Will my canadian debit card work in the U.S.?

Question

hello. I live in canada and my bank account is coast capital. will my debit card work in the united states when i go there for a short vacation?
thanks!

Answer 1

Yes. Canadian debit cards work in the United States. Been there done that.

Answer 2

In the USA an American debit card can also work like a credit card. Because of this, many merchants do not get a PIN pad for processing debit transactions. They get you to sign for the transactions.



The catch is that unless your Canadian debit card has a Visa or Mastercard logo on it, it will not work in the places without a PIN pad. Which is about 60% of them.



Therefore you also need to carry a credit card around with you. If you do not have a credit card, always ask the merchant if they have a PIN pad for the transaction. Because if they do not, you will need to pay cash.



Your debit card can work at banks though to take out cash.

Answer 3

You will not be able to pay for things on debit since our system, Interac, is not used in other countries. However, if your debit card says "Cirrus" or "Plus" on the back, then you will be able to take cash out of most ATMs (as long as they also say "Cirrus" or "Plus"). Just be aware of the fees associated with taking cash out of American ATMs (often $5 or more per transaction).



If you want to pay for things on card, rather than carrying cash, you can get a Visa-branded pre-paid gift card. These can typically be used anywhere that Visa is accepted.