How do international students open bank accounts in the United States?

One of the things you need to care about when studying in the United States is financial management. Every international student should open a bank student account to manage his own funds. How can I open an account? Interested friends come and find out.

1. Choose a bank

There are many banks in the United States, so the best way to narrow it down is to see what services different banks provide for students. Many banks charge a monthly fee or service fee, but some are free of charge.

Another thing that needs careful investigation is which ATMs (cash machines) are located near your university campus. If you use the ATM of another bank to withdraw money from the bank of your account, you may be charged a handling fee. The ATM bank in your campus may be related to your university.

I suggest you open a bank account in a national bank such as Bank of America or Chase instead of a state bank. In this way, if you are an international student or an out-of-state student, you can use ATMs all over the country. However, if you stay in the state to go to college, it is necessary to keep in touch with the local bank, especially if you already have an account there.

Some banks also charge for paper statements, so when applying for an account, please be sure to know whether there is such a charge.

2. Choose an account

There are two different types of bank accounts in the United States: current accounts and savings accounts.

current account: a current account allows you to deposit and withdraw money at any time. Generally speaking, when you open a current account, you will receive a checkbook and a debit card. Most international students only need to open a current account to pay for their living expenses during their study in the United States.

savings account: a savings account is a place to save money for a long time. Some students may consider opening a savings account if they are working or want to save money for a trip or just in case.

most banks have current accounts for students, such as the current account of Datong University and the current account of Santander's student value.

3. Research on bank accounts

There are hundreds of banks in the United States, so it is necessary to study the most suitable account. You can learn about the major banks through many channels and see what services they provide for students.

There are also state-specific banks, such as the Bank of California, so it is also very important to study what the state bank where your university is located offers. There are also some online banks that provide many student bank accounts, such as? Ally， Simple and Chime。

4. How to open a bank account

Although you can open a bank account by phone or online, if you are an international student, it may be easier to open a bank account in person under any uncertainty. When you go to the bank to open an account, You need to submit the following materials:

1. Your full name, home address, home phone number, campus phone number and university address

2. Your passport

3.I-2 (non-immigrant student qualification certificate) or I-797 approval notice

4. Any form of secondary identification (such as your student ID card, birth certificate, Driver's license or letter from the office of international students and scholars in your university)

5. Your letter of admission to the university

6. The amount to be deposited in the account (which will vary from bank to bank)

The requirements of these materials may be slightly different from bank to bank, so be sure to confirm the requirements of the bank before opening an account.