this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2023
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Can I (American) open a bank account in America without being in America? (alien.top)
submitted 11 months ago by BurntAlmonds13@alien.top to c/digitalnomad@expats.zone
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Hello all, I'm a US citizen living in Asia; and I haven't returned to the US since I left more than two decades ago.

I'd like to open a US Bank account while living abroad that I can access online for basic personal finance and possible business ventures in the future. Ideally I would be able to connect a debit card and possibly get a US PayPal account, too.

What I have:

  • Original US birth certificate

  • US passport

  • Social Security number

What I don't have:

  • A residential address in the US (or any close family whose address I can use)

  • A phone number in the US

I'm really clueless about my options for doing this and would be grateful for any tips you can offer. Thanks.

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[–] techrmd3@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (3 children)

I believe that would not be allowed.

Banks check your IP to prevent fraud, they would detect your IP being outside country and deny it.

yeah? VPN they know about that those are usually blocked for new accounts too.

since you have documentation, and all that why not come home for Christmas and open an account here?

[–] thekwoka@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Banks check your IP to prevent fraud, they would detect your IP being outside country and deny it.

Not true.

Like nothing about being outside the US means you would be blocked.

[–] techrmd3@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

and how do you come by your info "not true"

have you worked at Bank of America, Chase, Citi, CapitalOne ?

have you tested to see if you VPN to an IP outlet in say Europe your experience at chase dot com is different?

I think like much of the people that suppose they "know" things... you probably know nothing about what you are talking about.

[–] thekwoka@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

how do you come by your info "not true"

I've literally connected to my Chase account from many countries. My address on my Chase account isn't in the US, I've had Chase ship replacement cards to me in 5 different countries.

I've opened new accounts when outside the country.

I think like much of the people that suppose they "know" things... you probably know nothing about what you are talking about.

Okay, how do you "know" it is true?