To open a checking account you need a current government-issued photo ID, your Social Security number or ITIN, your date of birth, a residential address, and contact information. Many banks also ask for proof of address and a small opening deposit, usually between $25 and $100. That’s the short answer to what you need to open a checking account; the rest of this guide covers the details, the alternatives if you’re missing a standard document, and what to do if the bank’s background check turns up a problem.
The Four Pieces of Personal Information Required by Law
Every bank in the United States has to collect the same four identifiers before opening your account. This comes from the Customer Identification Program rule created under the USA PATRIOT Act, and it applies to every bank and credit union whether you walk into a branch or apply from your couch.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks The four are:
- Your full legal name
- Your date of birth
- A residential or business street address
- An identification number, which for most U.S. applicants is a Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)2Internal Revenue Service. Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN)
Beyond those four, every bank will also ask for a phone number and email address so they can send fraud alerts, statements, and notifications. These aren’t federally mandated the way the four core identifiers are, but no application skips them.
One practical note: enter your name and address exactly as they appear on your ID. A middle initial on your license paired with a full middle name on the application form is enough to flag the file for manual review. If you can’t recall your Social Security number, pull it off a prior tax return or your original Social Security card before you start the application.
Photo ID That Banks Accept
The federal rule doesn’t publish a rigid list of approved documents. It requires “unexpired government-issued identification evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard.”1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks In practice, these are the documents banks accept:
- A current driver’s license — the most commonly used form
- A state-issued ID card, which works the same way for identification purposes even though it doesn’t authorize you to drive
- A U.S. passport or passport card, which also confirms citizenship
- A military ID with a photo, active-duty or veteran
The ID has to be unexpired. If yours has lapsed, renew it before you apply. For an online application, you’ll upload photos of the front and back of your card. Make sure the full page is visible and the text is legible, because blurry uploads are the single most common reason applications get stuck.
Banks are also allowed to verify your identity through non-documentary methods, meaning they cross-reference what you’ve typed against consumer reporting agencies, public databases, or other financial institutions.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks This is how most online-only banks approve accounts in minutes without ever seeing your card in person.
Proof of Address
The address you give the bank has to be a residential or business street address. A P.O. Box alone won’t satisfy the rule for most applicants. There are two carved-out exceptions: military personnel can use APO/FPO addresses, and people without a fixed address can provide the address of a next-of-kin or contact person.3Federal Register. Customer Identification Programs for Banks, Savings Associations, Credit Unions and Certain Non-Federally Regulated Banks
Many banks ask for a document that confirms you actually live at the address you entered. Any one of these usually works:
- A utility bill (electric, gas, water, or internet), typically dated within the last 60 to 90 days
- A signed residential lease showing your name and the property address
- A recent mortgage statement
- A statement from another bank or credit card mailed to your address
If you’ve gone paperless, print or download a PDF from your online account. The document just needs to show your name and the matching address.
Money to Fund the Account
Many traditional banks require a minimum opening deposit, usually between $25 and $100 for a standard checking account.4Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Deposit Products You can fund the account with cash at a branch, a transfer from an existing bank account using a routing and account number, or a debit card from another institution during online setup. Several online banks have dropped the opening deposit requirement entirely, so if $25 is a stretch, that’s where to look.
The cost worth paying more attention to is the monthly maintenance fee, which averages close to $14 at traditional banks. Most institutions waive it if you set up direct deposit or keep a minimum daily balance, often around $500 to $1,500 depending on the account. If you can’t reliably meet those conditions every month, choose an account with no monthly fee from the start rather than counting on the waiver.
Ask about overdraft fees before you open the account. The average is roughly $27 per transaction, though many banks have reduced or eliminated them. At banks and credit unions with more than $10 billion in assets, a federal rule caps overdraft fees at $5 beginning October 1, 2025.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. CFPB Closes Overdraft Loophole to Save Americans Billions in Fees
If You Don’t Have a Social Security Number
You don’t need a Social Security number to open a checking account. The CIP rule lets non-U.S. persons provide any one of the following in its place: a taxpayer identification number (including an ITIN), a passport number with country of issuance, an alien identification card number, or the number from any other government-issued document showing nationality or residence and including a photograph.1eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks
A foreign passport satisfies the photo ID requirement, and the passport number itself can serve as the identification number. Many large banks accept an ITIN in place of an SSN. Some also accept a Matrícula Consular card or other consulate-issued ID as supporting documentation, though acceptance varies by institution. If one bank won’t work with your documents, try another; the regulation gives banks flexibility, and some interpret it more generously than others. The usual sticking point for non-citizens is proof of a U.S. address, so have one of the documents listed above ready.
If You’re Under 18
Most banks require you to be at least 18 to open a checking account on your own, because that’s the age at which you can legally sign a contract in most states. Minors can still have checking accounts, but a parent or legal guardian has to be a joint owner.
The parent provides their own ID and personal information alongside the minor’s, and both appear on the account. Some banks offer dedicated youth or teen accounts with parental controls like spending limits, restricted transfers, and real-time card alerts. A few institutions let minors as young as 16 own certain account types outright, though this varies.
If you’re a parent setting this up, bring your own ID and your child’s ID (a school ID or birth certificate usually works as a supporting document alongside your primary ID), plus both Social Security numbers.
The Banking History Check and What Happens If You’re Denied
Before finalizing your account, most banks run a screening through a specialty consumer reporting agency, usually ChexSystems or Early Warning Services. These databases track unpaid overdrafts, bounced checks, and accounts closed for fraud at other institutions. This is a separate check from your credit score; you can have excellent credit and still get flagged if you left an old checking account in the red.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you’re entitled to one free ChexSystems report every 12 months.6Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Chex Systems, Inc. If you’ve had banking problems before, pull your report before you apply so you know what the bank will see. You can request it through the ChexSystems website, by phone at 800-428-9623, or by mail.
If the bank denies your application, you have options. Dispute any inaccurate information with ChexSystems directly; they have 30 days to investigate.7ChexSystems. Dispute If you owe money to a former bank, paying or settling the debt and getting written confirmation helps, and you can submit that documentation with your dispute. Negative records generally stay on file for five years, but a paid-in-full notation carries more weight than an unresolved balance.
Many banks and credit unions also offer second-chance checking accounts designed for people with a troubled banking history. Fees may be slightly higher and some accounts limit check-writing, but you still get a debit card, direct deposit, mobile banking, and bill pay. After about 12 months of responsible use, many institutions let you move up to a standard account. Some prepaid debit card accounts and fintech platforms skip ChexSystems screening altogether; they aren’t technically checking accounts, but they handle direct deposit, bill pay, and card purchases.