Dollar Account / Card

[fuse04]

If someone has dollars, in this case me, rather than taking the cash itself, is it possible to load it onto a card or open account account so as to avoid carrying it around? (don't want to convert to stirling !)

thanks
Rob

 

[wayneg]

Hi Rob
It is possible to open a US bank account but no idea of the details. My Brother has one but don't know how he went about it, no doubt someone will be along to advise.

 

[orangetiggs]

we opened one at suntrust opposite dtd, just took our passports and a letter from our bank as evidence of address and our driving license and opened straight away. we deposited money and the card were sent to us by the time we got home.

We use that and our fair fx card for our currency

 

[fuse04]

Thanks. I have dollars here in UK and ideally would like to arrange something here ready for use in May. I don't mind carrying the cash but might be saver to have an alternative.

Rob

 

[Netty]

would you be better with a fairfx card??
http://www.fairfx.com/matalan-offer

 

[igk]

I have a US Dollar current account with Citibank. Details HERE

It's very convenient for travel in the US, as you get a Visa debit card which you can use to pay for things, and get cash from ATM machines (some do charge though). Might be what youre looking for.

 

[fuse04]

would you be better with a fairfx card??
http://www.fairfx.com/matalan-offer

Already have the dollars here, can I put these on FX card?

 

[fuse04]

I have a US Dollar current account with Citibank. Details HERE

It's very convenient for travel in the US, as you get a Visa debit card which you can use to pay for things, and get cash from ATM machines (some do charge though). Might be what youre looking for.

This looks possible and fee free. Do you know how you can pay cash into the account?

Rob

 

[igk]

This looks possible and fee free. Do you know how you can pay cash into the account?

Rob

Depends where your dollars are and how much you have.
If you have them in another account somewhere you can transfer them using SWIFT, otherwise I imagine (though I don't know) you could pay cash into a Citibank branch.
I think you can credit a US dollar cheque too.

 

[littlelaura]

we got a 'cash passport card' from thomas cook.
i think it was the same exchange rate as cash (or maybe slightly better). its a pre-loaded visa (electron) card. you decide how much to put on it, and can add more before you go. it works the same way as a debit card. no hidden charges for using it. i highly recommend it. if you have any left-over dollars on it when you get back, you can leave them till your next holiday, or request a cheque. if there is money left on the card, and it is un-active for 15months, they will charge a monthly fee until the card is used again or runs out.
go to cashpassport.com for more info

we never had any problems with it, and i plan to get one again for our sept trip

 

[fuse04]

Depends where your dollars are and how much you have.
If you have them in another account somewhere you can transfer them using SWIFT, otherwise I imagine (though I don't know) you could pay cash into a Citibank branch.
I think you can credit a US dollar cheque too.

Do you know if there is any charge for ATM in WDW? assume if you use Debit card to pay hotel bill there would be no charge?

 

[mikki.young]

You can pay cash into the citibank account but they really only have branches in London. There would be a charge for the ATM in WDW because they only don't charge if it is a citi ATM. Having said that you can use your debit card all over WDW and Florida to pay for things direct at no cost.

 

[igk]

Do you know if there is any charge for ATM in WDW? assume if you use Debit card to pay hotel bill there would be no charge?

There's no charge for paying for goods/services with the Debit card. As long as the payment is in Dollars and it's a Dollar account

The interesting thing about the Citibank Visa debit card is that although many ATM machines in the US have stated that they will charge a fee when I go to withdraw cash, in the end they haven't. I don't know whether it's because Citibank and the other banks have a no-charging agreement within the US (bit like Barclays/Natwest etc. here), but because the card is a UK one then it's not recognised as a 'proper' Citibank card at the transaction time, but then it's matched up properly later...
I often think at the time 'Oh well, that's cost $2 to get my $200 out', but then when the statement comes there's no charge...

That said I haven't used ATM machines within WDW - I only use major bank ones. I'm sure there's a way Disney would be able to load a charge onto my card
I've paid for 'stuff' in WDW - hotels, restaurants, gifts etc., and they have all been fee-free.

 

[fuse04]

thanks. We will take some hard cash but want to pay the remaining dollars into a account so as to just use the debit card to pay for meals etc rather than carry $2000 around with us. Mind you my initial exerience with Citibank has not been good. Phoned twice at 6 mins to 8pm and got a message to ring back during working hours 8am to 8pm. Left a message as requested to do so and no one retruned my call. Have now sent two emails again with no reply

 

[oceanscape]

If you've got an EGG card you can get $75 free by opening one of these Citibank US current accounts. I've jut done it myself, as simple as pie.

http://new.egg.com/visitor/0,,3_107592--View_2284,00.html

 

[Andy Lou & Meg]

If you open a US$ account please be aware that you are charged for it unless you put a cetain amount in each month..

Another option is to open a US$ savings account with Citi (no monthly charge).

You need to open it with a certin amount but then you can pretty much take out and add to it as you see fit.

You do get an ATM card but you can only use if free of charge at Citi machines in the US.

In my case I pay in money as and when and then I withdraw it in the form of cash and travellers cheques.

This has always worked well for me and I can always pay whatever I dont spend back into the account.

Would only suggest doing this if you are near a branch..........

 

[Ali and boyz]

If you open a US$ account please be aware that you are charged for it unless you put a cetain amount in each month..

Another option is to open a US$ savings account with Citi (no monthly charge).

You need to open it with a certin amount but then you can pretty much take out and add to it as you see fit.

You do get an ATM card but you can only use if free of charge at Citi machines in the US.

In my case I pay in money as and when and then I withdraw it in the form of cash and travellers cheques.

This has always worked well for me and I can always pay whatever I dont spend back into the account.

Would only suggest doing this if you are near a branch..........

do you get charged if you use it to pay for goods or say disney accomodation

 

[Andy Lou & Meg]

If you have the Citi US current account and do not pay so much into the account each month then you are charged a monhly fee (you are free to use your US debit card from the account free of charge). I believe the monthly amount that has to be paid in is in excess of £1000 to avoid paying any charges

If you have a Citi US savings account you only get an ATM card so will be charged from withdrawing any cash amount from any ATM other than a Citi.

Hope that helps clarify

 

[Ali and boyz]

If you have the Citi US current account and do not pay so much into the account each month then you are charged a monhly fee (you are free to use your US debit card from the account free of charge). I believe the monthly amount that has to be paid in is in excess of £1000 to avoid paying any charges

If you have a Citi US savings account you only get an ATM card so will be charged from withdrawing any cash amount from any ATM other than a Citi.

Hope that helps clarify

thats dissapointing, there would be no need for us to have £1000 paid in every month, we would never spend that . will go and see how much the monthly fee is to see if it warants one now. we were looking for something that we could pay amounts in to and then say pay for our accomodation or food etc.

 

[igk]

There are eligibility criteria, but I'm not aware that you have to pay £1000 per month into the account. (I don't but I have other accounts with them anyway). What it does say on their website is THIS. It states an annual income minimum, but not that you have to pay that into the account. Best to call them and check to be sure.