What Do You Need to Open a Bank Account? Answered

To open a bank account, you’ll typically need a Social Security number, photo ID, physical U.S. address, and a minimum deposit.

The precise requirements vary by bank and account type (checking, savings, or business).

Below, we detail what you need to open each type of bank account (including joint accounts) at major U.S. banks and credit unions. We gathered this information by contacting representatives for each bank.

What You Need to Open a Checking Account

In the course of our research, we found that there are certain requirements you will need to meet, no matter where you apply for a checking account.

All of the banks we contacted require the following:

• Your legal name
• Your birth date
• Your email and phone contact information
• A residential U.S. street address (not a P.O. box)
• Employment and income information

Keep in mind that in order to open an account online, you’ll need to provide your Social Security number or tax ID. None of the banks we contacted would open a checking account without this information.

If you would prefer to open an account in person, you should contact your local bank branch and set up an appointment. You’ll still need to bring the forms of ID listed here, as well as any other necessary information.

Additional Requirements by Bank

Alliant Credit Union

• Minimum deposit: None^[1]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification Number and a U.S. government-issued ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, or resident alien ID)^[1]
• Minimum age: 18; Teen Checking available for ages 13 to 17^[1]
• Joint account requirements: One person must establish the membership, then add the joint owner to the account. The joint owner must prove their identity for approval.^[1]
• Open an account

Ally

• Minimum deposit: None, but you must deposit at least $0.01 within your first 30 days or Ally will close the account^[2]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number^[2]
• Minimum age: 18^[2]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicants must provide the same information as the primary applicant during the application process. Accounts can have up to four joint owners.^[2]
• Open an account

Axos Bank

• Minimum deposit: None, but you do need to make a deposit when opening the account^[3]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number, valid driver’s license or state ID, and proof of U.S. citizenship^[3]
• Minimum age: 18 with the exception of the First Checking account (open to ages 13 to 17) and Golden Checking account (age 55+)^[4]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicants must provide the same information as the primary applicant.^[3]
• Open an account

Bank of America

• Minimum deposit: $25 to $100, depending on the type of checking account^[5]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number^[5]
• Minimum age: 18 to open an account online; 16 to open an account in person^[5]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicants must apply together either online, over the phone, or in person.^[5]
• Open an account

Capital One

• Minimum deposit: None, but you must fund the account at least $1 within 60 days^[6]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number^[6]
• Minimum age: 18 unless opening a MONEY Teen Checking Account with a parent or guardian^[6]
• Joint account requirements: The joint applicant must provide the same information as the primary applicant.^[6]
• Open an account

Charles Schwab

• Minimum deposit: None; if you choose to make a deposit, you’ll need to provide current bank account information, including account and routing numbers^[7]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification Number and your driver’s license or passport^[7]
• Minimum age: 18^[7]
• Joint account requirements: The joint applicant must provide his/her Social Security number and driver’s license.^[7]
• Open an account

Chase

• Minimum deposit: None^[8]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and driver’s license or state ID^[8]
• Minimum age: 18 unless opening Chase College Checking (17 to 24 years old) or Chase High School Checking (13 to 17 years old)^[9]
• Joint account requirements: You must visit a branch after opening the account with the joint owner, who must provide a driver’s license or state ID and a second form of ID or have an existing, separate Chase account.^[8]
• Open an account

Citibank

• Minimum deposit: None^[10]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number; may also request a driver’s license or state ID^[10]
• Minimum age: 18^[10]
• Joint account requirements: The joint owner must provide all of the same identifying information as the primary applicant.^[10]
• Open an account

CIT Bank

• Minimum deposit: $100^[11]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number^[12]
• Minimum age: 18^[12]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicants must provide the same information as the primary applicant.^[12]
• Open an account

Fifth Third Bank

• Minimum deposit: None, but you must fund the account within 45 days of opening^[13]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and valid driver’s license or state ID^[14]
• Minimum age: 18, though you can be the joint owner of an account at age 13 or older along with a parent or guardian^[15]
• Joint account requirements: The joint owner must also provide identifying documents.^[14]
• Open an account

Navy Federal Credit Union

• Minimum deposit: None^{[16][17][18][19][20]}
• Forms of identification: Social Security number;^[21] note that if you are not a military servicemember or Department of Defence civilian personnel, you must be immediate family or a household member of a servicemember and will need to provide identification for that person.^[22]
• Minimum age: 18 unless signing up for a Campus Checking account, which has a minimum age of 14^[23]
• Joint account requirements: The joint owner must be present during enrollment and provide identity verification or must apply to be added to the account after it is open. You can have no more than three joint owners.^[24]
• Open an account

PNC

• Minimum deposit: $25; waived if you open the account online^{[25][26][27][28]}
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and a government-issued photo ID^[29]
• Minimum age: 18 unless opening a Virtual Wallet Student account, which has a minimum age of 16^[29]
• Joint account requirements: Joint owners must provide proof of their identity.^[29]
• Open an account

TD Bank

• Minimum deposit: None ^[30]
• Forms of identification: Social Security or tax identification number; you may also need to provide your driver’s license/state ID or other identifying documents^[31]
• Minimum age: 18 unless opening a joint account with a parent or legal guardian^[31]
• Joint account requirements: All joint owners must provide the same identifying information.^[32]
• Open an account

Truist Bank (formerly BB&T and SunTrust)

• Minimum deposit: $50 to $100^[33][34]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and a valid government-issued ID^[35][36]
• Minimum age: 18 unless applying for a teen account^[35][36]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicant must provide his/her Social Security number and driver’s license number^[35][36]
• Open an account

U.S. Bank

• Minimum deposit: $25^[37]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and a valid driver’s license, state ID, or military ID^[38]
• Minimum age: 18^[38]
• Joint account requirements: Each applicant must provide two forms of identification (SSN or ITIN and a photo ID).^[38]
• Open an account

Wells Fargo

• Minimum deposit: $25^[39]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and driver’s license or state ID^[39]
• Minimum age: 13 for a teen checking account with a parent or guardian as the co-applicant; 18 for all other checking accounts^[39]
• Joint account requirements: Teen checking account applicants and their parent or guardian must visit a local branch; other joint applicants will need to provide the same information as the primary applicant.^[39]
• Open an account

What You Need to Open a Savings Account

Like checking accounts, savings accounts require you to provide basic identifying information, including:

• Legal name
• Date of birth
• Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification Number
• Permanent residential address (no P.O. boxes)
• Phone and email contact information

Note that none of the banks we contacted would open a savings account without your SSN or ITIN and physical address. At most banks, you can either open a savings account and checking account at the same time, or you can open a checking account separately.

Additional Requirements by Bank

Alliant Credit Union

• Minimum deposit: $5^[40]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification Number and a government-issued ID^[41]
• Minimum age: 18 unless jointly owning the account with a parent or guardian^[40]
• Joint account requirements: All joint owners must provide identification.^[1]
• Open an account

Ally Bank

• Minimum deposit: None, but you’ll need to deposit at least $0.01 within 30 days of opening the account^[2]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number^[2]
• Minimum age: 18^[2]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicants must provide the same information as the primary applicant.^[2]
• Open an account

Axos Bank

• Minimum deposit: $250^[3]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number, valid driver’s license or state ID, and proof of U.S. citizenship^[3]
• Minimum age: 18^[3]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicants must provide the same information as the primary applicant.^[3]
• Open an account

Bank of America

• Minimum deposit: $100^[42]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number^[5]
• Minimum age: 18 to open an account online; 16 to open an account in person^[5]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicants must apply together either online, over the phone, or in person.^[5]
• Open an account

Capital One

• Minimum deposit: None, but you must fund the account with at least $1 within 60 days of opening^[43]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number^[6]
• Minimum age: 18^[6]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicants must provide the same information specified above.^[6]
• Open an account

Charles Schwab

• Minimum deposit: None^[7]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number, driver’s license, or passport^[7]
• Minimum age: 18^[7]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicant must provide his/her Social Security number and driver’s license.^[7]
• Open an account

Chase

• Minimum deposit: None, but if you do not have any account activity within 45 days, your account will close^[8]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number, driver’s license, and/or state ID^[8]
• Minimum age: 18^[8]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicant must verify joint status at a physical branch; he/she must also present two forms of ID.^[8]
• Open an account

Citibank

• Minimum deposit: None^[44]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number^[44]
• Minimum age: 18^[44]
• Joint account requirements: You must provide the joint applicant’s personal information when enrolling.^[10]
• Open an account

CIT Bank

• Minimum deposit: $100^[45]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number^[12]
• Minimum age: 18^[12]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicant must provide the same information as the primary applicant.^[12]
• Open an account

Fifth Third Bank

• Minimum deposit: None, but you must fund the account within 45 days of opening^[46]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and valid driver’s license or state ID^[14]
• Minimum age: 18 unless opening a minor savings account^[47]
• Joint account requirements: All joint owners must provide identifying documents.^[14]
• Open an account

Navy Federal Credit Union

• Minimum deposit: $5^[48]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number;^[21] note that if you aren’t military or Department of Defence civilian personnel, you must be immediately family or a household member of a servicemember and provide identification for that person.^[22]
• Minimum age: 18^[21]
• Joint account requirements: The joint owner must be present during enrollment and provide identity verification or must apply to be added to the account after it is open. You can have no more than three joint owners.^[24]
• Open an account

PNC

• Minimum deposit: $25^[49]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number or taxpayer ID number^[29]
• Minimum age: 18 unless opening an ‘S’ is for Savings minor account^[49]
• Joint account requirements: Joint owners must provide proof of their identity.^[29]
• Open an account

TD Bank

• Minimum deposit: None^[50][51]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and government-issued ID^[32]
• Minimum age: 18 unless opening a joint account with your parent or guardian^[31]
• Joint account requirements: All joint owners must appear in person and provide identification to open a joint account.^[32]
• Open an account

Truist Bank (formerly BB&T and SunTrust)

• Minimum deposit: None^[52][53]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and a valid government-issued ID^[35][36]
• Minimum age: 18 unless opening a minor account^[52]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicant must provide his/her Social Security number and driver’s license number.^[35][36]
• Open an account

U.S. Bank

• Minimum deposit: $25 to $100 depending on the account type^[54]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number^[38]
• Minimum age: 18^[38]
• Joint account requirements: You must provide the same identifying information for the joint owner as the primary applicant.^[38]
• Open an account

Wells Fargo

• Minimum deposit: $25 account^[55]
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and driver’s license or state ID^[39]
• Minimum age: 18^[39]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicant must provide the same information as the primary applicant.^[39]
• Open an account

What You Need to Open a Business Bank Account

Opening a business bank account is somewhat more complicated than opening a personal bank account — and it can take some time to get things set up.

In addition to proving your own identity, you must provide information and documents related to your business.

Find the business bank account requirements at several major banks below.

Axos Bank

• Minimum deposit: Deposit required, but no minimum amount^[3]
• Must provide:^[3]
  • Valid U.S. address (not a P.O. box)
  • Legal name
  • Birth date
• Forms of identification: Social Security number, valid driver’s license or state ID, and proof of U.S. citizenship^[3]
• Minimum age: 18^[3]
• Joint account requirements: Joint applicants must provide the same information specified above.^[3]
• Open an account

Bank of America

• Minimum deposit: $100 or more, depending on the type of business account^[5]
• Must provide:^[5]
  • Business documentation (filing documents, article of incorporation, article of organization, etc.)
  • Business tax ID
  • Name and address of business
  • State(s) in which the business was formed and currently operates
  • Date the business was established
  • Address and date of birth of business owner(s)
• Forms of identification: Social Security number of the business owner(s)/applicant(s) and the business tax ID^[5]
• Minimum age: None specified^[5]
• Joint account requirements: A signature card will be mailed to the joint applicant, and he/she must fill it out and return it along with the above-listed business documents.^[5]
• Open an account

Charles Schwab

Note: You can’t open this type of account online. You will need to mail or fax your application or open the account at a branch.

• Minimum deposit: None, but you need $250,000 in total assets^[7]
• Must provide:^[7]
  • Business name
  • Business tax ID
  • Business address
  • Information about the business’ professional activity, investment profile, liquid net worth, investment objective, and source of funds
  • Purpose of opening an account,
  • Personal address and business title (chief executive officer, chief financial officer, president, etc.)
  • Signature verification.
• Forms of identification: Social Security number of the person applying and the business tax ID^[7]
• Minimum age: None specified^[7]
• Joint account requirements: All of the above information must be submitted for authorized individuals, control persons, and those who own more than 10% of the company.^[7]
• Get an application

Chase

• Minimum deposit: None^[8]
• Must provide:^[8]

• • Information about your business, which may include digital copies of your formation document or DBA certificate
  • Identification information for each owner of the business (legal name, address, birth date, citizenship, and ownership percentage)
• Forms of identification: Social Security number or other tax identification number^[8]
• Minimum age: None specified^[8]
• Joint account requirements: Anyone who owns more than 10% of the business must provide their personal information.^[8]
• Open an account

NorthOne

• Minimum deposit: $50^[56]
• Must provide:^[57]
  • Driver’s license
  • Phone number
  • Social Security number
  • Employment Insurance Number
  • Home address
  • Business address
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and valid driver’s license^[57]
• Minimum age: 18^[58]
• Joint account requirements: You must provide personal information for all business owners and authorized users.^[56]
• Open an account

U.S. Bank

• Minimum deposit: None^[38]
• Must provide:^[38]

• • Basic information about the business, including type (LLC, corporation, etc.)
  • Business documents such as Articles of Incorporation or a charter
  • Business tax ID
  • Personal information about the owners of the business
• Forms of identification: Government-issued photo ID and Social Security numbers^[38]
• Minimum age: 18^[38]
• Joint account requirements: All authorized users must provide a government-issued photo ID and their Social Security numbers.^[38]
• Open an account

Wells Fargo

• Minimum deposit: $25^[39]
• Must provide:^[39]
  • Original or certified copies of business documents; may include your business license, Limited Partnership document, articles or organization, or other documents depending on the business type
  • Individual and business tax identification numbers
  • If applying in person, bring two forms of personal identification, one being government-issued (like a driver’s license).
• Forms of identification: Social Security number and valid driver’s license or state ID of the business owner/applicant and the business tax ID^[39]
• Minimum age: 18^[39]
• Joint account requirements: All of the above information must be submitted for every individual who directly or indirectly owns 25% or more of the business.^[39]
• Open an account