How to open bank account -- Wife has SSN but no card.

[MFRittman 1]

My wife applied for a social security card when she came to the United States last December.  She received her social security number at the office, but her card was lost in the mail.  Because the social security offices are closed, she was told to send in her original passport, birth certificate, and other documents to receive a new card.  She does not feel comfortable doing that.  The banks I do business with require my wife to produce her social security card to open an account.  Legally, she isn't required to do so, but the banks policies that I know of require it.  Anyone have any suggestions for her to open a bank account?

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

28 minutes ago, MFRittman said:

My wife applied for a social security card when she came to the United States last December.  She received her social security number at the office, but her card was lost in the mail.  Because the social security offices are closed, she was told to send in her original passport, birth certificate, and other documents to receive a new card.  She does not feel comfortable doing that.  The banks I do business with require my wife to produce her social security card to open an account.  Legally, she isn't required to do so, but the banks policies that I know of require it.  Anyone have any suggestions for her to open a bank account?

Find another bank.

[MFRittman 1]

6 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

Find another bank.

Do you specifically know of any bank that has different policies than the mainstream, or is this just a neglectful comment?

[NikLR 13,220]

Lots of banks don't require an SSN. There is a form called a w8ben that she can use until her SSN card arrives.  However she won't benefit from being able to build any credit on any account opened with a w8ben. 

[MFRittman 1]

I don't think you understand.  She has a social security number.  She just doesn't have a card.

[MFRittman 1]

34 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Lots of banks don't require an SSN.

I don't think you understand.  She has a social security number and can supply it if needed.  She filed taxes last year.  She has her EAP and can work here.  Her social security card was lost in the mail.  The " W-8BEN is a required document when making Non-U.S. Source Income payments to a Nonresident Alien."  She is a resident of the United States, not a nonresident.

Edited October 3, 2020 by MFRittman

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

44 minutes ago, MFRittman said:

Do you specifically know of any bank that has different policies than the mainstream, or is this just a neglectful comment?

We used a local bank, Liberty Bank, (if you aren’t in CT then this doesn’t apply) and my husband had no problem opening up a joint account without a SSN.

Like you stated legally she doesn’t have to supply her SSN but it is the banks policy. That is why I suggested finding another bank.

[MFRittman 1]

3 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

We used a local bank, Liberty Bank, (if you aren’t in CT then this doesn’t apply) and my husband had no problem opening up a joint account without a SSN.

Like you stated legally she doesn’t have to supply her SSN but it is the banks policy. That is why I suggested finding another bank.

OK, thanks.  I've contacted six banks and have been told they need her card.  I can try a few more I guess.

[NikLR 13,220]

54 minutes ago, MFRittman said:

I don't think you understand.  She has a social security number.  She just doesn't have a card.

 

45 minutes ago, MFRittman said:

I don't think you understand.  She has a social security number and can supply it if needed.  She filed taxes last year.  She has her EAP and can work here.  Her social security card was lost in the mail.  The " W-8BEN is a required document when making Non-U.S. Source Income payments to a Nonresident Alien."  She is a resident of the United States, not a nonresident.

I do understand. So find a bank that accepts the # without the card. Or use the W8ben as she's not an LPR yet.  

[Ayrton 965]

15 minutes ago, NikLR said:

 

I do understand. So find a bank that accepts the # without the card. Or use the W8ben as she's not an LPR yet.  

She can't use W8ben because she's already a resident alien by the IRS definition of resident alien.

[Ayrton 965]

2 hours ago, MFRittman said:

My wife applied for a social security card when she came to the United States last December.  She received her social security number at the office, but her card was lost in the mail.  Because the social security offices are closed, she was told to send in her original passport, birth certificate, and other documents to receive a new card.  She does not feel comfortable doing that.  The banks I do business with require my wife to produce her social security card to open an account.  Legally, she isn't required to do so, but the banks policies that I know of require it.  Anyone have any suggestions for her to open a bank account?

I just had to send my originals to the SSA office, twice, to get my name changed. Received them back with no problems. I know there's a risk involved, but if she really wants an account with the same bank you have, she should just go ahead and send her originals.

 

My first bank account here was with Wells Fargo, with no SSN. They won't even ask for it.

[MarryMe987654 241]

I opened an account with Capital One online. I did not have to submit anything. Just provided the SS number in my online application.

Very happy with them so far. 

[Wuozopo 4,285]

16 hours ago, MFRittman said:

My wife applied for a social security card when she came to the United States last December.  She received her social security number at the office, but her card was lost in the mail.  Because the social security offices are closed, she was told to send in her original passport, birth certificate, and other documents to receive a new card.  She does not feel comfortable doing that.  The banks I do business with require my wife to produce her social security card to open an account.  Legally, she isn't required to do so, but the banks policies that I know of require it.  Anyone have any suggestions for her to open a bank account?

Did you speak to a supervisor at the bank in person? We have never had to show the actual card anywhere but the DMV for a driver license. I would suggest going in to a bank. It seems unusual to me that all the banks you called said a card is required. Perhaps it was a communication thing...they require a SSN and when you said “do you require a SS card, they said yes meaning a number is required. 
 

Chase bank just asked my number verbally when I went to the bank to open the account. 

[NikLR 13,220]

3 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

Did you speak to a supervisor at the bank in person? We have never had to show the actual card anywhere but the DMV for a driver license. I would suggest going in to a bank. It seems unusual to me that all the banks you called said a card is required. Perhaps it was a communication thing...they require a SSN and when you said “do you require a SS card, they said yes meaning a number is required. 
 

Chase bank just asked my number verbally when I went to the bank to open the account. 

Navy federal asked to see my card. 

[DeleteMePlease123 91]

I went to a Bank of America branch with my USC wife and got added to her bank account ('joint account'). They asked me for my passport, an extra form of identification and for any debit/credit cards issued by a local (in my country) bank.