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Recently I've been suspended from an "online bank". It's a traumatic experience, especially if you need the money held in that account.

Fortunately the amount I had there was not that big but the abusive procedure is trumatic. I can't imagine how someone would feel like to have all his rent money blocked in an online bank.

Basically you are told that unless you provide whatever documentation they want you loose the access to your own funds. Of course providing them documentation is no guarantee they will lift the restrictions. The support is via email only. The boarding and verification process it's really just a bite and switch scheme. I don't know how someone would feel safe to keep money in such a bank after they put your account/transactions on hold for days.

I start to like the "crypto currency" concept of owning your money more and more.




Your "online bank" does not sound like an actual bank (much like PayPal isn't one).


Revolut, Monese and others claim to be online banks...can't tell you exactly what makes an "online bank" an "actual bank" but they provide you individual bank accounts (unlike paypal).


I'm surprised they don't do KYC before taking your money. You always have to sit through that first with brick and mortar banks...


It's part of their strategy to maximise the signups and force you do the KYC when you are vulnerable(i.e you need your money to pay the rent). They are pretty evil.


To rephrase for clarity, I'm surprised they're allowed to delay KYC until you decide to withdraw the money. The evilness was never in doubt!


In Revolut's case it's the banking license that makes them an "actual bank".


send photos of your passport etc and and append a form filled out saying that you are filing a complaint with FDIC, they wake up real quick, fines are substantial there.




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