Bank Account for USA payments?

wannabe_sybil

Please do not delete this thread as advertising - I will try and be circumspect.

I am doing something that can involve sales in the USA, money paid to a third party (not ebay). They will pay out when my commission reaches $10 if I have the right sort of bank account to pay electronically, or $100 by cheque if I don't. I will be lucky to reach $100 before my funeral! However I can see me making $10 before Christmas (and yes, that small amount is important to me )

I currently bank with the Nationwide, where I am very happy. However I was considering opening a bank account that is more likely to be recognised in USA - like perhaps HSBC? Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations, or should I just make sure I leave the commission in my will?

I should add, I do not have a good credit rating (no income, although no defaults), I don't have a driving licence or passport and I am really happy to keep all but this banking with the Nationwide. This does make it more difficult. I have been considering getting a passport for identity purposes, but have not really wanted to spend the money

I would be really grateful for any suggestions about which banks to approach, and if it is even worth it.

Many thanks in advance.

Voyager2002

Without a regular income and identity documents, you would be wasting your time approaching other banks. See if the organisation could pay your commission by Paypal, or using a currency broker such as Custom House. In particular, Custom House can receive an electronic funds transfer from an ordinary bank account in the USA and remit a corresponding amount to your Nationwide account, but for this to happen the people in the USA would need to sign up to them.

wannabe_sybil

Thank you for your help, I suspected as much.

As far as I can see, paypal is not possible. I will see what I can do to work around it, I had never heard of using a currency broker. That is a really useful tip.

Thank you for the information, it is really useful. WS

Lansdowne

Surely an amount as small as $10 will never be viable by any channel, the amount left after change costs will probably be zero. Unless you have a friend/relative with a US bank account who can receive the payments.

wannabe_sybil

Lansdowne - I had never thought of that

I thought that if the transfer would be done electronically then at least it would avoid charges. Never mind, it was never going to amount to a large amount anyway.

Thank you so much for your help.