A closer look at the CIBC US dollar account for Canadian businesses

Whether through travel or trade, it’s no surprise that Canadian companies often conduct business with their neighbor, the United States. But with the cross-border exchange rates and added fees, things can get complicated, hence the need for CIBC’s US Dollar Current Account.

We’ll be looking at the features and fees of the CIBC USD business account, along with Wise as a trusty business solution for all your international money requirements. This is a way to get an account for holding, receiving, and using your money in US dollars along with 40 other currencies, without the monthly fees. But more on that later!

This guide covers:
Key features of the CIBC US dollar business account What are the fees charged for using the CIBC US Dollar business account? What are the inactivity fees for the CIBC US Dollar business account? Do more with lower fees on your Wise Business Account

Key features of the CIBC US dollar business account

Type of account: USD chequing account for businesses

Key features:

• Optional cross-border cheque-clearing service for issuing cheques in the US¹
• Withdrawals at the bank and via ATMs
• Access to banking via telephone, online, or at a CIBC banking centre
• Transfer between CIBC accounts at any banking centre
• Access to CIBC Global Money Transfer for Business to send up to $100,000 to over 120 countries with no transfer fees²

The CIBC US Dollar Current Account was created specifically for Canadian businesses to better manage their USD income and expenses, so they can often bypass hefty currency conversions and exchange rates. With US dollars fully accessible at any point in time, CIBC customers can add this account to their existing portfolio.

To open an account, you need a completed Business Account Application and Agreement form, two pieces of valid ID, and records relevant to their specific business type. Whether sole proprietor, corporation, or another structure.

What are the fees charged for using the CIBC US Dollar business account?

The CIBC USD business account has a handful of pay-per-use fees, including typical transfer fees and transaction fees. There are also additional withdrawal charges and cheque clearing charges.

Service	Fee1
Monthly account fee	8 USD per month
Sending an Interac e-transfer	1.50 USD
Sending an Interac money request	1.50 USD
Self-serviced transaction	1 USD
Transaction	1.25 USD
Balance inquiry by telephone or mail	2.75 USD
Withdrawal at a non-CIBC ATM in Canada	2 USD per withdrawal + possible surcharges
Withdrawal at a non-CIBC ATM in the US	3 USD + 2.5% administration fee + possible surcharges
Withdrawal outside Canada and the US	5 USD + 2.5% administration fee + possible surcharges
Cheques written in currencies different from the account currency	20 USD
Cross border cheque clearing	39 USD per month per account
Transferring account to another financial institution	19.50 USD

What are the inactivity fees for the CIBC US Dollar business account?

If there hasn’t been any customer activity in your business account for 6 months, your account will be considered inactive, and a maintenance fee will apply.

Inactivity period	Fees charged1
2-4 years	$20 or your account balance, whichever is lower
5-8 years	$30 or your account balance, whichever is lower
9 years	$40 or your account balance, whichever is lower

After 10 years of inactivity, your Canadian account balances will be transferred to the Bank of Canada¹.

Do more with lower fees on your Wise Business Account

While the CIBC USD business account is a sound choice for dealing with cross-border funds between the US and Canada, Wise changes the game with its multi-currency accounts that can:

• Receive money in 23 currencies, such as CAD, USD, JPY, CNY, PHP and more
• Make international transactions starting at 0.33%, at the mid-market exchange rate
• Hold 40+ currencies in your account to convert at any time
• Conduct international invoicing quickly and easily
• Offer an API to automate your payroll and other financial transactions
• Provide app integrations with Quickbooks, Xero, Sage and more to boost your productivity by reducing admin work

You only pay a one-time fee of 42 CAD to access these features and take your business beyond borders – no recurring fees. The Wise account operates on a transparent, pay-as-you-go fee structure, so you’ll know exactly what you’re spending on each transaction. Fees will always be displayed before you confirm. No hidden fees or unpleasant surprises to worry about.

Final thoughts on the CIBC US dollar business account

Convenient and efficient, CIBC’s US account offering is ideal for businesses that frequently make transactions and need to manage snowballing fees. In the long run, however, Wise can offer numerous other benefits such as markup-free fees, interbank exchange rates, and fast processing times, all with an account that won’t limit a business to one single currency.

About the author:
	Piyush is an expert in finance topics for the Canadian market, covering everything you need to live without borders. He creates high quality content to help you make the best cross-border decisions. You can read more useful articles on his author profile.

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Sources

1 - Business Account Service Fees - CIBC
2 - CIBC U.S. Dollar Current Account

Sources verified on 4 September 2024