Canadian citizen. U.S. visitor.
It all comes together with BMO cross-border banking.
Banking that’s on your side north and south of the border.
If you spend time in both Canada and the U.S., you may need a way to manage your banking on both sides of the border. Your BMO Wealth Professional can provide recommendations and help you get set up with the right bank accounts and banking tools.
The benefits of cross-border banking with BMO
Find the account that’s right for you
Open a personal chequing account with as little as $25.
How Canadian-issued bank accounts work with cross-border banking
Want to skip the foreign transaction fees? Consider a Canadian BMO U.S. Dollar Account4. You can use it to save up for your next trip down south or to transfer funds to your U.S.-based account. Even better- you can open a BMO U.S. chequing or savings account under your existing BMO Everyday Bank Plan – at no extra cost.
Did you know…
- A Canadian-based BMO U.S. Dollar Account is primarily for saving U.S. dollars in Canada.That means you’ll want to take out your money before you head to the U.S. or move it over to your BMO Harris personal chequing account through BMO Online Banking.
- A U.S.-based BMO Harris personal chequing account lets you take care of your everyday banking needs in the U.S.Whether you need to withdraw cash, make deposits, transfer funds, or pay bills, this is the best option for Canadians who spend a lot of time in the U.S.
- BMO Harris has a variety of savings and high-interest money market accounts to help you grow your savings.If you spend a lot of time in the U.S., you might want to consider one of these accounts so you can earn interest on your U.S. dollars.
- To set up a U.S.-based bank account as a Canadian citizen, you may be required to provide financial or other personal information.This information may be more than what is typically required to open an account in Canada due to U.S. regulatory requirements.
How we help you take care of your U.S. banking needs
Withdraw U.S. cash when you’re in the U.S.
How we help:- Save in U.S. dollars in your BMO U.S. Dollar Account before you travel to the U.S.
- Transfer funds to your BMO Harris personal chequing account
- Withdraw funds at over 40,000 ATMs throughout the U.S.1, 2
Talk to your BMO Wealth Professional about the account that's right for you.
Deposit U.S. cheques
How we help:- Conveniently deposit cheques drawn on a U.S. bank into your BMO Harris personal chequing account at a BMO Harris branch or ATM that accepts deposits, or with Remote Deposit Capture6 when you download the BMO Harris Mobile Banking® App7.
- Find out more about opening a BMO Harris personal chequing account
To open a BMO Harris personal chequing account, first talk to your BMO Wealth Professional.
Your Wealth Professional can help you find and set up the right account for you.
Pay U.S. bills remotely
How we help:- Manage your U.S. bills by setting up BMO Harris Bill Pay®8 so you can easily receive and pay your bills in U.S. dollars online. Find out more about BMO Harris Online Banking® and BMO Harris Bill Pay®
- How to sign up for BMO Harris Online Banking
Your BMO Wealth Professional can help you sign up for online banking. Note that if you don’t have a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN), you’ll have to sign up over the phone. Your Wealth Professional can set you up with the right person to contact.
- How to add a biller
You can set up almost any U.S. company or individual as a Biller and pay them through BMO Harris Bill Pay.
It's easy:
- Log into BMO Harris Online Banking and click the Payments tab
- Click the Add Biller link
- Enter the Biller Name and click Continue
- Input the requested biller information (including the U.S. company name, a U.S. address for the biller) and account number if applicable
- Follow the prompts to confirm the biller information and complete the set up
- How to pay bills
It’s easy to pay your U.S. bills once they are set up as a biller, simply:
- Select either Pay One Bill or Pay Many Bills
- Enter the Payment Amount and enter the date or use the calendar to select the due date
- Click Confirm all payments or Pay this bill
- Click Confirm payment and Close
- How to set up e-bills
Setting up e-bills can simplify the way you manage payments. An e-bill is your account bill delivered electronically right to your online banking bill-pay service. To set up e-bills:
- Log into BMO Harris Online Banking and click the Payments tab
- Click Sign up! next to your bill with an e-bill icon (e)
- Enter the e-bill information requested and click Continue
- Click Confirm and then Close to complete your request
It may take one or two billing cycles before you receive your first e-bill. Continue to monitor your payments for the biller until you receive your first e-bill to ensure your bills continue to get paid.
View your Canadian and U.S. accounts in one place
How we help:- View your U.S. and Canadian BMO accounts together in one place with BMO Harris Total Look®
- Find out more about BMO Harris Total Look
To set up BMO Harris Total Look so you can look at your BMO Harris and BMO account information together, you first need to sign up for BMO Harris Online Banking and BMO Online Banking. Once you do:
- Sign in to BMO Harris Online Banking
- Have all of the account information at hand for the accounts you want to view together including bank accounts, credit cards, mortgages, etc.
- Click on Total Look tab on top menu bar. Your BMO Harris bank account information should automatically be included in Total Look.
- Click on Link an Account on the upper right hand of screen below top menu bar
- Follow prompts and add account information for your accounts. You'll need to enter your BMO Online Banking login information to link a BMO account.
Transfer U.S. funds from Canada to the U.S. online
How we help:- Save in U.S. dollars in your BMO U.S. Dollar Account before you travel to the U.S.
- Transfer your USD from your BMO U.S. Dollar Account to your BMO Harris chequing account.for free through BMO Online Banking (as long as you have an eligible BMO Harris personal deposit account) or send a wire transfer from a BMO branch (though wire transfer fees may apply)
Talk to your BMO Wealth Professional today for more information.
Transfer U.S. funds from U.S. to Canada
How we help:- Make wire transfers by phone after you set up a one-time Wire Transfer Agreement at a BMO Harris branch or via mail. The BMO Harris international wire transfer fee will be waived.
- Use BMO Canada Wire, a quick, cost effective way for Canadian Wealth Management clients to request a transfer from their BMO Harris deposit account to their Canadian BMO U.S. Dollar Account through BMO Harris Online Banking.
- Find out more about transferring funds from U.S. to Canada.
As a BMO Private Banking or BMO Nesbitt Burns client, you can transfer funds at no additional charge through BMO Canada Wire – a tab that you’ll find in BMO Harris Online Banking. Your Wealth Professional can change your profile to enable the cross-border transfer option.
Once your profile has been updated, you’ll find the BMO Canada Wire option under the Transfer tab.
Another way to transfer funds is to set up a Wire Transfer Agreement at a BMO Harris branch or through the mail. Once the agreement is set up, you’ll be able to transfer funds from the U.S. to Canada by phone.
Shop with U.S. dollars and choose the rewards you want
How we help:- Choose from a wide range of BMO Harris Mastercard® credit cards9 with a variety of rewards.10
- Or, select the Canadian-issued BMO U.S. Dollar Mastercard®. The $35 annual fee is waived when you make $1,000 U.S. worth of purchases or more.
Why choose BMO
Here are a few ways we can help you enjoy your cross-border lifestyle.
from your BMO Wealth Professional.
with a Canadian BMO Private Banking or U.S. BMO Harris debit card from the largest ATM network in the U.S. with over 40,000 Allpoint® Network ATMs throughout the country.1, 2
wherever and whenever you want with online or mobile7 banking, and roughly 600 BMO Harris branches and 1,300 BMO Harris ATMs in eight States including Florida and Arizona.
with a wide variety of BMO Harris Bank Mastercard® credit cards.
with the help of a mortgage banker specially trained in cross-border mortgages.
FAQs for Bank Accounts and Day-to-day Banking
- Do I need a U.S. address to open an account with BMO Harris?No, you can use your Canadian address if you don’t have a U.S. address.
- Can I view my BMO and BMO Harris accounts together online?Yes, you can view your BMO and BMO Harris accounts together with BMO Harris Total Look® (which is available through BMO Harris Online Banking). While you can’t make transactions in BMO Harris Total Look, you can view all of your accounts in one place.
- Can I access my Canadian BMO accounts at ATMs in the U.S.?You can access your BMO Canadian dollar accounts to withdraw U.S. cash at BMO Harris ATMs. Current foreign exchange rates will apply. You can’t access funds from BMO U.S. Dollar Accounts at BMO Harris ATMs. If you are a Canadian BMO Private Banking client and/or have a BMO Harris bank account you can also make free, unlimited withdrawals from over 40,000 Allpoint® Network ATMs located throughout the U.S.1, 2
- How can I transfer funds from my BMO U.S. Dollar Account to my BMO Harris account?You can do so for free through BMO Online Banking, as long as you have an eligible BMO Harris personal deposit account. You can also send a wire transfer from a BMO branch, though wire transfer fees may apply.
- How can I transfer funds from my BMO Harris account to my BMO U.S. Dollar Account?As a BMO Private Banking or BMO Nesbitt Burns client, you can transfer funds at no additional charge through BMO Canada Wire – a tab that you’ll find in BMO Harris Online Banking. Your Wealth Professional can change your profile to enable the cross-border transfer option.
Once your profile has been updated, you’ll find the BMO Canada Wire option under the Transfer tab.
Another way to transfer funds is to set up a Wire Transfer Agreement at a BMO Harris branch or through the mail. Once the agreement is set up, you’ll be able to transfer funds from the U.S. to Canada by phone. - How do I access funds from my Canadian BMO U.S. Dollar Account in the U.S.?A. You can’t withdraw funds directly from your BMO U.S. Dollar Account at a U.S. ATM or BMO Harris branch. To access funds, you need to transfer them to a BMO Harris personal chequing account. Then you can withdraw funds from your BMO Harris U.S. account at one of over 40,000 ATMs in the U.S.
- How do I deposit a U.S. dollar cheque in the U.S.?To deposit a U.S. dollar cheque in the U.S. you need a BMO Harris personal chequing account. You can deposit your cheque at any BMO Harris branch or BMO Harris ATM that accepts deposits. You can also use BMO Harris Mobile Banking® to deposit your cheque.
- Can I deposit a Canadian dollar cheque into my BMO Harris account while I’m in the U.S.?Yes. You can visit a BMO Harris Bank branch and make the deposit in-person. Foreign currency exchange rates will apply.
- Which BMO Harris personal chequing account is the best option for Canadians?BMO Harris SmartAdvantageTM Account is a very popular account with Canadians because it has no monthly fees when you choose eStatements5 and no minimum balance11. However, another account might be more suited to your needs. Speak to your Canadian BMO Private Banking or BMO Nesbitt Burns Wealth Professional who can help you select the right account for your needs.
- How do I pay U.S. bills?To pay U.S. bills you need a BMO Harris personal chequing account. You can pay bills online or through BMO Harris Mobile Banking7. You can’t pay U.S. bills from a BMO Bank of Montreal U.S. Dollar Account.
- Do I need a U.S. address to pay U.S. bills using BMO Harris Bill Pay?No, however, the company who is billing you needs to have a U.S. address.
- Can I pay my Canadian bills from my U.S. BMO Harris account or my U.S. bills from my Canadian BMO account?No. Canadian-based bills must be paid from a Canadian-based account, and U.S.-based bills must be paid from a U.S.-based account. Both of these options are available outside of the country through telephone or online banking.
- Can I get overdraft protection on BMO Harris personal chequing accounts?Yes, eligible clients can apply for overdraft protection on a BMO Harris personal chequing account.
- Can I use Allpoint® ATMs to deposit cheques or cash?Currently, the 40,000+ Allpoint® ATMs in the U.S. can be used for cash withdrawals only.
- Is there a fee for using Allpoint® ATMs?Allpoint® ATMs are fee-free if you are have a BMO Private Banking Bank Plan or a BMO Harris account. If you do not have a BMO Private Banking Bank Plan or a BMO Harris account you may be charged a fee. If you do have a BMO Private Banking Bank Plan and are charged a fee at an Allpoint ATM, please contact your Wealth Professional to have the fee reversed.
- How do I use my BMO debit card with a U.S. merchant when a zip code is required (e.g. at a gas station)?Where possible, the Canadian customers should enter the numeric portions of the postal code and fill the remaining spaces with zeroes to make up five digits. For example, if the Canadian postal code is M3L 2H6 the customer should enter 32600.
Want to find out more about cross-border banking?
Get in touch with your BMO Wealth Professional or let us contact you.
BMO Private Banking is part of BMO Wealth Management and is a brand name under which banking services are offered through Bank of Montreal, investment management services are offered through BMO Private Investment Counsel Inc., a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Bank of Montreal, and estate, trust, planning and custodial services are offered through BMO Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal.
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. provides comprehensive investment services and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal. If you are already a client of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., please contact your Investment Advisor for more information.® “Nesbitt Burns” is a registered trade-mark of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc®.
®"BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)" is a registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal, used under license. If you are already a client of BMO Nesbitt Burns, please contact your Investment Advisor for more information.
Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
Not all products and services are available in every state and/or location. BMO Harris does not provide mortgages in New York State. BMO Harris provides mortgages in Texas but does not provide refinancing.
In the U.S., banking products and services are subject to bank and credit approval and are provided by: BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC.
