Can you open a US bank account from outside of the United States?

1. 92

   Wesley Meachamposted 5 years ago

   Can you open a US bank account from outside of the United States?
   
   I closed my bank account shortly after leaving the US because at the time I did not need it. However I recently had to begin paying on my student loans. This would be easier if I still had a bank account in the US. (Hindsight is 20/20, right?) So I need to find out if it is possible to open an account with a US bank without physically being in the US and without having to link that account to one you already have (Banks like ING Direct allows you to open an account online but you need to link it to a US account you already have).

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2. 60

   MortgageGuyposted 5 years ago

   Sure. You do not have to be physically in the branch. But you will need a tax ID since you are not likely to have SSN. Go to http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/art … 67,00.html for information on how to obtain one. Good luck!

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   1. 92

      Wesley Meachamposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not likely to have an SSN? You must not have read my whole question. I have an SSN. I was born in Florida, dude. Expat here, not alien.

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   2. 60

      MortgageGuyposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Your fine then. Keep in mind that if you deposit $10k or more then the bank reports it to IRS.

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3. 94

   Paul Kuehnposted 5 years ago

   When I first got to Thailand, I was able to open a bank account at Citibank.  The catch was that I needed to deposit at least $1,000 in an account.

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   1. 92

      Wesley Meachamposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Paul.

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   2. 72

      LaThingposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Wesley, if you have the means to call the banks directly (Skype, or others) call them and find out. Some banks will allow, and some like in our state, CT, will not allow it. You have to be present there.

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