Originally Posted by
s0ssos
OP didn't specify what part of the US, but the US doesn't have a truly nationwide bank. Some swaths of the country lack major nationwide banks (eg Midwest). Chase doesn't exist in Alaska or Hawaii.
It also may not exist in all parts of the state (I think one state my friend lives in he has to drive 2 hours to get to a BofA).
Does the UK not have the equivalent of Schwab or brokerage accounts that give free ATM withdrawal? Or types of checking accounts that have that benefit?
it is true but probably Chase is one of the widest reaching having branches in most major city from the east coast to the west coast.
from a UK based banking perspective, when I used to travel more often to NYC, my Santander UK debit card was a great option for ATM fee free withdrawal from Santander US branches, but it used to be a Visa card at slightly worst exchange rate then MasterCard (live comparison), and also the branches were quite rare. Santander UK has since switched to MasterCard so this is an improved choice. However, Chase UK it is even a better alternative now, as it has way more presence across the country, and in any case it can be used for forex fee free spending and getting cash-back at the same time.