— Select Currencies —
CAD to USD (Canadian Dollar to US Dollar)
USD to CAD (US Dollar to Canadian Dollar)
CAD to EUR (Canadian Dollar to Euro)
EUR to CAD (Euro to Canadian Dollar)
CAD to GBP (Canadian Dollar to British Pound)
GBP to CAD (British Pound to Canadian Dollar)
CAD to MXN (Canadian Dollar to Mexican Peso)
You can adjust this rate to match the current posted Desjardins rate.
Converted Amount:
* Note: This tool provides estimates. Actual Desjardins exchange rates fluctuate constantly and may differ based on whether the transaction is cash, non-cash (wire/draft), or credit card based. Always verify the final rate at your local branch or on AccèsD.
function updateEstimatedRate() {
var selector = document.getElementById("currencyPair");
var selectedOption = selector.options[selector.selectedIndex];
var rateInput = document.getElementById("exchangeRate");
// Get the data-rate attribute
var rate = selectedOption.getAttribute("data-rate");
if (rate) {
rateInput.value = rate;
} else {
rateInput.value = "";
}
}
function calculateConversion() {
// Get input values
var amountStr = document.getElementById("amountConvert").value;
var rateStr = document.getElementById("exchangeRate").value;
var pairSelect = document.getElementById("currencyPair");
var selectedText = pairSelect.options[pairSelect.selectedIndex].text;
// Parse values
var amount = parseFloat(amountStr);
var rate = parseFloat(rateStr);
// Validation
if (isNaN(amount) || amount <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid amount to convert.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(rate) || rate <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid exchange rate.");
return;
}
// Calculation
var result = amount * rate;
// Formatting currency symbols logic
var targetSymbol = "";
var sourceSymbol = "";
// Simple logic to guess symbol based on selection text
if (selectedText.includes("to USD")) targetSymbol = "$";
else if (selectedText.includes("to EUR")) targetSymbol = "€";
else if (selectedText.includes("to GBP")) targetSymbol = "£";
else if (selectedText.includes("to CAD")) targetSymbol = "C$";
else if (selectedText.includes("to MXN")) targetSymbol = "Mex$";
else targetSymbol = "$"; // Default
// Display Result
var resultElement = document.getElementById("finalResult");
var detailsElement = document.getElementById("rateUsedDisplay");
var boxElement = document.getElementById("resultBox");
// Format number to 2 decimal places
resultElement.innerHTML = targetSymbol + result.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
detailsElement.innerHTML = "Exchange Rate Used: " + rate;
boxElement.style.display = "block";
}
Desjardins Exchange Rate Calculator: Understanding Your Currency Conversion
Whether you are planning a winter vacation to Florida, sending money to family in Europe, or conducting business across the border, understanding how much your money is worth is crucial. The Desjardins Exchange Rate Calculator provided above helps you estimate the value of your currency conversion based on current market trends and typical bank rates.
Why Calculate Before You Convert?
Exchange rates fluctuate every minute of the trading day. A small difference in the rate can mean a significant difference in the final amount you receive, especially for large transactions. Using a calculator allows you to budget accurately.
How to Use This Calculator
Using the tool is straightforward and designed to help you verify rates you might see on AccèsD or at a branch:
Enter Amount: Input the total amount of the source currency you wish to exchange (e.g., 1000 CAD).
Select Pair: Choose the currency direction, such as "CAD to USD" or "EUR to CAD". This will auto-fill an estimated rate based on recent averages.
Adjust Rate: Since Desjardins rates change frequently, you can manually overwrite the "Exchange Rate" field with the exact rate quoted to you by the bank to get a precise calculation.
Convert: Click the button to see the final estimated amount in the target currency.
Understanding Desjardins Exchange Rates
When dealing with Desjardins (or any major Canadian financial institution), it is important to distinguish between the different types of rates offered. The rate you see on Google or news sites is the "mid-market rate." Banks, however, apply a spread to this rate.
1. Cash vs. Non-Cash Rates
Desjardins typically offers different rates depending on the medium of exchange:
Cash Rate: This applies when you walk into a branch to buy physical foreign paper money. This rate often has a wider spread (higher cost) to cover the logistics of handling physical cash.
Non-Cash Rate: This applies to electronic transfers, wire payments, and drafts. These rates are generally more favorable than cash rates.
2. The "Buy" vs. "Sell" Rate
It is easy to get confused by banking terminology. Always look at it from the bank's perspective:
The Bank Sells: If you want USD, the bank is selling you USD. You will pay the higher "Sell" rate.
The Bank Buys: If you have Euros left over from a trip and want CAD back, the bank is buying your Euros. You will receive the lower "Buy" rate.
Tips for Getting the Best Rate
To maximize your money when exchanging currency with Desjardins:
Use AccèsD: Online transactions often have better visibility and sometimes better rates than walking in without an appointment.
Exchange Larger Amounts: Sometimes, better rates are negotiable or automatically applied for transactions over a certain threshold (e.g., $5,000 or $10,000 CAD).
Avoid Airport Kiosks: While convenient, airport exchange booths typically have much higher fees than your local Desjardins branch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Desjardins charge a commission fee?
Generally, the "fee" is built into the exchange rate spread (the difference between what they buy and sell currency for). However, specific transaction fees may apply depending on your account package (e.g., transaction fees for using a teller vs. ATM).
Can I lock in a rate?
For standard consumer transactions, rates are applied at the moment of the transaction. For commercial clients or large wealth management transactions, forward contracts or spot rates might be available to lock in value.
How often do the rates update?
Desjardins exchange rates are updated continuously throughout the business day to reflect changes in the global foreign exchange market (Forex).