Chase and Bank Of America

[loba2000 2]

Hi everyone

I wanted to ask what documents are required to open a bank account in Chase Bank or Bank Of America?

Edited April 21, 2015 by loba2000

[spock 7]

Hi everyone

I wanted to ask what documents are required to open a bank account in Chase Bank or Bank Of America?

Your presence + your cnic+ your passport....and its doen.. its quiet easy

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Call them to know for sure!

[loba2000 2]

Thankyou guys

Which bank do you prefer Chase or Bank Of America? (especially in terms of building the credit score)

[jjbandero 39]

Thankyou guys

Which bank do you prefer Chase or Bank Of America? (especially in terms of building the credit score)

Opening checking/savings accounts don't really offer much in the way of building credit score, while it is counted as open accounts, and establishes your identity, credit score is more affected by how you pay your bills (i.e. on time payment), whether you've obtained a loan and the timely repayment of such loan, whether you've declared bankruptcies, how many credit cards and the limit of each etc.

You should consider the availability of branches and ATMs near you, the different fees and charges you may have to pay, the interest rate offered, all big banks are pretty similar.

[mlh 93]

I don't know if it differs by state, but when we tried to add my husband to my Chase checking account, they said he had to have a bill in his name (he's not even in the states yet, but I was trying to get him on the account when he was last over), or he had to have a check stub since he didn't have a social security number. When I tried to explain that if he had a check stub, that would mean that he had a SSN because it would mean he could work here, the girl just didn't seem to get it and only said, "well that's what the computer says".

Needless to say, we couldn't get him on my account since I couldn't provide a utility bill with his name on it in less than a week.

[aara1988 1]

I just got a checking account with Chase and they really needed some kind of bill with my name and my address on it. I don't have anything like that but my cell phone "contract" (I wouldn't even call it a contract, it's more like pay as you go). I printed my billing info from my provider's web page and that was enough for the bank.

Also, they had to call someone to make sure that I could open my account without a SSN. I actually found it in my mail when I went back home to print my cell phone bill, but if you don't have it you can open an account anyway.

[loba2000 2]

Thankyou everyone

I am sorry i should have been clear with my question, I know just opening accounts won't build a credit score. You need a credit card.

What i mean to ask which bank should I go for opening an account then get get a credit for it?

I have noticed a lot people in the States prefer Chase but isn't Bank Of America equally good?

Wont a Bank Of America credit card help me built my credit score if i pay on time?

Edited April 22, 2015 by loba2000

[BaronB 42]

Do you really need a bill in your name to open a joint checking account with your USC spouse? I understand the need for a SSN.

As for building up a credit score of your own, you can open a secured credit card. It's a credit card for people with no credit history. You deposit a certain amount with the bank and that is usually your credit limit. The amount doesn't go to paying your bill, it's basically a security deposit. After using this card for several months and paying it in full every month your credit score goes up.

Opening a couple cards or a store card also helps build up a credit score. The trick is use only a small fraction of the available credit and pay it off in full each month. So use it to pay for gas or food or something you know you can afford each month.

[BaronB 42]

Thankyou everyone

I am sorry i should have been clear with my question, I know just opening accounts won't build a credit score. You need a credit card.

What i mean to ask which bank should I go for opening an account then get get a credit for it?

I have noticed a lot people in the States prefer Chase but isn't Bank Of America equally good?

Wont a Bank Of America credit card help me built my credit score if i pay on time?

I don't know which one is better but I do know that the small "Mom & Pop" type banks are useless and irritating to deal with if you are used to a large bank at home. I had a few run ins with useless staff in these small banks. They have no idea what is going on and seem to be suffering from brain damage.

[loba2000 2]

Do you really need a bill in your name to open a joint checking account with your USC spouse? I understand the need for a SSN.

As for building up a credit score of your own, you can open a secured credit card. It's a credit card for people with no credit history. You deposit a certain amount with the bank and that is usually your credit limit. The amount doesn't go to paying your bill, it's basically a security deposit. After using this card for several months and paying it in full every month your credit score goes up.

Opening a couple cards or a store card also helps build up a credit score. The trick is use only a small fraction of the available credit and pay it off in full each month. So use it to pay for gas or food or something you know you can afford each month.

Thankyou so much for the helping

I have some confusions hope you clear them

Q1. To obtain a Credit Card you need to have a credit history but as a new immigrant I have none, so for me it is Necessary to have secured Credit Card then after some months with timely payments, I can obtain a normal credit card (all other than secured ones).

Q2. Can I get a store credit card (example Target Store Red Card) without any credit history? If yes will this help in building a credit score?

Q3. When opening a new bank checking account for an individual whether chase or bank of america, you need to have bill in your name?

Edited April 22, 2015 by loba2000

[BaronB 42]

Thankyou so much for the helping

I have some confusions hope you clear them

Q1. To obtain a Credit Card you need to have a credit history but as a new immigrant I have none, so for me it is Necessary to have secured Credit Card then after some months with timely payments, I can obtain a normal credit card (all other than secured ones).

Q2. Can I get a store credit card (example Target Store Red Card) without any credit history? If yes will this help in building a credit score?

Q3. When opening a new bank checking account for an individual whether chase or bank of america, you need to have bill in your name?

Q1. Yes I believe you can move from a secured card to a normal one after showing the bank you are "good" and timely with your payments.

Q2. I'm not sure but maybe after a few months on the secured card you'll start showing a credit history and they will let you get a card. The US loves to give people credit.

Q3. I don't know this, I am not aware of this requirement.

Edited April 22, 2015 by BaronB

[Kajikit 65]

Chase were very rude to me after we got married and we tried to open a bank account in my name... they said sure they could help me but then insisted that they wouldn't do a damned thing until I had a green card in my hand to show them and the printed letters that Immigration issues you weren't good enough proof of my identity/legalness (and why didn't we have bills in my name and no my passport was worthless because it wasn't American.) It was horribly upsetting and my husband thought they were going to call the cops on me because I got so upset! (if they weren't going to help they should have just said so over the phone...) We went down the street to BOA and they opened an account on the spot... but this was ten years ago. I have no clue what their policies are nowadays. (btw, making me a joint account holder with my husband, who'd HAD a Chase account for years, didn't require anything more than my SSN and our marriage license and he accomplished it in minutes... but they still refused to give me an account in my own name.)

Edited April 23, 2015 by Kajikit

[PauPau 71]

I don't know if it differs by state, but when we tried to add my husband to my Chase checking account, they said he had to have a bill in his name (he's not even in the states yet, but I was trying to get him on the account when he was last over), or he had to have a check stub since he didn't have a social security number. When I tried to explain that if he had a check stub, that would mean that he had a SSN because it would mean he could work here, the girl just didn't seem to get it and only said, "well that's what the computer says".

Needless to say, we couldn't get him on my account since I couldn't provide a utility bill with his name on it in less than a week.

This is exactly what happened to us today at Chase here in CA. I have SSN and EAD but both are considered secondary IDs only. And since I am not US citizen, they said my primary ID is my passport but it's in my maiden name. Since my surname in passport and EAD are different, they cannot accept both as my identification plus I do not have a utility bill under my name So there, we left Chase unable to open personal and joint accounts

[apple21 953]

When my husband first came here to the US in 2011 he had difficulties too finding a bank. His sister works in the entertainment industry and she was able to help him open an account with First Entertainment Credit Union. He was able to open a savings and checking account even without submitting a utility bill, well he didn't have anything to his name coz he's a new immigrant but he has a job already when he applied. He did get an ATM/debit card too.

He also tried applying for a credit card to bigger banks like Citi, Chase and BOA but it was declined. It was only Capital One who approved him. The credit limit was only $500 but really not bad. Every month he pays his dues ahead of the due date coz he really wants to build and maintain a good credit score.

When I came here in 2013 and he added me into his bank account, I only showed my passport, SS and green card. They gave me the debit/ATM card on the spot. For the credit card, he made me authorized user via the bank's website and my card was delivered within a week. Easy peasy for me. Lol.

Just last week my husband received a letter from American Express inviting him to open a credit card account with them. He was already pre-approved and all he did was activate the account online. He now has the card and mine was already shipped just waiting for delivery. We now have a bigger credit limit.

He also got a pre-approved application with Citi like a month ago but he didn't avail of it because he was still bitter coz Citi was the first he applied to and they denied him. Hahahahaha!

Edited April 25, 2015 by apple21