Using US credit and ATM cards in Canada

[leebee]

DD and SIL are driving to Quebec tomorrow for Winter Carnival. We live in Maine. SIL thought he could exchange US money at the local bank for Canadian but was told they don't do that. I'm suspecting that DD can use her credit card (Chase Disney VISA) for purchases, or get cash using her her local ATM card at a Canadian bank/ATM. Will this work? Will DD need a PIN for her credit card, like she did in Europe? I'm hoping as the US and Canada share such a long border that the money issues will be fairly straightforward.

ETA: Just learned that Chase has a 3%foreign transaction fee but two other cards don't, so those'll be the cards she uses. They are both Visa cards.

 

[Dan Murphy]

No answer from me for you, leebee, but maybe copy and post here also.

https://www.disboards.com/forums/canadian-trip-planning-community-board.19/

 

[bcla]

I've used my US based credit cards in Canada without issue. I wasn't asked for a PIN because there was none other than maybe if I wanted an ATM cash advance. But I had no problem making purchases.

 

[leebee]

No answer from me for you, leebee, but maybe copy and post here also.

https://www.disboards.com/forums/canadian-trip-planning-community-board.19/

Thanks, Dan- I just thought of that as I was checking your post!

 

[ronandannette]

Credit card purchases - probably not, most will actually be a tap. ATM transactions - absolutely need a pin.

 

[tvguy]

Not sure about the issue with the bank. Exchanging currency is just one of the things banks do. . I always get some Canadian currency at my bank here in the U.S. I have to order it, and it takes a day for them to get it, but no problem on the U.S. end. I haven't been to Canada since October 2019, and I used my credit card no problem, no pin needed, and I don't have one. But it was just a two day trip.
My longer trips, I just get cash at a Canadian ATM with my U.S. debit card. There is like a $5 fee, but no problem. But I tend to travel in remote areas where not everyone takes plastic. And these are also very small communities where merchants still let residents buy things on "account" and the store bills them at the end of the month.

 

[leebee]

Credit card purchases - probably not, most will actually be a tap. ATM transactions - absolutely need a pin.

Yeah, I expected a PIN for the ATM card, but wasn't sure about the credit card. Thanks for the fast response- they leave in 9 hours! As they are going to Winter Carnival, I suspect all the businesses they'll come into contact with will be set up for "international" credit card transactions but wanted to check, just in case.

 

[ronandannette]

Yeah, I expected a PIN for the ATM card, but wasn't sure about the credit card. Thanks for the fast response- they leave in 9 hours! As they are going to Winter Carnival, I suspect all the businesses they'll come into contact with will be set up for "international" credit card transactions but wanted to check, just in case.

Do they have debit cards? Debit is arguably the most widely-used form of payment in Canada, via tap function (no pin needed) or conventional chip-and-pin. No biggie if they don't, credit cards will work just fine but if they really want Canadian cash, they will be able to exchange at any bank and most are open for at least some hours on Saturday. Tell them to have fun, and that I said "HI"!

 

[bcla]

Do they have debit cards? Debit is arguably the most widely-used form of payment in Canada, via tap function (no pin needed) or conventional chip-and-pin. No biggie if they don't, credit cards will work just fine but if they really want Canadian cash, they will be able to exchange at any bank and most are open for at least some hours on Saturday.

I don't know of too many banks that won't exchange major foreign currencies for the local currency. At least in the US, I've gotten exchange for US dollars using currency from China, Hong Kong, and Canada. They might have to look up images of currency though - like I saw for the Hong Kong currency (private bank notes) that a friend brought and gave us.

I would assume that most Canadian banks would just put all the foreign cash in an envelope if they don't otherwise handle transactions of Canadian currency for foreign currency. Or maybe they would stick it in an envelope anyways as a standard procedure.

 

[luvthatduke]

Last time I went whenever I used our bank debit card
at a cash register it automatically calculated the
conversion rate and applied it correctly in my checking account.
ATM's were supposed to do the same thing
but I didn't use them on that trip.

 

[ronandannette]

I don't know of too many banks that won't exchange major foreign currencies for the local currency. At least in the US, I've gotten exchange for US dollars using currency from China, Hong Kong, and Canada. They might have to look up images of currency though - like I saw for the Hong Kong currency (private bank notes) that a friend brought and gave us.

I would assume that most Canadian banks would just put all the foreign cash in an envelope if they don't otherwise handle transactions of Canadian currency for foreign currency. Or maybe they would stick it in an envelope anyways as a standard procedure.

All banks in Canada will exchange American cash and they won't have to look up pictures of it for reference either.

Banks here in our major city will always have USD, Mexican Pesos and Euros. There may be occasions when they have to "order in" for less-common currencies but it certainly can be done. And I honestly don't have a clue what you're talking about referring to envelopes.

 

[ronandannette]

Last time I went whenever I used our bank debit card
at a cash register it automatically calculated the
conversion rate and applied it correctly in my checking account.
ATM's were supposed to do the same thing
but I didn't use them on that trip.

Yes, of course electronic transactions will be done at an exchange rate, but whether or not it's a favorable one (compared to a bank or currency exchange business) is anybody's guess and you're pretty much at their mercy. And when I've done it (going the other way - using my CAD debit or credit cards in the States), I never know exactly the amount of CAD I've paid until I see a statement.

 

[bcla]

All banks in Canada will exchange American cash and they won't have to look up pictures of it for reference either.

Banks here in our major city will always have USD, Mexican Pesos and Euros. There may be occasions when they have to "order in" for less-common currencies but it certainly can be done. And I honestly don't have a clue what you're talking about referring to envelopes.

Well - once I had a bunch of Canadian currency because we had exchanged way too much on a trip. Then we were at home and needed cash to go shopping. I went to my bank's branch near a mall, but one that didn't generally do foreign exchange. They said they could exchange most foreign currency for US dollars though. They carefully looked over all the Canadian polymer notes and had a specific foreign exchange envelope where they had to write down everything on the outside - including the particular currency, exchange rate, etc. - then sealed the notes inside. I'm pretty sure it goes to a regional processing location. I looked it up and that particular bank now only orders foreign currency as they don't keep it on hand at any branch. But a few years ago I remember some branches had exchange rates posted either on a board or later on video screens.

I did it later with those Hong Kong dollars, but those are really weird because there are 3 different private banks and they come up with new notes every few years. The teller who helped me was actually rather excited to look up example images.

 

[luvthatduke]

Yes, of course electronic transactions will be done at an exchange rate, but whether or not it's a favorable one (compared to a bank or currency exchange business) is anybody's guess and you're pretty much at their mercy. And when I've done it (going the other way - using my CAD debit or credit cards in the States), I never know exactly the amount of CAD I've paid until I see a statement.

It may have been obvious to you ("of course"), but it wasn't to me.
I did not know about the auto-applied exchange rate until I got there.

As I stated in my post my experience was that no matter where I went
the exchange rate was applied accurately.

I don't wait for my bank statement to see what's going on with my account,
so it wasn't an issue at that time.

 

[ford family]

We use a commission free credit card when we are travelling. In many places the retailer's card machine will give you the option to pay in local currency or your home currency but, in our experience, their exchange rate is always worse than leaving it to our card company.
If you look on the card company's app a few moments later you can quickly see how much you have saved!

ford family

 

[White Cat]

She can use her USA credit card with out a PIN. Canadian cards use a PIN. When she gets her statement it will come exchanged. Any fees will show up later. Debut card will need its usual PIN and give her Canadian cash for the amount she asks for and will. be exchanged on her statement.

 

[happybaker]

We went up to Quebec City this past June (also drove up from Maine). We just used our credit card for everything and had no issues. We found no need to get cash.

I would think even small vendors have a way to take credit card payments nowadays.

 

[kymom99]

I used a Mastercard from 5/3 in Toronto with no fees. My friend picked us up some Canadian cash before we went for the fun of it.

 

[EACarlson]

The general advice of frequent travelers is use a credit card without a foreign transaction fee and pay in local currency. The exchange rate you'll get from Visa, MC or AMEX is going to be better than the one you get from the merchant's processor. If you need cash, you're better off using an ATM once you get there with a no FTF debit card like Schwab or Navy Federal to get a better exchange rate than even exchanging at a bank at home.

 

[_19disnA]

Debit cards have pins but my credict cards have never had a pin. How much they calculate as the exchange rate on your credit card seems to depend on which card you have. I know in the past, the exchange rate was only calculated periodically but never had any issue using my credit card in Canada. If only going for a day or two I wouldn't bother with cash. Unles you are making huge purchases, I doubt the exchange rate will matter.

If you were going on vacation for a week or more, then you should probably get cash from your local bank prior to traveling or perhaps use an ATM machine once you are in Canada. Cash is easier for trivial purchases. However, I would expect that shops in any city near the border would have a way to handle credit cards from those in the US.