Cross border debit makes shopping easier

Cross border shopping is soaring along with the loonie. Hotels, stores and restaurants along the U.S. border are seeing a rise in business. In fact, according to the Binational Tourism Alliance, the number of Canadian visits to the U.S. rose from 34.5 million in 2003 to 35.9 million in 2004.

U.S. businesses are gearing up as they move into the busiest shopping season
of the year with vacation packages and special deals for Canadians.

The financial payments industry is also making shopping in the U.S. more convenient
for Canadian shoppers. The architects of Interac Direct Payment have partnered
with the NYCE debit network in the United States, to allow Canadians to use
their debit cards to make purchases at over one million retail locations across
the United States.

Canadians are among the highest users of debit in the world, so extending the
service into the U.S. allows cardholders to continue using their favourite form
of payment over the border too.

Mary Beggan, mother of two, crosses the border frequently in search of deals.
"With Cross Border Debit, I don’t have to convert large amounts of Canadian
currency before headng south," said Beggan. "Furthermore, I can even
eliminate a stop at an ATM, by using the cash back option when making a purchase."

Canadians can conveniently use their debit cards in the U.S. for shopping and
all points in between – from great bargains at the variety of apparel, department
and club stores, to lunch at one of the many fast food outlets to the final
fill-up at one of several participating gas station chains.

"Just like home, I can use my card safely and easily," said Beggan.

Customers of Desjardins, National Bank of Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank,
TD Canada Trust and ATB Financial can take advantage of this convenient service.
For more information, contact one of these participating financial institutions.