Dollar Scholars Foundation

Banking Basics: Accounts That Work for You · Ihe 1 nke 3

Opening a Bank Account, Even Without an SSN

What to bring, which accounts to ask for, and what to do if you have been turned down before.

  • Ihe dị ka nkeji 15
  • Ajụjụ: 5
  • Ikpeazụ nyochaa: Septemba 2026
  • Emeli: Money Smart for Adults, Module 2: You Can Bank On It (Section 2: Opening an Account)

A sụgharịbeghị akụkụ nke nkuzi a n'asụsụ gị, n'ihi ya, a na-egosipụta ha n'asụsụ Bekee.

Na nkuzi a

Ihe ị ga-amụta

  • List the kinds of ID that banks and credit unions may accept, such as a passport, consular ID, or ITIN.
  • Find low-cost accounts, such as Bank On certified accounts.
  • Explain what to do if a bank turns you down because of your banking history report.
  • Prepare questions to ask before you open an account.

Kedu ka nke a si jikọọ na klaasị anyị: Our class covers what banks usually ask for and how banking history reports work. This lesson gives you a document checklist, shows you how to find low-cost Bank On accounts, and walks you through getting and disputing your ChexSystems report.

Okwu ndị ị ga-amata

ITIN
Nọmba njirimara onye na-atụ ụtụ isi. Nọmba ụtụ isi 9 sitere na IRS maka ndị chọrọ otu mana enweghị ike ịnweta nọmba Social Security.
Consular ID
Kaadị ID nke ụlọ ọrụ nnọchiteanya obodo gị ma ọ bụ consulate na-enye ụmụ amaala ya bi na mba ọzọ, dị ka ụlọ ọrụ nnọchiteanya Mexico matrícula.
Akụkọ akụkọ ihe mere eme nke ụlọ akụ (Banking history report)
Akụkọ banyere otu ị si eji akaụntụ ụlọ akụ na ụlọ ọrụ kredit n'oge gara aga. Banks na-eji ya iji kpebie ma ị ga-emeghe akaụntụ maka gị. ChexSystems bụ ụlọ ọrụ a kacha mara amara nke na-eme akụkọ ndị a.
Ọkwa na-adịghị mma (Adverse action notice)
A ọkwa ụlọ akụ ga-enye gị mgbe ọ jụrụ gị n'ihi akụkọ. Ọ na-akpọ ụlọ ọrụ mere akụkọ ahụ.
Bank On Certified Account
Akaụntụ dị ọnụ ala na ụlọ akụ ma ọ bụ ụlọ ọrụ akwụmụgwọ nke na-ezute ụkpụrụ mba nke mmemme Bank On na-abaghị uru, dị ka enweghị ụgwọ overdraft.
Akaụntụ Ohere nke Abụọ (Second chance account)
Akaụntụ maka ndị nwere nsogbu na akaụntụ akụ n'oge gara aga. O nwere ike ịnwe obere atụmatụ ma ọ bụ obere ego kwa ọnwa.

Ihe Mere Akaụntụ Gị Ji Azọpụta Gị Ego

Zute Rosa. Ọ na-ehicha ọfịs na ogbe ndịda DC ma na-enweta ego akwụkwọ kwa izu abụọ. Ọ na-akwụ ụgwọ ego ọ bụla n'ụlọ ahịa dị nso n'ụlọ ya na Columbia Heights, ụlọ ahịa ahụ na-edebekwa akụkụ nke ego ọ bụla dị ka ụgwọ. Mgbe ahụ, ọ na-azụta ego iji kwụọ ụgwọ ụlọ ya na ụgwọ ekwentị, ọ na-akwụ ụgwọ maka ego ọ bụla.

Akaụntụ ego nwere ike ịkwụsị ọtụtụ n'ime ụgwọ ndị a. Site na akaụntụ na ụlọ akụ ma ọ bụ ụlọ akụ, ị nwere ike:

  • Nweta ụgwọ gị site na nkwụnye ego kpọmkwem. Ego ahụ na-abịa n'ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ, ị na-akwụkwa ihe ọ bụla iji kwụọ ụgwọ.
  • Na-akwụ ụgwọ n'ịntanetị ma ọ bụ site na kaadị debit kama ịzụta iwu ego.
  • Mee ka ego gị dị nchebe. Enwere ike ịla n'iyi ma ọ bụ zuo ohi. A na-echebe ego n'ụlọ akụ ma ọ bụ ụlọ akụ mkpuchi ruo oke mkpuchi, ọbụlagodi ma ọ bụrụ na ụlọ akụ ma ọ bụ ụlọ ọrụ kredit dara.
  • Mepụta ndekọ na ụlọ akụ. Nke a nwere ike inyere gị aka mgbe e mesịrị ma ọ bụrụ na ịchọrọ mgbazinye ego, kaadị akwụmụgwọ, ma ọ bụ ụlọ.

Iji hụ ego ole ego nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ n'ime otu afọ, gụọ Banks, Credit Unions, Apps, na Check Cashers.

Ihe ị ga-eweta

Iwu gọọmentị etiti na-ekwu na ụlọ akụ ma ọ bụ ụlọ ọrụ akwụmụgwọ ga-anakọta aha gị, ụbọchị ọmụmụ, adreesị, na nọmba ID, ọ ga-eleba anya na onye ị bụ. Ụlọ akụ ọ bụla na-ekpebi akwụkwọ ọ na-anabata, yabụ iwu ndị ahụ abụghị otu ebe niile. Kpọọ mbụ ma jụọ.

Nọmba ID ID

  • Nọmba Nchedo Ọha (SSN) ma ọ bụrụ na ị nwere otu.
  • ITIN sitere na IRS, ma ọ bụrụ na ịnweghị ike ịnweta SSN. Weta akwụkwọ ozi IRS nke na-egosi ITIN gị.
  • Ọ bụrụ na ịnweghị, ụfọdụ ụlọ akụ na-anabata nọmba ahụ na paspọtụ gị ma ọ bụ ID gọọmentị ọzọ.

Kemgbe June 2026, ndị na-achịkwa gọọmentị etiti arịọla ụlọ akụ ka ha lebakwuo anya na ndị ahịa na-eji ITIN. Fọdụ nwere ike ịrịọ maka akwụkwọ ndị ọzọ ma ọ bụ sị mba, yabụ jụọ tupu itinye akwụkwọ.

Foto ID ID

  • Akwụkwọ ikike ịnya ụgbọ ala US ma ọ bụ kaadị ID nke steeti
  • Paspọtụ si mba ọ bụla.
  • Kaadị ID nke ụlọ ọrụ nnọchiteanya obodo gị ma ọ bụ consulate nke obodo gị.
  • Kaadị obibi na-adịgide adịgide nke United States (Green Card) ma ọ bụ akwụkwọ ikike ọrụ.

DC, Maryland, na Virginia onye ọ bụla na-enye akwụkwọ ikike ịnya ụgbọ ala ma ọ bụ kaadị ID maka ụfọdụ ndị bi na-enweghị ike igosi ọnọdụ mbata na ọpụpụ iwu kwadoro. Enweghị ike iji kaadị ndị a maka ebumnuche gọọmentị etiti, dị ka ịbanye n'ụgbọelu. Ụfọdụ ụlọ akụ na-anabata ha dị ka ID. Jụọ tupu ị gawa.

Ihe akaebe nke ngosi ebe

Ọtụtụ ụlọ akụ na-arịọkwa maka ihe akaebe nke ebe ị bi, dị ka mgbazinye, ụgwọ ịba uru, ma ọ bụ akwụkwọ ozi sitere n'ọfịs gọọmentị. Ọ bụrụ na enweghị ụgwọ n'aha gị, jụọ ihe ụlọ akụ ahụ na-anabata.

Tinye ego maka nkwụnye ego mbụ

Ụfọdụ akaụntụ chọrọ $ 25 ma ọ bụ obere iji meghee. Ndị ọzọ chọrọ karịa. Jụọ ego ole tupu ị gawa.

Look for a Bank On certified account

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. An overdraft happens when you spend more than you have in your account and the bank pays it anyway. Many banks then charge a fee each time.
  • 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.

Ọ bụrụ na ụlọ akụ na-ahapụ gị

Ọtụtụ ụlọ akụ na-elele akụkọ akụkọ ihe mere eme nke ụlọ akụ tupu ha emeghe akaụntụ. Isi ụlọ ọrụ abụọ na-eme akụkọ ndị a bụ ChexSystems na Early Warning Services. Akụkọ nwere ike igosi akaụntụ ochie nke emechiri na ego a na-akwụ ụgwọ, dị ka overdraft a na-akwụghị ụgwọ. O nwekwara ike igosi aghụghọ a na-enyo enyo.

Ọ bụrụ na ụlọ akụ jụrụ gị n'ihi akụkọ, ọ ga-enye gị ọkwa, nke a na-akpọ ọkwa na-adịghị mma, nke na-akpọ ụlọ ọrụ ahụ. Mgbe ahụ, soro usoro ndị a:

  1. Nweta akụkọ gị n'efu. Ị nwere ike ịnweta otu akụkọ n'efu kwa ọnwa 12 site na ụlọ ọrụ ọ bụla. I nwekwara ike ịnweta akụkọ n'efu n'ime ụbọchị 60 mgbe ụlọ akụ jụrụ gị. Iji ruo ChexSystems, gaa na chexsystems.com ma ọ bụ kpọọ 800-428-9623.
  2. Gụọ ahịrị ọ bụla. Chọọ akaụntụ ndị na-abụghị nke gị, ego na-ezighi ezi, na ụgwọ ị kwụrụ.
  3. Esemokwu njehie na ederede. Ziga esemokwu gị na ụlọ ọrụ akụkọ. Ziga akwụkwọ na ụlọ akụ nke nyere ozi na-ezighi ezi. Gụnye mbipụta, ọ bụghị mbụ, nke nnata ma ọ bụ akwụkwọ ozi na-egosi mmejọ ahụ. Debe otu akwụkwọ nke ihe niile ị zitere.
  4. Chere maka azịza. N'okpuru iwu gọọmentị etiti, ụlọ ọrụ ahụ n'ozuzu ya nwere ụbọchị 30 iji nyochaa, ọ ga-edozi ozi na-ezighi ezi.
  5. Ọ bụrụ na ụgwọ ahụ dị adị, kpọtụrụ ụlọ akụ ị ji ụgwọ. Jụọ ma ị nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ ma ọ bụ mee atụmatụ ịkwụ ụgwọ. Jụọ ụlọ akụ ka ọ kọọ ụgwọ ahụ mgbe ị gwụchara. Nweta nkwekọrịta ahụ na ederede.

Sample esemokwu akwụkwọ ozi

[Ụbọchị]

Chex Systems, Inc., Attn: Mmekọrịta Ndị Ahịa, PO Box 583399, Minneapolis, MN 55458

Aha m bụ [aha gị zuru ezu]. Ụbọchị ọmụmụ m bụ [ụbọchị]. Adreesị m bụ [adreesị gị]. [Tinye SSN gị ma ọ bụ ITIN ebe a ma ọ bụrụ na ị nwere otu.]

M na-arụ ụka na ihe a na akụkọ m: [aha ụlọ akụ], nọmba akaụntụ [nọmba], kọrọ na [ụbọchị]. Ozi a ezighi ezi n'ihi na [kọwaa ihe kpatara ya]. Etinyela m mbipụta nke [nnata, akwụkwọ ozi, ma ọ bụ nkwupụta]. Biko nyochaa, mezie ma ọ bụ wepu ihe a, ma zitere m otu emelitere nke akụkọ m.

Obi ụtọ [aha gị]

Ọ bụrụ na akụkọ ahụ ziri ezi.

Ị ka nwere nhọrọ. Ọtụtụ ụlọ akụ na ụlọ ọrụ kredit na-enye akaụntụ ohere nke abụọ maka ndị nwere nsogbu ndị gara aga. Akaụntụ ndị a nwere ike ịnwe obere ego kwa ọnwa ma ọ bụ atụmatụ ole na ole, mana ha na-ahapụ gị ịmalite ọzọ. Mgbe otu afọ nke iji nlezianya mee ihe, jụọ ma ị nwere ike ịkwaga na akaụntụ mgbe niile. Nsogbu ochie dịkwa obere ka oge na-aga. Ụfọdụ ụlọ ọrụ na-akọ akụkọ anaghị eji ozi karịrị afọ ise.

Ihe Nlereanya

Tụlee ọnụahịa nke akaụntụ abụọ kwa afọ.

Rosa na-atụnyere akaụntụ abụọ. Ọ na-atụ anya idobe ihe dị ka $ 400 na akaụntụ ọhụrụ ya ma gafere ya ihe dị ka ugboro abụọ n'afọ. Ụgwọ ndị a bụ ihe atụ. Ezigbo ụgwọ dịgasị iche site na ụlọ akụ.

  • Akaụntụ A: ego $ 12 kwa ọnwa ọ gwụla ma ị na-edebe ma ọ dịkarịa ala $ 1,500 na akaụntụ ahụ, yana $ 35 maka ego ọ bụla.
  • Akaụntụ B (Bank On kwadoro): ego $ 5 kwa ọnwa na enweghị ụgwọ overdraft. Ọ bụrụ na Rosa enweghị ego zuru oke, a ga-ajụ ịzụta kaadị debit ya.
Otu afọ nke ụgwọ maka Rosa (ihe atụ ụgwọ)
Ọnụ egoAkaụntụ AAkaụntụ B
Ụgwọ ọnwa 12 kwa ọnwa$ 144$ 60
Ụgwọ maka 2 overdrafts$ 70$ 0
Ngụkọta maka afọ$ 214$ 60

$ 214 - $ 60 = $ 154 echekwara n'ime otu afọ na Akaụntụ B

Akaụntụ A yiri ka ọ dị mma, mana Rosa agaghị enwe ike idobe $ 1,500 n'ime ya, yabụ ọ ga-akwụ ụgwọ ahụ kwa ọnwa. Tụnyere ụgwọ mgbe niile dabere na otu ị si eji akaụntụ gị eme ihe.

Ajụjụ ndị ị ga-ajụ tupu ị debanye aha

Weta ndepụta a. Rịọ maka ndepụta ego na ederede, ma gụọ ya n'ụlọ tupu ị kpebie.

  • Enwere ụgwọ ọnwa kwa ọnwa? Kedu ka m ga-esi zere ya?
  • Enwere nguzozi pere mpe? Kedu ihe ga - eme ma ọ bụrụ na m gaa n'okpuru ya?
  • Ego ole ka m ga-achọ iji meghee akaụntụ ahụ?
  • Ị na-akwụ ụgwọ overdraft? Ị nwere akaụntụ na-enweghị ụgwọ overdraft?
  • Ebee ka ATM gị n'efu dị? Ego ole ka ọ na-eri iji ATM ụlọ akụ ọzọ?
  • Kedu mgbe m ga-eji ego site na ego m na-edebe?
  • Enwere m ike itinye ego? Ebee?
  • Enwere ngwa mkpanaka? Enwere m ike ịnweta ozi ederede mgbe nguzozi m dị ala?
  • Ị nwere ndị ọrụ, ụdị, ma ọ bụ ngwa n'asụsụ m?
  • A na-echekwa akaụntụ a site na FDIC ma ọ bụ NCUA?

Lee anya

Ekwela ka onye ọzọ jiri akaụntụ gị mee ihe

Onye bịara abịa, enyi ọhụrụ n'ịntanetị, ma ọ bụ onye were gị n'ọrụ adịgboroja nwere ike inye gị ego iji tinye ego n'ime akaụntụ gị ma zipu akụkụ ya. Ma ọ bụ ha nwere ike ịrịọ maka kaadị debit gị na PIN, ma ọ bụ paswọọdụ ụlọ akụ gị n'ịntanetị. Kwuo mba.

Ọ bụrụ na ego ahụ bụ adịgboroja, ụlọ akụ ahụ ga-eweghachi ego ahụ na akaụntụ gị, ọtụtụ mgbe izu ole na ole gachara. Ị ga-akwụ ụgwọ ego ọ bụla ị mefuru ma ọ bụ zitere. Banklọ akụ nwere ike imechi akaụntụ gị ma kọọrọ gị ChexSystems. Nke a nwere ike ime ka o sie ike imeghe akaụntụ ebe ọ bụla ruo ọtụtụ afọ.

Ọ bụrụ na nke a emee gị, kpọọ ụlọ akụ gị ugbu a, ma kọọrọ ya na ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Mụtakwuo na nkuzi anyị banyere otu esi achọpụta aghụghọ.

Ndụmọdụ

Kpọtụrụ ụlọ ọrụ ahụ tupu ị gawa.

Ị nwere ike ịsị: "Enwere m akwụkwọ ozi ITIN na paspọtụ sitere na Guatemala. Enwere m ike imeghe akaụntụ ego na akaụntụ ndị a? You nwere akaụntụ ụlọ akụ? " Dee aha onye ị gwara okwu. Weta akwụkwọ mbụ, ọ bụghị mbipụta.

Chọrọ enyemaka n'efu? Na DC, DISB Office of Financial Empowerment and Education na-enye agụmakwụkwọ ego n'efu. Kpọọ (202) 727-8000. Na Maryland, CASH Campaign nke Maryland na-enye ọzụzụ ego n'efu.

Key takeaways

  • You do not always need a Social Security number. Many banks accept an ITIN, a passport, or a consular ID, but rules vary, so call first.
  • Bank On certified accounts have no overdraft fees, a low opening deposit, and low or no monthly fees.
  • If a bank turns you down, find out which company made the report, get your free copy, and dispute any mistakes.
  • Compare fees based on how you really use an account, and ask for the fee list in writing.
  • Never let anyone else use your account. It can cost you money and your account.

Lelee nghọta gị

Zaa ajụjụ ndị ahụ, wee họrọ Lelee azịza m. Nweta 4 nke ikike 5 iji mezue nkuzi a. Nke a bụ omume: enweghị oge ọ bụla, anyị anaghị edebe azịza gị.

Ajụjụ 1 nke 5 Rosa nwere akwụkwọ ozi ITIN na paspọtụ si Guatemala. O nweghị nọmba Social Security. Ọ chọrọ imeghe akaụntụ ego na DC. Kedu ihe ọ ga-ebu ụzọ mee?
Ajụjụ 2 nke 5 Kevin tinyere akwụkwọ maka akaụntụ ego na Silver Spring ma jụọ. Ụlọ akụ ahụ nyere ya ọkwa nke na-akpọ ChexSystems. Kedu ihe bụ nzọụkwụ ọzọ ya kacha mma?
Ajụjụ 3 nke 5 Kedu nke n'ime ndị a ga-enwerịrị akaụntụ Bank On kwadoro n'okpuru ụkpụrụ mba 2025–2026?
Ajụjụ 4 nke 5 Akaụntụ A na-akwụ ụgwọ $ 12 kwa ọnwa belụsọ na ị na-edebe $ 1,500 na ya. Rosa na-atụ anya idobe ihe dị ka $ 400 na akaụntụ ọhụrụ ya. Ego ole ka akaụntụ A ga-efu ya n'otu afọ?
Ajụjụ 5 nke 5 Otu nwoke Marco zutere n'ịntanetị na-enye ya $ 200 iji tinye ego na akaụntụ Marco ma zigara onye nọ na mba ọzọ ọtụtụ ego. Gịnị bụ ihe ize ndụ kasịnụ?

Gaa n'ihu

Ebe nrụọrụ weebụ ndị a tụkwasịrị obi ebe ị nwere ike ịmụtakwu ihe. Njikọ ndị a na-aga na weebụsaịtị ndị ọzọ nke Dollar Scholars anaghị agba ọsọ.

Ihe mmụta a bụ agụmakwụkwọ ego izugbe, ọ bụghị iwu, ụtụ isi, ma ọ bụ ndụmọdụ ego. Iwu na ego na-agbanwe, yabụ lelee nọmba dị mkpa na isi mmalite gọọmentị.