1.) is bank interest taxed at the same rate as dividends?yes,...

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