How to get an ITIN: Form W-7 step by step
Which documents the IRS asks for, the three ways to file Form W-7, how long it takes, when it expires and how to avoid being overcharged.
Banking without SSN
How to open and use a US bank account without a Social Security number: which documents they ask for, which banks accept the ITIN and how to avoid fees you should not be paying.
Opening the account Open a bank account without an SSN Documents to open your first account Which banks accept the ITIN
Choosing where Traditional bank or digital account What a credit union is Accounts with no monthly fee
Avoiding costs Avoid overdraft fees Cash a check with no bank account
Next step Building credit without an SSN Quiz: which card can I get
Zelle, Venmo and Cash App: how to use them without getting scammed
How Zelle, Venmo and Cash App work, why money sent by mistake does not come back, the most common scams, and how to protect yourself.
How to cash a check with no bank account without getting fleeced
Every way to cash a check without a US bank account, what each one charges, and which is cheapest.
How to avoid overdraft fees on your bank account
What an overdraft is, why several pile up on the same day, the three settings that remove it from your account, and how to get a fee refunded if you already paid one.
What a credit union is and why it may suit you better than a bank
How a credit union works, how it differs from a bank on fees and loans, why it accepts ITIN more often, and how to meet the membership requirement to join.
Bank accounts with no monthly fee: how to avoid hidden charges
How to get a checking account with no monthly fee and avoid the charges that cost more than the fee, starting with overdraft.
What Documents Do You Need to Open a Bank Account in the US?
The checklist to open a US checking or savings account: photo ID, SSN or ITIN, proof of address and an opening deposit, plus the options if you are not a US citizen.
Traditional bank account vs digital account (neobank): the difference
Traditional bank account or digital: how they really differ, where each one wins, and why being paid in cash settles the choice.
Which banks accept the ITIN to open an account
No law requires an SSN to open an account: what the rules say about the ITIN, which institutions accept it, what to bring, and what to do if you are refused.
How to Open a Bank Account in the US Without an SSN
You can open a US bank account without an SSN. What banks accept instead, why online forms fail, credit unions vs apps, and what to do if you are turned down.