Opening a Bank Account

[Norman and Dijani 0]

My Wife (non USC) and I (USC) went to Bank of America the other day to try and open an account for her. We meet with a rep who asked for two forms of photo ID. My wife had her passport, her South African Driver's liscense, and her South African National ID book. The bank rep then said that my wife would not be able to open an account because only her passport is acceptable as an Identity Document and she needs two Identity documents. She has her SSC, but even with that he turned us away. Needless to say, my wife was VERY upset. Does anyone know of a bank that will help us out or does any one have any advise about this?

[Zee Bee 61]

When my husband got his SSC we went to BoA to open a bank account. They asked for 2 forms of ID but he only had his passport (no DL or anything else). The clerk asked if he had a SSC and she used that as his second ID. When they went to open the account they said his number was not in the system yet and to come back in a week.

In a week we were too late in returning to that branch, so we went to another one about 2 miles away that is open later. There they said that he needed a state ID along with his passport to open the account. I explained that at the other branch they accepted his SSC and they said there was some "information they needed from the state ID" to put into the computer.

The next day, we went back to the first BoA branch and he opened an account with his passport and SSC, no questions and it was smooth.

Moral of the story: try another branch.

[Sal and Jay 2]

My Wife (non USC) and I (USC) went to Bank of America the other day to try and open an account for her. We meet with a rep who asked for two forms of photo ID. My wife had her passport, her South African Driver's liscense, and her South African National ID book. The bank rep then said that my wife would not be able to open an account because only her passport is acceptable as an Identity Document and she needs two Identity documents. She has her SSC, but even with that he turned us away. Needless to say, my wife was VERY upset. Does anyone know of a bank that will help us out or does any one have any advise about this?

I had the same problem trying to open an account with Merchant Bank, I then went to Wachovia and they were more than happy to help me and set up an account straight away. So far they have been very good.

[NickyMcMillan 0]

I opened an account with bank of America, two days after arriving on my K1. All I needed to show them was my passport. It took the rep around 45 mins, she had to get approval from the branch manager.

That's the only good thing I have to say about BoA. I opened my account in June. I received my debit card only yesterday! Can you believe that?

They called me in last month. Told me they had to investigate me further before they could issue me with a card. They made me feel like a criminal.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Bank of America were HORRIBLE when we set up my husband's account there and caused us no end of headache. They refused to classify him as a permanent resident even though he showed up with his green card and SSN because he hadn't lived in the US for more than a year, but we didn't know this until about 6 months after he opened the account. It caused us no end of problems come tax time, because his 1099-INT showed him as a non-resident alien, when of course he lived here. We tried to get them to reclassify him but they said federal law wouldn't let them do it (WHATEVER). Bruce said, "So even though the USCIS considers me to live here permanently, BoA doesn't?" Then the bank manager told him that there was no point in him opening an account anywhere else, as all other banks would treat him the same way. Wrong -- he closed the BoA account immediately and opened two -- one at Wachovia and one at TD BankNorth. Neither had any problem with his status.

I, on the other hand, have had only good experiences with BoA. Meh.

[Jeraly 4]

We've had nightmares with BoA - my OH (USC) has had money charged to his account that shouldn't have been and no-one could be bothered to help us sort it out so to this day we have lost over $300 to them

We both set up accounts at WaMu with no trouble - I showed them my passport and they set me up with a non-resident account until I got my SSN, then when I got it, we went back and they changed it over to a regular account. I also got my name changed and debit cards with no hassle at all

[himher 634]

Our bank took my wife's passport as one identity document, and her VISA as the other. Bank of America sucks. Try WAMU or Wachovia

[chris4gretchen 1]

My wife had an expired state ID and her passport, but they wanted more, (they wouldnt accept the expired state id. Then they accepted medical insurance card with her name on it and we got her added to my accounts. It didnt have her photo on it. Wells Fargo bank.

Chris

[Norman and Dijani 0]

There isnt any Wachovia banks near me and when I go to the Wamu website and search locations, its brings up a bunch of Chase banks. Is Wamu the same as Chase?

[Norman and Dijani 0]

Actually it just brings up a bunch of Chase ATM's.....Any other ideas?

[Jeraly 4]

WaMu went bust and have been bought out by Chase so that is probably why

[Norman and Dijani 0]

So since WaMU went bust and Chase bought them, does any one have an experiences with opening and account with Chase bank?

[LuckyDucky 0]

No experience with WaMU or Chase, but I thought I'd share my story about opening an account:

When I went with my wife to open an account, I was told that they would require a state's issued ID and a social security number (at least, I think they required the social security number).

The reason stated for this had something to do with the PATRIOT act. Presumably this has to do with the "anti-money-laundering" portion of the PATRIOT act, but I didn't go too deeply into it with the banker. He did say that some banks are more loose about this rule than others, but strictly-speaking, they are not supposed to open or add a person to an account without this information.

At that time, my wife had entered on a K-1 visa, married, but we were waiting on the adjustment of status paperwork. The DMV will not issue her an ID without a green card.

Edited October 22, 2008 by LuckyDucky

[milimelo 4,581]

Opening a Chase account is easy - I showed up with my SSN, passport, driver's license (home country), ID (home country). They added me on to husband's account without a problem. When I was signing the papers for account I noticed my SSN read 999999999 even though I had my valid SSN (had it since I studied for a year in the US back in 2001). They fixed it once the system showed my SSN as legit a week later.

Never had a problem with Chase - brach manager is very helpful as well as other staff when I go in - internet banking excellent as well as customer service over the phone (once you figure out how to reach a live person). And their ATMs are everywhere.

[himher 634]

Yes they were just bought out by Chase. My wife opened her own account with no problem though, when her SS card came in she had to go give the number to them.

There isnt any Wachovia banks near me and when I go to the Wamu website and search locations, its brings up a bunch of Chase banks. Is Wamu the same as Chase?