US expats accounts at State Dept?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, skatewash said:

American Citizens Abroad cost $70 for annual membership, while American Consumer Council costs $5.

I don't know much about the ACC as an organization, except -- as noted above -- belonging to ACC is a membership criteria available for A LOT of different credit unions in the U.S., including some that often have very good deposit interest rates.

 

I've never needed to use them up to this point, but if someone is account shopping for new accounts in the U.S., being aware that ACC unlocks a lot of credit union doors can be a very helpful thing.

 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, skatewash said:

American Citizens Abroad cost $70 for annual membership, while American Consumer Council costs $5.  Membership in either qualifies one for membership in the SDFCU.

Yes. That's been covered already. 

[ubonjoe]

If you served in the US military USAA is an option also. I have not opened an account yet but was able to use my address here to join USAA. You have to enter your SSN,  date served and etc. They use your email address to verify the login and etc so not a problem not having a US phone number.

I am all set now with a login and have the app installed on my phone.

I have gone as far as getting to the point of transferring some money in but going to wait a bit before doing it.

Go to https://www.usaa.com

Edit: If you are using a VPN you will need to turn it off in order to go through the registration process. It will fail on you if you don't. I have to turn mine  it off to finish the login on the site.

[lopburi3]

10 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

If you served in the US military USAA is an option also. I have not opened an account yet but was able to use my address here to join USAA. You have to enter your SSN,  date served and etc. They use your email address to verify the login and etc so not a problem not having a US phone number.

I am all set now with a login and have the app installed on my phone.

I have gone as far as getting to the point of transferring some money in but going to wait a bit before doing it.

Go to https://www.usaa.com

USAA works well and ACH type transfers are free of change.  Everything can be done with foreign address/phone number but believe they may still require a US address (or at least phone call) to mail checks (if you want them) but they can send cards overseas without issues and is all I need.

[ubonjoe]

17 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

USAA works well and ACH type transfers are free of change.  Everything can be done with foreign address/phone number but believe they may still require a US address (or at least phone call) to mail checks (if you want them) but they can send cards overseas without issues and is all I need.

I don't need or want the checks. Opening a checking account so I can get a debit card.

You can open a savings account and get a ATM card but it would not be a debit card.

[gk10002000]

On ‎4‎/‎8‎/‎2017 at 9:32 AM, Pib said:

Definitely good to have a second account if nothing else as a backup, Plan B, etc.  

 

A lot of U.S. folks think the U.S Patriot of 2001 requires people to have a U.S. physical address to open a financial account, but the act makes no such hard core requirement.  Actually "Know Your Customer" and "Customer Identification Program" interlaced with various U.S. laws and regulations drive each financial organization such as a bank/CU to establish a policies regarding account openings and keeping accounts open.   Some banks seem to just take the hard core approach of no U.S. physical address, no account. But others offer more flexibility.   Depends on the financial organization....but not having a U.S. address is definitely an "dead whale that just can't be kicked aside" with some financial organizations. 

 

 ttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_your_customer

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_Identification_Program

Yep the so called "know your customer" is up and about and implemented a bit differently among institutions. 

[keeniau96]

I just opened a USAA account. Quite simple, used my Thai address. Was former military, currently no connection. Needed my mil info and SS#. US$25 to as first deposit in checking account. First 10 checks every month free, no annual fee. I last wrote a check about 4 years ago so don't expect any charges (grin). The app process finished with note to expect approval notice in 2-3 days, would mail items to my address which has to be the Thai one because only one I listed. Interesting thing is the verification at the very end, wherein they list three items with five entries in each, pick the one that is associated with you. one was old addresses, one was companies, one was schools. Two of the items were valid, one was nothing I could identify so left that blank and must have been OK.

 

Now to see if I can get SS to pay into this account, then see about ACH transfer to BKK Bank in NYC.

[lopburi3]

Would expect direct SS deposit will be easy (was for me for OPM).   Been a long time but believe they have option to set up ACH as send only (which is what you want).  

[Langsuan Man]

18 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Would expect direct SS deposit will be easy (was for me for OPM).   Been a long time but believe they have option to set up ACH as send only (which is what you want).  

If you establish a US Social Security online account (called my Social Security) you can change the bank you use for direct deposit online. All you need is the routing number (for USAA it is  314074269 ) and your account number 

 

Establish an online social security account here:

https://secure.ssa.gov/RIR/CatsView.do

 

Just remember to try during the following hours:

 

[Pib]

Not necessarily.  I have a SS Online account and can not change where my direct deposit goes "online."   I have to call, contact SSA directly, etc.   While my online account says I can change my bank online when I click the link it just pulls up page  saying call this number, contact a local SSA office, etc.  It probably because my address is a military APO address versus an address within the 50 states.  

 

LSM,

   Is your SS address your address in the States or an in-Thailand address?  I bet it's a in the 50 states address.

[Pib]

yeap, per SSA website you have to have U.S. address.  Since my address is outside the 50 states that why I can't change bank accounts for direct deposit online....gotta call, contact a local SS office, etc.

 

https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3825/How-can-I-change-or-sign-up-for-direct-deposit-for-my-Social-Security-or-Supplemental-Security-Income-SSI-payments

 

 

Quote

 

How can I change or sign up for direct deposit for my Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments?

If you already receive benefits (retirement, survivors, or disability) and you have a bank account, you can start or update your direct deposit by using the My Profile Tab in mySocial Security. In addition, you can decide when your change will take effect.

This service is not currently available for people who receive SSI or do not have a U.S. mailing address. However, if you are receiving SSI, you can still check the type of payment method we have on record via the My Profile Tab in my Social Security.

• If you get SSI, do not have a U.S. mailing address, or are unable to change your address online, can start or update direct deposit by:Contacting your bank, credit union, or savings and loan association; or
• Calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

If you currently do not get Social Security or SSI benefits, but plan to apply, sign up for direct deposit when you apply for benefits. Have your checkbook or a copy of your bank statement with you.

 

 

[Langsuan Man]

13 hours ago, Pib said:

 Is your SS address your address in the States or an in-Thailand address?  I bet it's a in the 50 states address.

Yes, I use a US address yet I did register and sign up for my Social Security online from Thailand

 

Which also means I don't have to worry about the annual "are you  still alive" notification requirement 

[Pib]

1 hour ago, Langsuan Man said:

Which also means I don't have to worry about the annual "are you  still alive" notification requirement 

 

I don't have to worry about the annual "are you still alive" query either; just every two years for folks with APO addresses.  

 

As nice to know for those listening in, some countries and APOs are on a biennial schedule....Thailand is annual.  Below earlier post gives info on the dead or alive letters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dead or Alive Form_FEP_SSA - POMS_ RS 02655.pdf

Edited May 2, 2017 by Pib

[CaptHaddock]

2 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

Yes, I use a US address yet I did register and sign up for my Social Security online from Thailand

 

Which also means I don't have to worry about the annual "are you  still alive" notification requirement 

 

Did you use a US address as your residence or as your US mailing address, since the SSA asksis for both?  I have given them my Bangkok address as residence and my US mailing address, but I am not yet receiving benefits.  When I do, will I be getting the annual letter or not?

[Langsuan Man]

14 minutes ago, CaptHaddock said:

Did you use a US address as your residence or as your US mailing address, since the SSA asksis for both? 

Same address for both

[CaptHaddock]

2 minutes ago, Langsuan Man said:

Same address for both

And your US address is not a mail forwarding service, correct?

[Langsuan Man]

Just now, CaptHaddock said:

And your US address is not a mail forwarding service, correct?

Correct, a real physical residence address

[taxout]

Has anyone enrolled in the Emeritus plan at SDFCU? It looks like you get US$6 domestic wires and free checks so long as you keep at least US$2,500 in a savings account.

 

https://www.sdfcu.org/member-exclusive (scroll down)

 

They also seem to offer a secured no-credit-check credit card. This would be useful for expats who find themselves unable to get regular credit cards either overseas or in the U.S., yet need a card from time to time for air tickets, hotel reservations and other online purchases.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 hours ago, taxout said:

Has anyone enrolled in the Emeritus plan at SDFCU? It looks like you get US$6 domestic wires and free checks so long as you keep at least US$2,500 in a savings account.

 

https://www.sdfcu.org/member-exclusive (scroll down)

 

They also seem to offer a secured no-credit-check credit card. This would be useful for expats who find themselves unable to get regular credit cards either overseas or in the U.S., yet need a card from time to time for air tickets, hotel reservations and other online purchases.

 

I like SDFCU for their no FCF credit cards. But I'm not sure what the point/advantage is of them offering $6 DOMESTIC wire transfers when at many banks, you can already do domestic ACH transfers for free. Their regular international wire xfer fee is $30, which is relatively mild compared to a lot of U.S. banks, but still hardly economical.

 

The bad news with them is they do charge a 1% FCF on foreign use of their debit card. The good news is, they say they don't charge any fee for credit card over the counter cash advances, which could come in handy here, especially since their credit card also has no FCF.

 

[taxout]

The advantage would be having a "bank" that's used to customers living overseas and which doesn't set red lights flashing just because you want to send or receive a foreign wire transfer, or because you use your debit or credit card mostly overseas. Also, not having to worry that your bank is suddenly going to close your account because they realize you're not in the U.S.

 

The downside is that I'd feel awkward if not plain silly using a debit or credit card with "State Department" splashed over it in big letters, like the SDFCU cards. It'd be better if they had an anodyne logo like "SDFCU." Indeed, I can think of countries where I certainly wouldn't waive a card like that around.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Your prior post made a specific point of citing their $6 domestic wires, and that's what I was chiefly responding to, along with their other fee issues.

 

Apart from fees, your point about them being an apparently expat friendly institution is a valid one. Although, SDFCU certainly isn't the only bank or CU that's reasonably friendly to expats, as long as you don't rub your expat-ness in their face.

 

In many years here, I've never had a single problem with any of my multiple home country bank accounts. I've also opened new accounts online multiple times without problem, and only have been turned down once because I couldn't provide a requested utility bill.  But I do maintain a home country residence address, phone number and all my financial things carry a home country address. So for me, that approach has been a recipe for success.

 

 

[CaptHaddock]

So, now I have been using my State Department Federal Credit Union account for six months or so and can recommend them.  I use SDFCU for bill payment and ACH transfers to my Bangkok Bank account.  The money transfer function has a couple of nice features.  The maximum transfer is $15,000 per day up to $25,000 per month, which is much more than my other banks.  Also, they have an expedited transfer feature that they claim speeds up the delivery of the cash by a couple of days and only costs $3.  I haven't used it yet, but it might be valuable on occasion.

 

They also have a 24 hour help line manned by native speakers.

 

As noted above I was able to open the account using my Bangkok address.  So, that's a big plus also.