1.) is bank interest taxed at the same rate as dividends?
yes, taxed as income at your marginal rate
2.) say I have a capital LOSS of $5,000 and I have $500 in dividends paid to me, can I use that capital loss to offset my dividends for the yr?
no
3) or can I only use a capital loss to offset capital gains? and not dividend income or bank interest income?
yes
