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U.S. Cross-Border Banking

We’re on your side, north and south of the border.

CALL OUR CROSS-BORDER HOTLINE

Benefits

Find out what you can do with cross-border banking

Whether you’re a snowbird, a frequent traveler or a Canadian who works in the U.S., BMO can help take care of your banking needs on both sides of the border.

  • Do you travel frequently between the U.S. and Canada?

    We can help you:

    • Save U.S. dollars before you travel

    • Send U.S. dollars to the U.S. and access them when you’re there

    • Shop with U.S. dollars

  • Are you a snowbird who lives in both the U.S. and Canada?

    We can help you:

    • Save, transfer and shop in U.S. dollars

    • Pay bills in the U.S. and Canada

    • Buy a vacation property

  • Are you a Canadian working or studying in the U.S.?

    We can help you:

    • Handle day-to-day banking on both sides of the border

    • Buy a home in the U.S.

    • Take care of your U.S. investment needs

Looking for private wealth cross-border solutions? Check out BMO Private Wealth

Banking Solutions

Two countries, one seamless banking experience

We make cross-border banking easy in the U.S. and in Canada.

  • Get a personal checking account with BMO U.S.

    Access your account via BMO Digital Banking (U.S.) and enjoy being able to:

    • Deposit U.S. checks footnote 2, footnote 12
    • Use online tools to transfer funds footnote 3

    You can also:

    • Get a BMO Debit Mastercard® with no transaction fees at Allpoint® and BMO ATMs in the U.S. footnote 4
    • Pay U.S. bills
    • Access your account at BMO U.S. branches
    EXPLORE U.S. CHECKING ACCOUNTS

  • Get a credit card with BMO U.S.

    Pay in U.S. dollars and choose one of our BMO U.S. credit cards that meets your spending and rewards needs footnote 5

  • Get a mortgage with BMO U.S.

    Find the support you need with:

    • Lending solutions that help you buy a home in the U.S. footnote 6
    • A mortgage program that allows credit decisions to be based on your Canadian credit history, something that not all U.S. lenders do

  • Get a U.S. dollar checking account with BMO Canada

    Access your account via BMO Online Banking (Canada) and enjoy being able to:

    • Deposit U.S. checks footnote 7
    • Pay Canadian bills
    • Use online tools to transfer funds to BMO U.S. footnote 8

     

  • Get a Canadian dollar checking account with BMO Canada

    Access your account via BMO Online Banking (Canada) and enjoy being able to:

    • Pay Canadian bills
    • Transfer U.S. funds via BMO Global Money Transfer
    • Withdraw funds from U.S. ATMs footnote 13

money movement

How to do cross-border money transfers

From Canada to the U.S.

Your options include:

  • BMO Canada to BMO U.S. Transfer – send up to USD $25,000 per transaction online from your BMO Canada U.S. dollar account to your BMO U.S. deposit account footnote 8
  • BMO Global Money Transfer – send money from your BMO Canada Canadian dollar checking account to your BMO U.S. deposit account

From the U.S. to Canada

Your options include:

  • BMO Canada Wire – send up to USD $50,000 per transaction footnote 9,  footnote 10 through BMO Digital Banking (U.S.) from your BMO U.S. deposit account to your BMO Canada U.S. dollar account for no fee
  • BMO International Money Transfer – visit a BMO U.S. branch to make a U.S. dollar wire transfer from your BMO U.S. deposit account to your BMO Canada account. We’ll waive the transfer fee, but other fees will apply footnote 11

Resources

Looking for something more specific?

Whether you need help with private wealth management, business banking or commercial banking, we have teams across BMO to support all your cross-border banking needs.

  • Private wealth management

Explore our financial resources

From articles to banking support to online safety tips, we’ve got the latest information to help you make real financial progress.

LEARN MORE

U.S. cross-border banking FAQs

  • At BMO U.S., we're pleased to welcome our Canadian neighbors by making cross-border banking simple and convenient. Whether you’re a frequent visitor to the U.S. or enjoy extended stays, we offer Canadian clients U.S. products and services that help make cross-border banking seamless. We can help meet your financial needs whether you live, vacation, shop or study in the U.S.

  • No, you can use your Canadian address.

  • Yes! BMO U.S. personal credit cards come with great benefits and rewards and are available to our Canadian customers. If you’re a BMO customer in Canada interested in a BMO U.S. credit card, please call 1-888-214-6720 or visit any BMO U.S. branch to apply or get more information. Certain eligibility requirements apply. footnote 5

  • Yes. BMO U.S. can provide lending solutions to qualifying customers footnote 6 who are looking to purchase residential property in the United States. You may refer to a Gateway Mortgage Banker at a BMO branch or to the BMO Cross-Border Banking Hotline, available at 1-888-214-6720.

  • You can access your BMO Canada CAD account to withdraw U.S. cash at BMO U.S. ATMs. footnote 13 You cannot access BMO Canada U.S. dollar accounts to withdraw U.S. cash at BMO U.S. ATMs. BMO Canada accounts cannot be accessed through BMO U.S. branches.

  • Can I view my BMO U.S. and BMO Canada accounts together online?

    Yes you can, with BMO Total Look, which is available through BMO Digital Banking (U.S.).

    Can I download the BMO Digital Banking (U.S.) app footnote 12 even if I’m in Canada? 

    Yes, the app is available through the U.S. Apple App store and the U.S. Google Play store. Please contact your hardware provider if you have any questions about accessing the U.S. Apple App store or Google Play store.

    How can I pay my U.S. bills?

    You can pay U.S. bills from U.S. companies and financial institutions using BMO Bill Pay, available through BMO Digital Banking (U.S.) and the BMO Digital Banking (U.S.) app. footnote 12

    Is there a fee if I use a BMO Canada Debit Card to withdraw U.S. cash at BMO ATMs?

    As a courtesy to BMO customers, BMO does not charge an ATM surcharge fee when you withdraw cash at any BMO ATM. footnote 13 A network fee may apply. Foreign currency transaction fees will apply.

    How can I pay for fuel with my BMO U.S. debit or credit card on a terminal that requires a zip code?

    Use the three numbers from your postal code and add two zeroes at the end when prompted for a five-digit zip code at the pump. For example, if your postal code is M1A 2B3, the five-digit number you enter is 12300.

Ready to get started? Let’s chat

  • Call our Cross-Border Hotline

    Our team at the BMO U.S. Customer Contact Center can help with your banking needs. footnote 1

    1-888-214-6720

  • Come in and talk to us

    Our in-branch teams can help you find the banking solutions you need.

Terms and Conditions:

  • Footnote 1 details Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.

  • Footnote 2 details Mobile Deposit is available using the BMO Digital Banking (BMO U.S.) app. This service may not function on older devices. Users must be a BMO Digital Banking customer with a BMO U.S. account opened for more than 5 calendar days. Deposits are not immediately available for withdrawal. For details, please see the BMO Digital Banking Agreement found at bmo.com/en-us/legal.

  • Footnote 3 details If you make an Internal Transfer on a weekend or holiday, we'll credit the payment the same day, but we'll post the payment on the next Business Day.

  • Footnote 4 details When using a BMO U.S. debit card, Foreign Transaction Fees will apply at BMO and Allpoint® ATMs located outside of the United States. When using a BMO Canada debit card (i.e., not a BMO U.S. debit card) you may be charged a fee in the U.S. When using a BMO U.S. debit card at an ATM that is not owned or operated by BMO U.S. or Allpoint®, the ATM owner or operator may charge you a surcharge fee for a withdrawal, transfer or balance inquiry.

  • 5 To be eligible for one of our U.S. credit cards, customers will need to meet certain minimum relationship standards, including having:

    • an existing BMO Canada chequing, savings, or investment account. When we review this application, the BMO Canada chequing or savings account must be open for at least three months with a minimum balance of CAD $1,300, or the BMO investment relationship must be open for at least three months with a minimum balance of CAD $13,000; and
    • a BMO U.S. chequing account in good standing. When we review this application, the BMO U.S. chequing account must have a minimum balance of USD $1,000.

    Participation in BMO Flex Rewards is subject to terms and conditions found in the BMO Flex Rewards Program Rules, available at www.bmo.com/bmoflexrewardsconsumer. The Account must be current and in good standing to accrue and redeem points or cash back, as applicable. While points and cash back don’t expire, if the Account is closed for any reason, the Account will no longer be able to accrue points or cash back. All accrued points or cash back not redeemed will be available for redemption for 90 days as long as the Account is closed in good standing. All cash back is redeemable in the form of a statement credit.

  • 6 Applicant must meet one of the following eligibility requirements: be a new or existing client of BMO Private Bank; be a new or existing BMO Premier Services client; be a new or existing depository client with at least USD $25,000 in deposit accounts at BMO Bank N.A. or at least USD $25,000 in deposit accounts at Bank of Montreal; or be a Senior Executive/Business Owner of an existing corporate client, with the corporate client meeting the minimum requirements of USD $25,000 in deposit accounts at either BMO Bank N.A. or Bank of Montreal. For additional details and requirements, please contact a BMO Mortgage Banker.

  • 7 Depositing U.S. dollar checks to your BMO Canada U.S. dollar account can only be made at BMO branches in Canada. BMO U.S. branches cannot accept deposits to BMO Canada accounts.

  • 8 Transfers to BMO U.S. accounts before 4:00 p.m. ET will be completed within the same business day, provided it is not a weekend or a statutory holiday in Canada or the U.S. Any transfer submitted after 4:00 p.m. ET will be processed the next business day.

  • 9 Transfers from money market chequing accounts are subject to the following standard money account transaction limitations: Deposits of any amount are allowed at any time. The number of withdrawals or transfers from money market accounts are unlimited when made in person at BMO, at an ATM, by messenger, transfers for Overdraft Funding, or by a request by mail or speaking to a telephone representative to have a cheque made payable to you. We limit all other withdrawals or transfers, including those made by Cheque, POS, ACH, wire, automated telephone banking, online banking, and transfers to repay BMO loans, to a combined total of six per month or monthly statement period. A fee may be charged for transactions that exceed this limit.

  • 10 The service is only available Monday–Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) – 4:00 p.m. ET, excluding U.S. federal bank holidays. Future-dated and recurring transfers are not allowed.

  • 11 A correspondent bank fee will be deducted from the amount transferred. For details speak to your BMO Banker. An incoming wire transfer fee may be charged to your BMO Canada account. For details speak to your BMO representative.

  • 12 Message and data rates may apply. Contact your wireless carrier for details.

  • 13 BMO surcharge fee is waived when you use your BMO Canada Debit Card at a BMO ATM. A per-item transaction fee may apply, subject to your BMO account and/or the monthly transaction limit of your Bank Plan. You are not able to access U.S. dollar accounts linked to your BMO Canada Debit Card; ATM withdrawals can only be completed from your BMO Canada Canadian dollar account(s) at BMO ATMs. A network fee charged by BMO Canada, may apply at some BMO U.S. ATMs. Foreign currency exchange rates will apply.

Disclosures:

Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Android, Google Play, and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

BMO Private Bank is a brand name used in the United States by BMO Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Not all products and services are available in every state and/or location.

“BMO Wealth Management” is a brand name that refers to BMO Bank N.A. and certain of its affiliates that provide certain investment, investment advisory, trust, banking, and securities products and services. Investment products and services are: NOT A DEPOSIT – NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC OR ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY – NOT GUARANTEED BY ANY BANK – MAY LOSE VALUE.

“BMO Financial Group” and “BMO Bank of Montreal” are marketing names (also referred to as trade names or brand names) used by Bank of Montreal.

BMO Private Wealth is a brand name for a business group consisting of Bank of Montreal and certain of its affiliates in providing private wealth management products and services. Not all products and services are offered by all legal entities within BMO Private Wealth. Banking services are offered through Bank of Montreal. Investment management, wealth planning, tax planning, and philanthropy planning services are offered through BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and BMO Private Investment Counsel Inc. Estate, trust, and custodial services are offered through BMO Trust Company. Insurance services and products are offered through BMO Estate Insurance Advisory Services Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. BMO Private Wealth legal entities do not offer tax advice. If you are already a client of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., please contact your Investment Advisor for more information. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is a Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund and is a Member of Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. BMO Trust Company and Bank of Montreal are Members of CDIC.

“BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)” is a registered trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence.

U.S. and Canadian dollar chequing and savings accounts offered by Bank of Montreal in Canada are eligible to be insured by CDIC.

BMO Bank N.A. is an affiliate of Bank of Montreal and is not a Member of CDIC, CIPF or the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO).

Banking products are subject to approval and are provided in the United States by BMO Bank N.A. Member FDIC