Yes, you can open a bank account with a passport. Federal rules list passports alongside driver’s licenses as acceptable primary identification, and both U.S. and foreign passports qualify.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks What “alone” won’t get you is an account with no other paperwork at all: banks still need a taxpayer identification number and a way to confirm your address, and non-citizens should expect a few extra forms.
Why a Passport Works as Primary ID
Every U.S. bank runs a Customer Identification Program, or CIP, before opening an account. The rule, rooted in the Bank Secrecy Act and expanded by the USA PATRIOT Act, requires the bank to verify your identity using “unexpired government-issued identification evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard, such as a driver’s license or passport.”1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks
A passport meets every element of that description. It’s government-issued, it carries a photograph, and it establishes nationality. There’s no distinction in the regulation between domestic and foreign passports, which is why foreign passports are also accepted as primary identification at U.S. banks.
Along with a valid ID document, the CIP rule requires the bank to collect four pieces of information about you: your full legal name, your date of birth, a residential or business street address, and an identification number. For U.S. persons, the identification number is a taxpayer ID. For non-U.S. persons, the passport number and country of issuance can substitute.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks
What Else You’ll Need to Bring
A Taxpayer Identification Number
Federal law requires interest earned on your account to be reported to tax authorities, so the bank needs a number tied to your account.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 6109 – Identifying Numbers For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, that’s a Social Security Number. If you don’t have an SSN, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number works. Non-U.S. persons without either can sometimes use a passport number and country of issuance in place of a TIN under the CIP rule, though many individual banks still require a TIN before they’ll open the account.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks
Proof of Address
Most banks want a document showing your name at a residential street address: a recent utility bill, a lease, or a mortgage statement usually does the job, typically dated within the last 60 to 90 days. There’s no single federal rule dictating which address documents banks must accept, so requirements vary. A P.O. box on its own generally won’t work unless you have no physical address, in which case a military APO/FPO box or the address of a next of kin is acceptable under the CIP rule.
Possibly a Second Form of ID
The CIP rule doesn’t require a second ID, but many banks have internal policies that do. Common secondary documents include a state ID card, voter registration card, or student ID. If your passport is your only photo ID, call the bank first and ask whether they need anything else.
Opening an Account Without a Social Security Number
You don’t need an SSN to open a checking or savings account. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau confirms that some banks accept a passport number and country of issuance, an alien identification card number, or another government-issued ID number in place of an SSN.3Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can I Get a Checking Account Without a Social Security Number or Drivers License In practice, larger banks often prefer or effectively require a TIN.
If you need an ITIN first, apply with IRS Form W-7. A passport is the single most useful document in that process because it’s the only standalone document the IRS accepts to prove both identity and foreign status. No supporting documents are needed if you submit an original or certified copy of a valid passport.4Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Supporting Documents Processing takes roughly 7 weeks outside of tax season and 9 to 11 weeks between mid-January and the end of April.5Internal Revenue Service. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number ITIN Applying in person through an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent lets you keep your original passport rather than mailing it.
Extra Steps for Non-U.S. Citizens
Foreign passports are legitimate primary ID, but expect additional paperwork.
If you’re a nonresident alien, the bank will ask you to complete IRS Form W-8BEN. The form establishes that you’re not a U.S. person and determines how interest income on your account is taxed. Skipping it can trigger automatic withholding at a 30% rate on any interest your account earns.6Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-8BEN If your country has a tax treaty with the United States, the form lets you claim a reduced rate.7Internal Revenue Service. Federal Income Tax Withholding and Reporting on Other Kinds of US Source Income Paid to Nonresident Aliens
Banks aren’t federally required to verify your visa status, but many ask about immigration status as part of their own risk assessment. Bringing your visa paperwork or I-94 arrival record can speed the process. If your passport is in a language other than English, some banks may request a certified English translation of the biographical data page. Translation policies vary, so ask before you go.
Passport Cards and Expired Passports
A standard U.S. passport book works everywhere. The smaller U.S. passport card, designed primarily for land and sea border crossings, also serves as proof of U.S. citizenship and identity and should satisfy CIP requirements at most banks.8U.S. Department of State. Get a Passport Card Some bank employees may not be familiar with the card, so carrying a backup ID is worth doing.
An expired passport will almost certainly be rejected. The CIP rule specifies “unexpired” government-issued identification.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks Renew it, or use a different current government ID, before you apply.
If Your Application Is Denied
A valid passport doesn’t guarantee approval. Banks deny applications for several reasons, including a negative history in a deposit screening report, incomplete documentation, or inability to verify your identity. Over 80% of banks run applicants through screening services like ChexSystems or Early Warning Services to check for unpaid overdrafts, involuntary closures, or suspected fraud.9Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Companies List
When a bank uses information from a consumer reporting agency to deny you, it must send an adverse action notice. That notice must name the reporting agency, state that the agency didn’t make the decision, and inform you of your right to request a free copy of the report within 60 days.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681m – Requirements on Users of Consumer Reports The report may contain errors worth disputing: accounts that weren’t yours, resolved debts, or fraud you didn’t commit.
You’re also entitled to one free ChexSystems report per year regardless of any denial.11Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Chex Systems, Inc. Pulling it before you apply lets you fix problems in advance. If the negative marks are legitimate, second-chance checking accounts are built for applicants turned away by standard screening and offer a path back to a regular account.