Hello,

As a Canadian citizen, I visit the States quite often. Planning on making a future there someday.

Would it be beneficial to open a bank account there? How about getting a visa/mastercard credit card to start building some credit?

I know there are some banks that do not allow foreign citizens to open accounts online, so I'd have to go into one to do so.

Just wondering if anyone has done this, and what you're opinions are.

Thank you

I don't know if this would be possible. From what little I know of the banking system, they usually want our social security numbers and if you're not an American, it's highly unlikely you'd have one. There might be a way around that (Bank of America doesn't seem to mind giving credit cards to illegal aliens, for example), but it'd probably be tricky.

One option might be to look into opening up an American account with the Royal Bank of Canada. I know that sounds weird, but that do have a U.S. branch. Since RBC is obviously a Canadian-based bank, you'd have a better shot at getting accepted there, especially if you have a Canadian account or two with them.

I'm pretty sure that you need a social security number before you can open an account. I remember a year (or 3 ago) there were a few news stories about Bank of America allowing people to open accounts & mortgages without all of the necessary verification. I can't imagine they would still be doing that now.

Also, I recall last year seeing some people talking about being able to open accounts for their fiances at US bank. But I think they were opened in the name of USC and they mailed the debit card to the non-USC.

If you visit often and you want to save on ATM and service fees maybe you can establish an account at bank that has offices in both locations. I opened an account with HSBC because they had branches in Brazil, the US, and many places in Europe.

You won't be able to build credit or get credit until you have a social security number.

You do need a SSN to open an account, however as mentioned above RBC does have the Centura account (I just opened one last week). You don't need a SSN to open this account.

They even take in to account your Canadian credit rating for mortgages etc.

Wells Fargo Bank will give you an account without a SSN.

Not ALL USA banks will require a SSN, Wachovia did not, but you goto 4 wachovias and 3 may require it, so there is no conformity,lol Trailmix gave good advice. Another option of transferrign $$$ from Canada to the USA and vice versa is Customhouse.com No fees and usually a better exchange rate than banks!! And many banks inthe USA have no clue on how to handle a Canadian cheque,and if they do, they can charge u high fees!! So for me, if I get a cdn cheque, mail it back to my folks in Canada. They have my bank card, so they deposit it into my account (presidents choice) and I transfer it with customhouse.

Yes, that's true, about not having to have a SSN for all banks, shouldn't post so late at night!

Different banks are different. I opened an account in Nebraska with my Sister. She lives there and knows the people at the bank, while I do have a SSN, they opened a joint account for us - and they have never laid eyes on me. Mailed me the signature cards etc.

I opened 2 banks accounts with WaMu a couple of years ago without a SSN - a regular savings account & a chequing account with a debit card that has the Mastercard logo. (The reason I wanted the account had nothing to do with my husband as I had not met him yet.)

I had to show a couple of pieces of ID and I think I may have given them my Canadian SIN#. I've since cancelled the savings account as I wasn't using it, but I still have the chequing account. I'm pretty sure I'm not building a credit score though. Hopefully, they'll give me a proper credit card once I have a SSN since I am already a customer.

I think it's easier to get a US bank account if you are in a border town or an area that is used to seeing a lot of Canadians.

When i opened my checking account at Bank of America, i just showed my passport.
Three years later after opening the account, they sent me a letter saying i have to provide a SSN or i will be charged 30% by the IRS on anything i have in my account.

Long story short, not all banks require SSN.

Wachovia didn't mind adding me to my husband's accounts as a joint owner (not just someone who has access) and to get a debit card but they wouldn't order cheques (aka checks ) until my SSN came in and neither could they add me to the CC until I had the SSN.

Your experience will vary as someone said above.

I transferred money to these accounts before I moved by giving my fiancé a money order in US funds, then we visited the bank the we after i moved to do the above stuff

Good luck

I've actually worked for a bank for 5 years now, so luckily that helped when my wife and I came to this situation too. While you don't need a Social Security number in order to have a bank account, the absolute easiest way is just to have your husband add you to his already existing account. I did this with my wife and all I needed to do was have her sign a few forms, one including the obvious Patriot Act documentation, and she was added.

We also built credit by adding her to my Best Buy Card that I used to buy a big ol' nice HD tv haha. When she came across and we went to get her a lease on a new car, we were both surprised by how much her credit was built by just that one payment over a year's time. Good luck!

I opened a Wachovia account and only needed to show them my passport and some mail with my U.S. mailing address. They will make you sigh an Anti Terrorist form which states that your funds do not get used for such purpose nor are they from any Terrorist related activity.

I just opened a Bank of America account this weekend without a SSN. I gave my Canadian address, passport, drivers license and SIN. The man was very nice - he gave me 5 years no fees, no questions asked. I also applied for a credit card, so we'll see what happens with that.

I tried to get an account at a smaller credit union but was told they couldn't do it because of the Patriot Act.

I think it all depends.