Opening Bank Account Without SSN

[Pennycat 880]

I wonder if part of the problem is that they won't take an SSN online because with an SSN there's a lot of ways to verify someone's identity (they ask you questions from your credit report like in December 2011, you opened a car loan, which of the following banks was it-- and "none of the above" was an option). I know a lot of people, my husband included, who had a bank account without an SSN but you do have to go in person.

I understand that you're trying to organize the logistics before you arrive (and that's very smart), but my experience with all this (so far) is that there's usually more problems in trying to get ahead of the normal order of things than there are benefits to gain. Just my two cents, there.

[kevz900 5]

I opened a Bank of America checking acc in Las Vegas with no probs before I moved to the States. I applied in person at the branch. They needed to see my passport and UK driving license. SSN not required as they used my UK address, but used my wife's US address as the mailing address.

When I moved to the US it was easy to change my address from the UK once I had the SSN. Also applied for one of their pre-paid credit cards and within 9 months had my money returned and was moved to a normal CC with a credit score of over 600, so I recommend B of A highly.

[JohnQPublic 0]

My wife and I tried to open a bank account for her yesterday.  She has her work permit (EAD) and her temporary SS card but I just found out that my bank (Frost Bank) will only allow a primary on an account if they have a permanent SS #.  My worry is that she will begin working soon and we need her paycheck to direct deposit but somehow the Republican parties agenda is filtering down to the banks.

 

This is from the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau of the US government:

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-i-get-a-checking-account-without-a-social-security-number-en-929/

 

Quote

 

Can I get a checking account without a social security number?

Answer: You are not required to have a social security number to open a checking or savings account.

To open a checking or savings account, the bank or credit union will need to verify your name, date of birth, address, and ID number. An ID number can be a social security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). To get an ITIN, you will need to fill out a form with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

.

 

 

 

If you don’t have a U.S. government-issued SSN or ITIN, some banks and credit unions will accept a passport number and country of issuance, an alien identification card number, or other government-issued ID number.

 

 

So despite the fact that this is not a law, these prejudiced banks are blocking people from simply opening an account.  What would my wife had done without me to be the primary on all of our accounts?

 

 

[Ontarkie 14,225]

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