Charles Schwab International
brokerage
Charles Schwab's international checking account (via Schwab Bank) is the gold standard for US expats and frequent travelers. The Schwab Investor Checking account refunds all ATM fees worldwide with no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for withdrawing local currency abroad. Requires a US SSN or ITIN and a US address at account opening (many expats use a friend or family address). USD-only; not a multi-currency account. Integrated with Schwab brokerage for seamless investing. FDIC-insured up to USD 250,000. No monthly fees or minimum balances. Widely regarded as the best bank account for Americans living or traveling abroad.
Details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Currencies
- 1
- Monthly Fee
- Free
- Non-Residents
- Accepted
- US Persons
- Accepted
- Debit Card
- Available
- Business Account
- Not available
Opening Requirements
- •US Social Security Number or ITIN
- •US mailing address at time of opening (foreign address accepted for maintenance)
- •Government-issued photo ID
- •W-9 tax form
Restricted Nationalities
Not available to nationals of: north-korea, iran, cuba, syria, canada
Nationality Acceptance Matrix
Who this provider will and will not onboard. Refusals are listed first. Sourced from the provider's own published terms and recent public onboarding reports — confirm with the provider before applying.
| Nationality | Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| uk | NO | Non-US persons cannot open accounts; UK nationals ineligible without a US SSN/ITIN. |
| eu | NO | EU nationals ineligible; US tax identification number is a hard requirement. |
| russia | NO | Non-US persons ineligible; Russian nationals further excluded by OFAC considerations. |
| china | NO | Non-US persons ineligible; Chinese nationals cannot open accounts. |
| iran | NO | Blocked — OFAC sanctions + non-US person exclusion. |
| cuba | NO | Blocked — OFAC Cuba sanctions + non-US person exclusion. |
| north korea | NO | Blocked — OFAC DPRK sanctions + non-US person exclusion. |
| syria | NO | Blocked — OFAC Syria sanctions + non-US person exclusion. |
| myanmar | NO | Non-US persons ineligible. |
| us | YES | US persons only — Schwab International Checking requires US SSN or ITIN; designed exclusively for American expats and travellers. |
Similar Banking Options
Options matched on type and jurisdiction — not a recommendation.
Related Guides
US expat tax checklist: FBAR, FATCA, PFIC, FEIE, GILTI
A neutral walk-through of the US tax obligations that follow American citizens abroad — what they are, when they bite, and how the mainstream planning around each one actually works.
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.