To open a checking account, you apply at a bank or credit union, online or at a branch, and give it four things: your name, your date of birth, your address and an identification number such as your Social Security number. The bank verifies your identity, usually with a government photo ID, and you make an opening deposit if the account requires one.
That is the whole process for most people. It gets harder when you have no Social Security number, you are under 18, your ID shows an old address, or a past account was closed with money owed. This guide covers the steps and each of those cases.
You need a photo ID, an ID number and a current address. Federal rules make every bank collect your name, date of birth, address and an identification number before it opens an account.
Sources: the FDIC, the CFPB and each bank’s own site, read at this update. Every bank sets its own requirements, so confirm them before you apply.
What you need to open a checking account
The basics are not up to the bank. A federal rule, the Customer Identification Program, says a bank must get your name, date of birth, address and an identification number before it opens an account. It then has to verify that you are who you say you are.
For most people the identification number is a Social Security number. The CFPB’s account opening checklist says it can also be an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), a passport number and country of issuance, an alien identification card number or another government-issued ID number.
| What the bank asks for | What counts | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Name and date of birth | Your legal name and birth date, as shown on your ID | Every bank has to collect both |
| Address | A residential or business street address | If your ID shows an old address, the FDIC says you may be asked for a recent bill or a copy of your lease |
| Identification number | Your Social Security number or ITIN | The CFPB says you need one of the two to open an account that pays interest |
| Photo ID | A driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. passport or military ID | Some banks also accept a foreign passport or a consular ID |
| A second document | Your Social Security card, a bill with your name and address on it, or your birth certificate | The CFPB says you generally need one of these, so bring one to a branch |
| Opening deposit | $0 to $100 at the accounts we checked | See how much you need below |
Applying online? You type in the same details and the bank checks them electronically. The FDIC’s guide to opening an account says you may also be asked a few questions based on public records, such as a previous address.
You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to have a bank account. The federal rule lets a bank take other identification from a non-U.S. person: a taxpayer identification number, a passport number and country of issuance, an alien identification card number, or the number on another government-issued photo document.
An ITIN is the usual route. The IRS issues it to people who need a U.S. taxpayer identification number but are not eligible for a Social Security number. For a photo ID, the CFPB says some banks and credit unions accept foreign passports and consular IDs, such as the Matricula Consular card.
What the rule allows and what one bank accepts are two different things, so check before you apply. Of the accounts we read up on for this page, Capital One 360 Checking takes a Social Security number or an ITIN. Current’s account agreement requires a valid Social Security number, and Quontic says you must be a U.S. citizen.
No Social Security number and no ITIN? The CFPB says you may only be able to open an account that does not pay interest.
How to open a checking account, step by step
The FDIC breaks it into six steps, and they are the same whether you apply in person, online or in a mobile app.
1. Pick the account
Start with how you will use it, not with the bank’s name. If your paycheck will land there, look at what direct deposit unlocks. If you deposit cash or want to sit down with a banker, you need a bank with branches. If you want the account to pay you something, compare interest-bearing checking accounts.
Then look at the monthly fee and how to avoid it. Our roundup of the best checking accounts compares seven by fee, minimum to open, ATM access and sign-up bonus. If a monthly fee is the one thing you want to skip, start with the best free checking accounts.
A credit union works too. You join as a member first, and checking there is called a share draft account. Here is how credit unions and banks compare.
2. Gather your documents
Have your photo ID, your Social Security number or ITIN and your current address in front of you. Going to a branch? Bring a second document, such as a bill with your name and address on it.
Opening the account with a partner or a parent? Ask what each person needs to bring. On a joint bank account, the CFPB notes that generally everyone named on it can withdraw money, move funds or close the account, so pick your co-owner with care.
3. Apply online or at a branch
Online, you fill in your details and the bank verifies them on the spot. That does not always work. The FDIC says you may not be able to finish online if you moved recently or the bank cannot verify your address electronically. In that case you complete the application at a branch or by phone.
Expect the bank to look you up. The FDIC says banks may review your credit history, your banking history or both as part of the application. If that worries you, skip to opening an account with bad credit.
MoreEasiest bank accounts to open online
4. Make the opening deposit
Some accounts need money on day one and some do not. Online, the FDIC lists a debit card, a prepaid card or an electronic transfer from another account as ways to pay. You can also make the deposit at a branch.
If you fund the account with a check, the bank may hold the money while it verifies the check. Federal rules treat an account as new for its first 30 days, and banks can hold check deposits longer during that time.
5. Sign the paperwork
You sign a signature card or accept the account agreement electronically. If you do not sign electronically, the FDIC says you may have to return the documents by mail, by fax or at a branch.
The bank also gives you its disclosures. Read the fee schedule first: the monthly fee, the overdraft fee and what it charges at another bank’s ATM.
6. Turn on the account tools
Set up online and mobile banking, and activate the debit card when it arrives. Then move on to what to do after you open the account.
How much money do you need to open a checking account?
Often nothing. We checked three accounts on the banks’ own sites for this update. Two have no opening deposit and one asks for $100.
| Account | Minimum to open | Monthly fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| SoFi Checking and Savings | $0 | $0 | SoFi lists no account, service or maintenance fees |
| Current | $0 | $0 | Requires a valid Social Security number. Charges $5 a month after 12 months without activity |
| Quontic High Interest Checking | $100 | $0 | For U.S. citizens 18 and older. You fund it by transfer from another bank |
The FDIC puts typical opening deposits at $25 to $100. Whatever the number, it is not a fee. It is your money, and it sits in your account from the first day.
Do not confuse it with a minimum balance, which is what some accounts make you keep to avoid a monthly charge. The CFPB warns that the two amounts may not be the same. The monthly fee is the real cost of a checking account, so learn how to avoid bank fees before you pick.
Can you open a checking account with no money?
Yes, as long as the account has no opening deposit. SoFi and Current are two examples. Capital One says 360 Checking has no minimum balance to open either, and it gives you 60 days after approval to fund the account.
Open it, then set up direct deposit or a transfer so money starts arriving.
MoreHow to open a bank account online with no deposit
How long does it take to open a checking account?
The application is the quick part. SoFi says its median applicant finished the Checking and Savings application in 2 minutes and 9 seconds, measured from February to April 2026. Quontic says you can apply for High Interest Checking online in 3 minutes or less.
Using the account takes longer. The bank may need more time to verify your identity, your first transfer has to arrive, and the debit card comes in the mail. Quontic says its card typically takes about 10 business days.
A branch visit takes more of your day, but you leave with your questions answered, and it is the fix when an online application cannot verify you.
How old do you have to be to open a checking account?
In most of the United States you have to be 18 to open a bank account on your own, according to the FDIC. If you are under 18, a parent, guardian or other trusted adult may be able to help you open one.
That usually means a teen account with the adult as co-owner, and the age range depends on the bank. Capital One says its MONEY Teen Checking is open to kids as young as 6, with a parent or legal guardian as joint account holder.
Chase High School Checkingâ„ is for students 13 to 17. A parent or guardian with an eligible Chase checking account has to be the co-owner and be there when the account is opened at a branch.
We cover the rules by age in how old you have to be to open a bank account. If the card matters more than the account, see the best debit cards for kids.
Can you open a checking account with bad credit?
Usually, yes. A low credit score does not keep you out by itself. What banks typically check is your banking history. The CFPB says a denial may come from negative information held by a checking account reporting company: an account closed with an unpaid negative balance, suspected fraud or a history of bad checks.
The two companies the CFPB names are ChexSystems and Early Warning Services. ChexSystems describes itself as a nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency whose clients report closed checking and savings accounts. It does not approve or decline anyone. The bank makes that call.
Some banks pull a regular credit report too, or use one instead. Others say up front that they do not. Quontic, for one, says applying for its checking account has no impact on your credit score.
You can see your file for free. ChexSystems says you are entitled to a free copy of your consumer disclosure report at least once every 12 months. When a bank turns you down because of a report, it has to name the reporting company it used, and you can ask that company for a free copy too.
ChexSystems says it keeps reported information for five years. If something in your file is wrong, dispute it in writing with the reporting company and with the bank that reported it.
Second-chance checking accounts
If the record is accurate, you still have options. The CFPB says many banks and credit unions offer lower-risk accounts built to keep you from overdrawing, and that you may qualify for one even after a recent denial. Banks often call this second-chance checking, though Chase notes the accounts go by a lot of different names.
Know the trade-offs before you open one. There may be a monthly fee, overdrafts are usually limited and some features, such as writing checks, may be restricted. Some banks will also want an old unpaid balance settled first. A denial at one bank is not a denial everywhere, and the CFPB’s advice is simple: try another.
One to look at is Chase Secure Banking℠, the account Chase points people to when they need a second chance. There are no overdraft fees and no minimum deposit to open, and the $4.95 monthly service fee is $0 with $250 or more in qualifying electronic deposits or if you’re 17 to 24. And if you’re new to Chase checking, you can get $175 after 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days.
MoreBanks that don’t use ChexSystems
What to do after you open the account
Three things to set up in the first week.
Payday timing differs from bank to bank, so compare banks with early direct deposit if a day or two matters.
Then turn on a low balance alert and check how the account handles a purchase you cannot cover. Before you choose an overdraft setting, read what an overdraft fee is and how to avoid one.
At an FDIC-insured bank, your deposits are insured automatically. FDIC insurance covers $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, for each account ownership category. At a federally insured credit union, the NCUA’s Share Insurance Fund covers individual accounts up to $250,000. Both pay out if the institution fails.
One last tip: keep your spending money in checking and move the rest. Money you will not need this month usually earns more in a high-yield savings account.
Ready to open one?
No bank in mind yet? These are three places to start. Each is a top pick in our checking account comparison, and each pays new customers a cash bonus for setting up direct deposit. We track those offers in our list of the best bank account bonuses.
SoFi Checking and Savings
Chase Total Checking®
CurrentSoFi: the $450 comes in three parts: $400 for $5,000 or more in eligible direct deposits within 25 days of your first one ($50 for $1,000 to $4,999.99), offered through 12/31/2026, plus $25 for opening it as your first SoFi account and depositing at least $50 within 25 days, and $25 for also enrolling in SoFi Plus, a paid membership. SoFi lists the two $25 bonuses through October 21, 2026. See SoFi for full terms. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Chase Total Checking: Offer expires 01/27/2027. Not available to existing Chase checking customers, those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. One new checking account opening bonus every two years. $0 Monthly Service Fee with any one of: $500+ in qualifying electronic deposits, a $1,500 balance at the beginning of each day, a $5,000 average beginning day balance across linked qualifying accounts, or a linked qualifying checking account. Otherwise a $15 Monthly Service Fee applies. Account subject to approval. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Current: $75 bonus for new users only, with code WELCOME75 and $1,500 in eligible payroll deposits within the first 35 days. Fee-free overdraft requires $200 or more in eligible payroll deposits over 35 days, and Current sets the amount. Current is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC, and/or Cross River Bank, Member FDIC.
Opening a checking account FAQs
Often nothing. SoFi Checking and Savings and Current have no opening deposit, so you can open the account with $0 and add money later. Quontic High Interest Checking needs $100. The FDIC puts typical opening deposits at $25 to $100.
Your name, date of birth, address and an identification number, which for most people is a Social Security number or an ITIN. Many banks also ask for a government photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. passport or military ID. Some want a second document too, such as a bill with your name and address on it.
Yes. The FDIC lists applying online or through a mobile app alongside applying in person. You enter your Social Security number or ITIN, date of birth and address, and the bank verifies them electronically. If it cannot, for example because you moved recently, you finish at a branch or by phone.
The online application can take a few minutes. SoFi says its median applicant finished in 2 minutes and 9 seconds, and Quontic says 3 minutes or less. Allow longer before you can use the account fully. Your first transfer has to arrive and the debit card comes by mail, which Quontic says typically takes about 10 business days.
Usually. Banks mostly check your banking history through companies such as ChexSystems rather than your credit score, though some review both. If a bank denies you because of one of those reports, it has to name the reporting company it used, and you can get that report for free. Many banks also offer lower-risk accounts, often called second-chance checking, for people with a past problem.
In most of the United States you must be 18 to open one on your own, according to the FDIC. If you are under 18, you may be able to open a teen account with a parent or guardian as co-owner, and the minimum age depends on the bank. Chase High School Checking, for example, is for students 13 to 17 and is opened at a branch with a parent or guardian.
At some banks. Federal rules let a bank accept an ITIN or, for a non-U.S. person, a passport number or alien identification card number, but each bank sets its own policy. The CFPB says that without a Social Security number or ITIN you may only be able to open an account that does not pay interest.
