Yes, a UK citizen can open a US bank account, whether living in the United States or applying from the UK. Federal banking rules do not restrict account ownership to US citizens, and major banks accept foreign nationals who can prove their identity and pass standard compliance checks.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks What differs is which accounts you can access and how much paperwork you have to file, and both come down to whether you count as a US tax resident.
How Your Tax Status Shapes Your Options
US tax law sorts foreign nationals into two groups, and banks care about the difference. If you hold a work visa such as an H-1B or a student visa such as an F-1 and spend enough time in the country, you are likely a resident alien for tax purposes. The threshold is the substantial presence test: at least 31 days of physical presence in the current calendar year plus a weighted total of 183 days across the current year and the two before it.2Internal Revenue Service. Substantial Presence Test Resident aliens can generally open the same checking and savings accounts as US citizens.
If you live in the UK or only visit briefly, you are a non-resident alien.3Internal Revenue Service. Determining an Individual’s Tax Residency Status Fewer banks offer standard retail accounts to non-resident aliens, and those that do may steer you toward international or high-net-worth products with more documentation and higher minimums.
Whichever group you fall into, you must be old enough to sign a contract (18 in most states) and must not appear on the federal sanctions list that banks are required to screen every applicant against.4Office of Foreign Assets Control. Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) and the SDN List
Documents You’ll Need
Federal anti-money-laundering rules require banks to run a Customer Identification Program on every new account holder, collecting at minimum your name, date of birth, address, and an identification number.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks For a UK applicant, that usually means:
- A valid UK passport. This is your primary photo ID, and its number and country of issuance can stand in for a Social Security Number as your identification number.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can I Get a Checking Account Without a Social Security Number or Driver’s License
- A secondary ID such as a UK driver’s license or national identity card.
- Proof of address dated within the last 60 to 90 days: a recent utility bill, a UK bank statement, or a lease. The rules require a residential or business street address, so a P.O. box on its own won’t do.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks
If any of your documents are not in English, expect the bank to ask for a certified translation.
Do You Need a Social Security Number or ITIN?
You don’t need an SSN or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to open an account. Federal CIP rules let banks accept a passport number and country of issuance from non-US persons in place of an SSN.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can I Get a Checking Account Without a Social Security Number or Driver’s License Some banks still ask for one as a matter of internal policy, so confirm before you apply.
An ITIN becomes useful if you plan to file a US tax return or if the bank you want requires one. You apply on IRS Form W-7, either by mail, in person at an IRS office, or through an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent. Agents in the UK can verify your passport in person, so you won’t have to mail the original abroad.6Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Acceptance Agents Processing runs about 7 weeks, stretching to 9 to 11 weeks during tax season (January 15 through April 30) or when applying from overseas.7Internal Revenue Service. How to Apply for an ITIN An ITIN that goes three consecutive years without being used on a tax return will expire.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 6109 – Identifying Numbers
Form W-8BEN and Why It Matters
If you’re a non-resident alien, the bank will ask you to fill in IRS Form W-8BEN. The form certifies that you are not a US person and lets the bank apply the correct tax withholding on interest and other US-sourced income the account earns.9Internal Revenue Service. Form W-8BEN
You’ll enter your full legal name, country of citizenship, and permanent residential address (again, no P.O. box). You also list your foreign tax identifying number, meaning your UK National Insurance number or Unique Taxpayer Reference, which lets the bank apply the US–UK tax treaty.10Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-8BEN Without a valid W-8BEN on file, the bank must withhold 30% of certain US-sourced income by default. With one, treaty benefits reduce withholding on ordinary bank interest to zero for most UK residents.
Applying in Person
If you’re already in the United States, walking into a branch is the simplest route. Bring your passport, secondary ID, proof of address, and your W-8BEN, or plan to complete one there. The banker will review your documents and have you sign a signature card that records your authorized signature.11FDIC. Financial Institution Employee’s Guide to Deposit Insurance – Joint Accounts – Section: All Co-owners Must Personally Sign the Signature Card
You’ll need to fund the account to activate it. Most banks set no minimum for basic checking, and among those that do, the typical opening balance is around $100.12FDIC. Deposit Products Chapter – Section: Minimum Balance Requirement for Bank Accounts International or premium accounts can require far more. A wire from your UK bank or a cashier’s check both work for the opening deposit.
Applying From the UK
Some banks let non-residents apply online or through an international banking desk without ever visiting a US branch. These applications typically use encrypted document uploads and video ID checks. Not every bank offers this, and the paperwork is heavier: expect notarized copies of your passport and additional proof of address, plus a longer wait for approval.
Once you’re approved, a debit card arrives by mail and you’ll get online banking credentials. Turn on two-factor authentication as soon as you log in.
How Your Interest Is Taxed
Under Article 11 of the US–UK tax treaty, interest arising in the United States and beneficially owned by a UK resident is taxable only in the UK.13U.S. Department of the Treasury. Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains With a valid W-8BEN on file, the bank should not withhold any US tax on the interest your account earns. For ordinary bank deposit interest paid to a non-resident alien, the income is generally nontaxable in the US and not reportable on Form 1042-S.14Internal Revenue Service. Federal Income Tax Withholding and Reporting on Other Kinds of U.S. Source Income Paid to Nonresident Aliens
That’s the US side only. HM Revenue and Customs generally taxes UK residents on worldwide income, so interest from your US account still needs to appear on your UK return.
What It Costs to Move Money Between Countries
Moving funds across the Atlantic isn’t free. Outgoing international wires from a US account at major banks typically run $35 to $65. Incoming international wires cost between $0 and $25, and some banks waive them.
SWIFT wires often pass through one or more intermediary banks, each of which can deduct $15 to $50 from the amount in transit. If you need the full amount to arrive, ask your sending bank about the “OUR” charging option, which puts all fees on the sender.
Using a US debit card in the UK usually adds a foreign transaction fee of 1% to 3% per purchase, though some premium accounts waive it. When a merchant abroad offers to bill you in dollars, decline and pay in pounds. That avoids an extra conversion markup from the merchant’s payment processor.
Keeping the Account Active From Abroad
Accounts that sit unused can be classified as dormant. Each state sets its own inactivity period, typically between one and five years, after which unclaimed funds are turned over to the state through a process called escheatment. Getting escheated money back is possible but slow.
A single small transaction or a login to online banking every so often is enough to keep the account active. Banks usually send warning notices before declaring dormancy, but international mail is unreliable, so keep your contact details current and switch on email or text alerts.
If You’re Opening a Business Account
UK business owners face extra steps. Most banks want an Employer Identification Number from the IRS, obtained by mail or fax using Form SS-4. If your UK company has set up a US subsidiary, bring the US articles of incorporation; if you’re banking as the UK entity itself, bring your UK certificate of incorporation and other formation documents. The managing director or authorized signatory needs a passport plus one additional ID. Business account reviews take longer than personal ones, particularly when handled remotely.