US bank acount for non-residents, it is impossible?

virtualmoney_2

Hi,
now it is nearly a Year I was looking for getting a real US based bank account for me as a non-resident from Europe.
That bank account should have at least a Visa or Mastercard debit or ATM card.
Maybe someone here has a idea where to get one ( if this is still possible, I don´t know )
I have heard that a stockbroker called e-trade is offering this option for non-reseidents, but it is a real US bank account or just a brokerage account?

Let me hear your opinions, thank you and sorry if this were poseted inthe wrong section

khurammm

virtualmoney wrote:

Hi,
now it is nearly a Year I was looking for getting a real US based bank account for me as a non-resident from Europe.
That bank account should have at least a Visa or Mastercard debit or ATM card.
Maybe someone here has a idea where to get one ( if this is still possible, I don´t know )
I have heard that a stockbroker called e-trade is offering this option for non-reseidents, but it is a real US bank account or just a brokerage account?

Let me hear your opinions, thank you and sorry if this were poseted inthe wrong section

many people are offering it on ebay.

techno_geek

khurammm wrote:

many people are offering it on ebay.

Yes, because eBay is such a reliable place to obtain things such as foreign bank accounts, credit repair services, and free money-making schemes... :rolleyes: I mean, come on!!!!!!! <emoticon removed, lol>

virtualmoney, why do you need a US bank account? You could open a Sterling current account with Citi Bank, and get their US$ current account for any dollar funds you have.

The $ account is accessible from the UK, but is managed by their New York office (so you get the US account number and routing code)

khurammm

techno_geek wrote:

Yes, because eBay is such a reliable place to obtain things such as foreign bank accounts, credit repair services, and free money-making schemes... :rolleyes: I mean, come on!!!!!!! :mad:

virtualmoney, why do you need a US bank account? You could open a Sterling current account with Citi Bank, and get their US$ current account for any dollar funds you have.

The $ account is accessible from the UK, but is managed by their New York office (so you get the US account number and routing code)

Lol I just told that they are offering it on ebay but didnt tell him to apply through there. You are right most of the finance related stuff on ebay is sh*t.

khurammm

Yes as sugested you should go for the citibank $ account.
I have got their current acount, a really nice bank I can say.

computerwoman

http://www.citibank.co.uk/personal/banking/bankingproducts/currentaccounts/usdollar/index.htm
try this
cw
there is also a £2000 min deposit on this account.

auslaender

virtualmoney wants a debit card of an American bank as well. So, the citibank $ account may not satisfy his/her needs.

While people like me are struggling to get a bank account in UK while we live here, you want a bank account in US!!

You need a social security number to open a bank account. But, some banks open accounts on the basis of passport number.
I can think of a hit-and-trial solution.
I am not sure you can get it done without crossing the Atlantic. It depends what do you want it for and how urgent is the need. One way is to register a company in US. It is supposedly easy and doesn't cost much. Then you can easily open a bank account in US.

At least for legal residents, opening a bank account is very easy and simple. And they don't freak people with their search mechanisms. Wait!! Even illegals can open a bank account in US.

techno_geek

If you have a friend in the USA, and they don't mind you using their address temporarily, you could do it.

Washington Mutual Bank (www.WaMu.com) offer a Free Checking account (no fees charged current account) with a mastercard debit card. You will need to open it in a branch, though, and no need to worry about Social Security numbers as they can do it with your passport and a "non-resident alien" form.

gt94sss2

virtualmoney wrote:

Hi,
now it is nearly a Year I was looking for getting a real US based bank account for me as a non-resident from Europe.
That bank account should have at least a Visa or Mastercard debit or ATM card.
Maybe someone here has a idea where to get one ( if this is still possible, I don´t know )

Yes, its possible to open an 'real' US based account, while based in the UK - I did so some years ago.

The simplest way to do so, is to probably approach whoever you bank with in the UK and see if they can help you. For instance, I used HSBC but both HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland (Natwest) own US banks and they can provide whatever references their US conterparts require based on your UK banking record.

Regards
Sunil

digerati

Ebizman wrote: »

I know of the Patriot Act and so on, but people are still getting US Bank accounts as non-residents if you know the secret.

I got one not long ago a bank in Texas.

Please tell us the secret here (so we don't have to go to a spammy site).