Can I use Canadian debit (us account)?using

[sablebomb]

I did a quick search and couldn' find exactly what I was looking for.
Can I use my Canadian debit card at Disney (in US), for my US account?

I thought I was being smart and have been saving in my USD account for a while and moving money when the rates are good, but now wondering how I'll be able to use. Will I have to withdraw the money and take cash?

Or, can I get a USD visa and pay it off from this US account to avoid all exchange rates?

I'l be purchasing park tickets and paying off the rest of our rental using visa over the next few months and want to do it the most economical way.

TIA!

 

[prairiesarah]

No, you won't be able to use your debit card and withdraw from your US account. You'll have to either take cash or get a USD Visa or Mastercard. We have a USD account and USD Mastercard and I find it the best way to pay for trips to the US. Like you I transfer money when the exchange rate is good and then it is in my account which I use to pay off my Mastercard. If you can get a USD credit card from the same bank as your USD account it probably simplifies things too.

 

[Donald - my hero]

We have a US Mastercard that we got thru BMO, super easy process as mentioned above. Use before you leave for anything like park tickets, room rental whatever & while there it was the card on our account. Once you get home pay off with the US cash you've squirreled away in your US account.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Every bank is a little different. Call your bank where you have your USD account.

I have a BMO USD account and got the BMO USD Mastercard, as well. That way, I use the Mastercard and pay it off by transferring from the USD account - so moving USD to pay a USD bill. No exchange needed. Now, if your card and account are at two different banks, it may be different.

Also, ask at your bank about Visa/Mastercard debit that might be on your card. This may be another way to access your funds without using a credit card.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Every bank is a little different. Call your bank where you have your USD account.

I have a BMO USD account and got the BMO USD Mastercard, as well. That way, I use the Mastercard and pay it off by transferring from the USD account - so moving USD to pay a USD bill. No exchange needed. Now, if your card and account are at two different banks, it may be different.

Also, ask at your bank about Visa/Mastercard debit that might be on your card. This may be another way to access your funds without using a credit card.

Our USD Mastercard is thru BMO and our USD account is with RBC and we have no problem. Just means we need to go into the RBC branch to withdrawal the cash, walk across the street to the BMO and pay the bill. Only problem with this method is they don't accept change so we will always carry a surplus on the card

 

[SirDuff]

No, you won't be able to use your debit card and withdraw from your US account. You'll have to either take cash or get a USD Visa or Mastercard. We have a USD account and USD Mastercard and I find it the best way to pay for trips to the US. Like you I transfer money when the exchange rate is good and then it is in my account which I use to pay off my Mastercard. If you can get a USD credit card from the same bank as your USD account it probably simplifies things too.

I do this regularly. Unless we are talking about different things. I use my Canadian ATM card to withdraw money (in US dollars from a USD account) from ATMs in the US.

I also have a set-up similar to the PP where I have a credit at a bank where that is all I have. Just means that I cannot do a direct transfer online. As long as credit card is the same currency as your bank account (or one of them), there is problem with having to convert currency.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Our USD Mastercard is thru BMO and our USD account is with RBC and we have no problem. Just means we need to go into the RBC branch to withdrawal the cash, walk across the street to the BMO and pay the bill. Only problem with this method is they don't accept change so we will always carry a surplus on the card

hehe... old school.

I do this regularly. Unless we are talking about different things. I use my Canadian ATM card to withdraw money (in US dollars from a USD account) from ATMs in the US.

I also have a set-up similar to the PP where I have a credit at a bank where that is all I have. Just means that I cannot do a direct transfer online. As long as credit card is the same currency as your bank account (or one of them), there is problem with having to convert currency.

Interac is not available outside of Canada, but most Canadian debit cards also have affiliations such as Mastercard or Visa debit. Check on the back of your debit card to see which logos are there. Those are the networks that will carry your transaction back to your bank. Could be fees or maybe not. Check with your bank and they will be able to help you.

 

[prairiesarah]

I do this regularly. Unless we are talking about different things. I use my Canadian ATM card to withdraw money (in US dollars from a USD account) from ATMs in the US.

I was specifically meaning debit machines and not thinking of ATM's. I am surprised you can withdraw from a USD account - that is interesting and would be useful to be able to do - I always worry about taking enough cash to balance what we'd want to pay cash for but also not carrying too much. What bank do you use if you don't mind me asking?

I am with BMO and it specifically states about USD accounts " You can link your U.S. dollar bank account to your BMO Debit Card to view information. You’re not able use your U.S. dollar bank account for online or in-store debit card transactions.".

 

[bankr63]

My kids use their debit cards all the time in the US (I use Credit Card). Both their debit cards are Visa affiliated though (Visa symbol on the face). Your card should also work in network; look for the Cirrus or Plus symbol on the back of the card, most merchant debit machines are on one or the other of those two networks.

 

[sablebomb]

Thanks. Sounds like my best bet is just to get a usd visa and pay it when I'm back with my savings in usd account.

 

[minnie56]

Is your USD account here or in the U.S?
I have one here , one in the U.S.
I can move funds from here to there, and have a visa/debit card specifically for the account stateside.
Hope that makes sense?

 

[efrant]

I did a quick search and couldn' find exactly what I was looking for.
Can I use my Canadian debit card at Disney (in US), for my US account?

I thought I was being smart and have been saving in my USD account for a while and moving money when the rates are good, but now wondering how I'll be able to use. Will I have to withdraw the money and take cash?

Or, can I get a USD visa and pay it off from this US account to avoid all exchange rates?

I'l be purchasing park tickets and paying off the rest of our rental using visa over the next few months and want to do it the most economical way.

TIA!

Not sure who you bank with in Canada, but if you are with TD, you can open a U.S. account, i.e. a bank account with TD Bank in the U.S. (as opposed to a USD-account at TD Canada Trust in Canada). There is no monthly fee as long as you maintain a minimum balance of US$100 in the account. It comes with a Visa debit card, which you can obviously use in ATMs or merchants in the U.S. You can wire USD-funds from your Canadian USD-account to your TD Bank account (and vice-versa) fee-free.

 

[flower_petals]

I'm with CIBC. Opened a US account and have one of their prepaid US visas. I reload it from my account online or in bank. I've use that in the US with no additonal fees. I have also used it online to buy Disney tickets.