Opening U.S.A. Bank Account for Non-Residents

After year 2001 it became no longer possible to open a U.S.A. bank account for a non-resident without physical presence in the United States of America. This is true even if you live in Canada two miles away from the U.S. border :-).


However, one can open a brokerage account at a United States bank with a VISA debit card or check-writing privileges.

One of such companies is E*TRADE Financial Corporation. You will be able to use this account with almost any payment system or reseller including PayPal, ClickBank, Moneybookers, 2Checkout (2CO), as well as pay eBay fees.
After an initial deposit of one thousand United States dollars you are not required to maintain any minimum balance.
They also offer full internet access to your brokerage account.
The funds in your account are insured up to one hundred thousand United States dollars for claims of cash by Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
It is information on this account that is being sold on eBay as a "U.S.А. Bank Account for Non-Residents" (members giuliano2184, mjlunnin as of April 6, 2008).
Information on this account is also being sold on http://usbank.wisdomdistrict.com/ and http://www.usaccountsetup.com/ (Platinum VISA card) sites :-).

An alternative could be TD AMERITRADE, Incrporated (somewhat inferior :)).

Disclaimer: You may not be able to credit money orders, third party or traveler's cheques, to a brokerage account.


Concomitant question: Will I have to pay any taxes on this account? You will have to pay at least U.S. income tax on any interest earned on such account in the amount of 30% (subsection (b) 26 United States Code 1441).