Most US banks will not open an account for you on a tourist visa

The short answer is that standard checking and savings accounts are difficult to get as a tourist. Most banks require a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), and they verify your identity against US tax records. A tourist visa does not give you either one, and banks treat this as a dealbreaker rather than a hurdle to work around.

Some banks have made exceptions for people on work visas (H-1B, L-1) or student visas (F-1), because those visa categories come with tax identification numbers. But for B-1/B-2 tourist visas, the answer from most major banks is no. A few smaller banks and credit unions have opened accounts for tourists, but they are the exception, and the process varies widely by location and by the specific bank's policy on that day.

If you need to move money into the US or pay bills while you are here, there are other routes that actually work. Understanding which one fits your situation saves you from wasting time at a bank branch.

Key Takeaways

  • Major US banks require a Social Security Number or ITIN, which tourists do not have, making standard accounts nearly impossible to open.
  • Some credit unions and smaller regional banks have opened accounts for tourists, but policies vary by location and are not may provide.
  • International money transfer services, prepaid cards, and digital wallets can move money into the US and let you spend it without a bank account.
  • If you are staying longer than a few weeks, opening an account at your home country's bank with a US branch may be faster than trying to open a new US account.

Why banks reject tourists: the SSN requirement

The Social Security Number is how US banks verify your identity and report your account activity to the IRS. It is not optional—it is built into their account-opening system. When you sit down at a Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, or Citibank branch with a passport and a tourist visa, the system will not let the banker open an account without an SSN or ITIN.

You cannot get an SSN on a tourist visa. The Social Security Administration issues SSNs only to people authorized to work in the US, which a B-1/B-2 tourist visa does not permit. An ITIN is meant for people who have US tax obligations but are not may be able to access for an SSN—typically non-resident aliens with US income. A tourist with no US income and no work authorization does not may have access to for either.

This is not a policy banks choose; it is a regulatory requirement. Banks that break this rule face fines from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). So even if a banker wanted to help, they cannot.

Credit unions and smaller banks: the rare exception

A handful of credit unions and regional banks have opened accounts for tourists, usually because their account-opening system is older or more flexible than the major banks'. The most commonly reported success has been with credit unions in states with large immigrant or international student populations—California, New York, Texas, and Massachusetts—but this is not a rule, and policies change.

If you want to try this route, call ahead. Do not walk into a branch expecting to open an account; call the main number, ask to speak to someone in new accounts, and ask directly: "I am on a B-1/B-2 tourist visa and do not have a Social Security Number. Can you open a checking account for me?" Write down the name of the person who answers and what they say. If they say yes, ask what documents you need to bring (usually a passport, proof of a US address, and an initial deposit).

Be prepared for the answer to be no, or for the banker to say yes on the phone and then say no when you arrive in person. This is not common, but it happens because the person on the phone may not have checked the system requirements.

International wire transfers and money services

If you need to move money from your home country into the US, a wire transfer is the most direct route. You can wire money from your home bank to almost any US bank account, even if that account is not in your name—you just need the account number and routing number of the person receiving it. Wire transfers usually arrive within one to three business days and cost between $15 and $50 depending on the amount and your bank.

If you do not have a US bank account to receive the wire, services like Wise (formerly TransferWise), OFX, and MoneyGram let you receive money into a temporary account or pick it up in cash at a physical location. Wise is often cheaper than a traditional wire and gives you a real account number you can use for the transfer. MoneyGram has physical locations in most US cities where you can pick up cash within minutes of the money arriving.

For smaller amounts or regular transfers, PayPal and Wise both let you link a debit card from your home country and send money to a US phone number or email address. The recipient can then withdraw it to their US bank account or keep it in the digital wallet.

Prepaid cards and digital wallets

A prepaid card is a debit card that is not tied to a bank account. You load money onto it (either before you leave home or after you arrive), and you can use it to pay for things and withdraw cash at ATMs. Prepaid cards do not require an SSN, and you can buy them at convenience stores, drugstores, and online.

The catch is that prepaid cards charge fees—usually $2 to $5 per month for the card itself, plus fees for ATM withdrawals, balance inquiries, and sometimes even purchases. Over a month-long trip, these add up. But if you only need to spend money you already have and do not need to receive payments, a prepaid card is simpler than trying to open a bank account.

Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal let you load money from your home debit card and pay for things by phone or online. You can also use them to withdraw cash at ATMs in the US, though again, there are usually fees. These do not require an SSN either, and they are free if you already have the app on your phone.

Using your home bank's US branch

If your home country bank has a branch or partner bank in the US, you may be able to open an account there using your home country ID and your existing relationship with that bank. This is most common with large international banks like HSBC, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and ING, which have US operations.

Call your home bank before you travel and ask whether they can open a US account for you while you are on a tourist visa. If they can, ask what documents you need to bring and whether you can do it by video call before you leave home. Some banks will open the account remotely and have a debit card waiting for you at the US branch when you arrive.

This route usually takes longer to set up than a wire transfer or prepaid card, but it gives you a real US bank account with a routing number, which is useful if you need to receive payments or set up automatic bill payments.

What happens if you try to open an account with false information

Do not lie about your visa status or create a fake SSN. Banks verify this information against government databases, and if the information does not match, the account will be frozen or closed. If you are caught, you could face criminal charges for identity fraud or making false statements to a financial institution. It is not worth the risk, and it does not work anyway—the verification happens automatically, not just at account opening.

If a banker or an online service tells you they can open an account for you without an SSN or ITIN, and they do not ask you to create a fake one, they are likely running an unlicensed money service, which means your money may not be protected if something goes wrong. Stick to banks, credit unions, and services that are registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) or regulated by a state banking authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open an account online if I am a tourist?

No. Online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Chime all require an SSN or ITIN during account opening, and they verify it against Social Security Administration records. The verification happens automatically, so there is no way around it, even if you have a US address or a US phone number.

What if I am staying in the US for three months or longer?

Length of stay does not change the SSN requirement. However, if you are staying that long, it may be worth exploring whether you may have access to for a different visa category (like a work visa or student visa) that would give you an ITIN. Otherwise, the prepaid card or international wire transfer route is still your best option.

Can I use someone else's bank account to receive money?

Technically yes, but it creates problems. If you receive large amounts of money in someone else's account, the bank may flag it as suspicious activity and freeze the account. If you need to receive payments regularly, open a Wise account or use a prepaid card in your own name instead.

Do I need a US address to open an account?

Most banks require a US address, but some credit unions accept a foreign address if you can show a hotel reservation or a letter from someone you are staying with. However, the SSN requirement is still the main barrier. Even if you have a US address, you still cannot open an account without an SSN or ITIN.

What is the cheapest way to move money into the US as a tourist?

For a one-time transfer, Wise is usually cheaper than a traditional wire transfer. For ongoing access to money, a prepaid card loaded before you leave home has no transfer fees, only monthly card fees. For very small amounts, PayPal or a digital wallet linked to your home debit card is free.