Paulo

Canadian Banks May Be Risk-Averse, But They're Not Immune

The worse case scenario (at the moment) is the possibility of a significant decline in the high dividends (but there are those who argue that this is already priced in).

Canada vs. U.S. - Whose Banks Are Safer?

Canadian banks do have a more conservative approach tomortgage lending and:
'Mortgage loan insurance is typically required by lenders when homebuyers make a down payment of less than 20% of the purchase price. Mortgage loan insurance helps protects lenders against mortgage default, and enables consumers to purchase homes with as little as 5% down payment — with interest rates comparable to those with a 20% down payment.'
From the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation website.
Of course, no jobs and no savings and people will walk away.

Canada vs. U.S. - Whose Banks Are Safer?

The Canadian dollar is weak against the American dollar and the Canadian banking sector is strong in global perspective.
NByz -- if you lean towards preferreds, have a look at CA:CPD.
Indexes are probably safer for the bank and financial sector shares themselves (and prices are way down): e.g. XFN, CEW
Things look a lot better than C, RBS, and so on.

Canadian Dividends Faring Better Than Most, But Investors Are Still Worried

Good point. Got 20K in the preferreds.

Canadian Dividends Faring Better Than Most, But Investors Are Still Worried

The government does not own any banks in Canada. It just regulates the hell out of them.
No banks have been nationalized in Canada as is the case in the U.K. and the U.S.
This is not even remotely (thus far) on the public agenda (and I think the same is true for Australia).

Canadian Dividends Faring Better Than Most, But Investors Are Still Worried

Canadian and Australian banks are right at the top of the global heap at this moment in time in terms of their financial health. Both provide strong dividends.
For American investors, there is the added attraction of the significant current weaknesses of both currencies against the American dollar. They might double their money in a few years while collecting dividends.

Canadian Banks Continue to Take a Beating

Royal Bank of Scotland is RBS on NYSE