The short version
- Yes, a foreigner can open a US bank account. US rules let a bank take a passport number in place of a US tax number.
- The big banks we read ask for two IDs and an address. A US address often matters.
- Bank of America asks non-US citizens to book a visit to a branch. Wells Fargo's online form needs a US tax number and a US address.
- Money at an FDIC-insured bank is covered up to USD 250,000, whatever your citizenship.
Can a foreigner open a bank account in the US?
Yes. The US rule that tells banks how to check who you are has a separate list for people who are not US persons, and a passport is on it.
Under 31 CFR 1020.220, a bank must get four things before it opens an account: your name, your date of birth, an address and an ID number. For a non-US person, the ID number can be any one of these:
- A US taxpayer number. For example, an ITIN from the IRS.
- A passport number. With the country that issued it.
- An alien ID card number. Like the number on a green card.
- Another government ID. One that shows your nationality or residence and has a photo.
The rule sets the minimum. Each bank writes its own list on top, so the same passport can be enough at one bank and not at the next.
What documents do US banks ask foreigners for?
Two forms of ID and an address, at the three big banks we read on 18 October 2026. The details differ:
| Bank | ID | Address | How to open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America | Two unexpired IDs, like a foreign passport | A foreign home address and a US mailing address | Book a branch visit |
| Chase | A main ID, like a passport, plus a second ID | One of the two IDs must show a US address | Bring originals to a branch |
| Wells Fargo | A main ID, like a passport, plus a second ID | Proof of where you live | Online needs a US tax number |
The address rules matter most if you live abroad. Chase's ID list says that for non-US citizens without a green card, the main or second ID must contain a US address. Bank of America asks a non-resident for both a foreign home address and a US mailing address.
Sanctions add a step. Chase says extra ID may be needed for customers from countries under US sanctions, and Bank of America asks citizens of those countries for proof of lawful US residence.
Do you need a Social Security number to open a US bank account?
Not always. Bank of America says it does not require a Social Security number (SSN) to open an account, and asks for two forms of ID instead.
Wells Fargo lists an SSN or an ITIN for its accounts. Its branch rules add that a non-US citizen without a US tax number must bring a government ID that shows nationality or residence.
An ITIN is not a bank ID. The IRS says you need one if you have a federal tax purpose and cannot get an SSN, and that it is issued for federal tax purposes only. You apply with Form W-7. The federal rule also lets a bank open an account for someone who has applied for a tax number but not received it yet, if the bank's own rules allow it.
Can you open a US bank account online from abroad?
Not easily at the big banks we read. Their online forms and ID lists are built around a US address.
- Wells Fargo. To open online you must be 18 or older, know your SSN or ITIN, have a physical US address and have your own mobile number.
- Bank of America. Its page for non-US citizens ends with one step: set an appointment at a branch and bring your papers.
- Chase. Its ID list is a checklist for the branch. It asks for original documents, not copies or screenshots, and recommends a US address and phone number.
So for many people, the first step is a trip. One simple setup is to book the branch visit for a time you are already in the US, with both IDs and your address papers in hand.
If what you really need is to get paid in dollars, a multi-currency account is a different tool. Wise's UK page says you can get paid with local IBANs, routing numbers and more, and that Wise is authorised by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011. Compare it with Revolut in Wise vs Revolut, side by side.
What is Form W-8BEN, and why does the bank ask for it?
It is an IRS form that shows a bank or other payer you are not a US person. The IRS instructions list "establish that you are not a U.S. person" as one of its uses.
- Who gets it. You give it to the bank or payer that asks for it. You do not send it to the IRS.
- How long it lasts. Generally until the last day of the third calendar year after the year you sign it.
- When it changes. If your details change and the form is no longer right, the IRS says to tell the bank within 30 days.
US citizens do not use this form, even if they live abroad. The IRS instructions send them to Form W-9 instead. The IRS says US citizens are taxed on their worldwide income wherever they live, and where the bank account sits does not change that.
Is your money protected in a US bank if you are not American?
Yes, at an FDIC-insured bank. The FDIC says a person does not have to be a US citizen or resident to have their deposits insured.
The standard cover is USD 250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. Money in two branches of the same bank counts as one bank. Money in two separate banks is covered separately.
What comes after a US bank account?
A setup that works from anywhere. One simple setup is three accounts with three jobs, which we explain in the bank accounts that work abroad. If you are not earning online yet, start with how to earn money online before you move.