ACH for routine deposits; wire instructions for formal payments
ACH reaches US bank and credit-union accounts through routing and account numbers and is the natural payout rail for many specialist transfer services. It is well suited to family support, rent and ordinary invoices when the recipient can wait for the quoted delivery window. Verify whether the provider accepts checking, savings or both.
Fedwire is a separate, same-day high-value system. A US bank can publish different routing instructions for ACH, domestic wires and international wires, so copy the exact set supplied for the transaction. Property, escrow, legal and brokerage recipients may reject a consumer ACH deposit if they require a wire reference or sender information.
When a Canadian USD or cross-border account earns its keep
Holding USD can reduce repeated conversions when you earn, spend or invest in the United States, but it does not automatically create a low-cost US domestic payment route. Compare the account’s exchange spread, monthly fee, transfer charge and withdrawal rules with the net USD shown in the live table.
For frequent transfers, separate the conversion decision from the delivery decision. You may convert CAD when the total price is acceptable, hold USD, and deliver later. For a one-off payment, that extra account layer can add more administration than value.
US banking days, cutoff times and scam resistance
ACH settlement and provider availability can extend beyond classic branch hours, but weekends, US federal holidays, Canadian holidays and funding holds still affect the promised arrival. Wires also have bank cutoff times. Submit a closing or tuition payment well before its deadline and use the beneficiary’s requested reference.
Treat emailed changes to wire instructions as high risk. Verify routing and account details through a known phone number or secure portal before sending, especially for real estate. A completed wire is difficult to reverse; a cheaper quote is irrelevant if the beneficiary details were intercepted.
Questions about sending money to the United States
Is ACH cheaper than a wire from Canada to the US?
For routine consumer deposits, ACH delivery through a transfer specialist is commonly the lower-cost starting point. A wire is appropriate when the recipient explicitly requires it or when a high-value, time-sensitive transaction needs wire references and same-day settlement.
Which US routing number should I use?
Use the routing number the recipient’s bank gives for the exact payment type. ACH and wire routing instructions can differ. Do not copy a number from an unrelated cheque or public directory without confirming it with the bank.
Can I send to a US savings account?
Some providers support savings accounts and others accept checking only. Select the account type shown by the recipient’s bank and confirm the provider supports it before submitting.
Is a Canadian USD account the same as a US bank account?
No. A Canadian USD account holds US dollars at a Canadian institution; a US account participates in US domestic payment systems. Cross-border products can connect the two, but fees and capabilities vary.