CEFCU Foreign Currency and Check Services

Traveling overseas? Sending or receiving international funds? Depositing a check from a foreign country? CEFCU members can enjoy these safe competitive options:

Buy or Sell Foreign Currency Make International Wire Transfers Deposit Foreign Checks

If you search foreign currency exchange rates online, you won't get the rate shown. That rate is usually the interbank rate, which is what financial institutions charge each other when trading significant amounts of foreign currency. Consumers actually pay more, either as a fee or as a percent of the transaction for ordering and selling currency, as well as depositing foreign checks.

Foreign Currency and Check Services available only to CEFCU members. If you wish to utilize these services and are not an existing member, you can open an account at any CEFCU Member Center or by visiting cefcu.com/join.

Foreign Currency Services

The safety of your personal and account information is of the utmost importance to CEFCU! Members can pick up or drop off foreign currency they need to buy or sell at the Member Center of their choice.

Buying Foreign Currency:

Fee: Consumer rate on the date of conversion, plus $10 fee per currency plus $15 if totals <$500 USD.
Ordering options:
- In person at any CEFCU Member Center
- By phone at 1.800.633.7077, ext. 33407
- Order currency for over 70 countries¹
- Request specific bills²
Delivery: pick up at a Member Center of your choice.
Delivery Turnaround is 3-4 business days:
- Orders received by 2 p.m. (CT) Monday-Friday (M-F) are placed that day (excludes holidays)
- Orders received after 2 p.m. (CT) M-F will be placed the next business day (excludes holidays)

Tip: Order only what you think you’ll need to avoid conversion fees upon your return.

Selling Foreign Currency:

Fee: Consumer rate on the date of conversion, plus $10 fee per currency plus $15 if totals <$500 USD.
Conversion process:
- Bring foreign currency to a CEFCU Member Center (currency convertible for 70+ countries)¹
- Conversion posted as a credit to members’ accounts in 2-3 business days

¹ Call 1.800.633.7077, ext. 33407 for available Country Conversion List.
² Specific bills can be requested, but not guaranteed *and* foreign coin cannot be ordered or sold.

Foreign Check Services

Bring foreign checks into any Member Center to deposit into your CEFCU account.

Service

Required

Fee

Processing Time

Service

Required

Fee

Processing Time

Canadian check drawn on a Canadian bank in U.S. dollars

Check must be less than $5,000

$0

Immediate provisional credit given (same business day)^{Footnote 3}

Service

Required

Fee

Processing Time

Canadian check in Canadian dollars

Check must be less than $5,000

$0

Provisional credit given within 3-7 business days (excludes holidays)^{Footnote 3}

Service

Required

Fee

Processing Time

Foreign checks

Check must be greater than $300 in U.S. dollars, but does not have to be made payable in U.S. dollars
Canadian Checks greater than $5,000

$35 per check, plus any foreign bank and corresponding bank fees

Typically 6-8 weeks

Service

Required

Fee

Processing Time

Foreign check drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars

$0

Immediate provisional credit given (same business day)^{Footnote 3}

³CEFCU may place a hold on the check.

Here are a few other things to keep in mind for foreign checks:

Once an order is placed, it cannot be canceled.
You are responsible for exchange rate differences, returned checks, and all fees associated with returned checks.
Checks can be returned to CEFCU for non-payment at any time in the future. You will be responsible for any collections.
Foreign check conversion exchange rates will be the rate on the day the foreign bank processes the check.

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Foreign Currency and Check Services

Foreign Currency Services

Buying Foreign Currency:

Selling Foreign Currency:

Foreign Check Services

Features & Benefits

Online Banking

Mobile App

Debit Card

Credit Card

International Wire Transfers