Opening a US Bank account

hutless

Hi, I was hoping for some help on the following matter. Its possible I have all the information I can get but if anyone has anything extra, I would be grateful. I have done a quick search but not been able to find anything on the forums.

My employer has agreed to allow me to take a 6 month career break to go and work in the states for one of the our contractors. The contractor has organised the visa and my rent and have generally been very good, however, they have not been much help regarding setting up a bank account - just saying that they need one to pay me. I have spoke to a number of banks and all of them say that I have to be over there to set one up and I can not do it in advance. Is this true? Also, my address will not be permenant and I wont have any bills for that address - potentially only a lease aggreement. Will this cause problems with setting up an account? I know that RBS are very good with setting up accounts for international university students - does anyone know of an American bank that is good with ex-pats?

Any advice on this matter would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Matthew

skyrider007

Your best shot is Citibank US Dollar currency checking account. This can be opened in the UK and will only require your proof of identity/address in the UK. The account will be based in Citibank's Madison Avenue branch in NYC and you'll get a U.S account number which you can give to your employer.

https://www.citibank.co.uk

jonesMUFCforever

Yes find out from locals which bank is nearest either to your workplace or living space.
Then see if they have a London office (most International banks which you have heard of will) and ring them up and see what their procedure is for opening an account for someone in your situation.

hutless

Thanks very much for all the help. WIll investigate the citibank option.

Stageshoot

You can go into any US branch of Bank of America and open a current accoutn with just your UK passport as ID, they will send statements and cards to either a local temp address or your UK address,

They will also give you a debit card on the spot when you open the account (They keep temporary cards in branch and will mail you the permenant card a few days later), basic accounts have a $5 fee each month unless you keep a $700 average balance in the accout each month, but you can negotiate with them, since we have been back in the UK for the last year they have waived the fee and we only keep a few hundred $ in there, they still send new cards and statements tot he UK

They have brances in about half the US states, and I have banked with them for over 10 years, as a foreign national I have found them very easy to deal with.

97trophy

Get ready for a shock - the US banking system is quite different from ours.

Stageshoot

97trophy wrote: »

Get ready for a shock - the US banking system is quite different from ours.

Yes it is, they issue cards quickly, and money taken due to ID / Card fraud is back in your account within 24 hours, I can honestly day dealing with BOA is a breath of freash air compared ot UK banks,

I had my wallet stolen in Paris 3 weeks ago, informed both banks within an hour (UK Halifax and US BOA), there was an internet transaction on the US card for $28 the bank reversed it and put money back in account same day whilst investigated and confimed fraud.

Replacement cards sent to my UK address, (Halifax Mastercard took 10 days and sent normal mail). BOA Visa Debit Card sent UPS arrived in 2 Days.

I know which I prefer to deal with.