Banking in the Caribbean, for US live-aboard?

[Jdege]

Do US citizens, living aboard in the Caribbean, find it convenient to maintain local bank accounts?

I'm certain that in anyplace that is used to tourists you'd be able to operate using US banks and credit/debit cards, but the fees?

Would it be cheaper, if you were spending months in Panama or the DR, to open an account there?

[leboyd]

I’m pretty sure you can get a US bank atm card with no foreign transaction fees. Several credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. I wouldn’t open a foreign account.

But that’s just me.

[Jdege]

I certainly wouldn't, if I were staying someplace only weeks or maybe a few months. But longer?

Or if I found a place I'd expect to spend months, every season? Or was looking to stay, long-term?

When do people find it convenient to open local banking?

[Cloroxbottle]

I'm looking into this as well. Banking in the United States has become a major problem for nomads, full time RVers, and cruising sailors because they have started using third party databases to flag PMBs and PO boxes and demand a physical address often substantiated by a lease or mortgage. Multiple people with existing accounts have had their accounts frozen or closed because of this, and opening a new one has become impossible.

I'm not entirely sure how to get around this when your home is your boat.