Currency exchange in White Rock, BC: A thorough overview

Whether you’re arriving in White Rock, British Columbia, as part of a trip to Canada, or you’re a resident there planning a getaway, you might need convenient local currency exchange services.

When you’re exchanging your money to or from dollars, it’s helpful to do a bit of research to find the right service for your needs. By knowing the exchange rates on offer, and following a few simple tips and tricks, you can save yourself unnecessary expense.
Looking to get more bang for your buck? Read on.

Things to know before exchanging your money

Before you even start to look for a currency exchange service, there are a few things you should be aware of.

Know the actual exchange rate

An important first point — you should make sure you know the exchange rate for your currency pairing before you start your research. This is easy to find using an online currency converter or a google search.

The rate you’ll find online with these tools is the mid-market rate. That’s the one used by banks trading currencies on global markets, and the best way to benchmark any exchange rate you’re offered by a currency exchange service.

It’s helpful to check the rate you’re given, because it’s common for providers to buy in currency using the mid-market rate, and then sell it on to customers with a markup. This means that they can say that there is no commission on the sale, because there is no upfront fee added. Instead, the profit they make is all wrapped up in the exchange rate, which can make it harder to work out if it is a good deal or not.

If you would rather get currency exchange at the mid-market rate, with an upfront fee, try Wise. With a Wise borderless account, you can keep over 40 different currencies in one account and switch between them when you want to, using the mid-market rate. There’s just a low fee to pay for the service.

Remember — exchange rates always change

Having an online currency converter is a great way to check out the exchange rate for your currency pair — especially because rates change all the time. Exchange rates move up and down depending on what the global markets are doing, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on the details, to change your money when the rates look good.

Research your home bank’s partnerships before you leave

One smart way to get some or all of your travel money, is to withdraw it from local ATMs once you arrive in your destination. Usually this get you a reasonable exchange rate, as long as you avoid dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and it means you don’t have to carry too much cash at any one time.

We will cover DCC in a moment — but one thing you should also check, if you’re planning on using international ATMs, is whether your home bank is part of a global ATM network. If it is — or if it’s partnered with overseas banks wherever you’re headed — you might be able to get low fee or free ATM withdrawals as you travel. This can mean big savings.

Always choose to be charged in the local currency

Remember DCC? You’ll have come across this if you’ve ever been asked whether you would like an international ATM withdrawal or card purchase to be processed in the local currency or your home currency. It can be tempting to ask to pay in your home currency to save the hassle of working out the conversion - but this can mean you pay more.

Always choose topay in the local currency wherever you are, to get the best exchange rate, and avoid high merchant fees.

Avoid airport and hotel currency exchanges

Airport and hotel currency exchanges don’t have any real competition, and so the rates on offer are rarely the best available. It’s often better to withdraw a little local cash from an ATM if you can, and exchange anything else you need once you reach a town or city with a range of exchange options. The competition will mean the rates are better, and you’ve bought yourself time to do a bit of research, too.

Spend your money before leaving

If you make it through your trip, and discover that you have money left over, you might be tempted to switch it back once you get home. Unfortunately, that’ll mean you pay the commission or exchange fees twice for the same cash. It’s a far better idea to exchange only what you’ll need, and spend any you’re left with on a treat for yourself.

Where to exchange money in White Rock

There are a few places in White Rock where you can exchange your money to or from dollars. Don’t forget to call ahead to check the exchange rates on offer at different locations, so you can choose the one which suits you.

Name	Address	Contact details
Express Currency exchange & Express Gold Ltd	15223 Russell Ave, White Rock, BC V4B 5C3	+1 604-542-4266
BC Currency Exchange	1515 Johnston Rd, White Rock, BC V4B 3Z6	+1 604-541-3345
ICE International Currency Exchange	15241 16 Ave, Surrey, BC V4A 1R6	+1 604-535-0222

Getting a great deal on your travel money means you can relax, and get on with enjoying your break. It’s well worth investing a little time checking out the different options available — including both the fees charged by different providers, and the exchange rates used. That way you can get all you need for your trip, and perhaps a little extra to spend on yourself, too.

Whether you’re arriving in White Rock, British Columbia, as part of a trip to Canada, or you’re a resident there planning a getaway, you might need convenient local currency exchange services.

When you’re exchanging your money to or from dollars, it’s helpful to do a bit of research to find the right service for your needs. By knowing the exchange rates on offer, and following a few simple tips and tricks, you can save yourself unnecessary expense.
Looking to get more bang for your buck? Read on.

Things to know before exchanging your money

Before you even start to look for a currency exchange service, there are a few things you should be aware of.

Know the actual exchange rate

An important first point — you should make sure you know the exchange rate for your currency pairing before you start your research. This is easy to find using an online currency converter or a google search.

The rate you’ll find online with these tools is the mid-market rate. That’s the one used by banks trading currencies on global markets, and the best way to benchmark any exchange rate you’re offered by a currency exchange service.

It’s helpful to check the rate you’re given, because it’s common for providers to buy in currency using the mid-market rate, and then sell it on to customers with a markup. This means that they can say that there is no commission on the sale, because there is no upfront fee added. Instead, the profit they make is all wrapped up in the exchange rate, which can make it harder to work out if it is a good deal or not.

If you would rather get currency exchange at the mid-market rate, with an upfront fee, try Wise. With a Wise borderless account, you can keep over 40 different currencies in one account and switch between them when you want to, using the mid-market rate. There’s just a low fee to pay for the service.

Remember — exchange rates always change

Having an online currency converter is a great way to check out the exchange rate for your currency pair — especially because rates change all the time. Exchange rates move up and down depending on what the global markets are doing, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on the details, to change your money when the rates look good.

Research your home bank’s partnerships before you leave

One smart way to get some or all of your travel money, is to withdraw it from local ATMs once you arrive in your destination. Usually this get you a reasonable exchange rate, as long as you avoid dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and it means you don’t have to carry too much cash at any one time.

We will cover DCC in a moment — but one thing you should also check, if you’re planning on using international ATMs, is whether your home bank is part of a global ATM network. If it is — or if it’s partnered with overseas banks wherever you’re headed — you might be able to get low fee or free ATM withdrawals as you travel. This can mean big savings.

Always choose to be charged in the local currency

Remember DCC? You’ll have come across this if you’ve ever been asked whether you would like an international ATM withdrawal or card purchase to be processed in the local currency or your home currency. It can be tempting to ask to pay in your home currency to save the hassle of working out the conversion - but this can mean you pay more.

Always choose topay in the local currency wherever you are, to get the best exchange rate, and avoid high merchant fees.

Avoid airport and hotel currency exchanges

Airport and hotel currency exchanges don’t have any real competition, and so the rates on offer are rarely the best available. It’s often better to withdraw a little local cash from an ATM if you can, and exchange anything else you need once you reach a town or city with a range of exchange options. The competition will mean the rates are better, and you’ve bought yourself time to do a bit of research, too.

Spend your money before leaving

If you make it through your trip, and discover that you have money left over, you might be tempted to switch it back once you get home. Unfortunately, that’ll mean you pay the commission or exchange fees twice for the same cash. It’s a far better idea to exchange only what you’ll need, and spend any you’re left with on a treat for yourself.

Where to exchange money in White Rock

There are a few places in White Rock where you can exchange your money to or from dollars. Don’t forget to call ahead to check the exchange rates on offer at different locations, so you can choose the one which suits you.

Name	Address	Contact details
Express Currency exchange & Express Gold Ltd	15223 Russell Ave, White Rock, BC V4B 5C3	+1 604-542-4266
BC Currency Exchange	1515 Johnston Rd, White Rock, BC V4B 3Z6	+1 604-541-3345
ICE International Currency Exchange	15241 16 Ave, Surrey, BC V4A 1R6	+1 604-535-0222

Getting a great deal on your travel money means you can relax, and get on with enjoying your break. It’s well worth investing a little time checking out the different options available — including both the fees charged by different providers, and the exchange rates used. That way you can get all you need for your trip, and perhaps a little extra to spend on yourself, too.