Hello, this is Take!
This time, I would like to introduce how to open a bank account in the United States.
Some people may think that opening a bank account is difficult, but it is surprisingly easy.
If you are going to study abroad for a year or longer, or if you are a TA or GA in a university, you will need an account to receive your salary, so please try to open an account.
Step 1: Get the US phone number needed to open an account
I think there are few people who open an account in the US who do not have a local phone number, so this is not a problem. However, please make sure you get a phone number before opening an account.
Please read the following article about mobile SIM cards in the U.S. as well.
Step 2: Go to the bank with the required documents and open an account
The picture above is of a bank called REGIONS where I opened an account in Oxford, Mississippi. As for banks, anywhere near your house, university, or office is fine.
Information required to open an account
★ U.S. Phone Number
★ Passport
★ A small amount of dollars to make an initial deposit ($50 should be enough!)
★ I-20 (students should bring one just in case)
You will be given a form for opening an account, where you will fill in the following information in English. Fill in the form based on your passport and I-20 information.
What to fill out on the form
- Name
- Address in the U.S.
- Address in your country
- Parents' names (if under 21 years old)
- PIN (4-digit password)
- Phone number in the U.S.
- E-mail address
*The following information is also required to be able to view online deposits, view the balance, etc.
- Username
- Password
- 3 secret questions (What was the name of your first pet? What was your dream as a child? etc.)
If everything goes without a problem, it will take about 30 minutes to open an account and issue a deposit card. It will take a few days for you to receive your ATM or debit card in the mail.
When I accompanied my friend to open an account, it took only about 30 minutes. I think it is because the bank is located near the university and they are used to dealing with international students.
If you are worried, it would be better to bring one of your English-speaking friends with you. When I opened my own bank account, I had a senior at the University of Mississippi take me to open it.
Step 3: Transfer money to the opened account
Once the bank account is opened, you will be able to transfer money from your account in your country to the newly opened account.
＜Summary of opening a bank account in the U.S.＞
Opening a bank account takes about 30 minutes and is not difficult
As a reminder, there is a maintenance fee for the account. Therefore, it is not necessary to open a bank account if you do not use it.
※Please check the conditions carefully, as some banks have conditions such as "no maintenance fee if you use your card more than 10 times a month," "no maintenance fee if you deposit $1,000," "no maintenance fee if you are a student under 25 years old," etc.
If you are studying in the U.S. for a short period of time, it is cheaper to pay with a credit card brought from Japan (personal opinion).
If you are going to study in the U.S. for a long period of time, or if you are going to work on campus, we recommend that you open a bank account!
This concludes the explanation of how to open a bank account in the US. Thank you for reading this article.
And be sure to read our other articles on studying abroad! See you in the next article.
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