sure Joe, but did they have a residence in the EU or not?
i'm pretty sure you have to show proof of residence in the country of the bank.
When i moved to the Netherlands, i had to show proof of residence, in the Netherlands before the bank would open a Dutch account for me, and i was an EU citizen, my Belgian ID card was not enough.
It's not enough , to travel to the EU, go to a bank ,and ask for an account with just your US passport
in The Netherlands (and i'm sure other EU countries have similar requirements), they ask 3 things
- proof of registration in the municipality where you live
- some paperwork of the employer
- sofi number ( Dutch social security number )
non EU citizens also have to produce a residence/work permit
Netherlands
https://www.abnamro.nl/nl/prive/pakketten/prive_pakket/f_aanvragen_nieuw.html
"
Verklaring
* Ik ben minimaal 18 jaar.
* Op de rekening zal EUR 1000,- of meer per maand binnenkomen.
* Ik woon in Nederland.
* Ik heb de Nederlandse of een EU-nationaliteit, of een permanente verblijfsvergunning.
* Ik ga akkoord met toetsing en registratie bij Bureau Krediet Registratie (alleen bij kredietaanvrage
"
Belgium
https://www.kbc.be/IPA/D9e01/~N/~KBC/~BZIR8IQ/-BZIQJDK/~-BZKGXHJ
Voorwaarden aanvraag
*
U bent meerderjarig.
*
U hebt domicilie in België.
*
U wenst een rekening te openen voor privédoeleinden
France
http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=28&story_id=3749
To open an account with any bank, you will need to provide:
—personal identification (a residence permit or passport)
—proof of your home address in France (a phone or electricity bill or rental agreement)
—in most cases, some written proof of earnings (pay slip or other) to decide the limit of any overdraft
UK
http://www.euro-ls.com/?object.content/action.view/id.18=
* Passport
* School Acceptance/ Job Offer Letter
* Proof of your home address
* Proof of UK address, usually in the form of a utility bill or Halls of Residence contract.