Cross-Border Discover & Learn

In the United States, as in Canada, a strong credit rating is an important element of your financial picture, as it affects many aspects of your life—from what you pay for insurance, to getting approved for a winter rental property, or even getting a reasonable cell phone contract. It’s especially important when you’re looking to borrow money for a large and meaningful goal, such as buying a home in the U.S.

One of the easiest ways to start building good credit in the U.S. is to open a loan account (such as a credit card or line of credit) and make payments on time, every time. While qualifying for credit isn’t typically a simple process for foreign citizens, RBC Bank U.S. has the unique ability to help cross-border clients leverage their Canadian credit history—as well as their RBC Royal Bank^™ history—to obtain a lending product such as:

1. An RBC Bank credit card
2. A mortgage⁸
3. A home equity line of credit³⁰
4. A personal line of credit

When you apply for your first RBC Bank credit product, we can use your Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) to access your Canadian credit file, and get the information we need to approve your application. Once your account is opened, you’ll start to build credit history in the U.S.

Keep in mind, however, that to ensure your credit file is complete and reported accurately, you'll need a United States Social Security Number (SSN). Accurate reporting is important to ensure you’re building that credit history right from the beginning.

For information on how to get your SSN, please visit www.ssa.gov/pubs/10096.html.