Most US banks won’t open an account for someone with a foreign address, and almost none accept a PO box or virtual mailbox as a home address. Realistic options are Schwab’s international arm for US citizens abroad, fintechs such as Wise, and Mercury or Relay for US LLC owners. This member-maintained list records what each institution says on its own site; policies change.
This is a wiki: members can edit this first post to add options, prices and experiences. Please keep it factual and say when you last used a service.
Last checked: October 2026
In short:
- US banks must collect a residential or business street address, so a PO box or virtual mailbox address is rarely accepted as your home address; Capital One, for example, requires a US physical address and a US mobile number.
- Wise gives personal and business customers USD, EUR and GBP account details if their address is in a supported country, but USD details are unavailable for addresses in 33 listed places, including the UAE, Türkiye and Nigeria.
- Revolut and N26 personal accounts require you to live in a supported country, and offshore “expat” accounts in Jersey or the Isle of Man have high entry thresholds, such as £75,000 in savings or investments at HSBC Expat.
Why you get rejected
The address rule. US customer identification rules require banks to obtain, for an individual, “a residential or business street address” (or, failing that, APO/FPO or a next-of-kin address). So PO boxes and virtual mailbox (CMRA) addresses are usually refused. See Virtual mailbox services for nomads (2026): prices and what banks accept.
FATCA. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act makes foreign financial institutions report on assets held by US account holders, or face withholding on US payments. Many foreign banks decide US persons aren’t worth the paperwork and refuse them.
Moving after you open. A bank that finds a foreign address may restrict or close the account. See Why banks close digital nomads’ accounts, and which are safer bets.
Comparison table
| Institution | What it’s for | Who it accepts (per official site, checked 6 Oct 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schwab International | US citizens living abroad who want a US brokerage and USD banking | US citizens abroad via its international arm | Schwab refunds ATM fees worldwide on its debit card. The domestic Investor Checking application requires US residence. Minimum not confirmed. |
| Capital One 360 | US savings and checking | US citizens or permanent residents with a US physical address in the 50 states or DC, or APO/FPO | Also needs SSN or ITIN and a US mobile number. |
| Revolut US | Personal US account | People aged 18+ who reside in the US | Non-citizens accepted with SSN/ITIN or an eligible US visa valid 3+ months. |
| Revolut Business (US entity) | US company owned from abroad | Owners living in an eligible country | Company must be US-incorporated with proof of physical presence and an EIN. |
| Mercury | US LLC/corporation banking | Founders worldwide; no US citizenship or residence needed | Rejects PO boxes and virtual addresses; some countries restricted. |
| Relay | US small-business banking | US-registered businesses with non-US owners, if the business has a US operating presence | Passport only for non-US citizens; no PO boxes or virtual mailboxes. |
| Wise | Multi-currency account with local details | Residents of most countries | No USD details for addresses in 33 listed places. Details go inactive if you move somewhere unsupported. |
| Revolut (personal) | Multi-currency personal account | Residents of the EEA, UK, US, Switzerland, Australia, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore (Mexico waiting list) | You can’t open a UK account unless you’re a legal UK resident. |
| N26 | EU current account | Residents of 21 listed European countries | Must be 18+, resident in a supported country, with a supported ID and compatible smartphone. |
| HSBC Expat | Offshore multi-currency account in Jersey | Residents of eligible countries meeting wealth criteria | £75,000 savings/investments, or HSBC Premier customer with £10,000. Jersey deposit protection up to £50,000, not UK FSCS. |
| Lloyds Bank International | Offshore GBP current account (Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man) | Residents of eligible countries aged 18+ (International Plus) | £20/month unless you keep £10,000. The older International Account (£50,000 income or £25,000 savings) is no longer available. |
UK options for non-residents
High-street UK accounts generally expect a UK address; Revolut notes that “in most cases, you’ll need a valid UK address.” The usual routes for non-residents are Wise GBP account details (Wise is not a bank) or offshore expat accounts in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, which are outside the UK FSCS and have high thresholds. If you know a UK bank that currently accepts non-residents, add it with a link to its eligibility page. See also Offshore bank account (2026): what’s legal, costs, where to open.
What documents they ask for
- Everyone: passport or national ID; fintechs add a selfie.
- US banks: SSN or ITIN, a US residential street address and often a US phone number.
- US business accounts: formation documents, EIN and a physical address for each owner; Relay also asks about income and source of funds. See Wyoming LLC for non-US residents: Form 5472, banking and tax (2026) and Wise Business account review (2026): fees, eligibility and risks.
- Offshore banks: proof of wealth or income and of your residential address.
How to choose
- US citizen moving abroad: set up a US account that accepts expats before you leave.
- Non-US founder with a US LLC: Mercury, Relay or Wise Business.
- Nomad without a fixed home: Wise or Revolut in your country of residence. Compare them in Wise vs Revolut for digital nomads: fees, limits and when you need a local bank.
Member experiences
Reply below with which one you use and why. Say when you opened it and which country’s address you used.
Related guides: Why banks close digital nomads’ accounts, and which are safer bets · Wise vs Revolut for digital nomads: fees, limits and when you need a local bank · Offshore bank account (2026): what’s legal, costs, where to open · Wyoming LLC for non-US residents: Form 5472, banking and tax (2026) · Virtual mailbox services for nomads (2026): prices and what banks accept
Quick answers
Q: Can I open a US bank account with a PO box address?
Usually not as your home address. US rules require banks to collect a residential or business street address for individuals, with APO/FPO or a next-of-kin address only if you have no street address. Capital One, Mercury and Relay all state they need a physical address. Some banks accept a PO box as a separate mailing address.
Q: Can non-residents open a US bank account?
Personal accounts are hard: Capital One requires US citizenship or permanent residence plus a US physical address, and Revolut US requires US residence. Non-residents who own a US company do better: Mercury and Revolut Business accept founders living abroad, and Relay accepts non-US owners whose business operates in the US.
Q: Why do foreign banks refuse US citizens?
FATCA requires foreign financial institutions to report on the foreign assets held by their US account holders, and non-compliant institutions face withholding on US payments. Many banks avoid the cost by declining US persons. US citizens abroad often keep a US-based account, such as Schwab’s international offering, alongside a local or fintech account.
Sources
- Cornell LII: 31 CFR 1020.220, customer identification programs for banks
- IRS: Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)
- Schwab International: investing and brokerage services for US expatriates
- Schwab: Open a Schwab One brokerage account and linked Schwab Bank Investor Checking account (application)
- Capital One: 360 Performance Savings disclosures
- Revolut: Does Revolut open accounts for non-US citizens?
- Revolut: Can I open a Revolut Business account in the US if I reside in a different country?
- Revolut: What are the supported countries?
- Revolut: How to open a bank account in the UK
- Mercury: eligibility
- Relay: required documents
- Wise: Can I get USD account details?
- Wise: How do I open account details to receive money?
- N26: Can I open an N26 account in my country?
- N26: How to open my N26 account?
- HSBC Expat: bank account
- Lloyds Bank International: international account
- Lloyds Bank International: International Plus account
This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before acting.
Over to you: Which bank or fintech has let you keep an account after moving abroad, and what address did you give them? If you’re a US citizen, has a foreign bank turned you away because of FATCA?