All ATM doing 180 thb Fee on Mastercard now !

[JThai]

No, you don't have to call them...the rebates occur automatically at the end of your monthly statement cycle. That statement talking about calling them is probably just a generic statement basically saying call us if you don't get an ATM rebate automatically...I've seen similar statements on other bank websites.

Yes, BDO bank in Philippines didn't refund automatically with Schwab for my friend and he had to call. So I can see that it happens. And the $10 limit is just refering to those without the direct deposit I gather?

This is a great thread, sorry to the OP to hijack it.

Edited October 12, 2014 by JThai

[Pib]

No, you don't have to call them...the rebates occur automatically at the end of your monthly statement cycle. That statement talking about calling them is probably just a generic statement basically saying call us if you don't get an ATM rebate automatically...I've seen similar statements on other bank websites.

Yes, BDO bank in Philippines didn't refund automatically with Schwab for my friend and he had to call. So I can see that it happens. And the $10 limit is just refering to those without the direct deposit I gather?

This is a great thread, sorry to the OP to hijack it.

Yeap, only up to $10/month if no direct deposit going to the bank monthly which would actually cover around two Bt150 fee withdrawals per month.

In some cases the ATM fee seems to get combined into the actual cash withdrawn once it reaches your bank like Schwab or USAA making it impossible to see that a fee was charged.. I mention USAA only because around 5 years ago when I signed up for a USAA bank account (which went easily enough) I tried their debit card at a Bangkok Bank ATM knowing there was a 1% foreign transaction fee but I just wanted to confirm the card actually worked and I got the ATM fee refund. Well, it did work in the ATM, but I didn't get the ATM fee rebate automatically...USAA says some overseas ATMs don't properly identify/separate the fee from the cash withdrawal in the transaction details...I think it was just a USAA problem. Anyway, after emailing them a few times and then providing a copy of the ATM receipt showing the Bt150 fee I got the refund. My USAA debit card now lives in the darkness of my safe....good bank, but their card products are pretty much average/come with foreign transaction fees.

[JThai]

No, you don't have to call them...the rebates occur automatically at the end of your monthly statement cycle. That statement talking about calling them is probably just a generic statement basically saying call us if you don't get an ATM rebate automatically...I've seen similar statements on other bank websites.

Yes, BDO bank in Philippines didn't refund automatically with Schwab for my friend and he had to call. So I can see that it happens. And the $10 limit is just refering to those without the direct deposit I gather?

This is a great thread, sorry to the OP to hijack it.

Yeap, only up to $10/month if no direct deposit going to the bank monthly which would actually cover around two Bt150 fee withdrawals per month.

In some cases the ATM fee seems to get combined into the actual cash withdrawn once it reaches your bank like Schwab or USAA making it impossible to see that a fee was charged.. I mention USAA only because around 5 years ago when I signed up for a USAA bank account (which went easily enough) I tried their debit card at a Bangkok Bank ATM knowing there was a 1% foreign transaction fee but I just wanted to confirm the card actually worked and I got the ATM fee refund. Well, it did work in the ATM, but I didn't get the ATM fee rebate automatically...USAA says some overseas ATMs don't properly identify/separate the fee from the cash withdrawal in the transaction details...I think it was just a USAA problem. Anyway, after emailing them a few times and then providing a copy of the ATM receipt showing the Bt150 fee I got the refund. My USAA debit card now lives in the darkness of my safe....good bank, but their card products are pretty much average/come with foreign transaction fees.

Yes, USAA is only for emergency. I used it once, it worked fine and I got the refund but yeah the 1% was there.

I assume a "direct deposit" can be a ACH push from my CapitalOne 360 saves account in to the State Farm as is the case with every other bank that requires a direct deposit.

[Pib]

Yes, USAA is only for emergency. I used it once, it worked fine and I got the refund but yeah the 1% was there.

I assume a "direct deposit" can be a ACH push from my CapitalOne 360 saves account in to the State Farm as is the case with every other bank that requires a direct deposit.

Good question....I don't know if a bank-to-bank ACH transfer occurring monthly would satisfy the requirement or not. Usually a direct deposit relates to deposit of a paycheck, pension, IRA payment, etc., "directly" from the original payment source versus just a reoccurring transfer/relay of funds from your account at one bank to your account at another bank.. But I'm not sure, maybe it would qualify....best to clarify with the bank.

[JThai]

Yes, USAA is only for emergency. I used it once, it worked fine and I got the refund but yeah the 1% was there.

I assume a "direct deposit" can be a ACH push from my CapitalOne 360 saves account in to the State Farm as is the case with every other bank that requires a direct deposit.

Good question....I don't know if a bank-to-bank ACH transfer occurring monthly would satisfy the requirement or not. Usually a direct deposit relates to deposit of a paycheck, pension, IRA payment, etc., "directly" from the original payment source versus just a reoccurring transfer/relay of funds from your account at one bank to your account at another bank.. But I'm not sure, maybe it would qualify....best to clarify with the bank.

I'll go for it anyway as a back up card but in my experiance a ACH transfer from anywhere for any amount has satisfied the direct deposit requirements at every bank I've run in to in the past.

So final question, can I open this account 100% online or do I need to sign a signature card and stuff? (Schwab I was able to do 100% online and just have someone bring me the card).

[Pib]

It's been several years since I opened the St Farm account but I'm pretty sure I did it online...opened a joint account with the wife...but after opening the account there was probably a signature card/form you needed provide/return via mail/fax withing 60-90 days...most U.S. banks seem to require that. But the online application process should tell you early on the process whether you can do it all online or not.

Sometimes it depends whether you are opening a single person or joint person account as to if they will allow an online opening like when I opened my Schwab brokerage & banking accounts. Since I was opening it as a "joint" account with the wife we had to fill out the forms, sign them, and then "mail" them in....but if I had been opening an account in one name only it could have been done online. Schwab still relies on snail mail and/or a phone call for some of its banking activities like setting up ACH transfer links on its checking & savings accounts to external banks...but you can do it all online with their brokerage account. Their banking still has one foot in the snail mail paperwork era....like my brokerage and checking account statements can be provided via E-statement...but a saving account statement can not....for 4 years now (and I have asked yearly) they been saying they will be providing savings account e-statements soon...but for 4 years I have been getting a savings account monthly statement in the mail...but my brokerage and checking accounts are e-statements. Oh well...they'll get that one foot out of the snail mail mud eventually.

You may want to do the account opening via a U.S. IP address because some banks might get skittish on account openings from a foreign IP address...I've seen a few ThaiVisa posts where people felt strongly that was the reason their online account opening failed or got put into abeyance until they called and talked to the bank to confirm their country of residence and other issues...and apparently the foreign IP address triggered this need during the account opening.. I have no doubt that happens in some cases.

Good luck.

[JThai]

It's been several years since I opened the St Farm account but I'm pretty sure I did it online...opened a joint account with the wife...but after opening the account there was probably a signature card/form you needed provide/return via mail/fax withing 60-90 days...most U.S. banks seem to require that. But the online application process should tell you early on the process whether you can do it all online or not.

Sometimes it depends whether you are opening a single person or joint person account as to if they will allow an online opening like when I opened my Schwab brokerage & banking accounts. Since I was opening it as a "joint" account with the wife we had to fill out the forms, sign them, and then "mail" them in....but if I had been opening an account in one name only it could have been done online. Schwab still relies on snail mail and/or a phone call for some of its banking activities like setting up ACH transfer links on its checking & savings accounts to external banks...but you can do it all online with their brokerage account. Their banking still has one foot in the snail mail paperwork era....like my brokerage and checking account statements can be provided via E-statement...but a saving account statement can not....for 4 years now (and I have asked yearly) they been saying they will be providing savings account e-statements soon...but for 4 years I have been getting a savings account monthly statement in the mail...but my brokerage and checking accounts are e-statements. Oh well...they'll get that one foot out of the snail mail mud eventually.

You may want to do the account opening via a U.S. IP address because some banks might get skittish on account openings from a foreign IP address...I've seen a few ThaiVisa posts where people felt strongly that was the reason their online account opening failed or got put into abeyance until they called and talked to the bank to confirm their country of residence and other issues...and apparently the foreign IP address triggered this need during the account opening.. I have no doubt that happens in some cases.

Good luck.

Yes, I was smart enough to use a US IP Address (not even a VPN one, one from work) because I predicted potential problems. But I got flagged anyway. The application was so easy I thought it was going to be a slam dunk. Now it's in limbo, maybe because I used a PO Box for mailing address (in addition to giving my real US physical address). I will try to call them during business hours. Ugh!

Your application has been submitted for processing and will require additional review of the information provided. We will mail you notification of application status within 8 business days. We appreciate your patience during this review process.

When your account is processed, a State Farm® agent may be assigned to your account and your application information will be shared with that agent.

[Pib]

I can't remember which one now, because it was too many years ago, but it was either Schwab or State Farm that didn't "fully" activate my account until I called in and they asked me a series of questions to verify my identity. By "fully" I mean the funding of my account via ACH transfer I authorized during the application had not occurred after around 10 days of account opening. I called to find out what was going on, because all the emails I had got from them indicated the account opening was going fine/had went fine. But when I called I found out the account opening was really still under review/in abeyance as they had done a credit report during the account opening which is pretty much standard operating procedure and they didn't find any spending activity in/around the U.S. Physical address I had given.

So I explained I was currently assigned (really retired) to Thailand (also using an APO P.O. mailing address) and had been around my U.S. Physical Address for a couple of years. That seemed to satisfy them to a point, and then they said they could give me a Q&A over the phone of 4 questions to finalize confirmation of my identity and this would get the account opening out of abeyance/full opened...but I had to answer all 4 questions correctly..one wrong answer and I failed and the account application would be cancelled....it was either all or nothing...all 4 questions must be answered correctly. The Q&A was solely based on public record data supposedly from credit bureaus.. Well, I didn't answer one question correctly relating to living in Colorado in the past...I have never, ever lived in

Colorado...I told them that question was based on faulty data. I did have a ex-girlfriend living in Colorado decades ago so maybe she had applied for something using my name also...hard telling. Annually I get the free credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies in the U.S. and none of them have any Colorado address listed for me. Anyway, the customer service rep believed me, got her supervisor on the phone to discuss that one question, the supervisor believed me also, and the account opening was taken out of abeyance....been good to go since. And once again I can't remember if that was Schwab or St Farm since I was opening accounts at both a roughly the same time several years back.

Yeap, now days new accounts openings can turn into a pain if you are living overseas full or part time, law changes since 9-1, etc...etc...etc. Always best to open new accounts while still living in the home country. But if like me, sometimes you don't realize how your particular banks/cards are "not so great/are fee laden" when overseas....the accounts/cards are just fine when used within the home country but not so great outside the home country. Seeming little things like recent spending activity via various databases financial companies can access, credit reports, P.O. box address, IP addresses, maybe not having a U.S. drivers licence if the application requests one, etc., can throw a monkey wrench into the machinery...each bank/financial company is a little different in how they scrutinize new account openings and of course each individual has a different financial history. Good luck.

[JThai]

I can't remember which one now, because it was too many years ago, but it was either Schwab or State Farm that didn't "fully" activate my account until I called in and they asked me a series of questions to verify my identity. By "fully" I mean the funding of my account via ACH transfer I authorized during the application had not occurred after around 10 days of account opening. I called to find out what was going on, because all the emails I had got from them indicated the account opening was going fine/had went fine. But when I called I found out the account opening was really still under review/in abeyance as they had done a credit report during the account opening which is pretty much standard operating procedure and they didn't find any spending activity in/around the U.S. Physical address I had given.

So I explained I was currently assigned (really retired) to Thailand (also using an APO P.O. mailing address) and had been around my U.S. Physical Address for a couple of years. That seemed to satisfy them to a point, and then they said they could give me a Q&A over the phone of 4 questions to finalize confirmation of my identity and this would get the account opening out of abeyance/full opened...but I had to answer all 4 questions correctly..one wrong answer and I failed and the account application would be cancelled....it was either all or nothing...all 4 questions must be answered correctly. The Q&A was solely based on public record data supposedly from credit bureaus.. Well, I didn't answer one question correctly relating to living in Colorado in the past...I have never, ever lived in

Colorado...I told them that question was based on faulty data. I did have a ex-girlfriend living in Colorado decades ago so maybe she had applied for something using my name also...hard telling. Annually I get the free credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies in the U.S. and none of them have any Colorado address listed for me. Anyway, the customer service rep believed me, got her supervisor on the phone to discuss that one question, the supervisor believed me also, and the account opening was taken out of abeyance....been good to go since. And once again I can't remember if that was Schwab or St Farm since I was opening accounts at both a roughly the same time several years back.

Yeap, now days new accounts openings can turn into a pain if you are living overseas full or part time, law changes since 9-1, etc...etc...etc. Always best to open new accounts while still living in the home country. But if like me, sometimes you don't realize how your particular banks/cards are "not so great/are fee laden" when overseas....the accounts/cards are just fine when used within the home country but not so great outside the home country. Seeming little things like recent spending activity via various databases financial companies can access, credit reports, P.O. box address, IP addresses, maybe not having a U.S. drivers licence if the application requests one, etc., can throw a monkey wrench into the machinery...each bank/financial company is a little different in how they scrutinize new account openings and of course each individual has a different financial history. Good luck.

What you describe is the SOP for Schwab I did the exact same thing it was no big deal at all. Seems they are slow to get around to it until you call them. I didn't have to sign anything at all. Answered questions, ACHed money, they sent card and someone brought it to me in the Philippines.

I'm sure this state farm will be fine too I'm just impatient and I hate delays and uncertintiy like this haha. I have a US phone number, US address, US po box, US employer, US valid state drivers license. I don't think they really have any way to know that I'm not in the US..if they happen to need an application filled out in hard copy I suppose my mom will just have forge my signature no big deal haha. I didn't bother to provide any of the optional information they wanted like work phone number and employment info so maybe that didn't help but I have all of these things.

[Pib]

Yea, it will probably be OK fine...you just may need to call them to satisfy whatever itch they have about you if they have any itch at all.

And I just noticed a major typo where I said in my post above, "...and had been around my U.S. Physical Address for a couple of years...", I should have said "...and had "not" been around my U.S. Physical Address for a couple of years. Still recovering from the Chang beer last night....brain moving faster than my fingers can type.