[WHY?]

I understand your concern. However, the funds stay in a money market not actually with the brokerage. I am not sure what money market funds lowtrades uses now but my lowtrades account was connected to The Reserve Fund. Proceeds from a stock sale are swept into the money market account. The card is connected to the money market account.

Historically nobody has lost any funds in a market accounts (to my knowledge) since they were instituted in the US in the 1970's. While the risk is there I suppose, nobody has ever taken a loss from monies in a money market account. That I know of, anyway.

It is also my understanding that the Reserve Funds is one of the oldest MM funds around. Anyway, I guess each have to decide for themselves. Personally, I think silver is one of the best investments to have during this troubled time. But only silver one personally takes delivery on.

[jasont]

WHY? I guess I would still rather keep my funds with a bank that the government will do its best to keep afloat but it is another option.

I thought I would update my progress on what I found so others might be able to use it.

I got in contact with Citibank's International Personal Banking (IPB) sector and they said I can open an account with them from Australia without visiting in person. They do however require a minimum balance of 25k to remain in the account to avoid a $50 monthly fee taken out.

I also got in contact with Wells Fargo who also said I could open an account without visiting the bank in person. They require a minimum balance of 1k to remain in the account to avoid a $5 monthly fee taken out.

So hopefully others find this information useful and if anyone has any other experience it might be a good idea to post it up.