Canada-to-America Banking (Revisited)

[Colleens 40]

I use RBC Canada/US as well. I opened my accounts before I moved down here. Just go into your local branch and ask to open a RBC Centura or RBC bank USA account. You may have to set up an appt for this. They send all your info down to the US and you will get your bank card/pin/cheques (if ordered) a few weeks later. It is helpful to do this before you leave as the bank card for the US account is different than the one for the canadian account. Transfers are easy and instant. I also band with another canadian bank and I can do an interac e-mail money transfer to my RBC Canada account then a transfer to my american account if needed.

The only drawback is that the RBC centura is more or less only in the South Eastern states (from my knowledge) so if you need a branch to deposit cheques etc it can be difficult. My nearest branch is about 40miles away, but for the odd time I need to go in.....it was the best option for me.

[Carlawarla 1]

Can you deposit through ATM's here to this account for free? I don't have a branch near me. Is there some type of reciprocal agreement for teller services anywhere?

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Can you deposit through ATM's here to this account for free? I don't have a branch near me. Is there some type of reciprocal agreement for teller services anywhere?

I don't believe one could deposit at any other teller than an RBC one, no. That's the one downside to this particular account. Then again, in this day and age most people seldom receive checks -- for myself personally, I can just deposit them in my wife and I's joint account, then transfer the money over.

Another thing I didn't mention earlier, since I think it's pretty minor, is that RBC will actually reimburse you for two ATM charges a month, if you happen to use an ATM machine that isn't RBC or have Cirrus or the other partnerships mentioned above.

[kballtex 0]

One option from a US -> Canada perspective is Bank of America. They have an alliance with Scotiabank (and many others) where if I am in Canada and need to get some cash from an ATM, I only pay a 1% conversion fee, no ATM fees whatsoever.

RBC wasn't a great option in my case as they aren't anywhere near here.

[frenzyheart 2]

THANKS FOR THE INFO!!! I have TOO many bank accounts right now!!! I have 3 here in the States (2 normal, and the one that my financial aid is deposited into), and 2 in Canada (if you count my fiance's account which my name is technically on)... It's getting to be a hassle when he sends me money because we transfer it from his Canadian account to my Canadian account, and then I withdraw it with my debit card down here, and deposit it into my account down here - We pretty much play economy russian roulette without the bullet. It's always interesting to see what the exchange rates will be, LOL!

Thank you again!

[La Souris 19]

Thanks for the info, I'll visit my local branch and ask to set it up / I did ask TD about it since I already have an account with them and they are present as TD Bank in my future location, but transfer between account didn't seem possible (the only + was that I can (and did) withdraw money with no fee from TD Bank American ATM).

[Peachey 10]

I opened this account a few weeks before I left Canada.

I still haven't gotten my Client card... They re-issued it on Jan. 13 and it's still not here. I'm not so impressed with them so far.

[J&K 0]

Yeah, that IS one drawback, now that you mention it. There are branches in Southern Virginia, the nearest being about an hour and a half away from where I'll be, so that's not TOO bad for me

If you're talking about the Branch in Richmond, that used to be in Tyson's Corner and is a Commercial Loan Office, not an actual branch.

The closest one to you (and me ) is in Williamsburg, which, from Alexandria is about 3 hours.

I've only had to go into a branch once, and that was on our way down to Myrtle Beach, we stopped in North Carolina off I-95 and did what we needed to do (I think it was adding John as a joint owner).

[redmen99 1]

I don't believe one could deposit at any other teller than an RBC one, no. That's the one downside to this particular account. Then again, in this day and age most people seldom receive checks -- for myself personally, I can just deposit them in my wife and I's joint account, then transfer the money over.

Another thing I didn't mention earlier, since I think it's pretty minor, is that RBC will actually reimburse you for two ATM charges a month, if you happen to use an ATM machine that isn't RBC or have Cirrus or the other partnerships mentioned above.

What Carla is saying, some ATM machines here in the states accept deposits whether its for that particular bank or not. It may take a few days for it to show on your account, and depending on your bank, there may be a small fee, but it is an option if you are in a bind. For example, you may be able to go to the ATM at the Citizens Bank in your local supermarket and deposit a check to your RBC account through that ATM. I don't know how exactly they handle these transactions, but I have done it before.

[redmen99 1]

Thanks for the info, I'll visit my local branch and ask to set it up / I did ask TD about it since I already have an account with them and they are present as TD Bank in my future location, but transfer between account didn't seem possible (the only + was that I can (and did) withdraw money with no fee from TD Bank American ATM).

It figures. Hubby's accounts as well as a Line of Credit and Visa are at TD up in Canada. Amazingly "America's Most Convenient Bank" isn't all that convenient at all! I'm still amazed that people here don't realize TD stands for Toronto Dominion..... Hopefully we can get his debt paid off fast and get rid of them and all their nickel and dime charges for good!

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

An interesting update: I got a call today from the U.S. side of Royal Bank, and they've arranged to have cheques (or checks, I should say) sent to my soon-to-be U.S. address. AND, more importantly...they've approved me for a Visa card, based on my Canadian credit history. It didn't matter that I'm currently off work. Thanks to my excellent credit rating in Canada, I'll be starting out with a card with a high credit limit down there, AND a line of credit. They'll be sending me an email shortly and having me sign it, scan it back in and email it back to them.

So there you go...this is really the best way to go for those of you still unsure about the whole Canada -> U.S. financial / credit issue.

[Peachey 10]

Yeah, it took RBC 2 months to figure out how to send me snail mail......

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Yeah, it took RBC 2 months to figure out how to send me snail mail......

Really? I've already received a couple of things from the U.S. side of RBC at my Canadian address...

[trailmix 77]

I opened this account a few weeks before I left Canada.

I still haven't gotten my Client card... They re-issued it on Jan. 13 and it's still not here. I'm not so impressed with them so far.

Peachy, I would double check with them to see what address they are sending it to. For us, they were supposed to send it to our Canadian address but sent it to the U.S. address - I would be concerned they are sending it to your old Canadian address.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Peachy, I would double check with them to see what address they are sending it to. For us, they were supposed to send it to our Canadian address but sent it to the U.S. address - I would be concerned they are sending it to your old Canadian address.

Yeah...by what the agent I was talking to today said, it sounds like he has to manually do something to reroute things like checks and cards. It didn't sound like a problem...but did sound like he had to do something to make sure it went to the U.S. address.