Accessing bank accounts without a US cell phone

I am a “pre-expat”. Worried about accessing my money. I am finding that banks and brokerages are requiring 2-step authentication to do anything at all in maintaining or accessing my accounts, and texting a code to a US cell phone is the only way they will do that. We have magicJack, and that won’t receive the texts. We will have the Schwab international account, so that should be ok, but we have others as well. We are worried that we’ll end up with lots of headaches and delays in accessing our funds. If any of you US expats don’t have a US cell phone and found a way to work this out, your advice would be much appreciated.

Ssocha

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Lloyd Kaipainen

Lanzate, I am a pre-pat and am aware of this problem and have been test driving Google Voice (GV) for 6 months while still in US. I have been successfully able to migrate ALL my brokerage and bank/financial institutions over to my GV number and successfully are receiving them daily/weekly... Read more 0 0

Ssocha

Yep, it's the "sucks to be you" caveat that made up my mind about getting Google Fi. The institutions have no commitment to keep it convenient for me as an expat, and have every reason to make their communications more secure. 0 0

Ssocha

Thank you expats! I appreciate the time each and every one of you took to tell me about your experiences. I'm concluding that I can't get around having a U.S. cell phone if I'm going to have peace of mind about access to my accounts. Of course even then, it's... Read more 0 0

Ssocha

Thanks for all your comments Lanzate. I recognize the authority in which you are speaking, because you back up your information. We've decided to do Google Fi, which is the minimal amount of expense we can find to get a U.S. cell phone account. We're not happy with Google's location... Read more 0 0

Ssocha

I love the peace of mind, not the bank relations necessarily. Customer service seems to be getting worse in every sector. I just want to not have to worry about bureaucratic hassles from so far away. 0 0

Corrine Satterwhite

Sscoha, I hate to admit it but the info "Lanzate" provided is the true information. We have a VPN and a MagicJack. When it comes to receiving calls or texts with verification calls, CapitalOne will come through on the VOIP, fortunately. Amazon <b>will not</b> they have specifically told me that... Read more 0 0

Tanya Carr

I can't get Capitol One to come through on VOIP. 😔 0 0

Corrine Satterwhite

Have you tried the phone call instead of text? 0 0

Tanya Carr

Yes. And called banks numerous times. They, Captiol One and others, also informed me that to receive verification texts I needed a cellphone, in my name, that received them. The T-mobile basic (w/global) was the cheapest and easiest way, that I found, to me to get me both. But, I... 0 0

Anthony Stemberger

I have a Pixel 3 phone and switched my service to Google FI before I left the States for Costa Rica then on to Panama. It works seamlessly. All my 2-step authentications work perfect. When I landed in Panama City my phone says welcome to Panama....you are ready to go. 0 0

Cabinet-guy

Cooperco sends authentication codes via email. (sorry if I repeat other posts) 0 0

Lucy O Hancock

I have encountered that exact problem with one though not all our bank accounts. So I know it exists, and I know that some banks do not pose this problem. I was unable to solve it until I installed a VPN: first ExpressVPN, then later ProtonVPN. I had aVPN already... Read more 0 0

Lucy O Hancock

By the way, this did involve using a US cell phone. So I have not answered the question that you asked. Instead I have answered one that has not popped up on the radar yet: Namely, even with a US cell phone you still cannot always do these things, because... 0 0

Ssocha

Google Fi is what I am going to do. Thanks for sharing your experience. 0 0

Douglas

For what it's worth, I've lived in EC for 14 years. I've used MajicJack since arriving in 2007. We receive authentication codes from our bank as well as from credit card companies via the MagicJack app. 0 0

Dom Buon Amici

I just posted in a short 7 minute video what has worked for me (free) to manage this same log in issue not just for banks but for logging into many sites with phone verification in the USA like Amazon too.. https://youtu.be/F8gKrYmkasI 0 0

Sheepster

Lanzate, as a person prepping for a permanent retirement out of Canada I read your responses with glee as you are absolutely right and am stunned by the people posting "the answer" that clearly ignores your repeated correct and valid explanation. Don't even bother, let these bobos stumble in the... 0 0

I have five US accounts (Citi, BofA, Schwab), and no US cell phone. I operate all of them from Ecuador with no problem. Codes are sent either by email or to my MagicJack app — depending on the institution. Access to my online account has never been a problem, so... Read more 0 0

Ryan James

I have used iPlum.com for over 10 years. I have a US phone number with a NJ area code. Works like a charm. 0 0

Nathan Bristow

i use Schwab for my cash flow needs, Fidelity as back-up for my ATM, and mainly Vanguard for investments. With all 3 you can either opt for e-mail 2step verification or simply opt out of that service. Of course this increases your vulnerability, so I use a password protection program... Read more 0 0

Truthaday

I too need to access a secondary verification id,, I have a Skype number I bought yearly,, that gives the option to get messages,, or take a call.. its available on my computer or on my Ecuadorian phone.. I don't have an issue with it. 0 0

David Hoshor

Google Voice works great! Sign up for it before you leave the U.S. because you need a U.S. number while you're signing up for the service. Once you have Google Voice, you can receive calls and text messages from the U.S. You can make calls and send texts with the... Read more 0 0

Jim

A great summary ... exactly my findings too. I also have basically the same setup. I have two desk phones hooked up to Google Voice and to MagicJack. Never had an issue with banking. I agree with the "setup before you leave the US" comment re Google Voice. 0 0

Juts Liek Taht

Walter, my alter ego, forgot to mention a couple of good info sites... Wirecutter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/search/?s=international+phone Lifewire: https://www.lifewire.com/search?q=international+phone 0 0

Dave Sailer

Google Fi works. I can't say it's the best, the best for you, or anything, but it does work. I can make and receive calls, and receive texts. Because of taxes, the exact monthly rate depends on where you are based in the U.S., and setup must be done in... Read more 0 0

Philip Hall

IN CAPS. MUST BE SETUP IN THE US! 0 0

Eva Hollister

Check out the mobile app called Text Now. it gives you a US number, area code of your choice. It allows free calls and texts to and from the US. Of course it is full of ads but it works. 0 0

Donna Smith Stiteler

I do all my US banking online. When I need to get a text on line for business processing, I team up with my sister in Florida and coordinate when she will be getting the text on her number and that's worked out well. I use her US phone for... Read more 0 0

Jerrynellen

Schwab two step is at your option. Google voice is your best bet as well as Magicjack if using the mobile app. 0 0

Nathanael

With MagicJack you can receive text messages just use the app. Unfortunately if you are using the MagicJack phone at the same time it cannot receive. 0 0

Philip Hall

Not from banks! From MagicJack FAQ Why am I not receiving text messages on my magicApp? Text messaging to your magicJack telephone number must be coming from a 10 digit telephone number. Short codes (like banks and verification codes) will not work with magicApp. 0 0

I use google voice no issues receiving texts and calls from the US. I ported my US cell number to Google Voice when I moved here. In the settings you need to make sure under make and receive calls you select “Prefer Wi-Fi and mobile data” to avoid charges. 0 0

Gerri

MagicJack DOES receive texts through the MagicJack mobile app. 0 0

Sara Bayles

https://media0.giphy.com/media/1hoFzMY3y4Raw/giphy.gif 0 0

Ibokay

One of my favorites is Wells Fargo who gives customers a choice of 2FAs. They will send the access code by email, phone call, text, or push notification. You can choose an option at signup. I selected email and there have been no problems so far. In addition, Wells features... Read more 0 0

Tanya Carr

Personally couldn't find a way around it. I signed up for T-mobile's basic plan and added the free 'global plan'. That allows unlimited international texts, free. You can't talk without paying 25-cents a min. But for texts, it works perfect and I've never had a problem getting 'verification texts. They... Read more 0 0

Pixelvt

I do the same with Sprint, I want a US number as we try to visit a couple times a year anyway. Although I have an EC number, I rarely use it as most folks and businesses use Whatsapp, which of course works with any number 0 0

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