U.S. Chequing Accounts

If you travel south of the border - even just a few times each year - you're all too aware of how expensive it can be to exchange your currency. If you pay for anything with your credit card in the United States (U.S.), you'll often pay at least 2.50% or more for the currency exchange – and cash exchanges at banks are fairly similar.

Beyond just your travel needs, if you do any work that pays you in U.S. funds, you'll be charged to exchange that into Canadian funds – and if you travelled to the U.S. soon after and needed that money, you'd be charged again to change it back! So, if you find yourself dealing with U.S. dollars on even a semi-regular basis, it may be time to look at U.S. chequing accounts. Here's why.

What is a U.S. chequing account?

A U.S. chequing account (referred to as a checking account in America) is simply a chequing account that allows you to deposit and withdraw U.S. funds. Because you want to keep the U.S. funds on hand, there's no need to convert it to Canadian funds or pay the currency exchange rates to do so. With this type of chequing account, you'll have access to your U.S. funds whenever you need them.

What are the advantages of U.S. chequing accounts?

The advantages of U.S. chequing accounts include:

• There's usually no (or a very low) monthly fee; and, if there is a fee, it's typically waived if you can maintain a small balance ($200-$1,000)
• You can perform most of the same transactions as a typical chequing account but in U.S. dollars
• Some lenders pay interest on your deposits; interest is often tiered and is always paid in U.S. dollars
• You can avoid currency exchange fees/rates while travelling
• You can also avoid any payment complications while travelling

What are the disadvantages of U.S. chequing accounts?

Of course, there are a few drawbacks:

• Most accounts come with a small number of transactions (1-10); anything more than that typically comes at a cost of $1.00 per transaction
• You cannot send/receive email money transfers in U.S. dollars
• These accounts (and, therefore, your deposits) are NOT¹ insured by CDIC (Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation)

Case study: How a U.S. chequing account can save you money

Ben currently does his daily banking with Scotiabank. He lives close to the border and likes to take advantage of the cheaper prices for retail goods down there, so he crosses over and does most of his shopping in the U.S. In the past, Ben always used his Scotia Momentum VISA Infinite to pay for his purchases, even though it meant he was getting dinged with a 2.50% currency exchange rate. However, for the past few months, he's noticed the currency exchange has started to take a bite out of his budget. If he spends an average of $500 USD/month, how much could he save by switching from using his credit card to using Scotia's U.S. Dollar Interest Account instead?