How to Open a U.S. Bank Account without an SSN

Yes, you can open a U.S. bank account without a Social Security number. Most big banks will take an ITIN in its place, and some will open an account with a passport and a second ID if you go to a branch.

What you usually can't do is finish the whole thing online. Without an SSN, plan on walking into a branch.

Here's what five big banks say on their own websites. We read each one on October 12, 2026.

What Banks Do Not Require an SSN?

Rules like these change, and a branch can ask for more than the website lists. Call before you make the trip.

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo is the clearest of the five. To apply online you need an SSN or an ITIN, a physical U.S. address and your own mobile number.

No U.S. taxpayer number at all? Non-U.S. citizens can still apply with a government-issued ID that shows nationality or residence. A passport, a permanent resident card, an employment authorization card and a consular card from Colombia, Guatemala or Mexico are all on the primary ID list. You'll need a second ID too, like a debit card or a student ID.

If you're a non-permanent U.S. resident, you have to make an appointment and apply in person. The minimum deposit to open a checking or savings account is $25.

Official URL: Wells Fargo

PNC Bank

PNC is the one to look at if you have no SSN and no ITIN yet.

You have to go to a branch and apply in person for PNC Simple Checking. Bring a valid passport with a photograph and a second form of ID. For students, that second ID can be your U.S. student visa or your U.S. student photo ID.

PNC will also hand you an IRS Form W-8 BEN to fill out, which certifies that you aren't a U.S. taxpayer. What you can't do is apply online. PNC doesn't take online applications from non-U.S. persons who don't have a U.S. SSN or ITIN.

Official URL: PNC Bank

Bank of America

Bank of America lets U.S. visa holders who are living in the U.S. open an account in person at one of its financial centers.

You'll need more paperwork here than at the others:

• Your ITIN
• Both your permanent (foreign) address and your local address
• Proof of your U.S. address that shows your name, like a current utility bill or a rental agreement
• A primary photo ID, such as a foreign passport
• A second ID, such as a driver's license, a student or employer ID, or a major debit or credit card

So Bank of America works without an SSN, but not without an ITIN.

Official URL: Bank of America

Citi

Citi's application asks for your name, address, email and a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number. So an ITIN gets you through the same form.

You don't need a minimum deposit to open any checking account with Citi, and you can apply online or in person.

Official URL: Citi

Chase

Chase is the vague one. Its guides for non-residents and international students talk about banks in general and never state Chase's own rule on SSNs.

What Chase does publish is its list of acceptable IDs, and it includes a passport, a Matrícula Consular card and a U.S. Employment Authorization Card with photo. Its guide also says an ITIN may be used as a substitute for an SSN if a bank requires one.

Bottom line: Chase may well open your account, but call or visit a branch and ask before you count on it.

Official URL: Chase

What about online banks and apps?

They're usually stricter, because there's no branch to check your passport. Chime, for one, asks for your Social Security number, your email and a valid U.S. address to open an account online.

If you don't have an SSN, a bank with branches is the easier route. Once you have one, these are the online banks that pay you early.

What is an ITIN and how do you get one?

An ITIN is a 9-digit number the IRS issues if you need a U.S. taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes and you aren't eligible for an SSN. Your immigration status doesn't matter.

You apply with IRS Form W-7. It's the single most useful thing to have here. Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Citi all take it where an SSN would go.

An ITIN is for taxes only. It doesn't authorize you to work in the U.S. and it doesn't qualify you for Social Security benefits. Filing a return with one? Here's how to get a bigger tax refund.

How to Open a Bank Account Without an SSN, Step by Step

1. Pick a bank with a branch near you. Start with the table above.
2. Read that bank's ID page and call the branch to confirm what it wants from someone in your situation.
3. Gather your documents: your passport, a second ID, proof of your U.S. address, your foreign address, and your ITIN if you have one.
4. Book an appointment. Wells Fargo requires one for non-permanent residents, and it saves you a wasted trip anywhere.
5. Bring your opening deposit. Wells Fargo asks for $25. Citi doesn't ask for anything.
6. Sign the forms, including a W-8 BEN if the bank gives you one.

That's it. Once the bank verifies your ID, your account is open. Next on the list is usually credit. Here's how to see your credit score for free, and there's more in our smart money guides.

FAQs

Can I open a bank account with only a passport?

Not with a passport alone. Wells Fargo, PNC and Bank of America each ask for two forms of ID. At PNC that's a passport plus a second ID, with no SSN or ITIN needed.

Can I open a bank account online without an SSN?

With an ITIN, yes at Wells Fargo, as long as you aren't a non-permanent resident. With no SSN and no ITIN, you'll need to go to a branch.

Do I need a U.S. address?

Yes. Wells Fargo asks for a physical U.S. address, and Bank of America asks for proof of one along with your foreign address.

How we picked

We read each bank's own account-opening and ID pages on October 12, 2026 and kept only what the bank itself states. One credit union from the earlier version of this list came off because we couldn't confirm its policy on its own site.