Yes, you can usually open a bank account with a temporary ID, though you should plan on visiting a branch in person and bringing extra paperwork. Federal law requires every bank to verify who you are before opening an account, and a temporary paper ID from a state motor vehicle agency can meet that requirement when it’s paired with the right supporting documents. Expect more questions than you’d get handing over a standard plastic license, but the rules give banks room to say yes.
What Makes a Temporary ID Acceptable
Every U.S. bank operates under a Customer Identification Program required by the USA PATRIOT Act. The bank has to collect your name, date of birth, address, and an identification number (usually a Social Security number or ITIN), then form a reasonable belief that it knows who you actually are.1Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Interagency Interpretive Guidance on Customer Identification Program Requirements Under Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act
The regulation says the bank should review an unexpired, government-issued document that shows nationality or residence and bears a photograph or similar safeguard.2eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks A temporary paper ID meets the “government-issued” and “unexpired” parts if it’s still within its valid date range. Many temporary IDs don’t carry a photo, and that’s where the “similar safeguard” language matters: features like barcodes, watermarks, or embedded security printing can qualify.
Your temporary ID is most useful if it shows your full legal name, date of birth, and a unique identification number that ties back to state records. Many states issue these as a bridge between an old plastic card and a new one, so the number on the paper often matches the number on your permanent license. If you still have your expired plastic card, bring it: the photo gives the banker a visual reference even though the expired card by itself wouldn’t satisfy verification.
Banks have discretion here. The regulation lists driver’s licenses and passports as examples, not as the only acceptable forms, so one branch may take your temporary ID without hesitation while another asks for more. Call ahead to confirm what a specific branch requires and save yourself a wasted trip.
Documents to Bring With You
Because a temporary paper ID may not fully satisfy verification on its own, plan to bring supporting documents. The most important is your Social Security number or ITIN. Banks need this to report interest to the IRS, and without it the bank must withhold 24 percent of reportable payments as backup withholding.3Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 You’ll provide the number on a Form W-9 or a signature card when you apply.4Internal Revenue Service. Form W-9
Banks usually ask for proof of your current address too. A recent utility bill, lease, or voter registration card showing the same name as your temporary ID will typically do. Bring originals rather than copies, and check that your name is spelled identically across every document. A small mismatch can hold up the application.
Other documents that strengthen your case:
- Your Social Security card, which independently confirms your name and number.
- A certified birth certificate, which establishes legal identity without leaning on a state-issued card.
- A valid U.S. passport, which is a standalone government photo ID and can remove the need for the temporary ID entirely.
- A credit or debit card from another bank, showing you already have a verified banking relationship.
Bringing two or three of these along with your temporary ID gives the banker more paths to the “reasonable belief” standard and makes approval much more likely.
What to Expect at the Branch
Plan on visiting in person. Most online applications are built to scan or photograph a plastic card and check its security features automatically, so they generally can’t process a paper document. At the branch, the banker reviews your documents and enters your information into the bank’s systems.
As part of the application, the bank will typically check your history with a specialty consumer reporting agency. Over 80 percent of banks use one of these services, most commonly ChexSystems or Early Warning Services, to look for unpaid overdrafts, suspected fraud, or involuntary account closures.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute an Error on My Checking Account Consumer Report A negative record there can lead to a denial no matter how strong your ID documents are.
If the bank can’t immediately verify your temporary ID through its own systems, it may turn to non-documentary methods: cross-checking public databases or contacting the state agency that issued the document.6Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. FAQs: Final CIP Rule Your application may sit in a pending status for a day or two while this happens. Once you’re approved, the bank will usually give you temporary checks or a debit card while your permanent card is produced.
Most basic checking accounts require a small opening deposit, commonly between $0 and $100 depending on the bank and account type. Some accounts also carry monthly maintenance fees that can be waived with a minimum balance or direct deposit.
If You Don’t Have a Social Security Number
You don’t need an SSN to open a bank account.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Bank Accounts and Services If you’re a resident alien or otherwise ineligible for one, you can use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead. Banks accept ITINs for their tax reporting obligations, and Form W-9 has a specific field for entering an ITIN in place of an SSN.4Internal Revenue Service. Form W-9
To apply for an ITIN, you’ll submit documents proving both identity and foreign status. A valid passport is the only standalone document that covers both. Without a passport, you’ll need two separate documents, one for identity and one for foreign status, and at least one must include a photograph.8Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Supporting Documents Acceptable documents include a visa from the U.S. Department of State, a USCIS photo identification card, a national identification card, or a foreign driver’s license.
Some banks also accept a consular identification card, such as the Matrícula Consular issued by Mexican consulates, as a photo ID for account opening. Acceptance varies, so ask the bank directly before you visit.
If Your Application Is Denied
If a bank denies your application based on information from ChexSystems or a similar agency, the bank must send you an adverse action notice with the name and contact information of the reporting agency, a note that the agency didn’t make the denial decision and can’t explain it, and a statement of your right to request a free copy of the report.9Federal Trade Commission. Using Consumer Reports for Credit Decisions: What to Know About Adverse Action and Risk-Based Pricing Notices
If the information in that report is wrong, you can dispute it under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The reporting agency has to investigate, generally within 30 days.10Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Long Does It Take to Repair an Error on a Credit Report The bank that reported the negative information also has to investigate and correct any errors it finds.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute an Error on My Checking Account Consumer Report Contact the agency using the information on the adverse action notice, and have your Social Security card and other identifying documents ready. If the investigation doesn’t resolve the issue, you can submit a brief written statement explaining your side that the agency must include in your file going forward.
Second-Chance Accounts as a Fallback
If your application was turned down because of past banking problems rather than your identification, a second-chance account may be a better fit. These accounts are built for people who have negative marks on their ChexSystems or Early Warning Services reports and can’t qualify for a standard checking account. The FDIC reports that more than 400 accounts at over 300 banks have been certified under Bank On national standards, which require low and transparent costs and prohibit overdraft or insufficient fund fees.11Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. GetBanked
Second-chance accounts still require identity verification, so the same temporary-ID considerations apply. The difference is that these accounts either skip the ChexSystems screening or use more flexible criteria when weighing your banking history. After several months of responsible use, many banks will upgrade you to a standard checking account.