So this is about requiring banks to check for U.S. citizenship for U.S. bank accounts, new AND existing.

On the face of it for expats as we had better have a passport, so what's the problem?

Well maybe there won't be a problem and maybe there will be.

Why?

The details of how this will be required to be enforced are unknown.

It seems certainly possible that the banks will require to be presented the needed document(s) in person. Expats are not there to do that.

Not as bad but they could require sent in copies of document(s) to be notarized. In that case U.S. expats would need to physically go the U.S. embassy or consulate in Thailand to notarize as Thai notaries probably wouldn't be accepted.

Will credit unions face the same rules? Hopefully not.

Trump executive order could debank millions of Americans: what to know

A Trump administration executive order that would require banks to collect citizenship information from customers is in “process,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, as experts warn it could leave millions of Americans without access to a bank account.

www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-executive-order-could-debank-millions-of-americans-what-to-know/ar-AA20RVSQ?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=69de717616234233ad0c137ffd636ebb&ei=16

OK, some further comments on this.

First of all, my impression is that they are VERY SERIOUS about doing this, so most probably it's going to happen.

Secondly thinking about this a bit more, I think this may be a MASSIVELY SERIOUS problem for many American expats internationally.

Why?

Because it is very very common for expats to maintain faux U.S. identifies to maintain U.S. bank accounts.

U.S. address, U.S. phone number, etc.

So when the banks are forced to bother us about our EXISTING ACCOUNTS (be clear they plan on going after both new and existing US bank accounts) and ask us to come in to show passport, birth certificate, etc then the faux cover is busted.

My idea of sending embassy notarized copies busts the faux US residence gambit as well.

Don't mean to be alarmist but maybe many of us depending on our individual financial specifics should be alarmed.

AI Summary:

The implementation of this law may create significant hurdles for Americans living abroad, making it essential for them to stay informed and prepared for potential changes in their banking experiences.

So far I see nothing in the MSM about impact on expats. They do talk about a number of other groups that risk being debanked by this change.

My guess is that we're invisible to MSM and they didn't even think about expats.

I predict in the coming weeks and months a plethora of youtube videos from Americans living abroad about this topic.

Don't shoot the messenger. I hate this!

If you have a Social Security number, you have nothing to worry about.

31 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

If you have a Social Security number, you have nothing to worry about.

That's a ridiculous comment.

So this is an extension of the SAVE act?

36 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

That's a ridiculous comment.

Why?

3 hours ago, MIke B Bad said:

So this is an extension of the SAVE act?

That I'm unclear about but what it is about is a NEW executive order that is going to FORCE banks to verify ID documents for ALL bank accounts NEW and EXISTING.

It is being justified as an expansion on the existing and very annoying to expats KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER law.

This isn't about giving them a social security number at all which may have been real or fake.

Most banks don't even verify your SS number anyway when opening, they just trust what you say.

The ID documents they are talking about are PASSPORTS and ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTICATES.

Again how the hell are Americans abroad with existing US bank accounts going to be able to show them original documents?

As stated if copies will be accepted then it's fair to assume they will be need to notarized copies, which will mean that many Americans who have been faking US residence to make things easier to maintain their bank accounts are likely to be forced to admit they live abroad (in which case a significant portion will have their accounts closed on them).

Banks are not all happy about this as it's being forced and will be a great extra expense for them to carry out. Of course the banks will just raise fees.

AI summary but again this thing is still in process and is not yet at the official stage. But they sound really serious. The only hope might be the banking lobbies who don't want this.

The new Trump executive order on banking could significantly impact Americans living abroad by requiring banks to verify citizenship documentation for all account holders, which may lead to account closures for those unable to provide the necessary documents. This change could create major hurdles for expats, making it harder for them to maintain their U.S. bank accounts.

In addition:

www.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/could-you-be-affected-millions-could-lose-bank-access-heres-what-you-need-to-know/articleshow/130293070.cms?from=mdr

15 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

That I'm unclear about but what it is about is a NEW executive order that is going to FORCE banks to verify ID documents for ALL bank accounts NEW and EXISTING.

It is being justified as an expansion on the existing and very annoying to expats KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER law.

This isn't about giving them a social security number at all which may have been real or fake.

Most banks don't even verify your SS number anyway when opening, they just trust what you say.

The ID documents they are talking about are PASSPORTS and ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTICATES.

Again how the hell are Americans abroad with existing US bank accounts going to be able to show them original documents?

As stated if copies will be accepted then it's fair to assume they will be need to notarized copies, which will mean that many Americans who have been faking US residence to make things easier to maintain their bank accounts are likely to be forced to admit they live abroad (in which case a significant portion will have their accounts closed on them).

Banks are not all happy about this as it's being forced and will be a great extra expense for them to carry out. Of course the banks will just raise fees.

Do you not think banks should have to verify identification?

It's easy to order a new birth certificate online if you've lost yours.

4 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Do you not think banks should have to verify identification?

It's easy to order a new birth certificate online if you've lost yours.

Another ridiculous troll baiting post.

The concerns for EXPATS are clearly detailed on this topic.

Do you even to bother to read stuff before you launch your pest posts?

I am hoping the famous "American lawyer" from his famous youtube channel Integrity Legal addresses this. However, it's probably too early to know enough details to say anything definitively.

We can say this will PROBABLY happen (sigh) and that it's already known that they'll be looking to see birth certificates and passports.

Not SS cards. Not driver's licenses.

12 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Another ridiculous troll baiting post.

The concerns for EXPATS are clearly detailed on this topic.

Do you even to bother to read stuff before you launch your pest posts?

I am not worried about this, because I am a US citizen, and I have a US Social Security number.

There are about a half billion bank accounts in the US. To check one a second would take over 15 years,

In any event, I have a US passport, a US birth certificate, three US credit cards (one brand new) and a California drivers' license.

Were you concerned when the left debanked Trump?

As I remember, you were happy that people were getting fired for not getting a vaccination, but it's the end of the world when you have to prove who you are to bank in the US.

ID.me or similar might be a solution.

1 minute ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

ID.me or similar might be a solution.

Could be but it sounds right now that the Trump people are going to demand that banks see actual documents (passports/birth certificates) and they're rather arrogantly talking about FORCING banks to do this work for them. They have the power, so why not?

So ID.me would mean making this easy which is nothing like the press coming out about this so far.

For some reason which I can't explain the Trump people are talking about making this HARD.

Well I do know the reason actually. This is another way to go after undocumented migrants, but it's one of those throw the baby out with the bath water ideas.

This isn't particularly partisan. Annoying banking/financial regulations that made it harder were previously passed by Obama.

6 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I am not worried about this, because I am a US citizen, and I have a US Social Security number.

There are about a half billion bank accounts in the US. To check one a second would take over 15 years,

In any event, I have a US passport, a US birth certificate, three US credit cards (one brand new) and a California drivers' license.

Were you concerned when the left debanked Trump?

As I remember, you were happy that people were getting fired for not getting a vaccination, but it's the end of the world when you have to prove who you are to bank in the US.

Again you don't read.

Stop wasting people's time with your cluelessness.

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Again you don't read.

Stop wasting people's time with your cluelessness.

Wow, what a great, well thought out responce.

Just now, Yellowtail said:

Wow, what a great, well thought out responce.

Trolling NOT WELCOME on this rather serious topic.

8 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Trolling NOT WELCOME on this rather serious topic.

But hysteria is, yes?

17 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I am not worried about this, because I am a US citizen, and I have a US Social Security number.

There are about a half billion bank accounts in the US. To check one a second would take over 15 years,

In any event, I have a US passport, a US birth certificate, three US credit cards (one brand new) and a California drivers' license.

Were you concerned when the left debanked Trump?

As I remember, you were happy that people were getting fired for not getting a vaccination, but it's the end of the world when you have to prove who you are to bank in the US.

You do (or at least you should) realize that all people who work in the US have US Social Security numbers, and many also have drivers' licenses, credit cards, etc., even if they are not US Citizens.

You shouldn't be surprised when people think that you are trolling when you make such obviously disingenuous comments like the one above!

9 minutes ago, Callmeishmael said:

You do (or at least you should) realize that all people who work in the US have US Social Security numbers, and many also have drivers' licenses, credit cards, etc., even if they are not US Citizens.

No, all people that work in the US do not have Social Security numbers. Where you are from?

And you are not required to have a Social Security number to open a bank account.

9 minutes ago, Callmeishmael said:

You shouldn't be surprised when people think that you are trolling when you make such obviously disingenuous comments like the one above!

I'm not at all surprised when know-nothings that have no reasonable response call the people they disagree with trolls or whatnot.

Again, this issue has nothing to do with social security numbers or driver's licenses.

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Again, this issue has nothing to do with social security numbers or driver's licenses.

If you have a legal Social Security number, you are a citizen.

If you have been a bank customer for a good while, and you are a citizen, you have nothing to worry about.

You file a FBAR every year

4 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

If you have a legal Social Security number, you are a citizen.

If you have been a bank customer for a good while, and you are a citizen, you have nothing to worry about.

You file a FBAR every year

Another troll post from a pest who hasn't even bothered to read the background on this change.

Again --

NOTHING to do with social security numbers

NOTHING to do with FBARS

GO AWAY!

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Another troll post from a pest who hasn't even bothered to read the background on this change.

Again --

NOTHING to do with social security numbers

NOTHING to do with FBARS

GO AWAY!

Make me !!!!!!!!!!!!

18 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

If you have a legal Social Security number, you are a citizen.

If you have been a bank customer for a good while, and you are a citizen, you have nothing to worry about.

You file a FBAR every year

Sorry to drag this dormant thread back, but I have Canadian, British and Polish friends who work in California, who ALL have Social Security numbers. Everyone who works legally in the US has a Social Security number, it has nothing to do with citizenship!

On 4/17/2026 at 4:47 PM, Yellowtail said:

But hysteria is, yes?

Yepper, just like all the hysterical rubbish posted about the 7162 form.... seems many are worry-warts.

Exactly how many expats here in Thailand had their SS benefits disrupted in Feb due to the 7162 concern? I don't recall seeing a single person post that their benefits were halted.

1 hour ago, dingdongrb said:

Yepper, just like all the hysterical rubbish posted about the 7162 form.... seems many are worry-warts.

Exactly how many expats here in Thailand had their SS benefits disrupted in Feb due to the 7162 concern? I don't recall seeing a single person post that their benefits were halted.

A silly post considering that requirement was CANCELLED for that year. DUH.

Brining up this topic was PREMATURE.

Even though there are strong clues that this will happen and also about the types of documents they will require if it does, UNTIL it actually happens and we get the rules (hopefully in writing) it is speculation.

There are half a billion bank accounts in the USA.

If it takes one second to check the documents for each one, that is 15.9 years.