Can you recommend Virtual Mailbox that Banks accept?
Posted by macrossdyrl@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 17 comments
Mind numbingly slogging through many virtual mailbox services and coming up with donuts. Can others help?
We need a virtual mailbox service that functions as a residential address not a commerical address so we don't run into problems with banks and government snailmail. This is probably the single largest painpoint we encounter. Has anyone solved this issue, can you share how you did it? There's a lot of bad information so hoping to learn from others success stories.
We need envelope images, scans interior pages, shreds everything, and has a secure website. It'd be nice if they have a live person answering phonecalls too.
Already interviewed:
TX Home Base,
St. Brendan's Isle (FL based),
VPM,
Post Scan Mail,
Physical Address,
US Global Mail,
Postal Bridge,
Escapees,
Anytime Mailbox,
iPostal1,
USA2Me.
Plastic_Spread_8246@reddit
Realresi dot io provides this
Failed_Expat@reddit
There is a better option than trying to game the system by finding a fake address to satisfy your bank. Fire your current bank (who has no interest in serving you as an expat) and join an institution that wants your business.
Several US credit unions and brokerages are explicitly expat friendly and happy to accept US clients with non-US residential addresses. Google is your friend.
NetZeroSun@reddit
You mention several but who?
I know there is that government one credit union, but unless your an embassy worker / federal worker it doesnt apply. And things like Schwab do allow it but under an international account and not US account which has some additional limits (limited trades on which you can buy).
Any credit unions (such as in Neveda, South Dakota or Washington State) that allow the average person (not embassy worker, etc.) to join that is expat friendly?
I know about IKBR for brokerages I believe, but have schwab for now. I seem to see a hit and miss on people who use IKBR report issues.
Failed_Expat@reddit
For "banking" take a look at State Department Federal Credit Union, Service Credit Union, and Alliant Credit Union. They all have specific membership requirements that allow people in certain groups to join for free. But all three also have additional affiliate membership options that allow pretty much anyone to join for a low one-time fee. They all allow US citizens to use a foreign address as your residential address. In some cases, you may be able to open an account from abroad. But, it's usually easier to open an account before moving, then change your address later especially if you need a credit/debit card mailed to you.
For brokerages, IKBR and Schwab (specifically their international division) will both accept US citizens with foreign residential addresses. I've heard that other major brokerages like Vanguard and Fidelity will too (with some caveats). But, as you pointed out, once you put a foreign address on your account, you may be restricted from purchasing ETFs and other types of investments due to a combination of foreign "investor protection" laws and/or broker compliance policies. (You can still own these investments. You just can't purchase new shares.) If you have a RIA you can bypass the legal restrictions. But, of course, you'll have to pay for that privilege.
I get the thinking behind continuing to use a US address while living abroad. And for brokerages, the argument is even stronger. But, the terms of service for most banks and brokers are pretty clear about reporting your actual residential address. For me, the risk of an unexpected account restriction or closure isn't something I want to worry about.
Jinniblack@reddit
It’s not the banks really, but where investment and retirement accounts are held. It’s not always feasible to move those easily.
My account manager at Fidelity said as long as I never change my US address, they look the other way.
The regular banking is entirely manageable I think. But I’m 14 years in and have the buy in of my bankers.
Failed_Expat@reddit
Yeah, brokerages are a harder problem to solve. Interactive Brokers and Charles Schwab will accept many non-US addresses. They allow you to hold and sell your existing investments. But...regulations will prevent you from buying US based ETFs. That's obviously a big painpoint. The good news is that if you're using an RIA, they can buy ETFs on your behalf -- if you don't mind paying that RIA.
gadgetvirtuoso@reddit
I’ve been with physical address for more than 3 years and have had no issues with my banks: Schwab, Mercury, and a credit union. Amex didn’t like them as the physical address but no issue with them as the mailing address.
questionstoask2025@reddit
Which location did you sign up for the physialaddress.com?
gadgetvirtuoso@reddit
I was last a TX resident so TX.
Warm_Pen_7176@reddit
I can vouch for Post Scan Mail being useless. I have it. I've had it 3 years. I love the service. Then, I got a credit card offer, you know the drill, 0% for 18 months, 0% bank transfer, points and no annual fee. So, i said sure, why not. Then I put my PostScanMail address in the application and immediately got, in red letters, that they don't accept fowarding/commercial addresses.
grtfl84@reddit
We have the same questions op.
Getting a straight answer has not happened. Seems to be a grey area, where we need to do what we decide and hope we don’t get flagged by USPS and our banks.
Incredibly frustrating!
No, we don’t have a relative or close friend that we can use as a physical address.
Talked to our financial advisor yesterday about this. He said don’t tell me if you’re out of the country. If you are, we can’t work w you. Wtf?
macrossdyrl@reddit (OP)
Interesting. It's possibly due to compliance reasons and concerns over money laundering, still, many customers are international and/or hold more than one passport. Can you share the name of the brokerage?
Like you, we don't have the luxury of a relative or close friend to request their help using their residence address. Currently, we are testing TravelingMailbox, however, when submitting the usps change of address form it got flagged as a CMRA so... for now using our old residence, but it is subject to change in the future.
At the end of the day, we find people often times need a virtual mailbox service because of the critical snailmail that certain institutions refuse to issue electronically. For us, if it wasn't for these things, we wouldn't even need one. YMMV.
Mundane_Bet4997@reddit
Not an expat, but a full time RV traveler in the US. We use MyRVMail and maintain a legal Florida domicile. They have always answered my calls, and I can count on my mail being scanned in promptly when requested. Not all banks like the address, but we deal with several in the US and they haven’t dumped us in the bin yet. YMMV as the banks seem to change their policies frequently. It’s a hassle. Hope you find your solution!
Jinniblack@reddit
I’m still keeping a residence for this. But you might want to investment what boat folks do. I have a friend who has this service because they live on a yacht and move from place to place.
macrossdyrl@reddit (OP)
So how'd they resolve the residential address issue so banks and other snailmail loving places would accept the address? What services did they end up using? Thanks.
Jinniblack@reddit
My friend who uses this had a death in her family today so I can’t ask. But it works.
zedzzzdead@reddit
I'm commenting in hopes you do talk to them and post a response on what this service is called.