adding spouse to bank accounts

[mike67 0]

hi everyone..

today, my wife and I tried to go down to the bank and have her added to my checking and savings account,since we are married now(3-15-08).however, we were told her passport is not sufficient for them to use as Id. are we missing something? we showed our marriage certificate and ssn card.The woman made a few calls to verify the procedure.however she was unable to complete it for us at this time. any comments or ideas? Thank u in advance.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hmm, she had her SSN card and her passport and they still wouldn't add her to the account? This is very peculiar. It sounds like the branch you are at is very inexperienced and thinks that only State Driver's Licenses and US birth certificates count as acceptable ID. I would escalate it to the level above her - ask to speak to the branch manager. You might want to advise them that if they cannot accommodate you, that you are perfectly willing to move your accounts to another bank that can. It is surprising what they can accomplish when faced with that choice.

My fiance was able to add me to our joint accounts at the Bank of America before we were married, before I had a SSN and before I had a Georgia Driver's License. I used my Canadian passport and my Ontario Driver's License. When I got my SSN I went in and gave it to them for the files.

Good luck in getting this sorted out.

Edited May 15, 2008 by Kathryn41

[mike67 0]

Hmm, she had her SSN card and her passport and they still wouldn't add her to the account? This is very peculiar. It sounds like the branch you are at is very inexperienced and thinks that only State Driver's Licenses and US birth certificates count as acceptable ID. I would escalate it to the level above her - ask to speak to the branch manager. You might want to advise them that if they cannot accommodate you, that you are perfectly willing to move your accounts to another bank that can. It is surprising what they can accomplish when faced with that choice.

My fiance was able to add me to our joint accounts at the Bank of America before we were married, before I had a SSN and before I had a Georgia Driver's License. I used my Canadian passport and my Ontario Driver's License. When I got my SSN I went in and gave it to them for the files.

Good luck in getting this sorted out.

thanks Kathryn.. we are gonna try again with some else who knows what they are doing! lol!! she was just the lady at the front desk and she just made us stand there and I've been with this bank a long time.

[patriciaofoz 0]

Perhaps it's a bank-by-bank basis but my husband was able to add me to his account 2 days after I arrived in the US and we weren't even married yet. All they needed was my passport as identification. But, when we went there a week after our wedding and with our marriage certificate (to change my name to my maiden name), we couldn't change it because the bank said I have to have my GC. But to us, it doesn't matter anyway because I've got my married name in all our bank checks, but I just need to sign it as my maiden name (it doesn't make sense!?!)

I think the bank should be able to add you because isn't it up to your husband's name who they add to his account?

[Mrs. BB 0]

I think it also depends on the bank. I cannot add my husband to my account because he does not have his SSN yet.

Wells Fargo will allow you to open an account with an ITIN number. And BofA you need next to nothing to open an account.

Some follow really strict guidelines. Others are a lot more liberal.

[DanielParul 50]

Not only were we able to add me on all his accounts as his fiancee with just my passport but I was also able to open my own account. I changed the name on all acounts to my married name after showing them our marriage cert and also gave them the SSN once I received it... This is Wachovia... I think it is very specific to bank...

[freecake 0]

But to us, it doesn't matter anyway because I've got my married name in all our bank checks, but I just need to sign it as my maiden name (it doesn't make sense!?!)

Yep! It's because they just need you to sign with the name thats on the account. all that matters is that the signature and your account numbers match up.. my checks still list my maiden name AND an old address, but as long as i sign with my married name which is on the bank account I'm good.. didnt have to reorder checks in the new name and waste money! banks are hilarious

Edited May 15, 2008 by freecake

[anitacastillo 0]

This variety of requirements at various banks is odd. We tried to add my husband to an account at Bank of A - needed two pieces of ID (passport and his foreign national ID were ok). Even though we had had the SS card for a week, the rep said he didn't exist in the datebases yet. She said to come back in a few weeks. We made it a joke - he doesn't exist.

Good Luck!

[msu17 0]

We had a very hard time adding my husband to my account. They told us what they wanted, we brought it in and then they decided they needed a US bank card or credit card to verify his ID??? Well obviously we are trying to add him to my account since he just moved here and DOESN'T have that. Luckily we remembered he had a credit union bank card so they used that. Overall is was the most ridiculous thing. We almost left that bank because of it.

[nane1104 146]

We had three different experiences with three different banks, and I am still not added to one of the accounts. They want me to come there in person. Too bad they are in California and we live in Louisiana at the moment.

With other banks we had no problems at all.

I'd say, go to another office or like already mentioned, go to someone who is up a level. The documents you have, really should be sufficient for your wife to be added to the account.