moisheh, RBC Bank will reimburse ATM fees (up to $2 each) for 2 ATM withdrawals a month at any third party ATM anywhere in the US. I used Bank of America's ATM's ($2 a pop) throughout the southwest and California last winter and never paid a cent in ATM fees (besides use of check and credit cards plus ability for cash backs at retailers significantly reduces need for ATM cash). I've never had any reason to step inside a bricks and mortar RBC Bank branch because internet banking works just fine for us but if one had more extensive USA banking needs than we do, then another approach might be better. And yes there are alternate ways to move money around (hence my use of the word convoluted in my other post and I like your approach) but I also like the single on-line sign-in at RBC and the instant transfers. And RBC does give us a genuine USA credit card.
I need to keep a certain minimum balance in my RBC Bank checking account to avoid monthly account fees but some Canadian account holders have been able to switch over to the no-fee version available only to US residents and still keep the great on-line integration with their Canadian accounts. This option will disappear with the sale of the existing RBC Bank to PNC. The RBC Bank option may not be absolutely perfect in its totality but it's the closest option to it for me at this time
I use my Good Sam mail forwarding address for my billing address and have had no problem with my numerous on-line purchases from merchants that don't accept non-US credit cards or cards with a non-USA billing address. Also great for those merchants that won't ship to Canada.
* This post was
edited 12/04/11 10:04pm by Lorne&Lorraine *
Lorne Ross
2003 Pleasure-Way Ford Excel TD Camped the lower 48 states and 9 provinces
Most multiple times and now on the repeat!
Cool Canuck wrote: .................I did run into issues with the zip thing. Some of the fuel pumps were asking for a zip even for debit cards ............
Cool Canuck, the pump wanted a Zip even if you pressed the debit button? It should ask for a PIN if you press debit and a zip if you press credit.
Yep, I guess they figure if the card is stolen you probably don't know the zip of the owner. I duno.
Cool Canuck wrote: .................I did run into issues with the zip thing. Some of the fuel pumps were asking for a zip even for debit cards ............
Cool Canuck, the pump wanted a Zip even if you pressed the debit button? It should ask for a PIN if you press debit and a zip if you press credit.
Like others I opened an account with Wells Fargo and use the check/debit card. I have the Snow Bird exchange program transfer money from my Canadian bank to my Wells Fargo account. Decent exchange rate. One of the better moves I've made, however, I did run into issues with the zip thing. Some of the fuel pumps were asking for a zip even for debit cards and some online stores would not accept Canadian addresses. Costco being one. Wells Fargo allow a "Profile Address" on the card. I now have a US address on my card and have no issues using it anywhere.
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