Bank charges in Canada
 

Does anybody know what the banks in Canada charges for atm transaction fees on US-issued debit cards? Also if my debit cards have the NYSE and Plus logos does not mean if I use an ATM that carries these logos I won't be charged transaction fees?

thanks, Lucas

If you do a search, you will find this was just discussed at length. If you go to a 'real' bank in Canada, and not an ATM in a convenience store, it isn't the Canadian bank that charges you, but your home bank.

I'm sorry, it seems there could be charges now that I wasn't aware of.
It could cost up to $1.90.
But still, do a searach of ATM and you'll get more information.
Also, If you have a Bank of America card, and go to Scotiabank here, there won't be any fees.

Here's a table of ATM fees from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada:

http://tinyurl.com/2mv5k8

If you use an ATM from one of the listed financial institutions, you will be charged an ATM convenience fee of $1.50 (unless as kodi pointed out, you are a Bank of America customer and use a Scotiabank ATM). If you use a "private" ATM you could be charged up to a $3.00 convenience fee. The convenience fee is over and above any fees charged by your own financial institution.

The Plus logo simply means that you can access the Plus network from a Canadian ATM which is connected. Most Canadian ATMs are connected to the Plus or Cirrus networks (or both). The principal Canadian network is known as Interac.

I followed Kodi's advice vis a vis Bank of America and Scotia bank a couple of years ago.

As long as I used my BOA card at Scotia, I was "on net", just like I was at the branch bank half a mile from my house.

Today, if I went elsewhere, good old BOA would soak me $5.00 per ATM/Debit Card access. That is in like $5.00 US dollars. Outrageous.

I now have an account with a local credit union that allows me 5 transactions per month at 50 cents per shot. I will use that account in Europe.

Also, BOA and some others sock you with an added 3% for using your credit card.

I have a Capital One card that does not add on that 3% for no service added.

Thanks for all the replies.

I've already checked with my bank and because of the kind of checking account I have they will waived all ATM fees for usage outside their network. So laverendrye the link you provided is very helpful Thank you.

The only thing I can add is use a bank and not one of the independently owned and operated cash machines.

The last time I was in Lake Louise the only cash machine availabvle would not accept my card and, even if it had, it would have charged me a fee. It was Plus only and I was Cirrus. So no go.

I later got paper money from a branch of Scotia Bank in Banff.

I was in Canada in the summer of 2006. My ATM card is from my local bank but it says VISA on it. I was unable to use it to get cash at ANY ATM's in ANY gas stations or convenience stores. Paying for gas and purchases was no problem- I just couldn't get any cash.

When I questioned attendants about it they explained the machines only took Master Card and another type of card, can't remember the name, maybe Pulse???? I made it through 4 days in Canada with no paper money or cash at all.

There are two major ATM networks associated with Visa and MasterCard, PLUS and Cirrus respectively. If you use a Visa card, you should look for the Plus symbol on the ATM. It's not a problem for Canadian issued cards, as they all work with the domestic Interac Network, but if you have a foreign-issued card in Canada, you need to be aware of which networks you can use.