This is brutal — the EU is forcing banks outside the EU to stop providing core banking services to EU residents, unless those banks set up a licensed branch inside the EU. Note that what matters is your residence, not your passport — an EU citizen who is tax resident elsewhere is not affected. If you want to avoid trouble opening an account with any non-EU bank in the future, I recommend securing residency outside the EU (we'll gladly help with Paraguay, Uruguay or Panama). As an EU resident, you may already run into problems opening a bank account outside the EU from next year. EU Directive 2024/1619 ("CRD VI") introduces a new Article 21c. From 11 January 2027, it prohibits banks established outside the EU from providing core banking services — including deposit-taking — to clients established or situated in the European Union, unless the bank operates a licensed branch in the relevant member state.