a familiar community and a strong emotional attachment to the home are among the many reasons older Canadians wish to continue staying in their homes.

CHIP Reverse Mortgage allows just that. With a presence across Canada, our products have helped tens of thousands of Canadian homeowners achieve financial stability, as well as stay in the homes they love.

Some of the key advantages of our products are:

Retain ownership of your home:

There is no change in title or transfer of ownership to HomeEquity Bank. When it is time for you or your heirs to repay the loan, you have a number of options to service the debt.

Protect your home equity:

Your age, property type and home location are key factors in assessing the loan amount, which can be up to a maximum of 55% of your home’s appraised value. Our conservative lending practices ensures that you will never owe more than the fair market value of your home^1,2.

Enjoy the appreciation in your home value:

Interest accumulates only on the sum borrowed. In fact, over 50% of our customers have money left over post repayment of the loan.

Get No Negative Equity Guarantee^1,2:

CHIP Reverse Mortgage is a non-recourse loan. On the rare occasion that your home’s value depreciates to below the loan amount, you or your heirs are not liable to make the excess payment. HomeEquity Bank will cover the difference as part of our No Negative Equity Guarantee.

Must maintain property, pay property taxes and homeowners’ insurance, and abide by your mortgage obligations.
The guarantee excludes administrative expenses and interest that has accumulated after the due date.

CHIP products and services

Reverse Mortgage Calculator:

Ready to find out how much tax-free cash you can get by accessing the equity in your home?

Check out our free reverse mortgage calculator now

Product Selection Tool

While we cater exclusively to the financial needs of Canadian homeowners 55+, our products address varying age groups, property types, financial objectives and payout options. Not sure which of our products is most suited to your need? Find out more through our product selector tool.

Resources

It is not easy to skim through the overwhelming variety of financial products that address and strengthen your retirement finances.

Our resources section simplifies the available options and helps you make the right choices.

Offers

Are you a member of CARP or the Royal Canadian Legion? Stay up-to-date on CHIP’s special offerings and maximize the benefits that are applicable to you.