Professionals
International students
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Professionals
International students
En español

Banking essentials for international students in the U.S.

Your road to financial independence in the U.S. begins here. We’re here to make your journey easier with the vital information, resources and support you need to get started banking.

Get started in three easy steps

Here are the eligibility requirements, required documents and actions you need to take to open your bank account.

1. Check your eligibility

You must meet the following eligibility requirements:

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.

3. Schedule an appointment

Set an appointment to meet with an associate at a financial center. Please bring all the required identification and documents shown above to your appointment. We look forward to welcoming you to Bank of America.

Schedule now >

Questions? We’ve got answers.

Find answers to your questions about banking in the U.S., managing your money and more.

Can international students open a bank account in the U.S.?

Yes, international students can open a bank account in the U.S. When you open a bank account at Bank of America, you’ll need to provide two forms of identification, a tax identification number and documents that show proof of both a foreign and U.S. address.

What do international students need to open a bank account in the U.S.?

When opening a bank account at Bank of America, you’ll need to provide the following:

Two forms of identification. See detailed list in step 2 above.
A tax identification number
Documents that show proof of both a foreign and U.S. address

Can an international student open a bank account in the U.S. without a parent?

Yes, international students can open a checking, savings or other deposit account without a parent being present. However, the student must be at least 18 years old and the process of opening a bank account may vary depending on the bank and the state.

How do I receive/send money locally or from abroad?

You can send international and domestic wire transfers using our Mobile Banking^footnote1 app and Online Banking. You can send money in 140+ currencies to over 200 countries and there is no outbound wire transfer fee if it is sent in foreign currency.^footnote2 You can also use Zelle^®footnote3, which allows you to send and receive money to friends and family wherever they bank in the U.S.

What is the advantage of having a U.S. bank account?

Having domestic bank accounts up and running can make for a smoother adjustment to university. As an international student, having U.S. checking, savings and credit card accounts can help you eliminate foreign transaction fees and gain convenient ways to pay for books, food, rent and other essentials. You’ll also be on your way to building a credit history, which may make it easier to borrow money in the future.

With a Bank of America Advantage Banking account, you’ll get peace of mind with our $0 Liability Guarantee.^footnote4 You can also deposit checks from almost anywhere with the Bank of America Mobile Banking app on your smartphone or tablet.^footnote5 Plus, you’ll be able to earn cash back with BankAmeriDeals^®footnote6 at select restaurants and stores, when you pay with your eligible Bank of America debit or credit card.

Bank of America has many financial centers and ATMs conveniently located throughout the U.S. You can find one near you by using our locator page below:

English link: https://locators.bankofamerica.com

Spanish link: https://es-locators.bankofamerica.com

Make your appointment today

Ready to open your Bank of America Advantage Banking account? Meet with a specialist at one of our many financial centers. Simply pick a time and location that’s convenient for you.

Schedule an appointment

Ready to help you in your language

Whether or not you speak English proficiently, Bank of America is ready to provide advice and guidance to meet your financial needs. We have language interpretation services that allow us to assist you in over 206 languages. Simply visit your nearest financial center and request interpretation services for the language you’re most comfortable speaking. It’s part of our commitment to help you build a strong financial foundation.

Build your U.S. banking know-how with Better Money Habits®

Explore these educational articles, videos and resources to navigate banking in the U.S. and achieve your best financial life here in the States.

Learn more with Better Money Habits

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¹ Mobile Banking requires that you download the Mobile Banking app and is only available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply.

² Fees apply to wires and certain transfers. For international wire transfers, markups are included in Bank of America exchange rates. Exchange rates are determined by Bank of America in its sole discretion. Other financial institutions involved may also charge fees and deduct their fees from the amount of the wire transfer. See the Online Banking Service Agreement for details. Data connection required. Carrier fees may apply.

³ Zelle® should only be used to send money to friends, family or others you trust. We recommend that you do not use Zelle® to send money to those you do not know. Transfers require enrollment in the service with a U.S. checking or savings account and must be made from an eligible Bank of America consumer or business deposit account. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes and transactions between enrolled consumers do not typically incur transaction fees from Bank of America. We will send you an email alert with transaction details after you send money using Zelle®. Dollar and frequency limits apply. See the Online Banking Service Agreement at bankofamerica.com/serviceagreement for further details. Data connection required. Message and data rates may apply. Neither Bank of America nor Zelle® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle®. Please treat Zelle® payments like cash, once you send the money, you are unlikely to get it back – for example, you do not receive the item you paid for using Zelle® or the item received is not as described. Regular account fees apply.

Zelle and the Zelle related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.

⁴ Notify us within a reasonable time of the unauthorized use or the loss or theft of your card, card number, or PIN. Certain restrictions apply. Consult your account documents for details.

⁵ Mobile check deposits are subject to verification and not available for immediate withdrawal. Other restrictions apply. In the Mobile Banking app menu, select Menu > Help > Browse More Topics > Mobile Check Deposit for details and other terms and conditions. Message and data rates may apply.

⁶ You must be enrolled in Online Banking or Mobile Banking to participate in the BankAmeriDeals® program and have either an eligible Bank of America® debit or credit card or Merrill credit card. Earned cash back will be credited into an eligible consumer deposit or credit account within 30 days following redemption. Data connection required. Wireless carrier fees may apply.

Better Money Habits, Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of the Bank of America Corporation.

Deposit products and services are provided by Bank of America, N.A. and affiliated banks. Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation.

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