Long term travel in America and bank accounts

Submitted: Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 09:46
ThreadID: 119231 Views:1922 Replies:5 FollowUps:2
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Hi there, I have just managed to get an annual 6 month visa with right to travel to the USA every year for the next 5 so I intend to explore. My question is does anyone know how or if it's possible to set up a bank account in the USA?
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Reply By: muzbry - Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 10:54

Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 10:54
Gday
Go and see Kathy at Ashburton West Pac , tell her Muzbry sent you.
AnswerID: 556132

Follow Up By: muzbry - Saturday, Jun 20, 2015 at 07:45

Saturday, Jun 20, 2015 at 07:45
Gday
If you are a WestPac customer , your account will be with Bank of America , and you will not be charged fees.
Dont forget your 100 or so points of identification,
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Reply By: TomH - Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 11:43

Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 11:43
Dont know about now but quite a few years ago we went to USA sent money to a bank over there.

It was called Bank of America BUT unfortunately wasnt actually " THE" Bank etc. It was just an ordinary bank that wasnt everywhere.

Using money cards seems to be the way to go today Can top them up online and they are accepted almost everywhere ( Except Chevron Servos) we found.
AnswerID: 556137

Follow Up By: Les - PK Ranger - Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 12:57

Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 12:57
Watch debit / credit cards though, as my brother had accounts in LA, if he went to another state, he often found it wouldn't work . . . he was supposed to tell his bank which states he was visiting, when, and they would allow transactions for his travels.
Obviously limiting their losses to fraud, but very inconvenient.
I get that here taking payments form US customers, have to pre advise them to check with their banks to see if their cards are ok for overseas transactions.
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Reply By: Erad - Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 16:19

Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 16:19
Years ago (before credit cards), I went to the USA with a wad of Bank of America traveller's cheques. I cashed them as I went around eg at fuel filling stations - no problem. One day I went to a local branch of the Bank of America and asked to cash a traveller's cheque. Big trouble! Eventually they wanted to charge me $10 to cash a $50 cheque. No thank you - I went out and filled up at the local servo and cashed a cheque there -no charge. I am sure that things are different with credit cards etc now, but I bet that the same still applies with traveller's cheques.
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Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 19:27

Friday, Jun 19, 2015 at 19:27
Just ask your bank what they can arrange for you. Also ask what the fees will be.





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Reply By: P & G - Saturday, Jun 20, 2015 at 12:33

Saturday, Jun 20, 2015 at 12:33
Thanks all for the responses. Will definitely now talk with the bank to see what they can do
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