U.S credit cards and bank accounts.

[pitot]

Just wondering what those of you do who fly States side regularly as far as credit cards and bank accounts. Do you just use your Canadian visas and eat the fees or have you found a better way around some of that stuff? Also what is the best Airmiles reward miles cards? Any particular ones I should stay away from? Thanks

[V1VRV2]

I personally got a US Visa from the Royal Bank, I previously was using a CDN card but was paying too much on the exchange. I'm also paid in USD so it makes more sense to keep it all in that denomination.

I beleive most banks have a US card available, as far as the points I earn RBC rewrds points which you can exchange for either gifts from their catalog or convert to Air miles, your choice.

Hope this helps you out.

Seasons Greeting Fly safe,

[pitot]

o.k. thanks v1 for the help. I thought there would be more people with advise on this. Guess ill just see what the banks have to offer.

[fougapilot]

I use my main visa and charge an exchange commision on my expense account. I understand not all company will paid those commision charges, mine does so I run with it and rack up the points on my Visa. Just came back from a week in Hawaii with the wife all on points

F

[Trix]

I found that I was paying alot on the exchange so I got an US dollar Mosaik Mastercard. They are pretty new, and work just like their Canadian partners. You can apply through a BMO or over the phone. Also you can get Airmile rewards with it too. The only issues I've had are paying it off. You can only pay at a BMO or through the mail, so if you are not living within close distance to a BMO or Scotiabank, you have to mail in your payments, you can't pay it online. Hope this helps.

[pitot]

That is the kinda thing im looking for foug. Which bank is your visa through and what type?

[cjet]

I use a Mosaik airmiles gold mastercard. My company adds a small % to the exchange rate to cover the extra bank fees. It almost always works out to my advantage. I collect lots of Airmiles.

CJET

[Kurwa]

If you're picking up US per diems in USD then TD Canada Trust US Dollar Advantage Visa works well. It doesn't cost anything and you don't mess around with exchange rates (potentially losing money)...just pay the bill in USD per diem cheques. But like the BMO card, you'll have to pay it at a branch via a draft. But, as there is no other way to pay the bill, the bank won't charge you for it (they're not supposed to...but some tellers are unfamiliar).

Good luck.

[pitot]

My per diems are paid at a U.S dollar rate and then converted to Canadian at the current exchange rate by the company. Do most banks charge you a fee on top of the exchange rate?

[fougapilot]

I use a RBC British Airways card. The bank does not charge a fee, just their exchange rate which is not the best in the world but still not too bad.

[pitot]

O.k, thanks ill check in to that card.

[V1VRV2]

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I have an RBC US Visa I also have a US funds acc't you can pay the Visa by calling a 800# in Canada or the US if your like myself out of the country alot they will accept collect calls. It saves considerable money by paying from a us acc't as your not paying an exchange rate when you make payments. or when using your card.

One thing to remember is if you plan to travel out of North America be sure to only use a 4 digit pin as most European and Asian bank machines only recognize that many numbers if you have 6 you won't be able to use the ATM's .

Good Luck Fly Safe.

[V1VRV2]

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I have an RBC US Visa I also have a US funds acc't you can pay the Visa by calling a 800# in Canada or the US if your like myself out of the country alot they will accept collect calls. It saves considerable money by paying from a us acc't as your not paying an exchange rate when you make payments. or when using your card.

One thing to remember is if you plan to travel out of North America be sure to only use a 4 digit pin as most European and Asian bank machines only recognize that many numbers if you have 6 you won't be able to use the ATM's .

Good Luck Fly Safe.

[goldeneagle]

Hey there! Flying to the States regularly can indeed present some considerations when it comes to credit cards and bank accounts.

You do realize the thread you are responding to is from 2006, and a LOT has changed in the intervening years...

[digits_]

Hey there! Flying to the States regularly can indeed present some considerations when it comes to credit cards and bank accounts.

You do realize the thread you are responding to is from 2006, and a LOT has changed in the intervening years...

It's an AI bot

[JasonE]

The downside to US accounts and cards from Canadian banks is they often have high fees attached. I believe my USD account is $9/month unless I keep a min. balance of $5000 plus transaction fees on top of that.

[CpnCrunch]

Best option these days is either amazon.ca credit card, which has no forex fees, or wise.com card which has about 0.5% forex fees and works like a debit card and ATM card in any currency.