Open a U.S. bank account: documents, profiles, fees and official steps
A practical guide for employees, nonresidents and founders preparing a U.S. banking file while separating official rules, internal bank policies and indicative comparisons.
14 chapters2 PDFsFDICITIN / EIN
CIPcustomer ID
FDICcheck coverage
ITINpossible alternative
EINbusiness account
Framework
1. Official rules governing account opening
A U.S. bank must identify its customer before opening an account. The Customer Identification Program, linked to the USA PATRIOT Act and KYC obligations, requires collection and verification of information such as name, date of birth, address and identification number when applicable. U.S. citizenship is not always required, but identity, address, status and the economic relationship must be supportable.
FDIC insurance protects eligible deposits at insured banks within legal limits. Before opening, verify the institution through FDIC BankFind, read the Fee Schedule and keep account documents. A bank may still decline an application when its internal risk and compliance policy is stricter than the legal minimum.
File
2. Documents to prepare before starting
Prepare at least a passport, a U.S. address if available, an SSN or ITIN depending on status, proof of lawful presence if needed and an initial deposit method. An employee may add an employer letter, offer letter or first pay stub. A permanent resident may provide a Green Card, SSN and proof of address.
A founder usually needs an EIN, Articles of Organization for an LLC or Articles of Incorporation for a corporation, an operating agreement, a banking resolution and beneficial owner identity. Exact requirements depend on the bank, branch, account type, industry and compliance review.
Passport, ITIN if available, U.S. or foreign address, visa/I-94 when relevant
Often required in branch
1 day to several weeks
Address, no SSN, variable policies
Founder
EIN, formation documents, operating agreement, owner IDs
Common for traditional banks
Days to weeks
Beneficial owners, sector, nonresidence
Cases
4. Concrete complete file examples
Resident
Documents: passport or license, SSN, proof of address, deposit. Process: online or branch application. Difficulty: easy. Timing: same day to 3 days.
Nonresident
Documents: passport, address, ITIN if available, visa/I-94 when relevant. Process: branch appointment and enhanced review. Difficulty: moderate. Timing: 1 to 15 days.
U.S. founder
Documents: EIN, formation documents, operating agreement, ID. Process: business account, deposit, cards and access. Difficulty: moderate. Timing: 2 to 10 days.
Non-U.S. founder
Documents: EIN, company records, passport, address, beneficial owners. Process: specialized bank or branch. Difficulty: complex. Timing: 1 to 4 weeks.
Choice
5. Traditional bank vs online bank
A traditional bank offers branches, human assistance and sometimes more flexibility for a nonresident presenting a passport, address and ITIN. It may also impose monthly fees, minimum balances and in-person appointments.
An online bank or specialized platform may reduce fees and support remote opening, especially for a nonresident founder. The tradeoff is stricter identity checks, excluded sectors and limited cash or check services. Indicative comparison, verify FDIC coverage and each institution's Fee Schedule.
Checklist
6. Checklist PDF: full procedure
Download the practical checklist for three profiles: resident, nonresident and founder.
An employee on a work visa or Green Card usually opens a checking account for payroll and a savings account for reserves. Direct deposit requires a routing number and account number. The SSN is usually requested, with address proof and sometimes an employer letter or pay stub.
Prepare identity, SSN, address and status.
Compare monthly, overdraft and ATM fees.
Open checking and activate direct deposit.
Verify card, mobile app and fraud alerts.
Business
8. Procedure for a founder (LLC / Corporation)
A business account usually requires an EIN from the IRS, formation documents, operating agreement or bylaws, a banking resolution and identification of managers and beneficial owners. Large banks often require physical presence for nonresidents.
Specialized platforms such as Mercury, Airwallex or Payoneer may support remote opening depending on country, sector and documents. This remains subject to compliance, excluded activities and contractual limits.
Watch points
9. Fees, risks and vigilance points
Fees
Risks
Watch points
Monthly maintenance, minimum balance, overdraft, out-of-network ATM, international wire
Identity theft, frozen account, impersonation fraud, compliance hold
Reliability note: indicative comparison based on public 2025-2026 information. These details come from specialized third-party sources, not official bank sites. Internal policies vary by branch and change often. Contact the institution and revalidate the official Fee Schedule before opening.
