Chapter 08 · Banking & cards
RBC Bank US: checking & credit cards for Canadians
U.S. checking account without SSN in 5 minutes, zero annual fees first year, free transfers to Canada.
Direct answer · 60-second summary
The 60-second version
RBC Bank (US accounts, no SSN required) is the U.S. subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada, offering checking accounts, credit cards, and free transfers to RBC Royal Bank Canada. 5 minutes to open, zero annual fees first year.
Acronyms used in this guide
- RBC — Royal Bank of Canada
- SSN — Social Security Number
- ITIN — Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
- FX — Foreign Exchange
US checking accounts without SSN
RBC Bank does not require a U.S. Social Security number or U.S. address to open an account. A Canadian passport and Canadian address are sufficient.
- Checking Account — Free, Visa debit card, access to 50,000+ Allpoint ATMs worldwide.
- Transfers RBC to RBC — Unlimited and instant transfers between your Canadian RBC and RBC US account, 24/7 with no fee.
- Account limits — Minimum initial deposit: $100 USD recommended. No monthly minimum balance required.
RBC US credit cards
RBC offers several credit cards accepted throughout the United States:
- Visa Signature Black — Foreign exchange fee 1.5% on U.S. purchases.
- Visa Signature Black Plus — Zero foreign exchange fee on U.S. purchases and cashback, annual fee ~$45.
- Visa Platinum — Foreign exchange fee 3%, zero annual fee first year.
All cards accept applications without SSN (ITIN or RBC account number sufficient).
U.S. mortgages for Canadians
RBC Bank is the only national U.S. mortgage lender dedicated to Canadians buying property in all states (including Florida).
- Financing up to 80% of home value for non-residents.
- Fixed rates 15 or 30 years.
- No U.S. work permit or residency requirement.
Every figure, rate, threshold, and deadline in this guide is drawn from a verifiable primary source listed at the bottom of the page. The article is updated whenever the underlying rules change, with a fresh review date stamped at the top.
Sources and references
Public sources verified as of the last review date (IRS, FinCEN, Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, RBC/BMO/TD official, CFPB, CRA).
Disclaimer
This guide is for educational purpose only. Figures, rates, thresholds, timelines and rules are drawn from public sources at the date shown and may change.
For any concrete decision, consult a cross-border tax attorney, a cross-border certified accountant, or a credit counselor.