US banks that accept ITIN
Yes — you can open a US bank account with an IRS-issued ITIN instead of a Social Security number. Federal law (the USA PATRIOT Act §326 Customer Identification Program rule, 31 CFR §1020.220) lets a bank accept an ITIN as your taxpayer identification number; it does not require an SSN. But each bank still sets its own policy, so the practical question is which banks document an ITIN path. The table below is built from each institution’s own current (June 2026) requirements — not third-party blogs.
Which banks open an account with an ITIN — verified
| Bank | Type | Open with an ITIN (no SSN)? | How you open | Min. deposit | Monthly fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varo | App-only bank | ✅ Yes — its terms list “SSN or ITIN” | In the Varo app | $0 | $0 |
| SoFi | App-only bank | ✅ Yes — “SSN or ITIN”; open to non-permanent residents | Online / SoFi app | $0 | $0 |
| Bank of America | Traditional (branches) | ✅ Yes — ITIN path documented for non-permanent residents | In a branch (takes a foreign passport or a Mexican/Guatemalan/Dominican/Colombian consular ID) | Varies by account | Varies by account |
| Wells Fargo | Traditional (branches) | ✅ Yes — “SSN or ITIN” | Branch appointment if you are a non-permanent resident | $25 (Everyday Checking) | $15, waivable |
| Citibank | Traditional (branches) | ✅ Yes — “SSN or ITIN” | Online (Citi requires U.S. citizens or U.S. resident aliens) or branch | $0 (checking) | Varies by account |
| Chase | Traditional (branches) | ✅ Yes — ITIN may substitute for an SSN | Ask Chase how to open (its ID list accepts a foreign passport, matrícula, or EAD for non-citizens) | Varies by account | Varies by account |
| Credit unions | Member-owned | Varies — each sets its own ITIN policy | In branch or online; join first | Often low | Often $0 |
Require a Social Security number — not ITIN-only options (per their own current pages):
- Chime and Current — both state you need a US Social Security number to open; Chime also requires US citizenship or legal residency and accepts only US-issued IDs.
- U.S. Bank — its online personal checking application asks for a Social Security number, and its page does not mention an ITIN for personal accounts (checked 2026-09-24); for a branch opening, its checking-accounts page says to call a U.S. Bank representative at 855-605-1871 to make sure you have what you need (checked October 15, 2026).
- Self — its Credit Builder requires an SSN plus US citizenship or permanent residency, so it is not an ITIN-only way to build credit.
If you have only an ITIN, start with Varo or SoFi (from your phone), a credit union, or a branch visit to Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, or Chase.
Institution-specific documents and assistance
The institutions publish these requirements and assistance channels (checked October 23, 2026):
- Wells Fargo identification: Wells Fargo’s account-opening FAQ requires each primary account owner and co-owner to provide a primary and secondary ID to apply in a branch.
- Wells Fargo address proof: Wells Fargo’s FAQ requires separate proof of a physical U.S. address if neither ID contains the current residential address; it does not accept a P.O. Box or Private Mailbox as a residential address.
- Mutual Security CU ITIN loans: MSCU’s ITIN page says of its ITIN loan program: “To be eligible to apply, you must have a valid government-issued photo ID and live, work, worship, or attend school in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties or be a family member of a current MSCU member.”
- Pacific NW FCU Spanish assistance: PNWFCU’s ITIN page offers help in Spanish and lists 503-256-5858, option 2, for questions.
- LES People’s FCU ITIN applications: The credit union’s ITIN page says it can help members apply for new and renewed ITINs through opening an interest-bearing account at LES PEOPLE’S FCU; it lists (212) 529-8197 for appointments.
Documents to bring
- Your ITIN — the IRS CP565 notice, which the IRS sends to tell you it gave you an ITIN (IRS: Understanding your CP565 notice)
- A government photo ID — passport from your country, or a consular ID (matrícula consular)
- Proof of a US address — utility bill, lease, or recent pay stub
- Any opening deposit — $0 at the app-only banks; some traditional accounts ask for $25+
If a branch says no
Policies vary by branch, and some staff are unfamiliar with ITIN openings. You can politely ask for a manager, bring the bank’s own ITIN/non-resident page, or try another branch. Credit unions set their own ITIN policies; the credit-union table below quotes several that publish one.
Banks in detail
Varo
App-only bank with its own US national banking charter. Its account-opening page lists “SSN or ITIN.” No monthly fee, no minimum deposit. FDIC-insured via Varo Bank, N.A.
SoFi
App-only bank. SoFi Checking and Savings asks for a “Social security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)” and is open to US citizens, permanent residents, and non-permanent residents 18+ with a US address. No monthly fee, no minimum deposit.
Bank of America
Documents an ITIN path for non-permanent residents, opened in a branch. Accepts a foreign passport, a US visa, or a consular ID from Mexico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, or Colombia, plus a second ID and proof of US residency. Spanish-language service available.
Wells Fargo
Its help page lists “Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).” Permanent residents can open online; non-permanent residents make a branch appointment. Everyday Checking has a $25 minimum opening deposit and a $15 monthly service fee that Wells Fargo’s Everyday Checking page says can be avoided each fee period with $500 or more in total qualifying electronic deposits, a $1,500 minimum daily balance, or other listed conditions (checked October 15, 2026). Its account-opening help page says you must remove any security freezes or fraud alerts on your credit report before applying online. Full Spanish site.
Citibank
Its “how to open a checking account” page lists “Name, Address, Email address, Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number” among the application details, and says “You don’t need a minimum deposit to open any checking account with Citi.” Citi says online applicants must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. resident alien.
Chase
Its non-residents guide states an ITIN “may be used as a substitute for an SSN on your bank account application,” and its acceptable-ID list takes a foreign passport, matrícula consular, or EAD for non-citizens. Call ahead to confirm how your Chase branch handles ITIN-only openings.
Loans you can get with an ITIN
An ITIN is a tax number, not a lending licence — the IRS is explicit that it is “issued by the IRS for federal tax purposes only” and does not authorise work or confer immigration status. But no federal law prohibits a bank or credit union from lending to someone with no SSN. The rule that decides who a bank must identify — the Customer Identification Program rule, 31 CFR 1020.220 — expressly allows a non-US person to be identified by “a taxpayer identification number,” and an ITIN is one.
The practical lane is credit unions and CDFIs, not fintech apps. Every major fintech we checked either requires an SSN outright or publishes no ITIN path at all.
Car loans
| Credit union | Where it lends | What its own page says |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Financial CU | Wisconsin (metro Milwaukee) | “Purchase or refinance your car or truck with an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) — no Social Security Number required.” |
| Pacific NW FCU | Oregon + Clark/Skamania Co., WA | “We understand that lacking a Social Security Number shouldn’t prevent access to loans.” Auto “as low as 5.34% APR”; personal loans “as low as 8.70% APR” (rates as posted October 15, 2026); accepts matrícula consular as ID |
| Embold CU | 6 Oregon counties: Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, Marion, Yamhill and Polk (live, work, worship or attend school there, or be family of a current member; ITIN letter required) | “With an ITIN you have access to all services and products, except real estate lending.” Accepts matrícula consular |
| Mutual Security CU | Connecticut | “All credit union members, whether they open their accounts with a social security number or an ITIN, have access to the same low rates.” Its ITIN page also says: “With an ITIN, you have access to all services and products except real estate lending.” |
| Northwest Plus CU | Washington (Everett, Marysville, Burlington) | “Members with an ITIN are eligible to apply for: Auto loans, Personal loans, Credit Builder Loan, Personal Line of Credit.” |
| LES People’s FCU | New York City | “Our rates and underwriting are the same for every member, based on credit worthiness, not immigration status.” |
Personal and credit-builder loans
- Latino Community CU (North Carolina) — membership opens with a “Valid Social Security Number or ITIN” and “a valid government-issued photo ID from any country”; $8 one-time membership fee. Its personal loan goes up to $20,000 ($500 if you have no formal credit history) — but that loan requires you to be a North Carolina resident, so joining from another state does not get you this one.
- Guadalupe CU (northern New Mexico) — its own FAQ: “Yes. At Guadalupe Credit Union, you can apply for a loan with an ITIN.”
- Capital Good Fund (certified CDFI) — Impact Loans of $300–$1,500 for residents of Rhode Island, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, or Connecticut; as of 2026-09-24 its Impact Loans page does not mention an ITIN, so ask before applying. Its New Jersey Impact Loans page (the address ends in “tx”, but the page is headed New Jersey and asks applicants to reside in New Jersey) lists “Have a social security number or ITIN” among its requirements (checked October 15, 2026); that statement covers the New Jersey product only. ⚠️ Its eligible-state list differs between products — read the page for the loan you want, not the general one.
- Northwest Plus, Embold and LES People’s (above) make personal and credit-builder loans on the same ITIN terms.
⚠️ The apps that do not take an ITIN — in their own words
This is where most online lists are wrong, so check it before you waste an application:
| App | What it actually requires |
|---|---|
| Self | “Individual borrowers must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident… Valid bank account and Social Security Number are required.” |
| Chime | “A valid Social Security number.” |
| Current | “Yes, Current requires a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) to open an account.” |
| Upstart | “we are not able to support International Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN).” |
| Varo · SoFi | These take an ITIN to open an account (see the table higher up) — but neither publishes an ITIN path for a loan. SoFi’s personal-loan eligibility lists visas and permanent residency, never an ITIN. Don’t assume account access means credit access. |
| OppLoans | Publishes no SSN or ITIN policy at all — ask first. |
Upstart contradicts itself — believe the eligibility page. Its borrower-eligibility page states you must “have a verifiable name, date of birth, and Social Security number” and that “at this time, we are not able to support International Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN).” Yet Upstart’s own documents-needed article lists “Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)” among the documents you can apply with. Both pages are Upstart’s. The eligibility page is the one that governs whether your application survives, so treat Upstart as closed to ITIN-only applicants — and don’t spend a hard credit inquiry testing the marketing copy.
Oportun is widely described online as ITIN-friendly. Its own site never says so: the application asks for a “government-issued ID (from most countries)” and the privacy notice mentions collecting “SSN or ITIN,” but Oportun publishes no ITIN-acceptance policy on any product page. Ask before you apply.
Home loans and business capital
- ITIN mortgages — verified lender directory; down payments vary by lender, no SSN required.
- Business capital with an ITIN — ⚠️ SBA 7(a) and 504 loans: under SBA Procedural Notice 5000-876626 (effective March 1, 2026), only applications from businesses with 100% ownership by U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals whose principal residence is in the United States or its territories or possessions are eligible, so owners who are not citizens or nationals, green-card holders included, no longer qualify. CDFIs such as Kiva (0% interest, no SSN requested), DreamSpring and LiftFund still lend to ITIN-only owners.
Build credit and send money with an ITIN
- Building credit with an ITIN — secured cards and credit-builder options, and which ones actually work without an SSN
- Mortgages for ITIN holders — non-QM and CDFI lenders
- Sending money home (remittances) — costs and ITIN-friendly providers
Related information
Last verified: 2026-09-24. Each bank’s ITIN policy was checked against that bank’s own current account-opening page; policies change and can vary by branch, so confirm directly before you apply.
General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.
Related procedural information
- ITIN — get your taxpayer ID for banking — required to open most accounts without SSN
- ITIN mortgages — home loans — financing home purchases under ITIN
- Form an LLC for business banking — separate business and personal finances under ITIN
- State tax obligations — interest income is taxable under federal and most state law
- Find an immigration attorney — for status issues affecting account opening
Related immigration cases & rulings — where they stand
General information on litigation, not legal advice. Checked: 2026-10-23.