Once you've sold your car, home, or belongings, the proceeds have to sit somewhere. Here are the real options — liquidity, risk, and the expat-friendly accounts people actually use — as factual reference points, not endorsements.
The options genuinely differ on liquidity and risk, not just interest rate — this is a comparison, not a recommendation.
Fully liquid, no risk to principal, but the lowest realistic return of the group. The right home for money you might need on short notice.
A fixed rate for a fixed period — better return than a savings account, but your money is locked up until the term ends, or you eat an early-withdrawal penalty.
Similar liquidity to savings, often better rates, tied to a brokerage account you can also invest from directly when you're ready.
Real market exposure and historically the best long-run return of the four — but principal isn't guaranteed, and it's not the place for money you'll need in the next year or two.
This depends on your timeline and risk tolerance — exactly what a fee-only fiduciary advisor is for, especially if any of the proceeds come from a retirement account withdrawal. The tax and penalty consequences there are person-specific enough that a generic guide can't responsibly cover them.
Factual reference points on features, not endorsements of any specific provider.
Zero foreign transaction fees, unlimited worldwide ATM fee rebates, no monthly fee. As of 2026, Schwab confirms no minimum balance requirement to open an Investor Checking account linked to a Schwab One brokerage account — considerably more accessible than the account used to be.
A comparable no-fee, ATM-rebate structure, tied to Fidelity's brokerage — a natural fit if you're already consolidating investments there.
Not a bank — a multi-currency platform, useful specifically for getting paid or spending across multiple currencies at real mid-market exchange rates rather than a bank's marked-up rate.
No foreign transaction fees, and a more familiar name for people who want to stick with something recognizable — though it doesn't rebate third-party ATM fees the way Schwab does.
This is no longer a future warning — it's already in effect. As of the 2026 filing season, the IRS has phased out paper refund checks for individual taxpayers, following an executive order that took effect September 30, 2025. Refunds now go out by direct deposit, prepaid debit card, or digital wallet. That makes keeping a US bank account with a routing number close to a requirement now for anyone still filing US taxes from abroad — not just a convenience. Set it up before you need it, not after a refund gets stuck without one.
Some US brokerages restrict or close accounts once you register a foreign address — worth confirming directly with your specific brokerage before you move, not after your address change triggers a review.
This varies enormously by country and is worth a specific answer for your destination, not an assumption carried over from how your home country treats it.
Cross-border money decisions are best sorted with a financial professional who can see your full picture — this page exists to help you know what to ask, not to replace that conversation.
Everything above is about your home-country accounts. Each destination also has its own banking reality once you're there — which local banks accept foreigners, what you need to open an account, and how sending money works from that side.
BSP-regulated banks, ACR I-Card requirements, GCash, and remittance options.
Which banks accept foreigners, visa requirements for account opening, and PromptPay.
TRC requirements, best banks, VietQR, e-wallets, and biometric transfer rules.
Best banks for foreigners, DuitNow, and the DE Rantau banking situation.
KITAS requirements, QRIS, and sending money home.
Banking and taxes are closely linked once you're living abroad — see the expat taxes guide for the citizenship-specific obligations that go with these accounts, or head back to the Moving to Southeast Asia hub for the rest of the move.