FATCA is a terrible law. It's like they're machine-gunning people who try to get over the Berlin Wall.
So, practical question for Americans living in Europe: Are you able to just forgo local banks and use an internationally-minded US bank for everything? One without international fees? Can you just get your paychecks deposited there, say? Does this make anything impossible? Say, getting a mortgage?
I have a German bank and am a US citizen. No problems here. I've seen this reposted online on several occasions but living here and knowing other Americans here I've not actually heard any stories of people being denied a bank account. No idea if it would work but I suppose you could use something like Wise to bank here - it gives you an IBAN like a normal bank so it should work.
So, practical question for Americans living in Europe: Are you able to just forgo local banks and use an internationally-minded US bank for everything? One without international fees? Can you just get your paychecks deposited there, say? Does this make anything impossible? Say, getting a mortgage?