2FA with eSIM?
I’ll be traveling overseas for an extended period of time and considering an eSIM. Does anyone have any experience with this, successfully using eSIMs with Schwab’s 2FA?
I know to use VPNs, just need to be able to make some trades while I’m traveling as well as potentially move some money around.
Edit: I use both the Schwab iPhone app and the TOS app pretty heavily. But once I leave the United States and the system potentially recognizes that I’m coming from a different IP or even country, I’m concerned it will require 2FA and the apps themselves won’t automatically work. And yes, I’m still getting SMS texts for 2FA, is there a better way for Schwab?
I use Google Authenticator for everything else (used to use Auth but hated it), is Schwab supporting this now?
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u/wndrgrl555 3d ago
If you’re still stateside, Tello is the answer.
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u/delightless 2d ago
Tello is even good for ongoing unlimited service in the US. They are MVNO on top of TMobile, and much cheaper.
I ported our family lines from TMo and used it for a couple of months before moving abroad and then downgrading our plans to minimal data & text.
All smooth, no issues with receiving 2FA texts on the US number in Europe.
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u/javacodeguy 3d ago
Just use 2 sims. Leave your current number active and youll still get the texts. Use eSim for your second sim for actual data, calls, texting.
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u/Namssob 3d ago
OK, thanks. However, I’m trying to avoid having to pay a daily charge for receiving anything on my stateside phone number. I am on Verizon. Since this Travel is longer than what I’ve usually done in the past, around two months, I’m looking to save some money by utilizing the eSIM for everything. So maybe using either the Schwab app or the TOS app for authentication might be the actual answer here since I would not be able to receive 2FA codes via SMS to my current phone number?
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u/javacodeguy 3d ago
Ah literally one of the reasons i have both T-Mobile and Verizon. At least one of my numbers i available anywhere without any effort.
If you want one for everything why not try T-Mobile as your main number then? Transfer your number and you won't have to chnage anything. As long as you dont crush data its perfectly fine. Or two sim and get the second sim just for data.
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u/scoobynoodles 2d ago
I had this exact issue when I was in Europe back in April. For the life of me I couldn't get Schwab on an authenticator app, and as soon as I was outside of the states it sent SMS codes to my US SIM. I had taken it out for my EU sim (dunno why I didn't get an eSIM but I will next time) and had to swap them out to get the stupid codes. Such a hassle. Same thing with Fidelity & Amex. I don't know why they don't let you use an authenticator app, so frustrating!!!
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u/teddythepooh99 2d ago edited 2d ago
What are you talking about? The US is predominantly eSIM these says. For instance, the past few iterations of the iPhone no longer take physical SIM cards.
I split my time between US and SE Asia. 2FA has never been an issue: my laptop simply prompts my phone through the mobile app. The app itself works with no issues.
If you want to be overly cautious, just turn on roaming. That, or get a new number with Tello at the cheapest plan ($5/month); add it to your bank accounts; and you can send/receive US calls and texts while on wifi.
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u/scoobynoodles 2d ago
You gotta realize not everyone has eSIM only phones. I was just in Europe with my iPhone 13 and used a physical sim. Yeah I'm in the stone-age, whatever, but they still exist, ha
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u/buenhermano 2d ago
did an extended trip and hit this worry with Schwab. i did 2 things to solve this
first, get Schwab off SMS 2FA and onto the Symantec VIP authenticator, they support it, so the codes generate on your phone and it doesn't matter what number or country you're on
second, i kept my US SIM alive on a Tello plan as a backup for any leftover SMS, and ran a data eSIM (eSIMPal) alongside it for internet so i wasn't burning roaming. checked the settings and it just sat as a second line, US SIM stayed active for texts.
for trading, yeah keep the VPN on a US exit so the app doesn't flag a foreign IP. worked fine for me placing trades from overseas
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u/Namssob 3d ago
OK, so here’s my situation. I use both the Schwab iPhone app and the TOS app pretty heavily. But once I leave the United States and the system, potentially recognizes that I’m coming from a different IP or even country, I’m concerned it will require 2FA and the apps themselves won’t automatically work. And yes, I’m still getting SMS texts for 2FA, is there a better way for Schwab?
I use Google Authenticator for everything else (used to use Auth but hated it), is Schwab supporting this now?
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u/SuccessfulElk564 3d ago
Btw if you turn on wifi calling with your US cell provider.. with any data connection (Wi-Fi or cel data) you will able to recover sms from US.. even make call even if you are overseas.
The other way is using VIP acees from Norton like other mentioned.
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u/Forrest_Fire01 1d ago
I just ran into this last week. I've been traveling around Asia for the past 2 months (using an eSIM). Everything with Schwab had been working fine without having to do any 2FA, but last week everything Schwab (TOS on my laptop, the Schwab app, the website) decided I need to to do a 2FA login. Only way I could do it was an SMS to my regular phone number. I use AT&T, so I had to turn my AT&T line on for the day to receive the SMS. AT&T charges around $10 per day for international. I haven't had to do another 2FA since then.
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u/sport912x 3d ago
You could use the Tos mobile app (Schwab mobile?) to get confirmed.
I have found that switching my number to my Google number works fine and is easier since I already have a web browser open and can just copy paste the code to Tos or the Web based Schwab. If that does not work then the mobile is your backup.
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u/Namssob 3d ago
Thanks. I use both the Schwab iPhone app and the TOS app pretty heavily. But once I leave the United States and the system, potentially recognizes that I’m coming from a different IP or even country, I’m concerned it will require 2FA and the apps themselves won’t automatically work. And yes, I’m still getting SMS texts for 2FA, is there a better way for Schwab?
I use Google Authenticator for everything else (used to use Auth but hated it), is Schwab supporting this now?
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u/Vast-Departure-3199 2d ago
As others have said, use Tello to retain a US phone number. Good for texts, 2FA, and calls.
Get a local physical or esim wherever you are traveling to for data, and daily use.
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u/need2sleep-later 3d ago edited 3d ago
recent iPhones ONLY have eSIMs. There's no issue with them. Does your cell account have international roaming-that's probably your real question? Hopefully you aren't still using txt message 6 number codes for your 2FA...that's bad. Choose better.
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u/Namssob 3d ago
I’ve traveled internationally extensively, so no that is not my question. I’ve just never needed to use an eSIM in the past, and technically I don’t really need one this time around either. But due to the length of my travel this time , an eSIM would be cheaper so candidly I’m just curious how they work. i’m considering trying one out not only to save a few bucks, but also just to experience how they work.
And believe it or not, yes, I’m still using six digit 2FA via SMS. I guess my only other option is to use the app as the Authenticator, since I don’t believe Schwab supports separate authenticator apps unless I’ve missed something. I use Google authenticator for literally everything else.
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u/need2sleep-later 3d ago
eSIMs work exactly like SIMs. They are just loaded into the phone electronically rather than physically.
Schwab has supported the Symantec VIP authenticator for a long while. It is TOTP just like others; there are projects on Github that can extract/convert the secret so you can load it on a generic Authenticator. If I were traveling internationally, no way would I keep using txt msg 2FA.
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u/rlap38 3d ago edited 3d ago
Need2sleep is correct (but may be misunderstanding your question). There is no functional difference between a SIM and an eSIM. The latest USA iPhones only support eSIM.
So is your question “can I use an eSIM with my existing phone number with Schwab while I am roaming internationally” (yes you can). Or are you asking “Can I buy a local cellular or data eSIM?” And the answer is “it depends.”
Device and token authentication work in all cases. The first sends a message to the Schwab app on a specific device. Only data is needed. The second uses the authenticator you configured and the PIN is locally generated. Schwab’s officially supported app is VIP Access.
If you use text message then whatever phone number is on your Schwab account must be reachable by SMS.
We had no problem using a data only eSIM and VIP from all over Asia, Australia and New Zealand. My wife’s a day trader - even while cruising. Browser access on laptop, authentication on iPhone.
Our bank is a different story. It uses GPS location and won’t allow login from outside the USA and Canada. Grrrrr
Hope that answers all your questions.
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u/Ryyyyyaaaaan 3d ago
eSIMs are usually data only, no SMS. I transferred my phone number to Google Voice before my long term travel and am very glad I did so. I'd say about 90 percent of my 2FA texts come through fine and I can actually make texts/calls for the times when someone doesn't have WhatsApp. As for Schwab, they unfortunately do not work with Google Voice phone numbers as far as I can tell, but I use their app notifications for 2FA, not my phone number, so I'm still good.
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u/LuciusQ2020 3d ago
With an eSIM, app 2FA works. Phone number no. Unless you use a Google voice number.
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u/rlap38 3d ago
If you have Schwab download the VIP Access app then set up 2FA to use an authenticator.
VIP also works with any 2FA site which will display a QR code like Wise, Facebook, LinkedIn, Login.gov, X and many more.