Charles Schwab, HSBC, Interactive Brokers, the State Department Federal Credit Union, Zenus Bank, and Wise are among the US banks and brokerages that allow a foreign address on the account. Federal law does not require your address to be inside the United States; the restriction comes from each bank’s own compliance policies, which is why most retail banks turn expats away and a smaller group has built its business around serving them.
Traditional Banks and Brokerages
Charles Schwab opens brokerage accounts for international investors using a non-US residential address. The application asks for a tax identification number such as a Social Security Number, a passport or government-issued ID, and a recent utility bill showing your name, foreign address, and date of issuance.1Charles Schwab International. Open an Account Intro Schwab international accounts give you access to US-listed securities, with some restrictions on mutual fund purchases once you live outside the country.
HSBC serves cross-border customers through its Premier tier and its HSBC Expat division. Premier customers can view linked HSBC accounts around the world through Global View and move money between them instantly in more than 28 currencies, with no outgoing transfer fees from US accounts.2HSBC Bank USA. Global View and Global Transfers Premier checking requires at least $100,000 in combined deposits and investments, or at least $5,000 in monthly direct deposits.3HSBC Bank USA. Premier Checking Account If you hold HSBC One, Jade, or Premier status, you can open an overseas account, and monthly maintenance fees are waived as long as you keep the minimum balance in at least one market.4HSBC Bank USA. Applying for an Account Outside the US
Citibank has historically served international clients through its Citigold and Citi Priority tiers, but Citi has been scaling back retail banking in several countries. If you already hold one of those accounts, ask the bank whether your destination country is still supported before you move.
Interactive Brokers is structured as a global brokerage and accepts non-US addresses at registration. Because it already serves clients in dozens of countries, it avoids most of the geographic limits that traditional retail banks impose. It offers cash management features such as direct deposit and bill pay, though the platform is primarily built for investing.
The Credit Union Route: SDFCU
The State Department Federal Credit Union markets itself as a financial home for Americans overseas and accepts foreign addresses on both new and existing accounts.5State Department Federal Credit Union. Banking for Americans Abroad It also runs programs tailored to overseas life, including home-buying assistance for State Department employees purchasing a US residence while stationed abroad.6State Department Federal Credit Union. Seamless Global Banking With SDFCU
Membership is open to Department of State employees and on-site contractors, their family and household members, and members of affiliated organizations.7State Department Federal Credit Union. Membership The usual path for applicants with no government tie is to join the American Consumer Council, which sells a lifetime individual membership for $15.8American Consumer Council. Join Now Once you have ACC membership, you can apply for an SDFCU account.
Digital-First Alternatives
Zenus Bank is a US-licensed international bank regulated by the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions in Puerto Rico. It provides deposit accounts and USD payments to individuals and businesses in more than 160 countries and does not require a US address.9Zenus Bank. Zenus Bank – Global Banking and Fintech Solutions Because it holds a US banking license, deposits are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000.
Wise, formerly TransferWise, offers a multi-currency account with dedicated USD routing numbers for ACH and wire transfers plus a US account number.10Wise. An Important Update to Your Wise USD Borderless Details That setup lets you receive domestic transfers, direct deposits, and payments from US platforms as if you had a traditional US bank. Wise is a money services business, not a bank, so it is not directly FDIC-insured. If you opt into the interest feature, eligible USD balances receive pass-through FDIC coverage up to $250,000 through a partner bank, currently JPMorgan Chase. Without opting in, your funds are not FDIC-protected.11Wise. Is Wise FDIC-Insured?
Why Most Banks Refuse a Foreign Address When the Law Doesn’t
Every US bank must run a Customer Identification Program before opening an account. The rule requires it to collect your name, date of birth, an identification number, and an address.12eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks For an individual, that address has to be a residential or business street address rather than a P.O. box. If you don’t have a street address, the bank can accept an APO or FPO box number or the street address of a next of kin or other contact person.13Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Customer Identification Program
Nothing in that regulation requires the address to be inside the United States. A foreign residential street address meets the federal rule. The refusal comes from individual banks that don’t want the added compliance work, which is why the institutions listed above stand out.
Using a commercial mail receiving agency, sometimes called a private mailbox or virtual mailbox, as your only address is risky. The service gives you a real street address, but it belongs to the provider, not to you. Some banks will accept it alongside a genuine residential address; others will reject it outright. If you use one, expect the bank to ask for your actual residential address as well.
Documents You’ll Be Asked For
Tax Identification
Every bank has to collect a taxpayer identification number. For US citizens and resident aliens, that is your Social Security Number. Non-resident aliens can provide an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, a passport number, or another government-issued ID number.12eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks
US citizens and resident aliens also complete IRS Form W-9, which certifies your taxpayer status and prevents backup withholding on account earnings. Without a valid W-9, the bank must withhold 24% of reportable payments such as interest and dividends and send that amount to the IRS.14Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-9 Non-resident aliens file Form W-8BEN instead, which establishes foreign-person status and can reduce withholding rates if a tax treaty applies between the US and your country of residence.
Proof of Address and Translations
To verify a foreign address, banks typically ask for a recent utility bill covering gas, electric, water, or cable, a lease agreement, or a foreign government-issued ID showing your name and address. The document usually has to be recent, and most banks want it dated within the last three months.
If your documents aren’t in English, expect to provide a certified translation. Standard practice is for the translator to certify in writing that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate between the two languages, with the translator’s name, signature, address, and the date on the certification.
What Changes About Investing Once You’re Abroad
Keeping a US account open from overseas doesn’t mean you can trade everything you used to. Most US brokerages block the purchase of US-registered mutual funds by non-US residents. Schwab’s non-US resident clients can hold or sell existing mutual fund positions but cannot make new purchases.15Charles Schwab International. Understanding Offshore Mutual Funds Fidelity applies similar restrictions: since August 2014, customers living outside the United States have not been able to buy shares of mutual funds, and residents of certain countries face additional limits on depositing money or buying any securities at all.16Fidelity. Investors Who Reside Outside the United States
ETFs generally stay available through US brokerages even with a foreign address, which makes them the main alternative for expats who want to keep investing. Options trading, margin lending, and other advanced strategies may be restricted depending on your country of residence. Check your brokerage’s international client policies before you move.
Updating an Existing Account When You Move
If you already hold a US bank account and are moving overseas, update your address with the bank and with the IRS.
Most banks let existing customers submit an address change through their online portal. That change usually triggers a compliance review in which the bank checks your new location against sanctioned-country lists and may ask for updated documentation such as a foreign utility bill, a copy of your passport, or a government-issued ID showing the new address. Reviews generally finish within a few business days, though some banks take longer. If a document is rejected, you will usually be told what needs to be corrected, such as an expired passport or a utility bill older than three months.
To update your home address with the IRS, file Form 8822. Form 8822-B is for business addresses only.17Internal Revenue Service. Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party Keeping the address current means tax correspondence, refund checks, and IRS notices reach you.
Moving to a country under US sanctions, such as those administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, can lead the bank to freeze or close your account. Banks are prohibited from providing financial services connected to comprehensively sanctioned jurisdictions. If your destination is on or near a sanctions list, confirm your bank’s policy before relocating.
Cards and Mail
Getting a debit or credit card delivered to a foreign address takes longer and can cost extra. Standard international mail for a replacement card runs about 12 to 20 business days. Some institutions offer expedited shipping through carriers like FedEx for a fee; Navy Federal Credit Union, for example, charges $11.50 for expedited international delivery.18Navy Federal Credit Union. Using Your Navy Federal Debit Card Overseas Ask about international card shipping before you leave, and consider requesting a replacement card while you still have a US address.
If you want a US street address for mail forwarding of statements, tax documents, or other correspondence, virtual mailbox services receive, scan, and forward mail from a physical address. Pricing runs from about $10 to $50 per month depending on provider and mail volume. They handle correspondence well, but on their own they may not satisfy a bank’s residential address requirement.