How to Open a Non-Resident Bank Account in the US

To open a non-resident bank account in the US, you need a valid passport, a second form of identification, proof of a U.S. address, and a taxpayer identification number (a Social Security number, an ITIN, or in some cases a foreign tax ID). Most major banks will open the account in person at a branch, and several fintech platforms now handle the whole process online. From your first appointment to full account access, plan on one to two weeks, plus another seven to eleven weeks if you first need to apply for an ITIN.

You do not need to be a citizen or a green card holder. International students on F, M, or J visas, workers on H-1B or L-1 visas, and even some visitors on B-1 or B-2 tourist visas can open accounts. Bank of America, for example, accepts applicants who are neither citizens nor permanent residents and does not tie eligibility to a specific visa category, as long as you can show a physical U.S. address.¹

Documents You Need to Bring

The federal Customer Identification Program rules, created under Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, require a bank to collect your name, date of birth, a street address, and at least one government-issued identification number, such as a passport number and country of issuance, an alien ID card number, or a taxpayer identification number, before opening an account.² In practice that turns into a short checklist:

A valid, unexpired foreign passport as your primary ID.
A second ID, such as a foreign driver’s license, a consular ID card, or a debit or credit card carrying a Visa or Mastercard logo.¹
Proof of your U.S. address, usually a recent utility bill, lease, or government-issued ID showing that address. Most banks want the document dated within the last 90 days.
Proof of your permanent foreign address, including building number, street, city, and country. Not every bank asks, but many do.
A tax identification number: a Social Security number, an ITIN, or, at some banks, a foreign tax ID.

The bank uses these documents to form a reasonable belief that it knows your true identity. If it cannot, federal rules require it to deny the account.² If any of your documents are unusual (an older passport, a temporary address, a recently issued visa), bring backup: a third piece of government ID or an employer verification letter can resolve a question on the spot instead of restarting the process.

Getting an ITIN When You Don’t Have a Social Security Number

If you are not eligible for a Social Security number, apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number by filing IRS Form W-7. The ITIN is a nine-digit number the IRS issues to people who need a U.S. taxpayer ID for federal tax purposes but cannot get an SSN.³ You cannot pursue both at the same time; file Form W-7 only after the Social Security Administration has told you that you are ineligible for an SSN.⁴

The form asks for your legal name, foreign address, date of birth, and the reason you need the ITIN. Common reasons include claiming a tax treaty benefit or filing a required U.S. tax return.⁴ Processing takes about seven weeks under normal conditions, and nine to eleven weeks if you apply during tax season (January 15 through April 30) or from overseas.⁵

Start early. Some banks will open an account with a foreign tax ID while your ITIN application is pending; others will not move forward without a U.S. tax ID in hand. Ask the bank before you file anything so you know which timeline you are on.

Applying at a Branch or Through an Online Platform

Most major banks still ask non-residents to apply in person. The branch officer examines your original ID documents, keeps copies, walks you through the paperwork, and has you sign a signature card that becomes the bank’s record of your authorized signature. After you submit, the bank runs an internal compliance review. For a standard retail account, that usually takes a few business days, after which you get your account number and online banking access.

Book an appointment before you go. Branch staff who handle international accounts know which documents belong on the file, and an appointment keeps you from being turned away because the right specialist isn’t in that day.

A growing number of fintech platforms open U.S. dollar accounts for non-residents without a branch visit. Wise, for example, provides U.S. account details to both residents and non-residents after it verifies a government-issued ID, and does not require a Social Security number. SoFi lets non-permanent residents open checking and savings accounts with either an SSN or an ITIN plus a U.S. address, though it does not currently offer trust or business accounts to non-permanent residents. Fees and setup times tend to be lower than at traditional banks, but wire limits can be tighter and there is no branch to walk into when something goes wrong. If your needs are direct deposits, bill pay, and international transfers, online platforms usually work. If you want private banking, commercial lending, or FDIC coverage above the $250,000 per-depositor limit through a single institution, a traditional bank is a better fit.

Expect Questions About Where Your Money Comes From

Banks assess the risk profile of every non-resident account, and that begins with source of funds. The FFIEC’s examination manual lists source of wealth and funds as a core factor in setting the risk level of a non-resident alien account.⁶ Be ready to document the origin of your opening deposit with pay stubs, an employer letter, investment statements, or inheritance paperwork.

Minimum opening deposits vary widely. Basic checking or savings accounts at large retail banks can start at $25 to $100, while international private banking tiers can require $100,000 or more. Opening funds usually need to arrive by wire transfer or cashier’s check from a recognized financial institution. Keep your disclosures consistent with the transactions that follow: accounts can be frozen during routine compliance reviews when documentation and activity don’t match.

File a W-8BEN to Avoid 30% Withholding on Interest

Ordinary interest on deposits at a U.S. bank is generally not taxed for nonresident aliens. Federal law excludes bank deposit interest that isn’t connected to a U.S. trade or business from the income taxed at the standard 30% nonresident rate,⁷ and the IRS confirms that nonresident aliens are not taxed on deposit interest from U.S. banks, savings and loan associations, or credit unions.⁸

To claim the exemption you have to file IRS Form W-8BEN with the bank. The form establishes that you are not a U.S. person, identifies your country of residence, and is where you claim any additional treaty benefits between your country and the U.S. Without a valid W-8BEN on file, the bank may withhold 30% of your interest under the default rules for payments to foreign persons.⁹ Getting that money back means filing a U.S. tax return.

A W-8BEN stays valid from the day you sign it through the last day of the third succeeding calendar year. Sign one in March 2026 and it expires on December 31, 2029. Recertify before it lapses; banks usually send reminders, but don’t rely on that.⁹ The bank will report any U.S. source income paid to you on Form 1042-S rather than the 1099-INT that goes to U.S. residents, and will send you a copy by March 15 of the following year.¹⁰

Keeping the Account Working After You Leave

Your account does not close automatically when your visa expires or you move home. Most banks let non-residents keep accounts open indefinitely, but inactivity creates problems. State unclaimed-property laws generally treat a bank account as abandoned after three to five years without customer-initiated activity, at which point the bank turns the funds over to the state.¹¹ Reclaiming money from the state treasurer is slow, and slower still from overseas.

If you won’t need the account, close it before you leave. Some banks accept closure by phone or a signed written request that includes the full account number. Download your statements first, because digital access disappears once the account closes. If you want to keep the account, log in or make a small transaction at least once a year and keep your mailing address current so the bank can reach you before any dormancy clock starts. And keep your W-8BEN current from abroad; if it expires while the account is open and earning interest, the bank may start withholding that 30%, and you will have to file a U.S. return to recover it.⁹

1
Bank of America. Banking Essentials for Professionals in the U.S.
2
eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Programs for Banks
3
Internal Revenue Service. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
4
Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-7
5
Internal Revenue Service. How to Apply for an ITIN
6
FFIEC BSA/AML InfoBase. FFIEC BSA/AML Manual – Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Individuals
7
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 871 – Tax on Nonresident Alien Individuals
8
Internal Revenue Service. Nontaxable Types of Interest Income for Nonresident Aliens
9
Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-8BEN
10
Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026)
11
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. When Is a Deposit Account Considered Abandoned or Unclaimed?