USD Bank Accounts and Credit Cards - Page 12 - The DIS Discussion Forums

KNovacovschi · 06-03-2012, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mommyof2girlies

Can you fill me in on where you got the debit visa you referred to? We are tired of paying the extra transaction fees on our canadian credit card for the exchange!

I bank with CIBC & it is my regular debit card. I just went into the bank and asked for the new Debit Visa card. I have never had to pay a fee to use it. I always use it when I go to Buffalo shopping.

lisalonglash · 06-03-2012, 07:29 PM

We ended up opening an account at Bank of America - no fees, free debit/VISA card. It was funny when we were opening the account - the manager was handling our paperwork and mentioned that 90% of his bank's account holders are Canadian LOLOL

minnie56 · 06-03-2012, 07:58 PM

Is it this one?
https://www.cibc.com/ca/features/cib...tage-card.html

It's a debit card..so you just pay the regular conversion rate. With 'Visa' that's not the case.

I use my RBC debit (Canadian) and the same applies, no service fee ..I also have a Florida based RBC USD debit card and I like that even better. I transfer into my Florida acct when the rate is best ..and the $$ sits there till I go shopping!!

shpirks · 10-28-2012, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruiser1969

I think I remember reading BMO has one, but it is not available online. I'm thinking of getting one this week.

Can someone confirm this card has no fee?

There is a 25 annual fee but if you spend 1000.00 over the year it is generally waved! Hope this helps

Lizard Valley · 11-16-2012, 12:58 PM

I posted this in a different thread, had no idea there was a sticky for this

. Anyhow, I thought I'd update with current information, in case anyone is interested...

So, I've done some research, and I've come up with some good stuff for us Canadian DVC owners:

RBC has a unique product, that is aimed at Canadian snowbirds. You can open up an RBC Bank US Access bank account right from a Canadian RBC branch. It's a real US bank account, with free cheques, and a Visa debit card, for $2.95/mth. It can be fully linked with an RBC Canadian $ bank account (free), as well as an RBC Canadian USD bank account (also free), with one sign in. This allows you to move money from your US Access account in the US to either account in Canada, instantly and online. You can use the US Access account to set up monthly payments for your DVC Annual dues.

The other unique feature is that these are (reportedly) the only USD bank accounts that can be fully linked to your Canadian Paypal account and will allow you to move USD from Paypal into either your US Access account, or into your Canadian USD account, therefore keeping the money in USD's and not having to incur Paypal's crazy foreign transaction fees. If you're regularly renting out points, this can save quite a bit of money.

So, I have gone ahead and set this all up . Note: I don't bank with RBC. I just walked into my local branch, told them I wanted to open a US dollar savings account (called e-savings) and a US Access account. They knew exactly what I was talking about. Someone was available, and we got everything done in about 45 min's (including chit chat). I also opened a free Canadian $ everyday banking account, to get the debit card and be able to do online banking. The two RBC Canada bank accounts were good to go right away, the US Access application was sent to the U.S. from the bank.

A week later, I received my US Access banking information. I called the number, and a very efficient employee from RBC Bank (USA) talked me through setting up my online banking, subscribing to e-statements, linking this account to my Canadian RBC accounts, ordered my cheques, and my Visa debit account. Easy-peasy.

I have since successfully linked both the US Access account and the USD e-savings account to Paypal, and confirmed that I can send money both ways, with no fees. (There is a trick here, you have to use a very specific routing number for the e-savings account, and it's not the one the bank will give you, this is where the research helped). I have also sent money to both USD accounts using XE.com.

So now, I can pay my mf's monthly, and I can accept point rental payments via paypal without paying a currency conversion transaction fee.

minnie56 · 11-16-2012, 05:52 PM

This isn't new..I've had it for about 2 years now
Works like a charm!!!

Lizard Valley · 11-17-2012, 10:04 AM

Yeah, sorry, I had written this in response to a post in a different thread, and just copied and pasted here. In the other thread, the posters seemed to think that they had to go to the US to open a bank account.

Here, the last post about this account goes back to 2011, and there was some question then as to whether the account would still be available. So I thought I'd give some current information about it.

And I'm very happy with it. Too bad BMO didn't have the same kind of product.

tania7424 · 12-29-2012, 04:03 AM

I just opened my US Access account with RBC Bank today. I'm in BC and across the WA border a couple times a month and I'm tired of paying fees either on my credit card for commissions on exchange or from using my Canadian debit card at POS. $2.95/mo, $25 opening balance. I can transfer direct from my regular RBC chequing to my Access checking. Will come in very handy for WDW in the summer, as well as all my usual Amazon, grocery and Target spending.

06-03-2012, 07:29 PM	#167
lisalonglash I have a thing for actors nobody else thinks are yummalicious Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Lower Mainland, BC, Canada Posts: 2,204	We ended up opening an account at Bank of America - no fees, free debit/VISA card. It was funny when we were opening the account - the manager was handling our paperwork and mentioned that 90% of his bank's account holders are Canadian LOLOL __________________ Lisa P. Me and dh Dsd(24yo) Ds#1(13yo) Ds#2(10yo) September 2014 - Disney World w/FD (POFQ) September 2009 - Disney World w/FD(ASMu) October 2008 - Disney World (ASSp) May 2007 - Disneyland Resort Paris (off-site in Paris)

12-29-2012, 04:03 AM	#173
tania7424 Earning My Ears Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Port Coquitlam, BC Posts: 38	I just opened my US Access account with RBC Bank today. I'm in BC and across the WA border a couple times a month and I'm tired of paying fees either on my credit card for commissions on exchange or from using my Canadian debit card at POS. $2.95/mo, $25 opening balance. I can transfer direct from my regular RBC chequing to my Access checking. Will come in very handy for WDW in the summer, as well as all my usual Amazon, grocery and Target spending. __________________ ME , DH , DS (4) , DS (2)

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06-03-2012, 07:58 PM	#168
minnie56 Whatever it is, he said it is prone to these pits We iced it last night And Fanny's your Aunt" Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 7,421	Is it this one? https://www.cibc.com/ca/features/cib...tage-card.html It's a debit card..so you just pay the regular conversion rate. With 'Visa' that's not the case. I use my RBC debit (Canadian) and the same applies, no service fee ..I also have a Florida based RBC USD debit card and I like that even better. I transfer into my Florida acct when the rate is best ..and the $$ sits there till I go shopping!!

11-16-2012, 12:58 PM	#170
Lizard Valley Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Montreal, CANADA Posts: 155	I posted this in a different thread, had no idea there was a sticky for this . Anyhow, I thought I'd update with current information, in case anyone is interested... So, I've done some research, and I've come up with some good stuff for us Canadian DVC owners: RBC has a unique product, that is aimed at Canadian snowbirds. You can open up an RBC Bank US Access bank account right from a Canadian RBC branch. It's a real US bank account, with free cheques, and a Visa debit card, for $2.95/mth. It can be fully linked with an RBC Canadian $ bank account (free), as well as an RBC Canadian USD bank account (also free), with one sign in. This allows you to move money from your US Access account in the US to either account in Canada, instantly and online. You can use the US Access account to set up monthly payments for your DVC Annual dues. The other unique feature is that these are (reportedly) the only USD bank accounts that can be fully linked to your Canadian Paypal account and will allow you to move USD from Paypal into either your US Access account, or into your Canadian USD account, therefore keeping the money in USD's and not having to incur Paypal's crazy foreign transaction fees. If you're regularly renting out points, this can save quite a bit of money. So, I have gone ahead and set this all up . Note: I don't bank with RBC. I just walked into my local branch, told them I wanted to open a US dollar savings account (called e-savings) and a US Access account. They knew exactly what I was talking about. Someone was available, and we got everything done in about 45 min's (including chit chat). I also opened a free Canadian $ everyday banking account, to get the debit card and be able to do online banking. The two RBC Canada bank accounts were good to go right away, the US Access application was sent to the U.S. from the bank. A week later, I received my US Access banking information. I called the number, and a very efficient employee from RBC Bank (USA) talked me through setting up my online banking, subscribing to e-statements, linking this account to my Canadian RBC accounts, ordered my cheques, and my Visa debit account. Easy-peasy. I have since successfully linked both the US Access account and the USD e-savings account to Paypal, and confirmed that I can send money both ways, with no fees. (There is a trick here, you have to use a very specific routing number for the e-savings account, and it's not the one the bank will give you, this is where the research helped). I have also sent money to both USD accounts using XE.com. So now, I can pay my mf's monthly, and I can accept point rental payments via paypal without paying a currency conversion transaction fee.

11-16-2012, 05:52 PM	#171
minnie56 Whatever it is, he said it is prone to these pits We iced it last night And Fanny's your Aunt" Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 7,421	This isn't new..I've had it for about 2 years now Works like a charm!!!

11-17-2012, 10:04 AM	#172
Lizard Valley Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Montreal, CANADA Posts: 155	Yeah, sorry, I had written this in response to a post in a different thread, and just copied and pasted here. In the other thread, the posters seemed to think that they had to go to the US to open a bank account. Here, the last post about this account goes back to 2011, and there was some question then as to whether the account would still be available. So I thought I'd give some current information about it. And I'm very happy with it. Too bad BMO didn't have the same kind of product.