I'm an American citizen and live in Canada most of the year. But when I buy coffee or buy subway fare in my familiar city of Toronto, I habitually use the same few American credit cards I've owned and used for years. I realize that there is.
You can maintain your American credit history by using an American card while living across the border. Additionally, we found it to be a better value than comparably priced Canadian cards.
Particularly likely to be removed are Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card information is collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been verified or provided by the card issuer.
Because you don't have to think too much about the different reward categories and you get enough points.
Instead, you'll earn the same 1.5 points per dollar spent on unlimited purchases. This is a return rate that no Canadian card with no annual fee has been able to match until now.
Don't know how to choose a credit card? Read our guide on how to choose the best credit card for you.
In Canada, reward cards with no annual fee are usually not very generous, especially when it comes to fees.For example, my CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card
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CIBC Dividend® Visa* card information was collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been verified or provided by the card issuer.
2% cashback on groceries, 1% cashback on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation, meals, and recurring payments, and 0.5% cashback on everything else .
My Bank of America Travel Rewards Card also has no foreign transaction fees. So you won't have to pay more than 1% to 3% in foreign transaction fees that can quickly add up on multiple transactions.
But the number one reason I use the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card regularly is its convenience.
After using credit cards for nearly 20 years, I've found that I get more value from low-maintenance cards that require minimal time and attention.
Bank of America Travel Rewards are easy to earn and redeem instantly, even when you're abroad.
In my experience, the Bank of America Travel Rewards Visa is especially easy to use in Canada compared to other American cards I own. It is equipped with contactless technology (this technology was widespread long before it became popular in the United States) and the visa is widely accepted.
I rarely use Discover it® Milesin contrast, because I'm having trouble finding Canadian vendors who will accept it.
Earn the same cash back rate every time you make a purchase with your Bank of America Travel Rewards Card, so keep track of your spending bonuses and worry about what types of overseas purchases qualify for higher cashback rates. No need to.
Even better, the rewards you earn with your Bank of America Travel Rewards Card are super easy to redeem online by simply checking a few boxes next to your eligible travel and dining purchases. You can redeem within minutes. A statement credit will be posted to my account within a few days.
You can also book award travel from any site without having to plan around blackout dates or other travel restrictions.
This added simplicity is important for working moms like me who have little time to book travel, much less spend hours searching for the right award ticket.
I also have ADHD, so navigating complex reward schemes that require a lot of extra steps and tracking can sometimes feel overwhelming. A simple reward program is easier for me to stick to long-term and is overall better suited to my neurodivergent brain. Plus, people are more likely to use their rewards if they're easy to redeem.
The downside is that the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card has limited redemption options. Points must be redeemed for travel or dining to earn a 1:1 return on your redemption spend.
You can also redeem your points for gift cards, but the points will be worth less than 1 cent. The cash return rate is even more severe.
Fortunately, there are many purchases that count as travel and dining, including public transportation and parking fees, bridge and highway tolls, tourist attractions like aquariums and zoos, fast food, coffee shops, bars and taverns, etc. .
Bank of America also gives you up to one year to redeem points before qualifying purchases become ineligible. Therefore, you have time to accumulate rewards.
How to use American credit when living abroad
In my case, I was able to smoothly transition to living in Canada for the better part of a year without giving up my U.S. credit history. Because I still have a valid U.S. address and phone number and maintain a presence in both countries.
I also happened to own most of my credit cards well before I immigrated to Canada in 2018. However, I have successfully applied for new cards over the years since then and had them shipped to my address in the US.
Expats who do not maintain a valid U.S. address may need to work with a bank or credit union that specializes in serving U.S. citizens who live or frequently travel abroad. But for me it's relatively easy and the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card fits my needs perfectly.
