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Much to my surprise, I was eligible to receive the first two stimulus checks sent out by the US government. They even sent them to my place here in Malaysia.
I have a problem. I can't deposit the money into my Malaysian bank account. If I had the Bank of America app, I could scan the QR code to deposit it into my US account. However, I never downloaded the app and I'm now allowed to download the app while overseas.
So I'm stuck. The only option I have is to send the check to a family member back in the States and have them deposit it into my account - this is something I'd prefer NOT to do if I can help it.
I tried calling Bank of America, but the call cut out and I'm not in the mood for waiting on hold again.
Have any Americans living overseas been able to deposit their stimulus checks from abroad without a bank app?
Edit: Just tried Bank of America again. Their automated system is making my homicidal. Any suggestions?
I had no problem receiving my first two stimulus payments from the IRS, but I was pro-active and enrolled online with the IRS for the direct deposit option so that a paper check was never mailed to me. I maintain a US-based bank account that uses a private mail box address in Texas. Of course, before I left the US, I downloaded my US based bank account app to my smartphone, so I could deposit a dollars based check using the smartphone's camera, in the remote chance I might ever need to do that.
Why do you not have the Bank of America bank app on your smartphone? That is something that should have been done in the US, before going to Malaysia. Of course, your Malaysian bank is not going to cash a check in US dollars.
Why not go visit one of the two B of A offices in Malaysia? Maybe they can help you, and you won't get stuck on hold.
Just out of curiosity, why can't you deposit it into your Malaysian bank account?
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I tried and the bank told me that they had had this problem with another American who came in trying to deposit his checks. Apparently they can only be deposited into a US account.
I had no problem receiving my first two stimulus payments from the IRS, but I was pro-active and enrolled online with the IRS for the direct deposit option so that a paper check was never mailed to me. I maintain a US-based bank account that uses a private mail box address in Texas. Of course, before I left the US, I downloaded my US based bank account app to my smartphone, so I could deposit a dollars based check using the smartphone's camera, in the remote chance I might ever need to do that.
Why do you not have the Bank of America bank app on your smartphone? That is something that should have been done in the US, before going to Malaysia. Of course, your Malaysian bank is not going to cash a check in US dollars.
Why not go visit one of the two B of A offices in Malaysia? Maybe they can help you, and you won't get stuck on hold.
Just out of curiosity, why can't you deposit it into your Malaysian bank account?
.
Increasingly, overseas banks are refusing to endure new restrictions on direct deposits from the US government. It now requires a non-joint passbook account, which must be withdrawn in cash by the payee personally, from a cashier. The banks simply refuse to offer such accounts, and is telling SS recipients to take their business elsewhere..
I tried and the bank told me that they had had this problem with another American who came in trying to deposit his checks. Apparently they can only be deposited into a US account.
Quote:
Originally Posted by arr430
Increasingly, overseas banks are refusing to endure new restrictions on direct deposits from the US government. It now requires a non-joint passbook account, which must be withdrawn in cash by the payee personally, from a cashier. The banks simply refuse to offer such accounts, and is telling SS recipients to take their business elsewhere..
If you're having problems downloading the app because of geolocation restrictions on downloading, then you can try to see if disabling location services and using a VPN based in the US will let you download the app and deposit.
If you're having problems downloading the app because of geolocation restrictions on downloading, then you can try to see if disabling location services and using a VPN based in the US will let you download the app and deposit.
I never thought to use a VPN. Too late now.
Here's the what I've done so far:
1. Could not download Bank of America (BOA) app because it cannot be downloaded overseas, so I couldn't use the QR code to deposit
2. Tried depositing the check into my Malaysian bank account. Denied.
3. Tried calling BOA back in the US - Got cut off twice
4. Tried calling BOA in Malaysia and they never answered their phone.
5. Tried going to Citibank thinking that because it was an American bank, they might be able to cash my checks. I was wrong and they kind of laughed at me. I said, "Let me guess, I'm not the first American who tried to do this?" They laughed harder.
6. Finally gave up and sent the checks to my mother in the States in hopes she can deposit them them into my account.
Aiyo!
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Okay, thanks for that information.
