# International dopers and banking

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-dopers-and-banking/185135>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 29, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-dopers-and-banking/185135 "2003-06-29T10:09:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-dopers-and-banking/185135/1 "2003-06-29T10:09:42Z")

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Need suggestions on a US based bank to use for salary deposits and what not. I’ve been using HSBC in Hong Kong for many many years, but I think they are kinda scum (even for a bank) and they have zero value add for me in China.

I need the following services:  
-on-line banking  
-efficient international transfers (on-line)  
-write about 5 checks per year so something low cost or free  
-maybe a visa card

Citibank and Bank of America are two that spring to mind. anyone have experience with these banks or care to recommend a different US bank? Again, I’m looking for something cheap, efficient and mainly as a repository for salary direct deposit before I transfer the money somewhere else.

Don’t want a huge minimum balance unless there are some real bennies that tempt me. 10k is fine but it would really have to be sweet to want to keep a higher balance.

Likewise, if you’ve got a suggestion on a visa card. I probably have jack for a US credit rating despite having has premo credit cards in Hong Kong, and of course paid off my student loans very early over a decade ago.

thanks