Bank Accounts: Citizenship Requirements

Awhile ago some readers began requesting us adding a section to our bank account bonus posts stating whether being a U.S. citizen was required for account opening or not. I said I was happy to start creating a resource page, if people would tell me what accounts did/didn’t have this requirement. This is that resource page, please contribute your own data points to make this page more useful. If you like this post you might also be interested in our post on applying for credit cards with an ITIN. We also have a post on banks/credit unions that will allow you to apply for a bank account without a SSN.

If possible try to break it down into the follow:

1. Citizen
2. Green card Holder (PR, LPR)
3. Resident Alien with SSN (excluding GC)
4. Resident Alien without SSN
5. Non-resident Alien (already covered by this post)

It’s also useful to note if you opened in branch or online.

Alliant

• Citizenship not required: 1 (in branch)

Ally Bank

• U.S. Citizenship Required: 1,
• Doesn’t require citizenship: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
• Opened as permanent resident: 1,

Bank of America

• Citizenship not required: 1 (in branch)

BB&T

• Citizenship not required: 1 (must apply in branch), 2 (worked online)

Capital One

• Must be a U.S. person for tax purposes: 1,

Chase

• Doesn’t require citizenship: 1, 2, 3, 4 (in branch)

CIBC

• Doesn’t require citizenship, but additional background check will be done: 1,

CIT Bank

• Must be U.S. Citizen or greencard holder: 1,

Citi bank

• Must be U.S. Person to apply online: 1,
• In branch available to everybody: 1,

Citizens Bank

• Must be U.S. Citizen: 1, 2,
• Must be U.S. person: 1,

Discover

• Opened as permanent resident: 1,

Huntington Bank

• Must be U.S. Citizen: 1,
• In branch U.S. Citizen not required: 1,

Iberiabank

• Must be U.S. Citizen: 1,

PNC

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to open online, can open in branch without.

Salem Five

• Must be U.S. Citizen or permanent resident alien when opening online: 1,

Simple Bank

• Must be U.S. Citizen: 1,

S&T Bank

• Rejected with green card only: 1,

Swell Investing

• Must be U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident: 1, 2 (not required)

Tastyworks

• Allows Green card holders (though these may require addition verifications)

U.S. Bank

• Citizenship not required: 1 (in branch)

Wells Fargo

• Citizenship not required: 1,
• Must be U.S. person: 1,
• Opened as permanent resident: 1,

Valley National Bank

• US Citizen or US Permanent Resident only: 1,