I transfer money directly from my credit union via the post office to a coin selling site (coinspot) and then buy Steem through them. Although, with the price of SBD being what it is, I would rather just start generating it with my posts and comments.
What you could possibly do is go to a Steemit meeting, and see if people are willing to sell you Steem there. You can do the transaction on the fly in front of each other online.
You in America then? I am the Englishmen in Poland, and to my knowledge there are no meet ups here as yet, none that I have heard of anyway.
The method you use sounds ideal, though that simply is not allowed here, they are trying anything they can to stop btc transactions here.
I get around it using my UK bank account, it is out of their jurisdiction here.
I am in Australia and was replying to the Australian above. It's a nightmare to set up, but if there are services like that there, it's better.
Oh okay, cheers all the same and nice to meet you.