[cr1895]

It depends on the bank. Essentially it boils down to whether the "foreign" bank is willing to go through the compliance and data-sharing that is impressed upon them by working with Americans. Some do, many understandably can't be bothered.

[CamTin]

Right, so why all the fuss over whether some of them don't bother? How many banks do you need? As long as there's one that will take your business, why should you care that the one down the block won't? I guess it could be an issue if you're in a rural area with limited banking competition? Even then, most banking is done online now and a couple of trips a year to the "big city" to get some business taken care of (see the consulate, visit a specialist doctor, sign for a loan, whatever) is just part of life if you're in a smaller town, no matter where in the world that is.

[cr1895]

"All of the fuss" is not so much that the choices of banking available to an American abroad are reduced (though they are, and not necessarily due to the laws and regulations of the host country; and of course it depends how difficult it is based on the country) but that FINCEN/FBAR compliance which is in principle aimed at those evading taxes actually results in real pain for typical Americans who are living and working abroad, who only want to do right tax-wise.