Bank

Not sure why you would want loonies or toonies before entering Canada but most Sumas stores do business in both currencies and will probably make change for you.

As far as getting local funds in Canada, our best experience in three trips North was when we set up a bank account at home before we left with limited funds in it and an ATM card attached to the account. We could get Canadian folding money at just about any ATM. And with only limited funds in the account we were at peace with the chances of being hacked or the card lost/stolen. We could also replenish the account electronically if needed from other another account. Caution, don't do this or conduct electronic banking unless you have a secure VPN path over which to do it. Using a public wifi without a VPN or other security is risky.

Mike

To clarify: Canadian $ for Ameriacn $.
I will be a guest in there country so I will try and use and pay for there goods and services in there currency.
I am sure some actual " loonies and toonies" will be given in change. Besides there is Diamond Tooth Gerties in Dawson City.

I have not passed thru Sumas or Abbotsford-Huntington since 1991 but had exchanged money in Bellingham at one time (like Wilber1 mentioned) in which back then they had a fair exchange rate you could get at an American bank during that time....since 1998 I had only exchanged currency within Canada because within Alaska, American banks here no longer provide favorable rates.

Since ATM machines were mentioned, I have yet to see any ATM's that provide Canadian loonies and toonies in which the OP was requesting however if there are any ATM machines that dispense loonies or toonies I would like to know.

The way I get loonies is at a bank dealing with a teller or simply asking some business establishment if they can spare some loonie exchange, I only been turned down twice in a handful of requests.

No bank in center noted by Tee Jay. There are banks located just across Hwy 1 on both Sumas Way and Whatcom Road. Bank of America in Sumas closed recently and the nearest is in Lynden Wa but you should be able to get Canadian currency at any bank in the Bellingham area. You can always use ATM's when you get to Canada.

The shopping center noted by Tee Jay above is probably your most convenient stop to make the money exchange. Now is a good time to get extra CAN dollars as the US dollar goes much farther than usual. So you'll end up with some spare change which you can save for future trips to Canada which I'm sure you will want to do again someday since it's a great place to visit and people are super up there! And I'm sure you will enjoy Hope as mentioned above.

We crossed at Sumas and drove to Hope where we spent our first night at Wild Rose campground. It's a lovely little town with gorgeous wood carvings along the road and even a Japanese garden. There's a bank in town and we got $300 in exchange which lasted our whole trip. We wanted cash because we stayed in Provincial and Yukon public parks and most had a drop box for camp fees. We stayed in Hope that first night to regroup, do some grocery shopping, etc.

From Hope we then headed north on 97.

There is a large shopping area on the left, maybe 2 miles from the border, with Costco and such. Access is a left turn lane with stop light control. I have never been in there, so don't know if there is a bank.

We got $100CN in 2007. This will be our 10th trip and we still have some of it left.

I would also advise simply using an ATM machine. Would also advise opening a checking account with Charles Schwab. Free to use any ATM worldwide, plus they rebate any fee the atm charges, and they give extremely favorable exchange rates.

Jut use your ATM and draw out Canadian money. By the way, be sure to tell your credit card companies and any banks where you have debit cards before you leave or they will cut them off the first time you use them in Canada.