How Non-US Citizens Can Open A Bank Account
For the vast majority of Americans, a bank account is one of the basic tools for financial security. According to 2019 figures from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., nearly 95 percent of households are part of the “banked” population – the highest figure ever recorded in the organization’s decade of studying how average Americans deal with their finances. But what about those individuals who may not be represented in the research?
When non-U.S. citizens arrive in America, they face a range of serious difficulties, including figuring out how to keep their money safe and how to avoid paying excessive fees for check-cashing services.
“Without a bank account, new Americans will have less access to their funds, have to pay fees to cash their checks and do without so many of the conveniences available through a checking or savings account,” says Rebecca Morris Hoeft, chief brand officer at Minnesota-based Sunrise Banks.
However, there is good news for non-U.S. citizens: They can open a bank account to avoid some of those high fees and benefit from the security of FDIC insurance. Doing it isn’t easy, but it’s well worth it.
The documents you need
To open a bank account, the institution needs to know it’s really you. It’s part of the government’s Customer Identification Program, a component of a law designed to prevent money laundering and terrorism. Verifying your identity will be different depending on the bank or credit union, but it typically involves providing the following:
- Identification: This can include documents like an unexpired passport or a foreign driver’s license.
- A utility bill with your current address: An electric or gas bill will suffice.
- Money for the initial deposit: Some banks require an opening deposit of $25.
- An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): Many bank accounts pay interest, which is taxable income, hence why banks require this information.
Many people are accustomed to doing everything online, including opening a bank account, but this is likely impossible for non-U.S. citizens.
“Online account opening systems do not work well with individuals without (a Social Security number), due to the nature of identifying questions,” Hoeft says.
Alternative identification options
For a non-resident or non-citizen without a Social Security number, there are other options including a passport number and country of issuance, an alien identification number or a number and country of issuance of any other unexpired government-issued document that shows nationality or residence with a photograph.
Non-U.S. citizens can apply for an ITIN, which is one of the most commonly used alternative forms of identification. To obtain an ITIN, you need to apply through the IRS. The purpose of having one of these is to be able to file your taxes with the government. These do not actually authorize someone to work in the U.S.; instead, they are solely for tax reporting needs. Getting one requires completion of Form W-7. Once you fill it out, you can mail it to the IRS, along with proof of identity and foreign status documents to:
Internal Revenue Service
Austin Service Center
ITIN Operation
P.O. Box 149342
Austin, TX 78714-9342
If you prefer not to mail the forms, you can take the form to an IRS-authorized certifying acceptance agent. Click here to see the IRS state-by-state directory of these agents, which include a wide range of options.
The IRS issues ITINs through the mail, but it’s not a speedy process. Approval typically takes around seven weeks.
The benefits of opening a bank account
Filling out forms, going to an agent’s office and waiting for nearly two months may sound like a hassle, but the benefits of a bank account outweigh those troubles.
Lower fees: Without a bank account, cashing a check can cost quite a bit of money. From using check-cashing services or prepaid debit cards, alternatives to traditional checking accounts can eat into earnings.
Extra protection: Depositing money…
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