Originally Posted by
sandgrubber
I find it is cheaper to use a foreign exchange dealer... I use OFX = USForex but other exchanges are competitive. You have a NZ bank transfer NZD to them. They deposit USD in your US bank account. If you need to maintain a US bank account while abroad, State Department Federal Credit Union is good. Most banks won't deal with overseas addresses. SDFCU has done the hard yards to comply with all the annoying regulations on international money movement. Saves the bother of setting up a fake US address...eg, using the address of a friend or relative.
What is cost for this? Cost to transfer $5000 visa Transferwise is usually about $20-$40. Exchange rate is exact - no money taken out. (unlike ANZ that takes $.02 from exchange rate for all USD-NZ dollar conversions)