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Comment by shrumm | Hacker News Reader

Chile has a great system which guarantees a free bank account linked to your national ID called Cuenta RUT. It has some limits like only a debit card and a max value you can store there but I think it’s a fantastic idea. You just need to walk in to any branch with your ID and you’re all set with an account you can receive and send payments from. If you need something more from your bank account - it stands to reason you have the necessary documentation to apply for a ‘regular’ bank account which most do.

Even foreigners with any kind of work permit get this ID called a RUT and are eligible.

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Venezuela just imemented something like this as well.

> Chile has a great system which guarantees a free bank account linked to your national ID called Cuenta RUT.

To me this reads as a dystopian nightmare. I want a bank account not associated with me in any way digitally or on paper; where I have total control.

Otherwise the government can seize my assets at a whim.

Funny story, in IL I have a bank account with chase. They decided to close the account because it wasn’t active (making regular deposits) (I’d do yearly deposits and use it to pay static bills) AND give it to the state. So the state of IL took custody of my bank account, without warning. I then received something in the mail I had to respond to within 10 days to get it back. I filed the paperwork, but nothing. Money just gone. I’m currently fighting to get my money back.

Anyway, the point is political actors can debank people they disagree with (see Wikileaks) and destroy them. Ideally, that wouldn’t be possible. The government should answer to the people, not control their people.

There are a multitude of ways to claim unclaimed money that the government holds. I've used it to claim $15 before, it was easy. https://www.usa.gov/unclaimed-money

This process is not dystopian in the least. It's functioning system put in place by the government to help people.

Political actors can and do seize assets in private banks too. Private banks are also subject to laws.

Sounds like you would consider the entire world dystopian then. I don't think there's any country, with the possible exception of a few failed states, that lets you have a bank account that isn't tied a real person.

You can actually do it in the US to an extent. Basically create a LLC with owners masked. Enable an authorized user to be an attorney and register with bank. Then use bank and routing number.

You can also use crypto and have a crypto wallet.

Prior to 9/11 it was far easier and widespread among elites to have effectively anonymous bank accounts.

Considering the evil those are used for, I would consider it more dystopian than a government sponsored bank account.

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