Setting up a US bank account

Does anyone know if it's possible to do this from Ireland without actually presenting yourself in the US? (such as an online bank)

I am interested in investing in the US and would like a bank account to manage my finances.

Not sure about regular bank accounts (I think not without a US address) but you can open stockbroking accounts with the likes of E*Trade, Ameritrade etc. without presenting yourself to them or having a US address and they also offer cash holding accounts.

Cheers ClubMan. Do you reckon people would be able to deposit cash to one of those like a regular bank account?

Over the years I've had Datek, Ameritrade and E*Trade brokerage accounts (most or all of which were linked to ESOP/ESPP schemes offered by my employers over the years) which also had a cash deposit facility and was able to wire money to/from them with no great difficult most of the time. You do have to watch the charges that apply and you are obviously subject to exchange rate fluctuations when doing this.

You'll need a US Social Security number to open a regular bank account.