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Meet Rosa. She cleans offices in downtown DC and gets a paper paycheck every two weeks. She cashes each check at a store near her apartment in Columbia Heights, and the store keeps part of every check as a fee. Then she buys money orders to pay her rent and phone bill, and she pays a fee for each money order.

A checking account can end most of these costs. With an account at a bank or credit union, you can:

• Get your pay by direct deposit. The money arrives on payday, and you pay nothing to cash a check.
• Pay bills online or with a debit card instead of buying money orders.
• Keep your money safer. Cash at home can be lost or stolen. Money in an insured bank or credit union is protected up to the insurance limit, even if the bank or credit union fails.
• Build a record with a bank. This can help later when you want a loan, a credit card, or a home.

To see how much check cashing can cost in one year, read Banks, Credit Unions, Apps, and Check Cashers.

Federal rules say a bank or credit union must collect your name, date of birth, address, and an ID number, and it must check who you are. Each bank decides which documents it accepts, so the rules are not the same everywhere. Call first and ask.

An ID number

• A Social Security number (SSN), if you have one.
• An ITIN from the IRS, if you cannot get an SSN. Bring the IRS letter that shows your ITIN.
• If you have neither, some banks accept the number on your passport or another government ID.

Since June 2026, federal regulators have asked banks to look more closely at customers who use an ITIN. Some may ask for more documents or say no, so ask before you apply.

A photo ID

• A U.S. driver's license or state ID card
• A passport from any country
• A consular ID card from your country's embassy or consulate
• A U.S. permanent resident card (green card) or work permit

DC, Maryland, and Virginia each offer a driver's license or ID card for some residents who cannot show lawful immigration status. These cards cannot be used for federal purposes, such as boarding a plane. Some banks accept them as ID. Ask before you go.

Proof of address

Many banks also ask for proof of where you live, such as a lease, a utility bill, or a letter from a government office. If no bills are in your name, ask what else the bank accepts.

Money for the first deposit

Some accounts need $25 or less to open. Others need more. Ask how much before you go.

Bank On is a national program run by a nonprofit, the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. It certifies low-cost accounts at banks and credit unions. Under the Bank On National Account Standards for 2025–2026, a certified account must have:

• An opening deposit of $25 or less
• A monthly fee of $5 or less, or up to $10 if there are at least two easy ways to avoid it, such as direct deposit
• No overdraft fees and no fees for payments returned because there was not enough money
• No fees for a low balance or for not using the account
• A free debit card, free direct deposit, and free cash and check deposits

The standards also strongly encourage banks to accept an ITIN and IDs such as a consular ID, and to turn people down only for past fraud, not for old overdrafts. Not every certified account does this, so ask. Since June 2026, federal regulators have asked banks to look more closely at customers who use an ITIN.

Search for certified accounts by state at joinbankon.org. In DC, the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) runs Bank On DC with local banks and nonprofits. Visit bankondc.org or call (202) 727-8000. In Maryland, the nonprofit CASH Campaign of Maryland leads Bank On Maryland.

Most banks look at a banking history report before they open an account. The two main companies that make these reports are ChexSystems and Early Warning Services. A report may show an old account that was closed with money owed, such as an unpaid overdraft. It may also show suspected fraud.

If a bank turns you down because of a report, it must give you a notice, called an adverse action notice, that names the company. Then follow these steps:

1. Get your free report. You can get one free report every 12 months from each company. You can also get a free report within 60 days after a bank turns you down. To reach ChexSystems, go to chexsystems.com or call 800-428-9623.
2. Read every line. Look for accounts that are not yours, wrong amounts, and debts you already paid.
3. Dispute mistakes in writing. Send your dispute to the report company. Also send a copy to the bank that gave the wrong information. Include copies, not originals, of receipts or letters that prove the mistake. Keep a copy of everything you send.
4. Wait for the answer. Under federal law, the company generally has 30 days to investigate, and it must correct information that is wrong.
5. If the debt is real, contact the bank you owe. Ask if you can pay it or make a payment plan. Ask the bank to report the debt as paid when you finish. Get the agreement in writing.

Sample dispute letter

[Date]

Chex Systems, Inc., Attn: Consumer Relations, P.O. Box 583399, Minneapolis, MN 55458

My name is [your full name]. My date of birth is [date]. My address is [your address]. [Add your SSN or ITIN here if you have one.]

I am disputing this item on my report: [bank name], account number [number], reported on [date]. This information is wrong because [explain why]. I have included copies of [receipts, letters, or statements]. Please investigate, correct or remove this item, and send me an updated copy of my report.

Sincerely, [your name]

If the report is correct

You still have options. Many banks and credit unions offer second chance accounts for people with past problems. These accounts may have a small monthly fee or fewer features, but they let you start again. After a year of careful use, ask whether you can move to a regular account. Old problems also matter less over time. Some report companies do not use information that is more than five years old.

Bring this list with you. Ask for the fee list in writing, and read it at home before you decide.

• Is there a monthly fee? How can I avoid it?
• Is there a minimum balance? What happens if I go below it?
• How much money do I need to open the account?
• Do you charge overdraft fees? Do you have an account with no overdraft fees?
• Where are your free ATMs? What does it cost to use another bank's ATM?
• When can I use money from a check I deposit?
• Can I deposit cash? Where?
• Is there a mobile app? Can I get a text alert when my balance is low?
• Do you have staff, forms, or an app in my language?
• Is this account insured by the FDIC or the NCUA?