US bank account if living in the UK?

TechEric

Hello,

Apologies if this is in the wrong category but, I am a 17 year old student from the UK who lives and studies here. However I am also a US citizen and travel there a few times a year just following my Dad on business trips. Is there any known way that I can apply for a basic debit card there from the UK without having a residency there?

I'm not looking to transfer money between countries, just a way of easily paying for small things whilst I'm there.

Thanks,
Eric

lisa110rry

Eric, I'm a naturalised British Citizen, living in the UK but I was born a US citizen. I also have experience with students studying abroad in the US. Until relatively recently, I had a US checking account, although I closed that before the "Know Your Customer" rules came in to combat money laundering. Although I had a UK address for my US account, I suspect that, unless your father perhaps has a long-standing account in the US, you may be stymied by the new rules. If your father has an account and is well known to the bank, you may be alright. (I was able to inherit my mother's account at the bank.)

I think the alternative for you might be to open an HSBC account, as was suggested to our son when he began working abroad, as there are branches in major US cities.

With regard to our study abroad students in the US, they were able to open student accounts.

Good luck!

grumbler

TechEric wrote: »

I'm not looking to transfer money between countries, just a way of easily paying for small things whilst I'm there.

How can you do this without transferring money?
What's wrong with using one of UK's Top Travel Spending Cards?

If you can't get one, ask your dad to do get a good CC and make you a second cardholder, but you should have no problems with getting Revolut: Prepaid Travel Cards: lock in the best rates.

System

Nationwide FlexOne debit card doesn't charge for use abroad.
Many US ATMs surcharge though.

Graham1

Some E-payment providers such a Neteller and Skrill offer debit cards which can draw on the funds in the account and can be US$ denominated - but you'll still have an exchange rate cost when putting money into the account.