My fiancé and I just became engaged. He's the Canadian, I'm the USC. In preparation for his move here, he and I would like to start a separate savings account into which:

1) he will put the money (Canadian dollars)
2) I will withdraw the money (US dollars)

for things such as wedding expenses & set-up costs for once he moves down. Obviously too early yet, but once it's closer to the time, he wants to help pay without the hassle & surcharges of money orders.

Does anyone here have experience with a good bank or money-transferring type place that would help with something like this?

A joint account from a Canadian bank will work as long as you get a bank card. When you put it into an american bank machine american dollars come out There are some fees attached, but there is no way to get around that. Check which banks will give you the best exchange through ATM's. Paypal also works, but can get expensive.

Not sure how easy it would be to do the joint bank account thing. You usually have to have ties to Canada like SIN # or job here. I guess he could always give you the card bank card,...or you can always have him send you US money orders...where the exchange is done the fee is nominal. Or for larger some he could always wire they money. Check it out I could be wrong the bank account thing.

https://vantage.customhouse.com/cgi-bin/Login.cgi
I transfer money froma Cdn account to my USA acct using the above. Takes a bit to set up, but not long. One does a phone interview as well for security purposes. Get a better exchange rate than most banks will give you. Cheers

I learned about Custom House from VJ and have been using it for over a year to transfer $$$ between our US Savings account and Derek's Canadian Checking account. Takes a few days to complete a transfer but works great and no fees!

Hi Scott!

Excellent. Thanks for the advice; I'll be sure to check it out.

Once you do a transaction, takes 3-4 business days!! Very simple to use. Near the end of the process onlien you wil see the exchange rate, you can wait for it to change, or just cancel it all together!! Very easy!!

I sent you a PM Derekki!!

Some Canadian banks (Scotiabank for example) have agreements with Bank of America so that you can use your Canadian bank card in BoA machines with no service charge. You could get a US$ bank account at Scotiabank and withdraw funds in the US at BoA machines.

I was able to cash Cdn cheques at Wachovia with no service charge, but the rate they gave wasnt the greatest!

My husband and I have been depositing my Canadian (Royal Bank) cheques into our Bank of America accounts without any problems. (Just need to remind them the cheque's in Canadian dollars so they put a special stamp on it.)

In college (t Arizona State Univeristy) I opened an USD bank account in Ottawa at a Toronto Dominion bank and just used an ATM card to pull cash as family members (thanks Grandma!) filled it up. No problems there.

Joel

I use an offshore account - I can pay in or withdraw US dollars or UK pounds without getting charged any fees at all. The money is in 2 seperate accounts, but you can transfer between them for free. Bear in mind the exchange rate.

I know HSBC can offer Canadian dollar offshore accounts, but I'm sure there are others too.

I just use my Canadian bank card, gives bank exchange rate plus a $2.00 per transaction charge. Worth the two bucks not to worry about it.