Using a Canadain Bank Account in the USA

[BrizMarc]

Heya guys,

I was wondering if you have had any trouble using a Canadian bank account in the States. Do normal debit cards work ok in atms and for purchases?

thanks heaps

 

[torontodisneyfan]

I bank with Scotiabank and have never had a problem at Disney (or anywhere else in the US) using my ATM card

 

[corster]

All Canadian Debit Cards will work at ATM's stateside (I can't think of a single Canadian Financial Institution that is not a member of either PLUS or Cirrus, the two international ATM networks)...

In terms of using them for purchases at stores (assuming you DON'T bank with CIBC)
1) your Financial Institution must be linked up with one of the major American POS Debit networks (BMO is linked with Maestro, ATB, Banque Nationale, Desjardins, RBC, Scotia, and TD are linked with NYCE, and ING Direct and some smaller credit unions are linked with Accel)...
2) the retailer must also support support PIN-based Debit (which many do, but many don't). I'm not sure if Disney in particular does or not.
3) when using your Debit card at a retailer in the US, you do not get a choice of accounts at the POS terminal - your Chequing account is automatically selected.

CIBC is different from everyone else - they have a special VISA Debit card (They call it the CIBC Advantage Card IIRC), which is essentially accepted everywhere in the US, and you just sign the receipt instead of entering a PIN. There's no charge to get one, but if your current CIBC debit card does not have a VISA logo on the front, you will need to ask them for one before your trip, or it won't work in the US.

 

[sjsjbrook]

The states debit is different then our debit. So no you can't use your debit card like we use our debit card. You can use it at ATM's no problem, but not like cash.

 

[glendalais]

The states debit is different then our debit. So no you can't use your debit card like we use our debit card. You can use it at ATM's no problem, but not like cash.

Actually, if one is a account holder with RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust, the Mouvement Desjardins, the National Bank of Canada or ATB Financial, you can indeed use your Debit Card at many places in the United States in almost the same way you would use it at a cash register in Canada.

Most cashiers in the United States may not be aware of this feature. Simply be persistant and insist that the card is debit.

For more information, please refer to the site of NYCE, for a list of major U.S. retailers that will accept Interac Cards, click here.

 

[Tower]

Also, if you need cash, go to Walmart and do a debit purchase there. Then click on yes for cashback and take whatever else you need. I have never yet been charged ATM fees for that.

 

[sjsjbrook]

Actually, if one is a account holder with RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust, the Mouvement Desjardins, the National Bank of Canada or ATB Financial, you can indeed use your Debit Card at many places in the United States in almost the same way you would use it at a cash register in Canada.

Most cashiers in the United States may not be aware of this feature. Simply be persistant and insist that the card is debit.

For more information, please refer to the site of NYCE, for a list of major U.S. retailers that will accept Interac Cards, click here.

I was told my my TD bank that this was not yet in effect, that they were working on it. They said they had a pilot project, but it wasn't everywhere yet.

 

[normmo]

We've been quite a few times now and we finally got a US Visa card through RBC and love it. We take very little cash and just use the VISA and have never had a problem. Highly recommend it!
Mo

 

[Bubbie]

I have a Royal Bank debit card and used it a at the resort in Disney. I had no problem withdrawing money from my account.

 

[corster]

I was told my my TD bank that this was not yet in effect, that they were working on it. They said they had a pilot project, but it wasn't everywhere yet.

I have an account with TD and i've used my debit card at stores in the US a couple times over the last 5 or 6 years. it works.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Actually, if one is a account holder with RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust, the Mouvement Desjardins, the National Bank of Canada or ATB Financial, you can indeed use your Debit Card at many places in the United States in almost the same way you would use it at a cash register in Canada.

Most cashiers in the United States may not be aware of this feature. Simply be persistant and insist that the card is debit.

For more information, please refer to the site of NYCE, for a list of major U.S. retailers that will accept Interac Cards, click here.

Excellent info!

 

[minnie56]

I have an RBC/U.S Debit card with the Visa logo...and it draws from a USD account in Florida. I easily deposit into that account online from my USD account here. Just transfer...

Simple...works like a charm. No fee's associated with any transactions.

 

[SmilingGrump]

The only issue we've ever had is at gas stations trying to use the Pay at Pump and it happens with Visa or Debit. Some gas stations (it seems most, now) require you to input your ZIP code ... not so handy for we Canadians. At some, you can enter all 9s or 0s and it lets you go, but usually we've had to go inside and prepay instead

As for paying with Debit at Disney, it's never been a problem. I would advise that you call your bank and Visa to let them know you're travelling in the States, though, so they can put a note on your account. Sometimes they will freeze your card if you don't (odd that they seem to always freeze mine and not my DWs )

 

[RainbowsMist]

We're with Scotia Bank and they're affiliated with Bank of America so there's no charges using their ATM's. We also used our bank card for debit purchases at Disney, Walmart, The Fun Spot and a few other places with no problems.. however it wouldn't work at the Burger King in Kissimmee next to Old Town.

 

[Celidh]

I asked that question at my bank a few weeks ago. I deal with RBC. I was told it shouldn't be a problem to use my debit card, with one exception, you can only have 4 digits in your pin. Apparently, in the US, their system is only set up for 4 digit pins, unlike ours that can have up to 6.

So, according the the woman at RBC,(not a teller but one of the other people who set up accounts etc.), as long as you have a 4 digit pin, you are good to go. I can't speak for other banks though.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I used my TD card during my entire stay last October at Disney and Syracuse. It honestely never accured to me that it might have been a problem LOL

Pay at the pump... apparently you can enter the first 3 digit of you postal code replacing the letters by numbers and then had 00 at the end and it should work. I read that somewhere not long ago but never tried it