Make Purchases in the U.S. With Our Cross-Border Debit Service (2024)

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Make Purchases in the U.S. With Our Cross-Border Debit Service (5)

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        You can use your RBC Royal Bank Debit Card to make debit purchases at retailers and businesses throughout the United States.

        The Cross-Border Debit service is an easy and secure alternative to carrying large amounts of cash when you travel. All you need is your debit card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access your primary Canadian banking or savings account1 and make purchases at any of the 1,000,000 merchants in the U.S.

        Cross-Border Debit typically costs $1.00 per transaction, although depending on your banking package, you may already have this service included.

        PLUS System ATM Network

        You can use your RBC Debit Card at ATMs across the U.S. that show the PLUS System logo2.

        PLUS System ATM Fees

        Attention:Travel Tips

        • When using your Debit Card outside of Canada, make sure you have a Chip and Flash-enabled Debit Card.
        • Make sure your PIN is composed of four numbers as many international ATMs and retailers only accept a four-digit numeric PIN.
        • To ensure you always have access to funds, carry more than one form of payment, such as a credit card or some local currency.

        Cross-Border Banking Solutions

        If you’re travelling south of the border, skip the tricky conversions and foreign transaction fees. Make banking easier with U.S. Bank Accounts and U.S. Credit Cards for Canadians.

        U.S. Bank Accounts U.S. Credit Cards

        Frequently Asked Questions

        RBC Royal Bank® Client Cards are widely accepted not only in the U.S but around the world at ATMs that display the PLUS symbol. Wherever you go, you have quick and convenient access to your Canadian dollar accounts.

        Outside of Canada, many financial institutions only accept 4-digit PINs. If you use a PIN longer than this, you should change it before you travel. Visit any RBC Royal Bank branch to update your PIN.

        Learn more about using ATMs around the world

        Go to our Exchange Currency Converter to get the latest foreign exchange rates.

        1)

        Foreign currency purchases are converted to Canadian Dollars at an exchange rate 2.5% over the Interbank Spot Rate (as defined by Acxsys Corporation) in effect at the time of processing. Since exchange rates fluctuate, the rate applied will usually differ from a posted exchange rate at the time of your purchase.

        2)

        PLUS System ATM fees and Foreign Exchange fees will be applied at the time of your withdrawal.

        Interac and PLUS System ATM Fees

        When you use your RBC Client Card at an RBC Royal Bank banking machine, you only pay the applicable service fees for the transaction you are performing. However, when you use another operator's ATM, additional fees (as outlined below) may apply, depending on your bank account or package with us.

        Interac and PLUS System ATM Fees Table
        ATM Network RBC Royal Bank Fee
        Interac $2.00
        PLUS System (within USA) $3.00
        PLUS System (outside Canada and USA) $5.00

        Some ATM operators also apply a surcharge (or convenience fee) to use their banking machine. In Canada, all banking machine operators must notify you when they apply a convenience fee. The notice will appear on the screen before you complete your transaction, giving you the choice to proceed or not. This convenience fee is not an RBC Royal Bank fee. It is added directly to your withdrawal amount at the time of the withdrawal and goes directly to the ATM operator. RBC Royal Bank does not collect any portion of the convenience fee. For this reason, all clients who use these ATMs will be charged the convenience fee, regardless of the type of package or account they hold.

        Make Purchases in the U.S. With Our Cross-Border Debit Service (2024)

        FAQs

        What is a cross-border debit? ›

        The Cross-Border Debit service is an easy and secure alternative to carrying large amounts of cash when you travel. All you need is your debit card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access your primary Canadian banking or savings account1 and make purchases at any of the 1,000,000 merchants in the U.S.

        What is a cross-border payment service? ›

        A cross-border payment refers to any transaction in which the payer and the payee are located in different countries; these transactions can take place between individuals, companies and banking institutions.

        Can I use international debit card in USA? ›

        Yes. You can do shopping, dining, travelling, etc. Using an international debit card.

        What is a cross-border fee on a debit card? ›

        There are two types of debit card fees you may face abroad: Foreign transaction fee: Sometimes called a currency conversion fee, this applies for foreign transactions made with a debit card. It usually ranges from 1% to 3% of the purchase amount. Foreign transaction fees for credit cards work similarly.

        What is an example of a cross border payment? ›

        Also, exchange rates between different currencies and local taxes for each country are big considerations. Some of the most common cross border payment methods include bank transfers, credit card payments and alternative payment methods such as previously mentioned, eWallets and mobile payments.

        Why am I being charged a cross border fee? ›

        When a customer makes a purchase with a credit card issued in a foreign country (i.e. not the same country where the business is registered), the credit card companies and banks take on a greater risk and have to deal with a more complicated transaction. They charge a cross-border fee to cover the extra costs involved.

        Who pays the cross border fee? ›

        International personal payments and purchase payments are subject to cross-border fees. They're paid by either the sender or recipient of the payment, not both. The sender of the payment generally determines who pays the fee. Cross border fees apply because multicurrency payments involve additional costs.

        What is the cross border payment risk? ›

        Cross-border risk is the risk that a firm will be unable to obtain payment from its customers on its contractual obligations because of measures taken by the government regarding the convertibility and transferability of funds denominated in a foreign currency.

        Why do cross-border payments fail? ›

        Ans: Cross-border payments may fail due to issues such as technical glitches, incorrect recipient information, regulatory restrictions, or insufficient funds in the sender's account.

        Will my debit card work in USA? ›

        Cross Border payments allows you to securely use your debit card at approximately 2 million retailers in the U.S. Enjoy: All the benefits and security of Interac Debit. Cash back at supermarkets and some pharmacies.

        How do I know if my debit card is international? ›

        To swipe your debit card at International outlets, check for the VISA/Mastercard signage and make a secured purchase. Also, note that banks may levy charges for international usage based on the type of transactions you make along with a foreign exchange conversion fee.

        What is a border transaction fee? ›

        Foreign cross border charges

        These fees apply to cross border transactions processed in a currency other than U.S. dollars. MasterCard charges 1 percent for these exchanges and Visa charges 1.20 percent. Merchants often find it advantageous to sell to foreign customers in their own local currency.

        What is the Wells Fargo cross border fee? ›

        Wells Fargo charges foreign transaction fees whenever you use your card for making international purchases. These fees are usually 3% of the total transaction amount and will depend on your specific Wells Fargo card. We'll cover the fees in the next sections.

        What is a cross border fee PayPal? ›

        PayPal's standard domestic fee for receiving payment for goods and services is 2.99%.² The percentage-based cross border fee for PayPal international transactions is 1.5%.² The fixed fee varies depending on the currency.

        What is a cross-border loan? ›

        Cross-border financing refers to domestic borrowers' action of borrowing money (in local or foreign currencies) from non-resident entities across the border.

        How do banks settle cross-border payments? ›

        Bank transfers

        All that's required is the merchant's IBAN and BIC for the consumer to send the money required to cover the amount of the sale. In many instances, the payment is sent to the IBAN of the merchant's payment service provider who will then settle it to the merchant.

        What is the risk of cross-border transactions? ›

        Cross-border risk is the risk that a firm will be unable to obtain payment from its customers on its contractual obligations because of measures taken by the government regarding the convertibility and transferability of funds denominated in a foreign currency.

        What are the reasons for cross-border banking? ›

        Using a gravity model relating the annual value of a banking group's investment in the net equity of its subsidiaries to a set of explanatory variables, the analysis finds that cross-border banking is in part driven by a search for yield, diversification, and expansion for strategic reasons.

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