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Your guide to USD accounts at Desjardins
US dollar accounts are a helpful solution for Canadians who regularly travel and work in the US. You can spend money like a local or work with international clients.
We’ll take a look at Desjardins’ USD accounts for Canadians, including everything you need to know about interest rates, currency conversion costs and transaction limits. We’ll also look at Wise as a helpful alternative for you or your business. Spend in the US for less, with low transfer fees and no exchange rate markups. Let’s dive in!
Desjardins US Dollar Build-Up Savings Account at a glance
The Desjardins US Dollar Build-Up Savings Account is a great option for Canadians who want to spend or get paid in US dollars.
You can transfer Canadian dollars into your US Dollar Build-Up Savings Account to withdraw cash in US dollars.
Key features of the account include:
- transfers between accounts in US or Canadian dollars
- unlimited regular transactions if you maintain a set minimum balance
- tiered daily interest to earn on your savings¹
However, you won’t get a debit card to use alongside your USD account, which may limit your spending capabilities. You’ll also need to maintain a minimum monthly balance of 1000 USD to access free regular transactions.
Regular transactions include teller deposits and automatic transfers between accounts in a single folio. You’ll pay a fee for some additional payment methods.¹
Let’s take a closer look at fees, interest rates and limits for the Desjardins US Dollar Build-Up Savings Account.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| AccèsD transfer | 1.25 USD |
| Bill payment | 2.25 USD |
| Automatic transfer between accounts in different folios | 1.25 USD |
| Cheque cashing, withdrawal or transfer | 1.25 USD |
| Pre-authorized payment | 1.25 USD¹ |
| Interest rate | Balances of 0 USD to 99,999 USD: 0.05% Balances of 100,000 USD to 499,999 USD: 0.10% Balances of 500,000 USD: 0.15%¹ |
| Exchange rate | To transfer Canadian dollars into your US Dollar Build-Up Savings Account, you’ll pay the bank’s exchange rate You can wait for a favourable exchange rate before converting your money, which can help save on conversion costs¹ |
| Transaction limit | You can make unlimited regular transactions if you maintain a minimum balance of 1000 USD Speak to your local teller for more information about additional account services¹ |
Desjardins foreign currency account for Canadian businesses to hold US dollars
The Desjardins foreign currency account is ideal for Canadian business owners who need to hold, send and receive money in US dollars.
Key features of the Desjardins USD foreign currency account:
- Instant transfers at real-time exchange rates
- Transfer money between foreign currency and Canadian dollar accounts
- Send money abroad using the bank’s international transfer feature²
Desjardins’ business accounts offer online account management features. You can use the AccèsD Affaires platform to budget your money and track your spending.²
However, you’ll need to consider how much it costs to convert into foreign currencies. Transferring between US dollar and Canadian dollar accounts is likely to incur currency conversion costs.
Many banks will add a markup to the standard ‘fair’ mid-market exchange rate for currency conversion, so look into exactly how much Desjardins charges before using your USD account.
Let’s take a closer look at fees, exchange rates, interest rates and transaction limits for your Desjardins foreign currency account.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| International SWIFT transfer to the US via Desjardins Bank | 7.50 USD³ |
| International SWIFT transfer to other international locations | 15 USD³ |
| Interest rate | Speak to your local Desjardins teller for more information about interest-earning capabilities |
| Exchange rate | You’ll need to look into how much Desjardins charges for currency conversion |
| Transaction limit | You can send unlimited SWIFT transfers to the US via your business account³ Speak to your bank for more information about individual account limits |
Hold CAD, USD, EUR, GBP, JPY and more with your Wise account
Wise is your digital money transfer alternative! Hold money in multiple currencies at once, including popular currencies like CAD, USD, EUR, GBP and JPY. You can transfer between currencies at the mid-market exchange rate or spend in local currency with just the touch of a button.
Use your personal Wise account to:
- send low-cost money transfers in over 160 countries worldwide
- open local account details in over 9 currencies
- spend in the US and further afield using your Wise debit card
If you’re a freelancer or business owner, you can use Wise Business to manage all your finances in one place. Pay for supplies, issue new invoices and sync your accounting software.
You can even get local account details in over 10 currencies to receive stress-free payments from customers and clients overseas.
Features at a glance
| Features | Wise personal account | Wise Business account |
|---|---|---|
| Holding USD | Yes | Yes |
| Converting between currencies | Convert between over 40 currencies in your digital Wise account | Convert money at the standard mid-market exchange rate to save on currency conversion fees |
| Transfer fees | From 0.48% per international transfer* You won’t pay any account or subscription fees for a Wise personal account | Pay from 0.48% per international transfer You can also pay a one-time 55 CAD fee to get local account details in 24 currencies |
| Exchange rate | Wise uses the standard mid-market exchange rate for all international payments, transfers and conversions | Send and spend your money at the mid-market exchange rate – no markups or hidden fees |
Conclusion
You can use your Desjardins USD account to send and receive money abroad, including transfers for personal and business customers in Canada. The Desjardins US Dollar Build-Up Savings Account and Desjardins foreign currency account are useful for Canadian customers in need of USD payment solutions.
However, you’ll need to consider how much it costs to transfer your money between Canadian and US dollars. You may also face additional transaction costs for some payments in Canada and abroad. Use your Wise personal or business account to spend in multiple currencies at once, including low-cost transfers to and from the US. To avoid exchange rate markups and start spending like a local in the US and more, open a Wise account today.
Sources
- Desjardins - US Dollar Build-Up Savings Account
- Desjardins - Foreign currency accounts for business
- Desjardins - International transfers for businesses
Sources verified on 15 June 2026
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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