US Charles Schwab Residency?

[wwest5829]

18 hours ago, jaywalker2 said:

I've avoided the Fidelity app because I don't want important stuff on my phone but Fidelity really pushes you in that direction. My main worry is that Google Voice might someday go the way of Skype. If that happened, I guess I would have to bite the bullet and install an authenticator, which I've avoided doing because if you lose your phone your lose access to your accounts. At least that's the way it seems to me.

I started a tread inquiring about alternatives now that Skype is shutting down. Ordered my monthly wire transfer last night (Bangkok time). Rep just said to use the Fidelity international toll fee number from now on. I’ll give it a try before the next regular monthly transfer. They have both my Son’s USA address, telephone number and my Thai address and mobile number in their system along with the Thai bank acct. on file for the no charge wire transfers (BKK charges 200 baht).

[Crazy Noobie]

I have a Charles Schwab account for over 8 years now, all of the time while living in Thailand. I gave them my mailing address in the USA and my resident address in Thailand. I went ahead and googled your question, here is what google said:  

Can I open a Schwab account if I live abroad?

You can have a Charles Schwab account while living abroad. US expats can invest in American markets with Schwab. The firm makes US dollar-based accounts accessible and filing taxes easier. Checks and debit cards denominated in USD can be used, and there are no fees for ATM transactions anywhere

[gamb00ler]

2 hours ago, kimothai said:

The only difference (that I know of) is that you are not allowed to have mutual funds with the "International" account (I tried and was informed that the law changed a few years ago and I was disallowed). 

I currently still have my US based Schwab account.  When I shop for a CD I do see some that are unavailable to foreign residents.  Probably that restriction is enforced by the CD issuers.

 

 

[thaipo7]

On 3/2/2025 at 2:33 PM, gargamon said:

You can get a Schwab international brokerage account if you live in Thailand. US citizenship not necessary. 25k minimum. You can get their wonderful ATM card with no foreign transaction fee and they pay the 250 baht foreign ATM fee. I'm sure they would convert your account.

 

They are quite strict in tax withholdings. I only keep roth stuff there do no withholdings.

[thaipo7]

For years I was using a debit card to withdraw money from my checking account at the bank.  Last year they started taking out a couple of fees.  If this was not bad enough, they said I had been paying these fees for years.  No true.  I have a Schwab account and now have their debit card.  Very happy with it,  No fees now.

[thrilled]

I have a Schwab brokerage account. I talk to guys that live in Thailand that have Schwab. They don’t have any problems. I have never heard of Schwab closing accounts of people living anywhere. 

[rwill]

I believe Schwab would close your account if you told them your address is in Thailand.

Schwab International is very good.  But as mentioned you need 25K US dollars or the equivalent in stocks to open an account.

 

With Schwab international you can use your Thai address and thai phone number

Also getting money from an ATM or wiring money to a Thai bank is free.

You do have to ask to get the ATM card, a separate form to fill out.

[jaywalker2]

7 minutes ago, rwill said:

I believe Schwab would close your account if you told them your address is in Thailand.

Schwab International is very good.  But as mentioned you need 25K US dollars or the equivalent in stocks to open an account.

 

With Schwab international you can use your Thai address and thai phone number

Also getting money from an ATM or wiring money to a Thai bank is free.

You do have to ask to get the ATM card, a separate form to fill out.

ATM  Card or debit card?

[eastbaybob]

I’ve had my Schwab account for about 20 years now and have been in Thailand for 10. I still have a residence in California which I own and use as my address for the account. I was going home every year or so but haven’t since the pandemic. A couple years ago Schwab sent me an email that said I have to contact them about my address. I called and told them that I was living in Thailand but was going to return in a few months to the States.  Actually that was probably 3 years ago and I’ve yet returned to the States and they haven’t contacted me since.  I rarely use the ATM card here.

[gargamon]

1 hour ago, jaywalker2 said:

ATM  Card or debit card?

Is there a difference? Same thing I think.

[landosmiles]

12 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

I use it on ~ 25 sites/apps. ...

 

A lot of people say it doesn't work but they rarely share any details.

It works on many sites, although there are also a number of sites where it doesn't. For example, Wells Fargo and US Bank. And a website to participate in a class action lawsuit last year. Other sites have partial support, such as Discover and Ally Bank not working with Google Voice SMS specifically.

[BKKKevin]

3 hours ago, Crazy Noobie said:

I have a Charles Schwab account for over 8 years now, all of the time while living in Thailand. I gave them my mailing address in the USA and my resident address in Thailand. I went ahead and googled your question, here is what google said:  

Can I open a Schwab account if I live abroad?

You can have a Charles Schwab account while living abroad. US expats can invest in American markets with Schwab. The firm makes US dollar-based accounts accessible and filing taxes easier. Checks and debit cards denominated in USD can be used, and there are no fees for ATM transactions anywhere

I your Schwab account a basic US account or an International account as others have mentioned?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 3/2/2025 at 7:06 PM, gamb00ler said:

But... there are a few US financial institutions that will not send 2FA to it.

 

I do love my GV, though.  I've had it almost from the day it was first publicly available.  I just checked... signed up June 15, 2010.

 

I've got quite a few U.S. financial accounts with brokerages, banks and credit unions, large and small...

 

And fortunately for me, GV seems to work for 2FA via SMS messages with all of the FIs I deal with.

 

I do know, however, (regarding your comment above) that some other members here have reported that some of THEIR FIs 2FAs cannot be received via GV.

 

 

[BKKKevin]

3 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I do know, however, (regarding your comment above) that some other members here have reported that some of THEIR FIs 2FAs cannot be received via GV.

 

 

The Social Security website would not accept my Google Voice…

But I could add my Thai cell number.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Just now, BKKKevin said:

The Social Security website would not accept my Google Voice…

But I could add me Thai cell number.

 

I'm pretty sure SS accepts my GV.... which was set up on my SS a long time back.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The issue that often seems to trigger problems for Americans living abroad is when they try to log-in to their U.S. financial accounts using a foreign IP address. [Or make what I consider the potentially risky mistake of telling their FI that they're no longer living in the U.S. and instead are living abroad.]

 

The various FI's security systems will tend to perceive those kinds of log-ins as dubious and/or threats, and that can trigger getting locked out of online access or other unwanted attention.

 

The solution to that, in my experience, has been to ALWAYS use a U.S. IP address provided by one of the better VPN providers when doing online financial stuff.  And that's worked for me for many years without any hitch. Along with keeping a U.S. address of record on all my U.S. FI accounts.

 

 

[landosmiles]

On 3/2/2025 at 7:06 PM, gamb00ler said:

But... there are a few US financial institutions that will not send 2FA to it.

 

I do love my GV, though.  I've had it almost from the day it was first publicly available.  I just checked... signed up June 15, 2010.

 

Haha 2007-H1 here, although back then it was "GrandCentral" before it became Google Voice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Voice#History 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 minute ago, landosmiles said:

 

Haha 2007-H1 here, although back then it was "GrandCentral" before it became Google Voice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Voice#History 

 

I remember!  And that's going back to my early days in LOS.

 

[landosmiles]

6 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I'm pretty sure SS accepts my GV.... which was set up on my SS a long time back.

 

Note that in recent years social security migrated away from a social security specific login to instead use the cross-gov Login.gov service. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 minute ago, landosmiles said:

Note that in recent years social security migrated away from a social security specific login to instead use the cross-gov Login.gov service. 

 

Ya... I just checked. My Login.gov account has one of my regular U.S. mobile numbers set for 2FA... So that must mean my GV # didn't work on that platform.

 

It's weird, though, because also in just checking, the fed government's similar ID.me account and log-in does accept GV SMS 2FA.

 

 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Also, FWIW, the Social Security website still allows online access thru several different methods, not just Login.gov, as follows:

 

 

Login.gov does NOT appear to work with GV.

 

ID.me does work with GV...

 

And older SS direct log-in accounts, including like the one I also have, when I tested it just now, it sent my 2FA to my registered email address... I can't recall from many past years whether I opted for that option, or that's what they wanted in lieu of a mobile ph number at the time.

 

 

[gamb00ler]

2 hours ago, landosmiles said:

 

Haha 2007-H1 here, although back then it was "GrandCentral" before it became Google Voice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Voice#History 

I switched careers away from IT in 1995 so in terms of early access to new technology.... I had none.  GV wasn't available to me until it was opened up to all gmail account holders without an invitation. 

[bamnutsak]

10 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

ID.me does work with GV...

 

I use a FIDO key for ID.me, and use ID.me to log in to myssa.

 

I also use a FIDO key for Login.gov

 

 

[gargamon]

23 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

So using a VPN, or a remote PC, will not work as GV cannot 'find' you.

VPNs have no effect using GV. I think you're confused. Please explain what doesn't work when you're using a VPN with GV.

[bamnutsak]

26 minutes ago, gargamon said:

VPNs have no effect using GV. I think you're confused. Please explain what doesn't work when you're using a VPN with GV.

 

I should have said "may not work".

 

If you are running a VPN client on the same device as GV, then it should work fine. It does for me.

 

You can test the connectivity by sending/receiving SMSes, and phone calls to/from a contact in the U.S.

 

If I see a problem I test with my second GV number - keeping it active as well - and one of my UltraMobile numbers.

 

 

 

 

[Crazy Noobie]

15 hours ago, BKKKevin said:

I your Schwab account a basic US account or an International account as others have mentioned?

My account is a basic USA account

[rwill]

17 hours ago, jaywalker2 said:

ATM  Card or debit card?

debit.

[LivingNThailand]

One reason to keep a US Schwab account:   If you have any other US credit cards, they usually require a US address, phone number and payment from a US checking account.   I pay my US credit card electronically from my Schwab checking account. 

 

You got to think about everything before you make the move.   Let us know how it goes.

 

 

[Khyron]

On 3/2/2025 at 2:52 PM, bamnutsak said:

 

Did you transfer funds to an account here in Thailand, in your name?

 

Do you make similar transfers often?

 

Do you have a Schwab ATM card? Do you use it here?

 

 

I transferred the funds to the Government Savings Bank under my wifes name, "she calls it "Umsin bank". They said it would take a week, took 2 days.

 

No, that was the first time.

 

I've used the Schwab atm a few years ago, it worked fine and I was refunded the fees at the end of the month. I haven't needed to use it since then. 

[dddave]

On 3/2/2025 at 2:45 PM, BKKKevin said:

I have a Google Voice account for texts and it can also be done via the app on my  phone or iPad…

I was able to register my Thai mobile number on my US based Schwab account.  When Schwab wants to send me a verification number, I get option boxes to select either my US number or my Thailand mobile number.   

Best customer service of any financial institution I've ever dealt with