How to cash a Canadian check based in US funds in the US

[Drakkon]

Recently did a job for a Canadian university - they took FOREVER to pay me (4 months) - and then the check they send me (rather than the international MO as i requested) is drawn from a Canadian bank in US funds. I take it to my bank (local credit union) and they say sure - they take my check and say it will take 2 weeks to process as its still considered a foreign check. I say fine....

A week later i see my account has the funds then a day later the funds are GONE. I call them up and they tell me they cannot process the check. I will have to fill out some special paperwork, accept a filing fee of around $70, wait another 4-6 weeks and I will then be able to see if it can be cashed. They still haven't sent me the check back but I'm thinking it can't be this complicated and hopefully its just my crappy credit union being stupid.

Any ideas here? Will a major bank have an easier time processing a check like this (if i open an account with them of course)?

 

[AMDZen]

Crappy Credit Union being stupid is my guess

 

[DayLaPaul]

Take it to a real bank and see if they will let use the check to fund a new account. Try one with free checking.

 

[nickbits]

Note sure if this helps but here is some info.

I have a US$ checking account in Canada and a few months ago I got a note saying that all my existing checks could not be used anymore (in the US) and that I had to get a real US account if I wanted to have US$ checks.

The account I have is with Royal Bank. If the check you have is through them then it is highly likely that the check can't be processed in the US anymore. Even if it is through another Canadian bank it is probably related. I think the issue was with checks that say "payable through" or something like that on them.

Not sure what to suggest you do about it though.

 

[Capt Caveman]

My friend moved down here from Canada, had no issues opening a bank account using a check from a Canadian bank account.

 

[DaWhim]

multicurrency account is not a common thing in US.

 

[illusion88]

did you try taking it to a check cashing place? They usually charge a $5 fee or some such. I would call one and ask if they will do the Canadian check before you show up though.

 

[hdeck]

at Wells Fargo there is a way they process it w/o charging any fee at all