Nosy banks

Alright, here’s the comparison. I don't see how yours is any better than what we have at Chase—and they’re usually considered one of the more expensive banks in the US.

My wife and I have accounts at Chase and we use:

- 2x checking accounts
- 2x foreign currency accounts
- 2x savings accounts
- 2x Maestro debit cards
- 2x Mastercard with a limit of three paychecks
- 2x online banking access
- Service center perks—2x free home repairs a year (plumber, glazier, locksmith, or electrician). We use it maybe once a year (service value is roughly $500-$200)
- Roadside assistance—free (though I haven't needed it)
- Travel insurance—free (used to pay $100-$67 per trip)
- Overdraft protection up to $7,500 (rarely use it, but I like having it there)
- Ability to take out a quick loan via online banking—up to $10,000 (hits the account in about 30 seconds)
- No fees for internal transactions within the bank (at least 10 or so transactions a month)
- A personal banker available via email/mobile/landline—we set appointments whenever works for us, though I rarely need them
- Online business portal access through the app
- Phone, internet, and email support (including video chat with a banker)
- ATMs and branches on basically every corner

And we pay $20/month ($10 per person). Is that a lot? Not to me. Honestly, I hope it stays this way forever.
Mind you, interest rates are higher here than in some other Western countries, which might suit you or not depending on whether you're looking for a loan or a CD. But things are changing fast—mortgages are around 3% for the masses (pretty decent), while CDs are about 1.5% (not great).

And I don't mind answering 5 or 6 benign questions for FinCEN via the app—I've already become a bit of a regular on this thread asking for that stuff, nothing special.

wiredlynx28 As stated by:
Beyond the standard FATCA requirements, banks maintain their own internal protocols regarding client data. These mandates aren't necessarily tied to federal reporting, yet they remain strictly mandatory if a client intends to establish or maintain a professional relationship with the institution. This includes specific inquiries into a client's operational patterns and how they intend to conduct their business affairs with the bank.
I had a remarkably similar experience at one of my local branches recently. When I went in to set up an additional business account, they didn't just stop at asking for my basic FATCA documentation. They started digging into much more personal territory—asking about my educational background, my family situation, even questions regarding children. It felt unnecessarily intrusive, to say the least. When I pushed back, they were quite blunt about it: they informed me that without providing all those specific details, they simply wouldn't be able to establish a formal business relationship with me. It’s a frustrating level of scrutiny these days.
Perhaps the folks over at JPMorgan Chase weren't entirely clear in their communication, but I find it hard to believe they would go through the trouble of actively soliciting clients by citing specific regulations unless they were actually compelled to do so. At the end of the day, they have their own board of directors and a massive legal department to handle those kinds of nuances. They aren't exactly in the business of making life difficult for themselves without a very good reason.
The people who orchestrate these kinds of scenes—they aren't exactly high achievers. In my experience, it’s usually individuals with limited education who have spent their lives feeling sidelined by circumstances beyond their control. It’s a pattern you see quite often, and frankly, psychology backs it up. When someone feels they have no agency in the world, they turn to these performative outbursts to feel some semblance of relevance.
If you find yourself facing an issue, I suggest tracking down a moderator or the appropriate supervisor to address it. If you genuinely believe there is a grievance to be aired, try to resolve the disagreement civilly and professionally. 👍
I know a client who absolutely lost his cool with his bank—full-blown scenes, making a spectacle of himself—all because he thought he could play games with his accounts. He started closing everything down under the impression that other institutions wouldn't care about his history, thinking it was a seamless transition. When he realized that wasn't how the real world works and tried to crawl back, they flat-out refused to reopen his business accounts. It’s a cautionary tale: once you burn those bridges, they don't just rebuild them for you. Keep that in mind before you decide to go scorched earth on your financial partners.
Regarding Wells Fargo, a close acquaintance of mine recently closed an account there because he was fed up with their service. He actually asked me how they managed to bypass certain data verification steps entirely without ever reaching out to him. I asked him to pull up his contract just to see what we were dealing with, and sure enough, the bank had filled in the details themselves without asking for a single thing. From a regulatory standpoint, that is completely wrong and frankly unacceptable. Under standard banking protocols, the client is the one responsible for the accuracy of that information, not the institution. However, looking at how things operate behind the scenes at a place like Wells Fargo, I can’t say I’m entirely surprised. Given their ownership structure and the way things are run, I have my doubts about whether anyone actually gets hired there without a personal recommendation from someone on the inside. 🤣 That’s simply not the case when it comes to Chase.

Come on, quit lying to these hardworking people, you corporate mercenary.

I actually moved my money out of that Italian-owned JPMorgan Chase over fifteen years ago and transitioned everything to the Federal Reserve system. To be blunt, that bank’s treatment of its clients is nothing short of revolting. My wife has been banking with the Fed for more than a decade now. Throughout all those years—whether we were taking out loans, setting up CDs, or playing around with stocks—not once did anyone ever bother us with unnecessary nonsense. It’s just been a much smoother experience.

wiredlynx28 As stated by:
Steve, in my experience, once I cleared things with the higher-ups at JPMorgan Chase, questions regarding things like professional credentials and residential status became mandatory. If I weren't already working within this industry, I probably would have thought they were overstepping, too. 👍
Just because those requirements were mandatory over there doesn't mean they apply everywhere else. It's a common misconception, but you can't take one region's regulatory landscape and assume it's the universal standard.
They laid everything out for me quite clearly in the system—exactly what needs to be filled out and what is strictly mandatory. Given how transparently they presented those requirements, I highly doubt that at JPMorgan Chase, these aren't compulsory questions. It isn't just a matter of some internal bank policy being "voluntary" or optional; much of this is actually required by regulation. 👍
If these requirements weren't absolutely mandatory, there's no way they’d be hitting clients with these notifications or freezing accounts. It simply doesn't serve anyone's interests—not the banks, and certainly not the customers. It’s just unnecessary friction that creates chaos for no reason.

And I appreciate you using this post to prove exactly what kind of lying troll you are.

Tell me, what exactly were you doing—as an employee of Chase—working at a different bank? Were you just hoping for a better offer than what your actual employer provides? 😒

There’s already a term floating around: "proofreaders." It refers to those semi-literate students who somehow get paid to edit texts, even though the English language is practically foreign to them and they haven't finished a hundred books in their entire lives.
I honestly think it’s time we coined a new term: "banksters." 🥱

@ bluecyclist64

I don't work at Chase, but a colleague of mine transferred there, and since I know the branch manager, I have firsthand insight.👍
You claim I'm lying? Fine. Go ahead—state exactly what you think I'm lying about and back it up with actual facts instead of just your own opinion.

And no, I wasn't looking for a better offer from the Federal Reserve, which is gradually pulling out of the American market due to poor performance. I was looking for something else entirely: a one-time deal without any strings attached.👍
If you're happy with your current bank, more power to you.

One more thing: any inappropriate behavior within the bank premises will be reported to the authorities. Just like any apartment building, a bank has its own set of house rules.😒

Laura Chavez93 said:In that case, you just close the accounts, take your money, and move to a different bank where they don't harass clients with such nonsense

It might be beneficial if the management and legal teams actually read Section 16 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act which they seem to be citing ☕

Exactly—it isn't the banks harassing clients with trivialities, but rather certain primitives who lack basic social graces🤦

We aren't talking about disagreements, but rather the bank issuing an ultimatum to obtain data that has absolutely nothing to do with what they claim to be citing... essentially forcing the client to sign away rights so the bank can do whatever they please.
A branch manager is just going to recite the same tired nonsense you’re already hearing—there’s zero interest in actually understanding the situation or finding a solution when they have no intention of helping in the first place.

You're mistaken, Charlemagne. Highly educated people are notorious for letting any petty clerk, waiter, or little banker fleece them like naive children...🤣

James Rogers53 said:At the end of the day, any business—banks included—has the right to set its own internal policies regarding who they’ll work with and under what specific terms.
Whether that works for you or not is up to you. If it doesn't, maybe just look elsewhere.

Banks can also choose whether or not to play ball with specific regulatory demands. If they don't like the rules, they can just walk away. From what I can see, everyone else is staying in line—they’re following the playbook and pestering clients for data, then closing accounts if people refuse to hand it over. It looks like JP Morgan Chase is being used by regulators as the new benchmark, so I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the industry starts following suit pretty soon.

Personally, I suspect this is more a case of a particularly incompetent bureaucrat making a poor judgment call. Unfortunately, the person asking the questions didn't know how to handle the situation, so they just told them where to go and demanded someone actually competent.

wiredlynx28 said:@ bluecyclist64

I don't work at Chase, but a colleague of mine transferred there, and since I know the branch manager, I have firsthand insight.👍
You claim I'm lying? Fine. Go ahead—state exactly what you think I'm lying about and back it up with actual facts instead of just your own opinion.

And no, I wasn't looking for a better offer from the Federal Reserve, which is gradually pulling out of the American market due to poor performance. I was looking for something else entirely: a one-time deal without any strings attached.👍
If you're happy with your current bank, more power to you.

One more thing: any inappropriate behavior within the bank premises will be reported to the authorities. Just like any apartment building, a bank has its own set of house rules.😒

Oh, you definitely work for Chase. It’s incredibly obvious if you bother to read through your own posts.

Now, go jump in a lake. I've already earned my PhD in dealing with paid trolls.

James Rogers53 said:Alright, here’s the comparison. I don't see how yours is any better than what we have at Chase—and they’re usually considered one of the more expensive banks in the US.

My wife and I have accounts at Chase and we use:

- 2x checking accounts
- 2x foreign currency accounts
- 2x savings accounts
- 2x Maestro debit cards
- 2x Mastercard with a limit of three paychecks
- 2x online banking access
- Service center perks—2x free home repairs a year (plumber, glazier, locksmith, or electrician). We use it maybe once a year (service value is roughly $500-$200)
- Roadside assistance—free (though I haven't needed it)
- Travel insurance—free (used to pay $100-$67 per trip)
- Overdraft protection up to $7,500 (rarely use it, but I like having it there)
- Ability to take out a quick loan via online banking—up to $10,000 (hits the account in about 30 seconds)
- No fees for internal transactions within the bank (at least 10 or so transactions a month)
- A personal banker available via email/mobile/landline—we set appointments whenever works for us, though I rarely need them
- Online business portal access through the app
- Phone, internet, and email support (including video chat with a banker)
- ATMs and branches on basically every corner

And we pay $20/month ($10 per person). Is that a lot? Not to me. Honestly, I hope it stays this way forever.
Mind you, interest rates are higher here than in some other Western countries, which might suit you or not depending on whether you're looking for a loan or a CD. But things are changing fast—mortgages are around 3% for the masses (pretty decent), while CDs are about 1.5% (not great).

And I don't mind answering 5 or 6 benign questions for FinCEN via the app—I've already become a bit of a regular on this thread asking for that stuff, nothing special.

Is this really your answer to me?

What does any of this have to do with a business account?

Also, your figures in dollars are just like my figures in pounds—they aren't even comparable. It would be normal if my services were at least 5x more expensive than yours, but they aren't, which is kind of sad, I guess.

All of this looks great on paper, but what was offered to me back in the States versus what I actually received from what was written on that paper... those two things were totally different.

Plus, most of these extra perks are usually free through insurance anyway, especially abroad. And online banking often glitches out (I've tried Citigroup and Bank of America), and I've never been charged for internal bank transactions at any bank I've used. So that's not really a special privilege; they just don't charge for it, even if you aren't a client.

bluecyclist64 said:Oh, you definitely work for Chase. It’s incredibly obvious if you bother to read through your own posts.

Now, go jump in a lake. I've already earned my PhD in dealing with paid trolls.

Fine, I'm with Chase, if that makes you feel better. 👍

bluecyclist64 said:Oh, you definitely work for Chase. It’s incredibly obvious if you bother to read through your own posts.

Now, go jump in a lake. I've already earned my PhD in dealing with paid trolls.

Based on her posts in this sub, wiredlynx28 is definitely from Citigroup ☺️

Sent from my Unknown using Reddit

Ever since she joined this forum, she’s just been dropping one pile of misinformation after another.

Just muddied the waters. 😁

-Steve

I don't understand why everyone is getting so worked up. You still don't realize that banks—as institutions—don't actually need you. To them, you're just an overhead expense. They aren't looking for people like you; they want fools—clients they can squeeze for every cent—rather than dealing with individuals who simply cost them money.

As my colleague pointed out quite clearly, banks can pull liquidity from the Federal Reserve whenever they please—it’s practically free and available in unlimited quantities—yet you all insist on making their lives difficult with your own liquidity.

That is one layer of the issue. The second layer is the extreme intensification of financial repression, driven by a hungry government—not just ours, but every single one. It isn't just about individual transactions anymore; it's about the harvesting of every possible data point for the sake of total surveillance.

The solution to a problem of this magnitude lies in cryptocurrencies. And I am not talking about Bitcoin—which is merely pseudo-anonymous—but rather assets like Dash, Monero, Zcash, or PIVX. These allow for true peer-to-peer payments without any interference from banks, tax authorities, the state, or any other parasites.

Simply put: pay someone for goods or services using one of those cryptos, and you bypass the sales tax, capital gains tax, and all the other nonsense.

rowdypilot19 said:Is this really your answer to me?

What does any of this have to do with a business account?

Also, your figures in dollars are just like my figures in pounds—they aren't even comparable. It would be normal if my services were at least 5x more expensive than yours, but they aren't, which is kind of sad, I guess.

All of this looks great on paper, but what was offered to me back in the States versus what I actually received from what was written on that paper... those two things were totally different.

Plus, most of these extra perks are usually free through insurance anyway, especially abroad. And online banking often glitches out (I've tried Citigroup and Bank of America), and I've never been charged for internal bank transactions at any bank I've used. So that's not really a special privilege; they just don't charge for it, even if you aren't a client.

It feels more like that immigrant mentality where people claim "everything is better abroad," and then when it actually isn't, they just keep complaining about it.
What I mentioned is exactly how it is. I’m a demanding customer, sure, but I can't really complain about much. Their service package actually saves me money. And they’re happy with me because I pay back borrowed funds on time. In fact, I don't even view the bank as a bad thing—more like a useful tool. 😲

What people don't get is that banks are private companies. They exist to turn a profit for their owners, just like the local corner grocery store.
By the time people realize that, they'll stop whining as much as bluecyclist64 does. These are the types who will act all aggressive over a couple of bucks or some question about whether they're a US tax resident, yet every month they'll basically roll up their sleeves and tell the government, "Please, take 50% of my paycheck right now, and then grab another 25% later in the month." Then they'll wait six months for a hospital appointment with total resignation, while proudly sending their kid to school without a computer or a gym. But they'll still yell at the teller—because, well, why not? She's lower on the food chain. 😁

Honestly, your package actually looks like a really great deal to me. I’ve never even been offered anything like it before, so I guess that’s why I said that UK offer caught me totally off guard.

But, you know, a business account isn't exactly the same thing as a personal one.

And look, I’m definitely nothing like what bluecyclist64 is thinking—actually, I think I'm probably the exact opposite.

At the end of the day, banks provide a service that I need, and they probably need me as a client too, so it's just... that's just how it works. As long as they stay affordable and helpful, I don't see any reason to go hunting for another bank, or maybe even a third one, because these guys are different. 😁

Jeremy Reyes4 said:Ever since she joined this forum, she’s just been dropping one pile of misinformation after another.

Willie, be a gentleman and tell me exactly what official evidence supports your claim. I'm not just speaking because I want to be right; I'm speaking from direct experience.👍

Unfortunately, the American mindset is built this way, and I completely agree with everything James Rogers53 is saying. People who cause a scene in a branch and then act shocked when security escorts them out and calls the cops are the exact type of people who blame external factors—like low wages or being broke—for their own behavior.
And those claiming banks are untouchable? Regardless of what rowdypilot19 is saying, you can bet foreign banks aren't exactly lining up to court clients coming in with tiny American paychecks and a few measly bucks in savings.🤣
At the end of the day, just as you can switch banks, you can choose a different state if you think things work better elsewhere. In the US, the market is free.

James Rogers53 said:It feels more like that immigrant mentality where people claim "everything is better abroad," and then when it actually isn't, they just keep complaining about it.
What I mentioned is exactly how it is. I’m a demanding customer, sure, but I can't really complain about much. Their service package actually saves me money. And they’re happy with me because I pay back borrowed funds on time. In fact, I don't even view the bank as a bad thing—more like a useful tool. 😲

What people don't get is that banks are private companies. They exist to turn a profit for their owners, just like the local corner grocery store.
By the time people realize that, they'll stop whining as much as bluecyclist64 does. These are the types who will act all aggressive over a couple of bucks or some question about whether they're a US tax resident, yet every month they'll basically roll up their sleeves and tell the government, "Please, take 50% of my paycheck right now, and then grab another 25% later in the month." Then they'll wait six months for a hospital appointment with total resignation, while proudly sending their kid to school without a computer or a gym. But they'll still yell at the teller—because, well, why not? She's lower on the food chain. 😁

Man, people are such hypocrites. They whine about a few minor issues, yet let themselves get screwed over whenever it suits the system.
And the expats are a special breed. Everything is perfect compared to back home, and then the big shot writes, "Account maintenance is $10 a month."
They can't even figure out online banking, at least not the kind offered by the major banks I know personally here in the States. Maybe the poster was thinking of some Eastern European country; I have no idea what the situation is like there.
From what I know, that $10 fee is probably just a daily rate over there.

Does everyone in the US "have" to have an account at a commercial bank? If you want to receive money in any civilized manner, we can agree that you effectively "must." A basic checking account, without any extras—and depending on the bank, maybe even without a debit card—will cost anywhere from $0.00 in monthly fees upwards.
Let me correct myself: nobody is forcing you at gunpoint to keep your money in a bank. If you don't like it, keep it under your mattress; nobody's going to ask you for a receipt there. Academics.

neondriver5
You hit the nail on the head. Plus, the loudest complainers are always the ones already underwater—think of them like those folks in Greece—claiming they’ll just jump ship to another bank. They conveniently forget they have to settle their current debts at 🤣
first.

wiredlynx28 said:Willie, be a gentleman and tell me exactly what official evidence supports your claim. I'm not just speaking because I want to be right; I'm speaking from direct experience.👍

Unfortunately, the American mindset is built this way, and I completely agree with everything James Rogers53 is saying. People who cause a scene in a branch and then act shocked when security escorts them out and calls the cops are the exact type of people who blame external factors—like low wages or being broke—for their own behavior.
And those claiming banks are untouchable? Regardless of what rowdypilot19 is saying, you can bet foreign banks aren't exactly lining up to court clients coming in with tiny American paychecks and a few measly bucks in savings.🤣
At the end of the day, just as you can switch banks, you can choose a different state if you think things work better elsewhere. In the US, the market is free.

The same tired arguments from this user again. Why don't you try backing up your talk with some actual official proof? We haven't seen any of it yet.

wiredlynx28 said:neondriver5
You hit the nail on the head. Plus, the loudest complainers are always the ones already underwater—think of them like those folks in Greece—claiming they’ll just jump ship to another bank. They conveniently forget they have to settle their current debts at 🤣
first.

Fortunately, clearing old debt is usually straightforward because the banks people move to often offer ways out (overdrafts, consolidation loans, etc.). Honestly, that 🤣 idea of yours is just
.

@ Steven Rivera76

Go ahead and email the bank—in this case, Zábank—to ask exactly which pieces of information are mandatory. Once you hear back, feel free to drop the answer here. 👍

Look, obviously other banks offer solutions; they promise clients the moon and stars during a "transition period." But people always forget one thing: major players like Zábank, Chase, or Wells Fargo allow for much higher debt ceilings. Other banks might only permit up to three paychecks, or even just one, depending on the current economic climate (which factors in everything from account overdrafts to credit card balances and revolving lines). Someone who, say, had a mortgage, personal loans, Amex, Mastercard, an overdraft, and a line of credit at their current bank will likely only be offered a personal loan and maybe some overdraft protection at the new bank—and honestly, given those clients' salary levels, I highly doubt that'll even happen.
Then, after a short while, those exact same clients come crawling back saying they want everything exactly how it was before. At that point, Rolf is out. 🤣

Arthur Long5 said:You are mistaken on several points.
In Germany, they aren't opening accounts for Americans, and the same goes for Austria. They used to be more accommodating, but that window has closed...
I reached out to N26, but they informed me they still aren't accepting Americans—specifically those residing in the States.
As for UniCredit Austria, specifically Bank Austria, their website claims they allow EU citizens to open non-resident current accounts; furthermore, if one already holds an account within the UniCredit group, they can supposedly submit documentation through a local branch to receive a card.
I sent them an email requesting this service, making sure to specify that I wanted a response via email, as they offer that option.
Two days later, I received a call on Viber from an unknown number, only to find it was a representative from Bank Austria telling me it wasn't possible.

I was at the hospital with my children, so I didn't have the energy to argue or insist on an email response, and eventually, I just lost the will to try... frankly, to hell with them, I won't be begging.

I previously contacted Intesa as well, and they noted that each individual bank decides for itself whether or not to accept non-residents.

I should also correct you on one thing: JPMorgan Chase actually sent my wife's card to Canada.

Generally speaking, the situation within the banking sector has shifted.
A friend of mine works at a bank in Milan, and she mentions that clients with significant capital are becoming nothing but a headache.

Banks are sitting on massive amounts of liquidity, yet they lack quality investment opportunities, all while bureaucracy continues to swell...

There was a time when a bank would practically roll out the red carpet if you showed up with a large amount of legal cash, simply because they had plenty of ways to deploy it.

A colleague of mine who works in a bank in Canada tells me the same thing; they are drowning in deposits with no good way to invest them, which is creating its own set of problems.

On another note, Bank of Ireland does accept Americans; you just need to email them certified copies of your account statements to verify your address along with a copy of your passport.

Account maintenance fees are inexpensive and are billed quarterly, every three months...

For Chime, you need a German address—at least when I opened mine about two years ago—to where they can mail the card... I ended up using my niece's place.
As for Bank of America, I closed my account there once I withdrew my savings... that was back before the US joined the EU.

Speaking of fees...
BMO doesn't charge any fees for the first year for new customers, and after that, as long as you keep more than $4,000 in the account.
Savings are fee-free, and you get 1.6% monthly interest on savings if you bump up the deposit the following month.
Mobile and online banking are free.

Tangerine has better interest rates on savings right now, and since account maintenance is free indefinitely, I think I'll make the switch... plus I get a $50 referral bonus from a buddy (unfortunately not the full $100, since I get paid in checks rather than direct deposit).