TD banking services give you plenty of options for sending money – but you may not get the most competitive exchange rates.
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TD Bank versus TD Canada Trust: What’s the difference?
TD Canada Trust is the Canadian commercial banking arm of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (also known as TD Bank Group). The Toronto-Dominion Bank services U.S-based customers through its American commercial banking arm, TD Bank.
Because The Toronto-Dominion Bank owns banks on both sides of the border, it is able to offer strong cross-border financial solutions to its customers. However, TD Canada Trust and TD Bank remain separate financial institutions. Banking conducted from Canada can only be done through TD Canada Trust, while banking conducted from the States can only be done through TD Bank.
Do you visit the States or conduct business there frequently? Speak to your TD Canada Trust representative to learn more about cross-border banking options and to see if opening an U.S.-based account with TD Bank can help you.
TD Bank exchange rates and fees
TD has exchange rates that are on par with other banks, but fall well below those on offer from specialist money transfer companies.
The bank recommends wiring foreign currency, instead of Canadian dollars, when sending money abroad, as doing so can mean faster payments and more competitive rates. It could also result in lower fees, as correspondent banks often charge more for currency exchanges during transfers.
Take a look at TD Canada Trust’s currency exchange rates in more detail
TD’s money transfer fees*
|
WIRE TRANSFER (Domestic & Foreign) |
VISA DIRECT (Domestic) |
VISA DIRECT (Foreign) |
INTERAC E-TRANSFER (Domestic only) |
TD EASYWEB ONLINE BILL PAYMENT (Domestic only) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming transfers |
$17.50 | Free | Free | Free | N/A |
| Outgoing transfers |
$30 – $80 depending on the currency and transfer amount | $1.50 | $8.95 for transfers up to $1,000 $12.95 for transfers over $1,000 |
Personal accounts:
Business accounts:
|
Free |
These rates compare favorably with other Canadian banks. For instance, RBC charges $45 or more for outgoing wire transfers and $17 for incoming wire transfers that are greater than $50. Customers can send up to $2,500 per day from their online accounts or smartphones using RBC’s international money transfer service, which costs $13.50 per transaction. Each Interac e-Transfer costs $1.00 for personal accounts and $1.50 for business accounts (the fee may be waived in some cases).*
*Rates and fees are current as of June 23, 2019
Available currencies
You can send money in over 25 currencies using TD Canada Trust wire transfer services. However, if you send a Western Union money transfer through your TD account or mobile app, you have access to a much larger network of destinations – over 200 countries in all. The following currencies are some of the ones supported through TD’s wire transfer service:
- AUD Australian dollar
- HKD Hong Kong dollar
- SGD Singapore dollar
- JPY Japanese yen
- EUR Euro
- GBP British pound
- Sfr Swiss franc
- USD US dollar
What types of transfers can you make with TD Bank?
TD offers a variety of ways to send money, from traditional wire transfers to electronic transfers using Interac and Visa Direct. Many of these options can be accessed easily through TD EasyWeb online banking or the TD mobile banking app. And if TD’s in-house transfer services don’t meet all your needs, you can access Western Union’s services from your EasyWeb or mobile banking account.
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Wire transfer
Visit your local TD branch in person to send a wire transfer in one of over 25 currencies. Wire transfers take 3-5 business days to be fully processed, depending on the currency and the number of banks involved in making the transfer.
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Interac e-Transfer
Interac e-Transfers are only available for transfers within Canada. Transfers are usually completed in minutes, although they can take up to 30 minutes. Recipients are notified by email that funds are available for deposit into their account. Auto-deposit is available to provide quicker access to funds. TD limits Interac e-Transfers to $3,000 per transfer and per day, $10,000 per week and $20,000 per 30 days.
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Visa Direct
Send money to over 170 countries in over 150 currencies through TD’s Visa Direct program. Transfers can be between $10 and $2,500, and recipients must have a Visa Debit, Visa Credit or Visa Prepaid card. Funds are deposited into whatever account is linked the debit, credit or prepaid card.
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EasyWeb bill payment (for personal transfers and bill payments)
If your transferring money to pay a Canadian bill or sending money to a friend or loved one within Canada, simply login to your EasyWeb online banking account or TD’s mobile banking app and select “Pay Bills.” Transfers do not cost anything, and payee information is stored to make future transfers easier. Funds are usually processed the following business day.
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Western Union (through TD EasyWeb)
Login to your TD EasyWeb online banking account to send a Western Union money transfer. You can send funds to over 200 countries in over 130 currencies. Cash pick-ups are supported, as are transfers directly to your recipient’s bank account. You may also be able to send to a mobile wallet, depending on the destination country and which mobile phone provider your recipient uses. Transfers typically arrive the same business day, although it could take up to several days. Read our full review of Western Union money transfer services for more information.
What payment methods does TD Bank accept?
TD Canada Trust accepts the following forms of payment for money transfers:
- Debit card (including Visa Debit)
- Bank transfer directly from your account
- Cash (for in-person transfers)
How long does a transfer with TD Bank take?
Wire transfers are the slowest option for domestic and international transfers, taking 3-5 business days to process (potentially longer if the receiving bank takes longer to deposit the funds). Western Union transfers through EasyWeb are quicker, usually completing within the same business day.
Visa Direct transfers can take 24-48 hours to process unless your recipient’s card is Fast Funds enabled, in which case your recipient can access the funds within 30 minutes. You will know if your recipient has Fast Funds enabled if you see an indicator beside Transfer Fee on the screen in which you confirm your details of your transfer.
If you’re sending money domestically, Interac e-Transfers are your quickest option as the process typically completes within minutes. Sending money online using the EasyWeb bill payment feature will takes at least 1 business day to complete.
Is TD Bank safe to use?
- Security and regulation: Regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC). Subject to the Bank Act (1991), Canada’s primary legislation pertaining to banks. The Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) resolves customer disputes that cannot be resolved internally.
- Established: TD Canada Trust was formed in 2000 when the Toronto-Dominion Bank bought Canada Trust bank.
- Number of customers: Over 13 million.
- Reviews: TrustPilot gives TD Bank a score of 1.5 out of 10, based on over 50 reviews*
Banking in Canada is regulated by a network of organizations that oversee various aspects of the financial industry including the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC). The Bank Act (1991) is the primary law governing Canadian banking institutions.
TD is required by law to have an internal complaints-handling process for customers to resolve their grievances. If still unresolved, customers can take their disputes to the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI), an impartial third party body tasked with solving problems that cannot be solved internally.
How does TD Bank make money?
As with other banks and money transfer service providers, TD Canada Trust makes a profit by adding a margin to the exchange rate and charging fees for its products and services.
How to register an account and make a transfer with TD Bank
You must own a bank account with TD Canada Trust to send money domestically or internationally.
To set up an international transfer, you’ll need:
- Your recipient’s full name and contact information.
- The amount you’d like to send, the country it’s going to and the currency in which you’d like the money delivered.
- If you’re sending through Visa Direct, you’ll need your recipient’s 16-digit Visa Card number as well as their name and address.
- For wire transfers, you’ll need your recipient’s banking details including their bank name, SWIFT code and account number. For transfers to Europe, you might need the IBAN for your recipient’s bank.
You can only set up international wire transfers by visiting your local branch. Cutoff for wire transfers is 2 p.m. each day, regardless of where you’re sending it. After 2 p.m., your transfer is based on the next day’s exchange rate.
Steps for sending a Western Union money transfer through TD EasyWeb
Steps for sending a money transfer using Visa Direct
What is TD Bank?
TD Canada Trust is one of Canada’s largest banks, offering a full range of financial products and services for both individuals and businesses. Headquartered in the iconic TD Canada Trust Tower on Bay Street in Toronto, TD has been a leader in bringing customers new and easy ways to do their banking, from EasyWeb Online Banking, to the TD Mobile Banking app, to EasyLine Telephone Banking.
As one of the “Big 5” banks in Canada, the second largest in terms of assets and the 19th largest globally in terms of market capitalization, TD brings loads of experience in finances and customer relations to its business. It has become one of the most recognized financial institutions in Canada, providing banking and financial services to more than 13 million people, which is over 1/3 of Canada’s population. In a nutshell
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