Hi, I tried the RDI address on the sheet and registered successfully. However, schwab still not allow me to open a checking account ant they said what I use is a “Commercial” address. What should I do now? Should I change to another new address?
Which specific address did you use @kashiki3? Did you look it up using Smarty as described here?
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@tkrunning Thanks for providing these resources. When I attempted to sign up for a mailbox in Florida through Anytime Mailbox at one of the locations that you listed in your spreadsheet as appearing as both CMRA (no) and RDI (residential), I was provided with a box number. When I typed the full address with my assigned box number into Smarty.com, it says that “the suite number is not recognized” and RDI (residential). However, when I called Anytime Mailbox, they informed me that each location is operated by a different independent operating company and that each such operator is registered as a CMRA. Do you know if that means that if I use my designated address with an operator that is registered as a CMRA, that my address with my box number would be a CMRA?
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I forgot to mention in my note that when I type in the address with my designated box #, it does in fact say CMRA (no), but Anytime Mailbox told me all of the independent operators are registered as CMRA and that using their service for banking purposes may not be acceptable by the banks. Have you or anyone on NomadGate been able to use Anytime Mailbox for banking purposes?
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Yes, they all need to be registered as a CMRA. The question is whether the address is flagged as a CMRA in USPS’ database, which seems to be what banks (and other entities) rely on.
And yes, I use one of these addresses personally. No issues with banks which would flag my previous virtual mailbox as a CMRA.
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Thanks. Really appreciate all your work.
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Hello Thomas, I just found your website with all these fascinating information… I am about to retire and plan to live in Mexico, I have been an Alabama resident for a long time; I believe my pension and SS benefits can be credited in an account in Mexico; I have a couple of good US credit cards (Chase, Aviator AA, RFCU) and a checking and savings accounts with for years… now, I plan to sell my house so I will need a US (Alabama) address to provide to my long time banking businesses… can you , please, provide your suggestions (IAW the tool you use) on addresses in North Alabama (Madison Co, Limestone Co…)… I do not see how to access the tool… or you can provide me with a link to this tool…
Also, which is the best option for a checking/savings account that I can work with here in the US and in Mexico (international acct?)
Thank you, for all of your advise…
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@tkrunning Is this requirement to use a non CMRA address only for creating new bank accounts or also for maintaining existing bank accounts? I’m a little bit confused because I contacted 2 of my US banks (granted though, one of them is a credit union and the other is technically a large international bank with US branches) and they both said that I am allowed to use a virtual mailbox after I move abroad and have no permanent residential address in the US anymore.
It varies from bank to bank. Many require a US residential address on file, which often cannot be a CMRA. Usually, you’ll get an error message when trying to change your residential address to a CMRA. CMRAs are usually fine for mailing addresses, however.
I think it was Bank of America that required me to update my address with them a few years ago when they started doing CMRA checks for existing accounts. I had previously only had a virtual mailbox on file with them, also as my residential address.
But some banks are also fine with you having only a foreign address on file, but that leads to other issues, e.g. with your credit history not being very useful for opening new accounts. Just try applying up for a credit card online with a foreign address…
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Thank you for your work, it’s much appreciated!
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Hello,
thanks for the great table and the work you did.
I tried to register an “Non-CMRA & residential use” address at anytimemailbox, but they do not allow this. At the point in the checkout where you have to choose your current address, they only accept addresses from the us.
I tried 2 different one and I guess this is by purpose for all “Non-CMRA & residential use” addresses. Do you have any further information about this?
Thank you
I used the guide and registered a “residential mailbox” and used for bank checking account application and was flagged as a virtual mailbox - was suitable as a mailing address but not suitable to be used as a permanent address.
Not sure of this is just one small bank or a database that is existing with virtual mailbox providers
I signed up to access the mailbox airtable. I filtered by state and residential. Then, I signed up for a trial on Smarty and looked up the same addresses. The first was flagged as commercial, not as residential. This turned out to be the same for every address available in the state. Many were flagged as CMRA. I see the author’s disclaimer, but if this table hasn’t been updated in over a year, it seems to have lost most of its value and all of its reliability. Please consider creating an updated table and publishing a freshness date on it to help registered users of the site.
Hi @zeb, I’ve spent the last weeks creating a system for keeping the database up to date on a regular basis. If you check it out now it should be accurate as the addresses have all been updated in the last week or so.
I have also added a column (Last verified) that shows how long ago the address was checked with Smarty.
I will periodically recheck each address with Smarty, but since I’m trying to stay on the cheapest plan and the number of addresses I’m tracking is now above 5,000, each address will likely be checked once every six month or so.
I’ve also added a column (Tracked for) which will tell you how long ago I added the address to the database. Most of the addresses I added back in 2023 will now say “2 years”.
I didn’t add any addresses between then and a couple weeks ago, so you can’t really tell if the new addresses have been live for a week or almost two years. Still, over time, I think this will be helpful to spot the addresses that have remained unflagged as a CMRA for longer.
Sorry that it took a while @treywas, but I’ve now checked all the addresses offered by iPostal1 and added the ones that are not tagged as CMRAs in the USPS’ data.
No need to pay for a copy, but I appreciate if people sign up using my iPostal1 affiliate link. That way I get a few dollars if you sign up and keep your address for 10 months.
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I highly recommend you AVOID anytime mailbox. First of all, the premise of a non-CMRA address is false - My address with them has been flagged as such many times. Secondly, and more importantly for nomads - beginning in 2025 they now require 2 forms of Identity and Address verification for EVERY address you wish to forward your mail to along with a $25 notary process and fee for EVERY address change. This makes it about the WORST option for nomads.
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Yeah, it’s a puzzling policy change, however they claim it’s an instruction from the USPS. I wonder if it’ll affect all CMRAs in the US this year.
Note: I don’t think you need to prove that you reside at every address, but you do need to complete one USPS form for every forwarding address and have it notarized (typically costing about $25 for each form).
This sounds like you got an address that was either already flagged as a CMRA by USPS when you signed up for it or not long after. The address I was using recently got flagged as well, but I got a good two years use out of it before then.
With my recent update to the addresses in the Airtable you can see which Anytime Mailbox addresses have avoided being flagged as a CMRA since 2023.
They can’t seem to provide the verbiage or documentation of the policy - I’ve read the entire ruling - the motorization appears to be something they’ve decide unilaterally