International Banking USA and Canada Bank Advice?

[christinebear]

I'm having problems with my current bank. I've been using them for almost ten years now, but they've gone through some changes. I don't know what's going on, but they are not as friendly or helpful anymore, especially for travelers like myself.

Problems: 1) they keep freezing my account even though I've told them multiple times that I'm in Canada at the moment. 2) can't add my significant other to the account 3) I can't update or add additional contact information, like both my US and CA addresses/phone numbers. Depositing money or transferring money has been almost impossible. 4) if I get a Canadian job, I'm screwed.

I'm looking for a bank that's more international friendly. Or advice on having a Canadian bank account and American bank account. What if I do land a Canadian job and go to school here?! I'm so confused! Any advice?

 

[steaky]

Why you will be screwed if you get a Canadian job? Couldn't you make regular trips between Canada and USA to make your bank account active?

 

[christinebear]

Why you will be screwed if you get a Canadian job? Couldn't you make regular trips between Canada and USA to make your bank account active?

I'm sorry..."screwed" isn't the best, or most professional term. I've just been really stressed!

I meant that, I don't know what to do. If I get a Canadian job, how am I going to pay my US expenses? Just keep transferring money between bank accounts and getting slammed with fees? I'm not sure how to do this. Every time I've tried to move money, it's been a complex ordeal.

 

[steaky]

I'm sorry..."screwed" isn't the best, or most professional term. I've just been really stressed!

I meant that, I don't know what to do. If I get a Canadian job, how am I going to pay my US expenses? Just keep transferring money between bank accounts and getting slammed with fees? I'm not sure how to do this. Every time I've tried to move money, it's been a complex ordeal.

As of now, how do you pay your expenses in the US?

 

[christinebear]

As of now, how do you pay your expenses in the US?

I'm still using my old US bank account, but they are becoming frustrating. They keep freezing my card if it pings whenever outside the US, even though I keep telling them I'm travelling. Plus their customer service isn't nice anymore. I tried to talk about a deposit plan and they couldn't have acted more disinterested. I need a different bank.

 

[BC4life]

What bank are you using? Is it a credit union/smaller bank or a national one?

 

[christinebear]

What bank are you using? Is it a credit union/smaller bank or a national one?

It's a national one, I think. I've never thought of that. It doesn't seem to be international. There are no physical branch offices.

 

[mf4361]

TD and RBC both have US/Canada cross border banking. They have physical branches in US as well

 

[christinebear]

TD and RBC both have US/Canada cross border banking. They have physical branches in US as well

Thank you! We've come to the conclusion that I'll need an American bank and a Canadian bank account until I'm fully settled to the Canadian side.

 

[CDNPR2014]

I'm sorry..."screwed" isn't the best, or most professional term. I've just been really stressed!

I meant that, I don't know what to do. If I get a Canadian job, how am I going to pay my US expenses? Just keep transferring money between bank accounts and getting slammed with fees? I'm not sure how to do this. Every time I've tried to move money, it's been a complex ordeal.

Thank you! We've come to the conclusion that I'll need an American bank and a Canadian bank account until I'm fully settled to the Canadian side.

hi,
this was my biggest issue after landing. In Canada, I opened a "borderless plan" at TD bank that I was suppose to be able to pay us bills online with. however, it's not a true online payment option and is a POS account. it is a request made to TD to cut a check and mail it to the bill holder. it ended up taking 2+ weeks for my bills to get paid, and my school loans weren't getting paid correctly. it was super frustrating. Since i get paid through a canadian bank, i can't tranfer my money into my us account from canada (i have BOA). Even if I had a TD bank account in the us, it is questionable the transfer would work. Plus you would still be paying exchange fees, which are ridiculous at TD. I even tried using paypal to transfer money from my CDN account to my US account. Unfortunately, that option is blocked when you first open a Paypal account, and you can only use a credit card to transfer funds.

I have since found out the "borderless plan" gives me free us bank checks, so my process got a bit simpler. I exchange my canadian money to us at a currency exchange place (to avoid fees), then take that to the TD teller, have them cut a US bank check, and then mail that to the bill holder. unfortunately, unless you can cross the border and deposit money into your US account easily, paying US bills from Canada is a big pain in the you know what!

PS... the currency exchange place near me takes debit, so I can pay straight from my canadian bank account and not be charged a thing! It took me a few months to figure this part out, as i was first going to the atm at bank 1 to take money out, then going to the exchange, then going to bank 2 for the draft.

My advice is find an account in Canada where you can get free US bank check/drafts, then just pay the bill the old fashion way by snail mail. this is the only reliable way i've found. you will just have to adjust when you actually pay the bill. in the us, it is easier to wait until last minute. in canada, i have to prepare at 1-2 weeks in advance.

 

[christinebear]

hi,
this was my biggest issue after landing. In Canada, I opened a "borderless plan" at TD bank that I was suppose to be able to pay us bills online with. however, it's not a true online payment option and is a POS account. it is a request made to TD to cut a check and mail it to the bill holder. it ended up taking 2+ weeks for my bills to get paid, and my school loans weren't getting paid correctly. it was super frustrating. Since i get paid through a canadian bank, i can't tranfer my money into my us account from canada (i have BOA). Even if I had a TD bank account in the us, it is questionable the transfer would work. Plus you would still be paying exchange fees, which are ridiculous at TD. I even tried using paypal to transfer money from my CDN account to my US account. Unfortunately, that option is blocked when you first open a Paypal account, and you can only use a credit card to transfer funds.

I have since found out the "borderless plan" gives me free us bank checks, so my process got a bit simpler. I exchange my canadian money to us at a currency exchange place (to avoid fees), then take that to the TD teller, have them cut a US bank check, and then mail that to the bill holder. unfortunately, unless you can cross the border and deposit money into your US account easily, paying US bills from Canada is a big pain in the you know what!

PS... the currency exchange place near me takes debit, so I can pay straight from my canadian bank account and not be charged a thing! It took me a few months to figure this part out, as i was first going to the atm at bank 1 to take money out, then going to the exchange, then going to bank 2 for the draft.

My advice is find an account in Canada where you can get free US bank check/drafts, then just pay the bill the old fashion way by snail mail. this is the only reliable way i've found. you will just have to adjust when you actually pay the bill. in the us, it is easier to wait until last minute. in canada, i have to prepare at 1-2 weeks in advance.

Wow. Thank you for sharing! I was worried about more problems. Right now, I'm just using my CC until I figure some things out. Paypal isn't being very helpful either. :-X

 

[azaadpanchee]

CIBC (Canadian bank) offers something called Global Money Transfer for CIBC account holders. It's basically a free wire-transfer service to select countries (US is one of them). You could do this through CIBC's online banking or at the branch. Maybe you could use this to fund your US bank account and then pay bills through your US bank's online banking? Exchange rates also are reasonable. I've sent money this way to India and know others who've sent money to New Zealand and the UK - very quick in all cases.
https://www.cibc.com/en/personal-banking/ways-to-bank/how-to/global-money-transfer.html?utrc=S182:285&s_kwcid=AL!4740!3!153819063045!b!!g!!%2Bglobal%20%2Bmoney%20%2Btransfer%20%2Bcibc&ef_id=WC9kiwAAAZjIYxaz:20161215232638:s

maybe this will help?