Hello Heather,

I have been looking for a way to pay my student loans from overseas and am feeling so frustrated. I’m so glad I’ve found your forum. Maybe you can help?

So far I’ve been told that I can only pay my direct loan payments with a U.S. bank account—-check with U.S. $. I have been living in the Netherlands for nearly 7 years with my Dutch partner. I finished my BFA here. I plan on staying and have no financial ties to the U.S. besides my loans. I pay Dutch taxes and have a Dutch bank account. I looked into credit card payments, western union, Transfer Wise, seeing if there are any Dutch banks that can help me. None of these are an option. I feel like screaming at the folks at Direct Loans, “why don’t you have another way for folks who live overseas?!!!!!!” I do not want to involve my family in making the payments for me.

I am very low income and costly fees are not something I can afford. I am on the income sensitive repayment plan at the moment. Do you have any suggestions for my situation. I feel like defaulting out of spite but know this isn’t the answer.

Thanks!

This is not a situation I’ve encountered before.  I’m not really up to speed on what your banking options might be, but there must be something!  Anybody else have an idea for Mariah?

Try opening an account with Bank of America, NA

Address: Amstelplein, 1096 HA Amsterdam, Netherlands

Phone:+31 20 592 5666