Canada funds check in the US

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Craig got his tax refund check from the good ole Canada gov in the mail today. Now the question is, how in the heck do we cash it? I just called our bank and they said they don't accept foreign currency checks, and that our best bet is to try and call the CRA and ask them to issue us a check in USD (ha...right). So what's the solution? Anyone?

Cass (bebop the great)

[rebeccajo 14]

They won't accept it even if you deposit it?

Go to another bank.

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Yeah! I mean, I figured it'd have some clearing time. But they said it had to be a U.S. check. Strange? Local credit union. I guess I should try a national bank chain.

Cass (bebop the great)

They won't accept it even if you deposit it?

Go to another bank.

[rebeccajo 14]

It's more than strange. Sounds to me like someone doesn't know how to do their job.

Call the credit union manager. If you get the same answer, yeah, go find a bank.

PS - Wherever you get it done, expect to pay a small exchange fee. Bleh.

Yeah! I mean, I figured it'd have some clearing time. But they said it had to be a U.S. check. Strange? Local credit union. I guess I should try a national bank chain.

Cass (bebop the great)

They won't accept it even if you deposit it?

Go to another bank.

[Jeremy + Kristy 0]

Once upon a time I received a check from Germany, and I, too, was with a Credit Union. It was going to cost more in fees to cash it than the check was written for. Big bank or possibly a money exchange would be your best bet.

[girl 37 7]

PS - Wherever you get it done, expect to pay a small exchange fee. Bleh.

I cash Canadian cheques all the time at Bank of America, and have never paid a fee. (Their "fee" is the exchange rate!)

(I get paid in Canadian, which is usually deposited to my Royal Bank account, then I write myself a cheque here every time I need some money.)

Try Bank of America!

[derekkj 0]

Once upon a time I received a check from Germany, and I, too, was with a Credit Union. It was going to cost more in fees to cash it than the check was written for. Big bank or possibly a money exchange would be your best bet.

Actually Wachovia tried to ding us $75 per check to cash some Canadian checks. And I know Flames9 has had the same experience. So shop around the big banks too.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I have had many fun experiences with cashing Cdn cheques in the USA. Thats why I have kept open 1 cdn account!! When ever I get a Cdn cheque, I mail it back to my parents in Saskatoon. They deposit it into my Cdn account(they have my bankcard). I then transfer it to my Wachovia (US) bank acct wiith Customhouse.com. Ne fees and a much better exchange rate than what most banks will give u. Wachovia didnt charge me fee's BUT their exchange rate was far less than what customhouse was giving me!!

And I had constant hassles with Wachovia! 1) After I deposited the Cdn cheques, a week dwon the road, that money was debited from my acct and cheques returned!! Stating the cheques had to be more than $200 usd each!!

2)One teller tried to charge me a $75 fee!!. I spoke to the bank manager, who luckily knew the proper procedure and he fixed that, and he told me to try and only see his head cashier. Which I did, if she was not in, I walked out, lol

Best to call around, but I would guess that any USA bank wil want you to have an acct open with them prior to accepting it,and as a new customer they may put like a 10 day hold onthe cheque. Wachovia never did, but only because my wife had been a long time customer with them!!

[misa 2]

Oh the Canadian cheque woe... I called around and mostly it's up to the discretion of each branch manager at each bank chain. So to avoid all that, I get my sister to deposit Canadian cheques for me into my Canadian account. Does Craig still have a Canadian account? He can mail it to his home branch to deposit.

Speaking of Wachovia, I opened up an account today. I was concerned that they'd need an SSN or an ITIN but (again up to each branch manager), they didn't.

[Cassie 8]

It's more than strange. Sounds to me like someone doesn't know how to do their job.

Call the credit union manager. If you get the same answer, yeah, go find a bank.

PS - Wherever you get it done, expect to pay a small exchange fee. Bleh.

Yeah! I mean, I figured it'd have some clearing time. But they said it had to be a U.S. check. Strange? Local credit union. I guess I should try a national bank chain.

Cass (bebop the great)

They won't accept it even if you deposit it?

Go to another bank.

It was the same for us at our credit union. Sure, it was an aggravation, but they have been excellent to us in other ways.

So if members of my family want to give us money, they give it to my mom who has access to my account in Canada. We then transfer it to our accounts here.

[Flames9_RN 358]

For the most part Wachovia was great, never had a problem with other matters dealing with them. I do recal one time I went into Wachovia and the head teller was not there (last time I did this) so I went to another teller to deposit a canadian Cheque. She wanted to charge me a fee, and was a bit rude, I was polite, stated that was incorrect,she responded she was right, so I politely asked if she could get the bank manager to come over, which she relunctly did! As he walked over he greeted me by my 1st name (not Flames9!) and already knew what the problem was, lol. I don;'t think she was that impressed that I was correct. I have no problem with people making mistakes, as I don't imagine they see to many Cdn cheques, but when a customer states they have done this a few times at this very branch and your wrong, admit it and ask for assistance!! I was very polite, but deep downi wanted to do a big "Gretzky pump" with my right arm!! lol

[girl 37 7]

I always go to the same branch because all of the tellers know how to deal with Canadian cheques now. --They have to put a stamp on the front stating the rate of exchange and the amount in $US. There's only one stamp at my branch so it takes a while to find it; last week they ordered one for me to keep in my purse.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Thats pretty funny!! Little stuf fliek that makes for great customer service though!!

[mwinburn 0]

I haven't had to cash one just yet, but I'd imagine my banking setup would work for it...

I have an RBC account and an RBC Centura account. I opened them in Ontario last year and they are linked together. I can put money in either one and exchange between the currencies whenever I wish. Everytime I do an exchange it shows me the going exchange rate and lets me decide to cancel if I wish. I pay no fees for doing my exchanges (most I've done in a day is 2).

Being that it's RBC, I'm fairly confident they will let me deposit a Canadian check, but again, I haven't tested it yet. I know they aren't all over the States yet, but they are popping up all over the south. It's worth checking out if there is a branch somewhat close to you.

Plus there's the perk that I have access to both Interac and Debit with the account setups. And this way I can continue to pay my fiance's Canadian bills after she comes to the States.

Also, I'd be surprised if a few of the other big Canadian banks didn't have a presence down here as well. Maybe TD?

[Jeremy + Kristy 0]

Also, I'd be surprised if a few of the other big Canadian banks didn't have a presence down here as well. Maybe TD?

I've seen posts on here that there ar TD banks in the Northeast, and I've heard rumo(u)rs from my aunt that works at Chase that they may be opening branches in Canada, soon.