Going to a Bank in the States with American Change

[yosh12]

Hi,

We have managed to save up about $250 in US change over the past 3 years (my wife works retail and changes the US change for CDN in the tills)> Now my question is will there be a problem going into an American Bank and changing it to American Paper Money.

My concern is that because A) We are CDN they won't do it and B) We don't have a bank account with a Bank.

Our other option is to use one of those change machines down there, but we would lose like $30 in the process in fees. Thats like a meal for the family LOL.

Any help or ideas

Thanks

 

[eleanor]

I did it once in San Antonio and didn't have any trouble. I did not have that large an amount tho.

 

[Joann]

Mabey I am slow I don't know ... but won't canadian banks take it and change it to bills? I know they have given me rolls of American coin before like quarter

 

[mbb]

Mabey I am slow I don't know ... but won't canadian banks take it and change it to bills? ....

Ours won't

I think we have $250 just in pennies

Let us know what you find out yosh12...if you can, it would be worth it to drag it all with me next time we go to the US

 

[bunnyfoo]

I would just call the US bank you are thinking of going to and explain the situation to them. This might be one of those YMMV scenarios. I'd hate to drive all the way and be given a different answer than the one on DIS.

Another thought is that if there are grocery stores in the US that have the change sorting machines, you could always take your coins there. I know a friend who use to take his coin jar to those machines. The downside is that you get charged a service fee.

Good luck! Let us know what you find out

 

[Tabetha]

I think it would be fun to use it to pay the balance of your hotel when you get there!

 

[SnowWhite]

We had accumulated a large amount of American change as had my friend. While we were at the POP last month we both went to Everything POP and asked if they would take it and they said, "gladly"! When it is such a large amount I would take it in smaller batches but they didn't mind counting ours at all.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Most banks down here won't take your change unless you have an account with them and even then they want it pre-wrapped in the 50-cent tubes (for pennies). Your best bet is the change machines at the larger grocery stores. $250 in change won't cost you $30 as you estimated; I think the fee is 3 or 4% which would only be $7.50 to $10.00.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Palendat]

Unfortunately (or fortunately ), with the current exchange rate of 1.08 or 1.09, it hardly makes sense to bother with changing the US change at all! Almost any type of service charge will eat up any savings!!!

 

[yosh12]

The coin machnes give you 91.1 Cents per dollar. So that works out to $227.00 for $250 which is a $22.00 loss on our money. Thats a fair amount but I will do it if no one will not take the change for me.

 

[yosh12]

Palendat,

You are actually right...maybe I will bite the bullet and just deposit into our American Bank account.

 

[TreesyB]

Have you tried a US casino? They don't have surcharges. Just don't get sucked in...

 

[yosh12]

Hi,

Yeah the casino is a great idea.....we go right by one in Erie and could stop for a few minutes and go in and change our coin to bills.

Do they let you do that or would they expect you to play. We will have our son so no playing..one of us stays at the vehicle while the other one goes in and changes it.

That is a great great idea

 

[rewok]

But will the casino change the pennies? There are no penny machines there! They might just accept the quarters...

Canadians banks will take American change, but they will just give you Canadian money for it at par. Easy to get rid of a few coins after a trip, not so useful for you thought.