As a licensed mortgage agent committed to helping Canadians find reliable and creative mortgage solutions, I often work with clients who are unfamiliar with some of the most innovative and flexible lenders in the industry. One such lender is Optimum Mortgage, a subsidiary of Canadian Western Bank. In this article, I’ll break down who Optimum Mortgage is, what makes them different, and why they might be the right lender for you.
What Kind of Lender Is Optimum?
What Makes Optimum Stand Apart?
Who Is Optimum Mortgage?
Optimum Mortgage is the residential lending division of Canadian Western Bank (CWB), a federally regulated Schedule I bank. This status means that CWB—and by extension, Optimum Mortgage—is governed by the same federal oversight and deposit protection as Canada’s Big Five banks.
Being part of a Schedule I bank brings credibility, stability, and regulatory assurance to borrowers, which is particularly important when clients are declined by a major financial institution. Optimum isn’t just a lender you’ve never heard of; it’s a powerful, well-capitalized institution operating nationally with physical branches and deep commercial lending experience.
What Kind of Lender Is Optimum?
Optimum Mortgage operates as a balance sheet lender—meaning they lend directly from their own deposits rather than securitizing or selling loans to third parties. This allows them to be more flexible in their underwriting, pricing, and product structuring than many conventional lenders.
They specialize in Alt-A lending, which positions them just outside the strict underwriting guidelines of traditional banks but well above private lenders in terms of pricing and product quality. In plain terms, Optimum is the “next stop” after a bank declines your application—but with a bank’s resources and professionalism.
Why Choose Optimum Mortgage?
In a lending landscape dominated by rigid guidelines and one-size-fits-all policies, Optimum Mortgage stands out by offering flexible, client-centric solutions that meet real-world needs. Whether you’re a seasoned investor looking to scale your rental portfolio, a homeowner seeking liquidity without unnecessary fees, or a self-employed professional navigating complex income documentation, Optimum provides options that the big banks often can’t—or won’t. Backed by the stability of a Schedule I bank, they bring tailored lending, real underwriting, and market-savvy features to clients who deserve more than just a decline.
Here are three compelling reasons clients choose to work with Optimum.
- More Rental Doors, More Flexibility
- Superior Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Option
- Real Underwriting for Real People
More Rental Doors, More Flexibility
Optimum allows financing on up to 8 rental doors, compared to 4 with most banks. Whether you own multiple condos or small multiplexes, this opens the door to greater wealth-building for real estate investors. They also allow these properties to be held in a holding company with a personal guarantee—an excellent tool for asset protection and tax planning.
Superior Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Option
Their “HomeWorks” product competes with traditional bank HELOCs by offering a line of credit at prime + 0.20%, with no monthly service fees—undercutting most banks that offer HELOCs at prime + 0.50%. The HELOC is fully featured with debit access, e-transfers, and mobile deposit—ideal for liquidity-focused homeowners.
Real Underwriting for Real People
Optimum shines when it comes to non-traditional income. Whether you’re a realtor, contractor, commission-based salesperson, or self-employed professional, they understand that today’s income isn’t always shown on a simple T4. They accept stated income with common-sense documentation and support nuanced income analyses, including add-backs and personalized reviews. Their underwriting team even evaluates applications with a view toward risk mitigation, not just box-checking.
Who Is the Ideal Client?
Optimum is an excellent choice for:
- Real estate investors with multiple properties.
- Self-employed individuals with strong cash flow but limited verifiable income.
- Clients recently declined by the Big Banks, including those with commission-based income, contractors, BFS applicants, and those rebuilding after past credit events.
- High net worth individuals who may not “fit the mold” of traditional lending profiles due to tax planning strategies.
What Makes Optimum Stand Apart?
The standout feature of Optimum Mortgage is that they blend the security and professionalism of a Schedule I bank with the nimbleness of an alternative lender. They are:
- Flexible without being predatory.
- Thorough without being bureaucratic.
- Credible enough to satisfy cautious borrowers—and their accountants, lawyers, or financial planners.
Additionally, they’re one of the few lenders in the alternative space that will pay out CRA debt, handle proposals, and fund deals under holding companies—all without always requiring lender fees. For brokers like myself, this means I can design solutions that prioritize your long-term financial goals without compromise.
A Partner You Can Grow With
Optimum’s commitment to portable, blend-and-extend mortgages, full-featured HELOCs, and personalized underwriting makes them a true partner for your real estate journey—not just a stopgap solution.
If you’ve been told “no” by your bank, it doesn’t mean you’re unqualified—it just means you’re not standard. And in today’s mortgage market, standard is overrated. Optimum Mortgage gets that. So do I.
Let’s explore whether this powerful lender is the right fit for your financial goals. Reach out today—I’m here to guide you through it.
