Yes, you can open a bank account with a passport. Federal law lists an unexpired passport as an acceptable form of government-issued photo identification, and banks treat U.S. and foreign passports the same way for identity verification.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks The passport handles the hardest part of the application, but you’ll still need to provide a tax identification number, a street address, and in most cases a second piece of ID.
Why the Passport Works
Every U.S. bank must run a Customer Identification Program before opening an account, collecting and verifying your identity under federal anti-money-laundering rules.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks The regulation names a passport as an example of acceptable identification because it carries your photo, full legal name, date of birth, and nationality, along with security features that make it hard to forge. Expect the bank to scan or photocopy it during the application.
One catch: the passport has to be unexpired. If yours has passed its expiration date, the bank must fall back on non-documentary verification, such as checking your information against public databases.2Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Customer Identification Program (FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual) Some banks will still open the account this way. Many will tell you to come back with a current document. Renew before you go if you can.
What Else You’ll Need
The passport proves who you are. The bank still needs a few more pieces of information before it can open an account in your name.
Tax Identification Number
Banks report interest earned on your account to the IRS, so they need either a Social Security Number or, if you aren’t eligible for one, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). You certify this number on IRS Form W-9 at account opening. Skip it or give an invalid number and the bank must withhold 24 percent of any reportable interest or dividends as backup withholding and send it to the IRS.3Internal Revenue Service – IRS.gov. Backup Withholding You get it back when you file, but there’s no reason to lend the government an interest-free loan.
If you need an ITIN, you apply with IRS Form W-7, a federal income tax return, and documents proving your foreign status and identity. You can mail the application or bring it to an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, where staff authenticate your documents and return them the same day.4Internal Revenue Service – IRS.gov. How to Apply for an ITIN A few banks, including some of the largest national ones, will open an account while your ITIN application is still pending. Policies vary.
Proof of Address
Federal rules require a residential or business street address for every individual account holder.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks A standard P.O. Box won’t do. The regulation makes an exception for an APO or FPO box if you’re in the military, or for the address of a next of kin or other contact person if you don’t have a fixed street address of your own. Common proofs include a signed lease, a mortgage statement, or a recent utility bill. Students and people in temporary housing can sometimes use a letter from a university or housing organization.
A Second Form of ID
Most banks ask for a secondary document alongside the passport. What counts varies, but the usual options include a major credit or debit card with your name embossed, a current utility bill, or a government-issued document such as a voter registration card. Check the bank’s list before you go so you don’t make the trip twice.
If Your Passport Is Foreign
A foreign passport is treated the same as a U.S. passport under the Customer Identification Program rules.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks If you aren’t a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, though, you should plan for extra paperwork.
Banks typically ask nonresident aliens to complete IRS Form W-8BEN to establish foreign status and claim any tax-treaty benefits on U.S.-source income.5IRS.gov. Instructions for Form W-8BEN For most foreign nationals with a basic savings or checking account, interest paid by a U.S. bank, credit union, or savings institution to a nonresident alien is generally nontaxable and doesn’t need to be reported.6Internal Revenue Service – IRS.gov. Federal Income Tax Withholding and Reporting on Other Kinds of US Source Income Paid to Nonresident Aliens Interest from other U.S. sources may face 30 percent withholding unless a tax treaty reduces the rate.
Some banks also want to see immigration documents such as a visa, I-94 arrival record, or permanent resident card to verify your legal presence. Requirements shift from bank to bank. Call ahead.
Applying in Person vs. Online
Walking into a branch is the easiest path when your primary ID is a passport. A banker can examine it, scan it, and verify it on the spot.
Online applications are trickier. Most banks’ digital portals are built around driver’s license verification: you upload a photo of the license and software reads the barcode or machine-readable zone automatically. Passports don’t always fit that workflow. Some banks and online-only institutions do accept passport uploads, but expect a manual review that takes longer than the automated check. Confirm that the digital application supports passport verification before you start, or use a branch or video appointment instead.
If You’re Denied
Most banks check your history through a reporting agency such as ChexSystems, which tracks checking account applications, closures, and the reasons accounts were closed.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Chex Systems, Inc. A record of unpaid fees or account misuse at a previous bank can lead to a denial even when your ID is in perfect order.
If a denial is based on information from a consumer reporting agency, the bank must send you an adverse action notice.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681m – Requirements on Users of Consumer Reports The notice identifies the agency that supplied the information and tells you how to request a free copy of the report within 60 days. You’re also entitled to one free ChexSystems report every 12 months regardless.
Errors can be disputed directly with ChexSystems. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the agency must investigate and correct inaccurate information, and most negative records can’t stay on your report longer than seven years.9Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Why Was I Denied a Checking Account? If the record is accurate but still blocking you, look into second-chance checking accounts. They skip the ChexSystems review and are built for people rebuilding their banking history. They usually carry monthly fees you can’t waive and offer fewer features than a standard account, but responsible use over time can move you back to a regular account.