USA Banking
HOW TO OPEN A CHECKING OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT IN USA?
Most students open Checking account.
You must meet the following eligibility requirements to open an account:
You have a physical U.S. address
You are not a U.S. citizen
You are not a permanent resident of the U.S.*
*Permanent resident: Green card (or permanent resident card) holders who are authorized to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis
Following are the required documents you’ll need to bring to the Bank of America financial center in order to open your bank account. You’ll need to provide **both **a foreign and U.S. address, as well as two forms of ID and a tax identification number.
- Proof of home or permanent residence address This must include building name or number and street name, city or town, state or province, country.
U.S. physical address Only one of the following documents is needed:
Government-issued ID with photo
Student ID with address and photo
Current utility bill with your name and address
Other (rental agreement, etc.)
You will need two forms of identification – a primary ID and a secondary ID.
Primary ID Only one of the following documents is needed:
Foreign passport with or without passport visa (with photo)
U.S. Non Immigrant Visa and Border Crossing Card-DSP-150 (with photo)
Mexican, Guatemalan, Dominican, Colombian Consular ID (with photo)
Canadian Citizenship Certificate Card (with photo)
Secondary ID Only one of the following documents is needed:
Foreign driver's license with photo or U.S. driver's license
U.S. student ID validated for current term or school year (with photo)
Debit or major credit card with Visa® or Mastercard® logo
Major retail credit card from a nationally well-known company
U.S. Department of State Diplomat ID
Mexican Voter Registration Card (with photo)
Foreign Tax Identification Number (FTIN) An FTIN issued by a country other than the U.S. A U.S. TIN/ITIN is not required unless you’ve been issued one.
https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/international-student-bank-account
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In USA there are two types of banks in USA. National Banks (Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo) and Regional banks.
Regional banks in Lynchburg:
Are national or regional banks better?
If you value personalized service, community involvement, and local decision-making, a regional or community bank may be the better choice for you. However, if you prioritize convenience, extensive branch networks, and access to a wide range of financial products and services, a national bank may be more suitable.