Yes, a non-U.S. citizen can open a bank account in the United States. No federal law bars banks from serving customers based on citizenship, and federal banking rules spell out identification paths designed specifically for people who are not U.S. persons. What you need is the right paperwork: an unexpired government photo ID (usually a passport), a tax identification number or an accepted substitute, and proof of a U.S. street address.
What You Need to Bring
Every bank in the country is required to run a Customer Identification Program before opening an account. This comes from Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks For a non-citizen, the regulation accepts any of the following identifying numbers:
- A taxpayer identification number, meaning either a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
- A passport number and country of issuance
- An alien identification card number
- Another government-issued document showing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard
For the photo ID itself, banks want an unexpired government-issued document that shows nationality or residence and carries your photograph.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks A passport is the standard choice. Some banks also accept consular identification cards; U.S. Bank, for instance, accepts the Matrícula Consular Mexicana as a primary ID at any branch, though it pairs that with a secondary ID such as a state card or an ITIN letter from the IRS.2U.S. Bank. Matrícula Consular Mexicana – Open an Account
Bring originals, not photocopies, and make sure nothing is expired. Bank staff need to physically inspect your documents to satisfy compliance requirements.
If You Don’t Have a Social Security Number
Banks need a tax identification number so they can report interest income to the IRS. If you have an SSN, that is the standard option. If you are not eligible for one, you can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number by filing Form W-7 with the IRS.3Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-7 The application must include original identity and foreign status documents, or certified copies from the issuing agency. Notarized photocopies are not accepted.4Internal Revenue Service. How to Apply for an ITIN
Processing takes about seven weeks in normal periods and stretches to nine to eleven weeks during the January 15 to April 30 peak or if you file from overseas.3Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-7
You may not have to wait. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that some banks and credit unions will open an account using a passport number and country of issuance, an alien identification card number, or another government-issued ID number instead of an SSN or ITIN.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can I Get a Checking Account Without a Social Security Number or Driver’s License? Policies vary widely from bank to bank, so ask before you apply.
Proof of a U.S. Address
Banks must collect a residential or business street address. A P.O. Box on its own does not qualify.6FFIEC BSA/AML Manual. Assessing Compliance with BSA Regulatory Requirements If you don’t have your own street address yet, the rules also allow a military APO/FPO address or the street address of a next of kin or other contact person.
Documents that typically work:
- A recent utility bill (water, gas, or electric) with your name and local address
- A signed residential lease
- A student housing contract or letter from your university registrar if you live on campus
The address you give the bank becomes its official contact point for statements, legal notices, and tax forms, so make sure it’s one where you actually receive mail.
Where to Apply
The bank you choose matters more than it might for a citizen. Large national banks often have international departments that handle foreign passports and ITINs routinely, and some have partnerships with banks in other countries that can help with verification. Credit unions tend to charge lower fees and may be more flexible, though membership eligibility varies. Digital-only banks and fintech platforms range widely in this area: some restrict non-citizen applicants tightly, others are built specifically for newcomers to the U.S.
Check each institution’s eligibility rules before you start an application. It’s the fastest way to avoid wasted paperwork.
Your money is protected the same way regardless of your citizenship. FDIC deposit insurance is not limited to U.S. citizens or residents; any depositor at an FDIC-insured bank is covered up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.7FDIC. Financial Institution Employee’s Guide to Deposit Insurance – Deposit Insurance Basics
What to Expect at the Appointment
Many banks still require non-citizen applicants to apply in person so staff can inspect original documents. Bring your unexpired passport, your tax identification number or accepted substitute, and your proof of address. A banker will walk you through the paperwork and have you sign a signature card that will be used to verify future transactions.
Most accounts require an opening deposit to activate. Minimums as low as $25 are common for basic checking; some accounts want $100 or more. If you open the account online or by phone, the bank may close it automatically if no deposit arrives within 30 days. Once approved, your debit card is mailed to the address on file, and online banking access is usually available right away.
Sanctions Screening
Every new applicant, regardless of citizenship, is screened against lists maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control before or shortly after an account is opened. If your name matches or closely resembles a name on a sanctions list, the bank may pause your application to investigate. Nationals of heavily sanctioned countries such as Cuba and North Korea may face additional restrictions on the transactions they can conduct through U.S. banks.8FFIEC BSA/AML Manual. Office of Foreign Assets Control
Taxes on Your Account
How your account is taxed depends on whether the IRS treats you as a resident alien or a nonresident alien. Resident aliens (including green card holders and anyone who meets the substantial presence test) are taxed on worldwide income like citizens. Nonresident aliens follow different rules that are often more favorable for bank interest.
If You’re a Nonresident Alien
Interest earned on deposits at a U.S. bank, savings and loan, credit union, or insurance company is generally not taxable in the United States for nonresident aliens under Internal Revenue Code sections 871(h) and (i), as long as the interest is not connected to a U.S. business you operate. To stop the bank from withholding tax on this exempt interest, give the bank Form W-8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting) instead of Form W-9.9Internal Revenue Service. Nontaxable Types of Interest Income for Nonresident Aliens If the bank withholds tax because you never filed a W-8BEN, you may be able to claim a refund, but filing the form up front avoids the hassle.
If You Also Have Accounts Abroad
If you are treated as a U.S. person for tax purposes (this includes resident aliens) and you also hold bank accounts in your home country, you may need to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. The filing is required when the combined value of all your foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the calendar year. It is filed electronically on FinCEN Form 114 through the BSA E-Filing System, separately from your tax return. The deadline is April 15, with an automatic extension to October 15.10Internal Revenue Service. Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) Penalties for missing it can be steep, so track this carefully if you keep money outside the U.S.