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I need to open a US bank account (in the USA) to transfer my paypal money into, so I can withdraw my US dollars out when I go on vacation. (paypal won't transfer US dollars into a Canadian US dollar bank account.)

With the Canadian dollar so weak at $0.77 cents, I want to retain my photo money in US dollars so I don't have to pay the conversion.

A lot of banks are in trouble in the US so I don't know which bank to pick. Can any of my neighbours south of the Canadian border help me out with the name of a secure bank that has branches in most major cities/locations?

Will probably open the account in Niagara or Buffalo or somewhere just below the border.

Thanks everyone and regards
Penny

JP Morgan.

All other banks are at risk of bankruptcy.  Citibank is falling apart, and Bank of America came very close to filing for bankruptcy

I'm with Bank of America. They have a very good online account access service and many banking machines around.

Ok... no luck! Called both Wells Fargo and JP Morgan. Both tell me that I must go into a branch to open an account because I do not have a US Sin number (no US address necessary).  ok, fine, I try find a branch that I can drive to near Niagara Falls (Ontario Border crossing) Neither (they claim?) have a branch in Buffalo, New York State or even in the upper New York State at all.  Would I be willing to come to Ohio, or Texas Uh - NO

Sorry, southern cousins... No wonder the banking system is going t*ts up???  You can't get there from here.

How bad is Bank of America? They have a branch in Buffalo.

Penelope, have you considered a credit union?  Usually they have much lower fees than banks, and probably less risky. 

Consider looking for a credit union in Niagra Falls. 

No reason why it shouldn't, assuming you have a checking account there

Incorrect. All public banks in the US have FDIC insurance which mean that the US government guarantees your deposits up to $250,000. Credit Union are different and you can't be sure that they are actually federally insured through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund without checking with the NCUSIF to see if they're insured.

PenelopeB,

Maybe your current bank can open it for your in a USA branch?

I was able to open an account with HSBC in UK because I am their customer here in Brazil.  It was possible to open it from here, it just would take longer, but I took a morning in UK to do it there when I was on vacation.

Regards,
Adelaide

i am with a credit union - love it - all transactions online. They have their own insurance. You have to pay 1 buck a month as membership fee - since it is member owned. I have no worries.

Have you not considered just putting a black balaclava on and getting yourself a sawn off shotgun and robbing a bloody bank.That way you won't need to have a paypal acount our type in the forum for help.

It's ok bank robbing is not for everyone!

A recent example of this would be from my neck of the woods (although they were not my bank) - Washington Mutual, known as WaMu. They were "seized" by the FDIC and yet things operated normally at the retail level. Perhaps a piece of advice would be to stick with big banks, because it's more likely that efforts will be made to ensure smooth operations during their seizure and acquisition.

Hi JS,

 We must be in the same neck of the woods if you were with WAMU. Seattle by chance?

Best,
AVAVA