3 ms·
I'm not sure what you mean by "digital bank." All banks store and move money digitally (electronically), most have web sites and apps. I think you mean the dist
by gregjor 3y ago
I'm not sure what you mean by "digital bank." All banks store and move money digitally (electronically), most have web sites and apps. I think you mean the distinction between an actual (regulated, insured) bank and a company offering some bank-like financial services such as PayPal, Wise, Revolut, etc.
The best bank for someone who travels a lot without a fixed home base will charge no foreign transaction fees, no ATM fees (or reimburse ATM fees), 24/7 real person customer service (not a chatbot or FAQ or Twitter), insurance on deposits, and operate within a regulatory framework that offers protection from having your account locked or closed with no recourse, or deposits held unreasonably long with no explanation (Square, PayPal).
All reputable banks of any size can send and receive money electronically, either through their own tools or with digital wallets, or with Zelle or Wise or Venmo.
For US citizens/permanent residents I recommend Charles Schwab, the investor checking account. No fees, ATM fees reimbursed, 24/7 human customer service that actually deals with issues. Schwab gets recommended a lot by nomads. Citibank has a similar account, not sure what they call it. For people with citizenship or permanent residency in other countries I don't know the best bank but you can find discussions online in the many nomad forums.
As a long-time nomad (US citizen) with no home base anymore I use Schwab and have a backup account at a US credit union, along with several credit cards that have perks for travel. I use ApplePay more and more. I use Wise for moving money from one country to another, but I don't keep money in my Wise account. I tried Revolut, but too many fees, too many restrictions on number and amount of ATM withdrawals, online-only support, etc. made me drop it.
I suggest using credit cards and virtual card numbers when making purchases online or abroad, never use a debit card except at an ATM in a secure place (like inside a bank lobby). For Americans at least canceling unauthorized charges or getting a card canceled and reissued is much easier with a credit card versus a debit card. Think about what would happen if your Wise or Revolut card got stolen, or skimmed, or copied by a restaurant server. Banking problems while traveling can get expensive and frustrating.