Setting up a Bank Account
There's a couple of philosophies about this. My philosophy was that I want a big bank that exists in every state, so that if I go to another state I could maintain my banking relationship. Larger banks have the power to implement better services, more ATMs, and national coverage. These are all things that in Canada you just automatically assume with the big five (Toronto Dominion, CIBC, Royal Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, and Bank of Montreal). Also location is important too, in walking distance from my apartment was a Bank of America.
The other philosophy is that a large bank doesn't care about the little person, and smaller banks are more eager to earn your business, so with that theory it's possible that you would have an easier time getting a loan from a smaller bank.
In either case, you're starting fresh like you were a 15 year old punk starting a new account, your income means nothing. The bank will want you to apply for their credit card, decline this, because they'll decline you garaunteed. Use the methods of transferring Canadian credit cards to American ones. After a couple of months when you have some history, then you can start applying for credit cards, but I would give it a good year before doing that.
As luck would have it, there are three banks that recognize Canadians. Security First National Bank, Harris Bank , and TDWaterHouse Bank. SFNB is an internet bank like Net B@NK, but is owned by the Royal Bank of Canada, and Harris Bank is with the Bank of Montreal. Harris seems to be more of an East Coast type deal, and SFNB has no physical representation (if that matters to you).
TDWaterhouse Bank is relatively new, and I think is God's gift to Canadians in the United States. They originally were purely a North American brokerage firm that has now become a full fleged bank specifically for Canadians in the United States. As a bonus they give you direct access to your American TDWaterhouse and TDBank accounts, which makes it easy to transfer funds back and forth. You also get to have your full credit rating back from Canada, and they are completely a web based banking system so you can do everything online. The fun doesn't stop there, they also have complete discount stock brokerage services.
Wells Fargo has had the best reviews so
far, from many sources. Citibank is also a good bank, although they don't have
as many branches. Both banks will check your Canadian credit (for your credit
card), but you must insist, even though your application may be rejected on the
first pass. When applying for a credit card, make the application at the branch
and note on it that your Canadian credit be checked. Wells Fargo's cards will
cost $18/year for the regular Visa/Mastercard, though the fee can be waived the
first year. Canadians I know here have gotten their Wells Fargo card free for
perpetuity. A number of these have had their first application to Wells Fargo
rejected, in spite of including Canadian credit information on the application.
Don't despair - all of these people eventually got a card after calling Wells
Fargo and really insisting that their Canadian credit be checked. Citibank's
cards are free - make sure you use the application that indicates this. Citibank
also puts your photo on the credit card.