Snowbird Banking

We use ATM's for some cash but credit cards for most purchases and online banking to pay the credit cards. I never carry more than a couple hundred dollars in cash on me any time while traveling; certainly would never carry thousands in our rv.

This is exactly what we have done for many years. No problems ever...Costco ATM's are only $1.50....
$10-15 dollars in ATM fees is a lot cheaper than getting robbed, or loosing $9500...yikes!!

PS..You only need to pay C/C balance in full, once per month before due date sbown on statement (which can be viewed in online banking) to avoid any interest charges for purchases made. However, if you draw cash on your C/C then that will incur interest charges immediately until it is paid down.

I live in CA.
USAA, my bank, has no branches here.
Everything is done online (home computer or smartphone), I haven't stepped foot in a physical bank in years.
They refund ATM fees charged by other banks...and I have yet to find a non-compatible ATM.

I've got to think many other banks operate similarly...?

When we are in Florida , We use Bank of America as much as possible. I found out about 3 years ago that they are affiliated with Scotiabank here in Canada and everytime we use our debit card there is no atm fee's. Over the course of the winter that saves use a lot of money, if we need cash for anything any amount ($20- up to your daily maxium) there is no service charge from either bank. You have to be a Scotiabank customer in order for that to work.

If you are a Scotiabank customer check it out with your local bank before you leave home , I wish I had of known that a long time ago

Several banks in Yuma allow Canadians to open accounts so I would imagine it would be the same in Florida. We use a Debit/Checking card, issued by the bank, for most of our purchases. We use Western Union Online (Formerly Custom House) to move our moneys. It's a better rate than most banks or credit cards. Has been working for us for the last 10 years plus.

As a poster suggested, probably the best bet is to open an account at TD in the US if you are close to a branch there. Unfortunately I can't do that as there are no branches in the area we go to down there.

I finally got around to getting a US$ credit card from my Canadian bank last winter (I'm a slow learner!) to eliminate those hidden fees buried in the exchange rates when using a Canadian $ CC. I transfer US$ from my US$ Canadian account electronically to pay off the US$ CC. We try to buy most things on the CC and carry minimum US$ dollars down there and when needed we try to find a Bank of America ATM to get US$ out (no fees for some reason) and we get out enough $ at one time to minimize conversion fees.

This winter's project is to minimize the effect of my banks "spread", what they ding me with when converting C$ into US$ so I can move C$ into my US$ account to pay off the US$ CC. My investment guy offered to make the currency trade on their currency trading desk, probably at a better rate than my bank is offering, so I will transfer C$ funds electronically to my investment account, the trade will be made on the trading desk and he will transfer the US$ funds back to me electronically into my US$ account. I'll also electronically convert some funds at my bank on the same day to see what savings I get.

I guess the OP has his or her answer.

We use our debit card for grocery shopping and get some extra $ from the cashier. No extra charges so we seldom use an ATM.

Appreciate the opinions everybody, as I said we're still new so we need to learn and you've given u a lot to consider.

We've never carried large amounts of cash. Years ago we did the travelers check thing along with a few hundred dollars US cash. In later years we used our Scotiabank debit card at BOA ATMs (no ATM fee for Scotia customers) to get US cash plus used our CDN credit card for many purchases.

But now (last 5 years or so) we have an account, check/debit card and credit card at a US bank. Throughout the year whenever the exchange rate is good, we go on-line and buy US dollars for deposit into our USA bank account. When we are south we use our US bank issued check/debit card for cash (no fee at some ATMs and the bank reimburses the fee at all others) and our US bank credit card for most transactions.

Since we have on-line access to our CDN and USA accounts we can and do continue to do our banking (including transfers between CND and USA accounts) while we are away from home. We have no need to set foot in a sticks and bricks bank. We can deposit a check simply by taking a picture of it and sending it to our bank on-line.

I bank with RBC in Canada and have a US based account with RBC Bank based in Georgia. RBC in Canada offer USD accounts but with RBC Bank you are able to use US Debit & Visa cards from RBC Bank. You might want to consider this if you use RBC in Canada - both appear in your online banking. TD also has similar options for their US based bank. Hardest thing with the RBC Bank acct is differentiating their correspondence from the Canadian mother ship. RBC Bank also reimburses charges for W/Ds from banks using "Visa Network" ATMs so it is convenient as thy have no ATMs of their own - atleast I have not found any.