Banking & Money When You Live Abroad

by bam

A practical, plain-language guide for U.S. citizens living abroad: why FATCA makes some foreign banks reluctant to open accounts for Americans, keeping and using your existing U.S. bank and brokerage accounts from abroad, a short pointer to the FBAR/FATCA foreign-account reporting covered in depth in the Taxes for Americans Abroad course, how to move money internationally (wires, transfer services, fees, and the exchange rate), currency risk, avoiding scams that specifically target people sending money across borders, and staying compliant (sanctions screening and using regulated providers). This course is educational only, not financial, tax, or legal advice, confirm current rules, forms, fees, and dollar thresholds with your bank, a qualified cross-border financial or tax professional, and at irs.gov, fincen.gov, and consumerfinance.gov. Cited throughout to the IRS, FinCEN, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.