US Bank Acc opening for Americans Abroad rejection

[strikerz19]

Hi all, recently i tried to open a bank account with state department federal credit union as an american living overseas (they explicitly market this possibility for those who did not know). I got declined with the following reason:

Thank you for your online membership application. Unfortunately we are unable to open an account for you due to our inability to electronically verify your identity as is required by Bank Secrecy Act regulations. If we are unable to verify someone’s identity based upon the information provided, we are unable to maintain an account for that individual.

Anyone have any transparency on what this rejection means? I have no clue what it means that they cant verify identity electronically; and how to remediate this issue.. no other method of clarification was offered by SDFCU

Or if anyone else has any positive experience opening an bank account in the US as an american overseas - would love to hear your story!

Thanks!

[TheBrit]

I'd think the first port of call should be asking them?

Otherwise, we opened a UK bank account from Hong Kong through HSBC. They might offer this service for US bank accounts, worth checking with them.

[Trebor]

Maybe you need to get your KYC docs certified at the US consulate or by a notary public or something.

[shri]

Anyone have any transparency on what this rejection means? I have no clue what it means that they cant verify identity electronically; and how to remediate this issue.. no other method of clarification was offered by SDFCU

Or if anyone else has any positive experience opening an bank account in the US as an american overseas - would love to hear your story!

Did you contact them and ask them if the situation is fixable?

There is a lot more information available here:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...20.pdf?noembed

(The TLR version is .. banks have to be able to verify who you are and its in your benefit to figure out what bits are missing - assuming they did not shut you out. No clue how large this credit union is, but having dealt with a couple about 30+ years ago - they can be ridiculously old fashioned and outdated. May be things have changed..)

[wanderer01]

Any particular reason you are going with this institution? Also, what is the need? Are you relocating back, or is this to help you manage your local affairs in the US while you live abroad?

HSBC and Citi have a way to open US accounts through their international banking office