Foreign Exchange Currency Converter

Exchange rates quoted in the media are the exchange rates, used by banks and other market participants to buy and sell currencies in the wholesale market. Client transactions require additional processing and are usually for much smaller amounts, and as a result, are priced using a retail rate.

Exchange rates applied to cash transactions include shipping and handling charges, making the exchange rate for cash less favorable than the non-cash rate. Non-cash rates are applied to paper instruments such as cheques and drafts. Non-cash rates are also applied to incoming and outgoing wire payments and other electronic transactions. These instruments do not require physical storage or movement, and incur less time and cost for processing than cash transactions. Therefore a more favorable rate is applied to non-cash instruments.

It is often more beneficial to convert your Canadian dollars to the local currency of your travel destination before you leave Canada. Many banks, foreign exchange kiosks and hotels in other countries charge commission or service charges in addition to exchange rates that are often higher than those in Canada when converting your Canadian dollars to their local currency.