If you are changing account notification settings on Oaken Web site, you can choose SMS and email. Open Oaken app on smartphone and third type of notification becomes available there: Push notification.
I would suggest installing Oaken app on smartphone and enabling Push notification for both types of logins.

My spouse signed up for an Oaken HISA account last week.

She immediately enabled two-step verification so that a verification code would be sent by SMS whenever a login attempt is made. Afterward, she tested the feature using different laptops and internet connections.
However, she was not consistently prompted to enter a verification code when signing in.
On one occasion, she was asked for a code, but instead of entering it, she returned to the login page and signed in again using her credentials. She was then able to access the account without completing the two-step verification process.

She has already raised this concern with Customer Service, as this pattern could present a security risk.
As an additional security measure, she has enabled email notifications for account logins. (So that she gets an email each time a login is made)

Are there any other steps you would recommend to further improve the security of the account?
Thank you.

And hands down...Oaken has the best website.....compared to BMO, VanCity, Hubert and People's Group.

Thanks.

Gilker said
I've also noticed:

1. much more helpful on phone
2. no more GIC certificates mailed to home address
3. email of upcoming maturities longer quotes the partial GIC#

I have around 90 GiC's with them and not knowing the number and type of GIC it is, makes the email useless. Today I received 3 emails saying the same thing and my records show that I only have one GIC maturing.

Boo on Oaken!!!  

I find their website is the "organizer" in your case, and is way better than other banks I've seen. Just login to your account once a month (or more frequently) and it will clearly show upcoming expiries in different brown coloured text, and adds a "manage maturity instructions" click on arrow instead of the usual arrow for more information beside each GIC. I currently have 3 expiring in less than 30 days, and if I recall, my first e-mail notices of upcoming expiries arrived almost 30 days beforehand.

Gilker said

Will they change the rate if you call? Or is that policy no longer in place?  

don't think they will based on the notice I got. I also notice I had forgotten a portion of their message, it read like this:

"Interest rates change in response to market conditions and business needs. Providing rates that are effective as of the current date helps ensure consistent treatment for all customers and allows us to respond more quickly to market changes."

Might still be worth it giving them a call but I doubt it will change anything. I didn't want to bother calling, let us know if you do and the result.

1. much more helpful on phone
2. no more GIC certificates mailed to home address
3. email of upcoming maturities longer quotes the partial GIC#

I have around 90 GiC's with them and not knowing the number and type of GIC it is, makes the email useless. Today I received 3 emails saying the same thing and my records show that I only have one GIC maturing.

Boo on Oaken!!!

chamnic said
Just inquired at Oaken if my recently renewed GIC would be updated to new rates and got this reply.

Please be advised that effective this rate change, Oaken financial will no longer be looking back 7 days. Also, this will be the last time we send out email notifications advising clients about rate increases. GIC rates may change without advance notice. The current rates will be displayed on Oaken.com and available through Oaken Digital.  

Will they change the rate if you call? Or is that policy no longer in place?

So that was a lot of money spent for this as well.

Please be advised that effective this rate change, Oaken financial will no longer be looking back 7 days. Also, this will be the last time we send out email notifications advising clients about rate increases. GIC rates may change without advance notice. The current rates will be displayed on Oaken.com and available through Oaken Digital.

Just got this reply when I inquired if my GIC that I had renewed less than 7 days prior to rate changes would be updated.

Please be advised that effective this rate change, Oaken financial will no longer be looking back 7 days. Also, this will be the last time we send out email notifications advising clients about rate increases. GIC rates may change without advance notice. The current rates will be displayed on Oaken.com and available through Oaken Digital.

Interest rates change in response to market conditions and business needs. Providing rates that are effective as of the current date helps ensure consistent treatment for all customers and allows us to respond more quickly to market changes.

Dean said

OK then ... what's the deal @ Oaken ?

And where do we find it ?

Thx,
Dean  

So, according to your neighborhood AI bot, Oaken doesn't offer gic cancellation grace period. If they have one, it's certainly not visible on their website. This site appears to star in the AI bot response. The only way to be sure is to contact Oaken and ask.

Dean said

OK then ... what's the deal @ Oaken ?

And where do we find it ?

Thx,
Dean  

Don't know their official policy or where to find it (Bill has given some insight above). Up until now they've been pretty consistent with upping rate when there is a +change within 7 days of purchasing.

I didn't mean to imply that Oaken has ever offered a cancellation time period if that's what was inferred from my post.