(This interview is featured in this month’s Money Magazine, get your copy now on newstands and in Chapters Bookstores)

As the value of the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar continue to fluctuate on a daily basis and with the ever growing trend of online shopping there are more and more Canadians who spend money in U.S. currency.  If you have ever needed to exchange Canadian dollars into U.S. dollars you know that it can be a game of timing. If you exchange your money too early you may be hoping for a better rate down the road and if you wait too long to exchange your money you may be forced to purchase U.S. dollars at an unfavourable rate.  Trying to exchange Canadian dollars into foreign currency can not only be a hassle, but it can also be very costly in the form of transaction fees – until now.

TD Bank Group has recently introduced some very innovative cross border banking services that allow Canadians to exchange and transfer their money to the United States at preferable rates and without fees. Greg W. Quinn is the Vice President of the Cross-Border Customer Experience at TD Bank Group.  He says that Canadians will now have the same comfortable banking experience regardless of which side of the border they are visiting.  Canadians can expect the same great customer experience from TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, as they have come accustom to from its Canadian counterpart TD Canada Trust.

TD Bank’s Cross Border Services

TD’s cross-border banking program has several products and services that can help Canadians manage their finances on both sides of the border.  The current cross border services include:

· Easy access to your money in the U.S. through over 1,875 TD Bank ATMs and over 1,300 TD Bank stores (branches)

· Simple and easy ways to transfer money between TD Canada Trust accounts and TD Bank U.S. accounts

· The ability to open U.S.-based accounts at TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank while in Canada

· Hassle free access to U.S. dollar personal credit products such as mortgages and credit cards

· Simplified access to both your TD Bank and TD Canada Trust accounts online through one sign on access

Different Country. Same Great Experience.

Quinn says the need to create cross border banking solutions was important to TD Bank Group because the number of Canadians who conduct U.S. dollar business has doubled in the past 5 years.  With TD Canada Trust’s new cross border services Canadians can get support 24/7 from anywhere within North America.   Canadians can move money across the border either in-branch or by the phone.

I am one of those Canadians who requires U.S. banking for business needs.  I often receive payments from U.S. employers and I often have to pay bills in U.S. dollars; the cost of exchanging my Canadian dollars into U.S. currency was becoming an expensive) and unnecessary) expense of doing business across borders. After researching several different banks in the United Stated I finally decided to open an account with TD Bank for the convenience of transferring money to and from Canada.  Admittedly the transition from the Canadian banking system to the U.S. banking system was a learning experience, but the friendly staff at TD Bank and TD Canada Trust have always been very helpful in answering any questions and suggesting products for my individual needs.

If you would like to obtain more information on TD’s cross border banking services please visit your local branch, visit their website or call TD’s Cross-Border Banking line 24/7/365 at 1-877-100-2913.