Funny this should come up again. I'm just in the process of opening a US account (with a US based bank). So far it's been pretty straight forward although there have been a few glitches (the W8?? form required for foreigners was not included in my "opening account package") and this has caused some delays (I'm promised the form is on the way to me, once completed the account will be activated).
Since I recently passed the half century I went for the totally free old(er) guys checking account (even pays some minor interest). It even looks like it may be possible to receive international wire transfers for a very minimal fee. On the account application there are a number of questions realting to the the intended activity levels of the account especially incoming/outgoing wire transfers. I suspect this is more Homeland Security related rather than any sort of general use restriction on the account.
I found this bank via a Google search "online banking Buffalo". They did tell me on the phone that I could open the account in ten minutes or less if I visited one of the branches. I'm on a "watch list" (a very old one) so that wasn't possible for me.
Ben

"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915

"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.