Opening US Bank Accounts for Canadians: Experiences with Chase and Bank of America

An individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) is key to exploring US credit card issuers outside of American Express. This includes Chase, Citi, Capital One, and Bank of America. 

It’s often hypothesized by experts in the miles and points game that having existing banking relationships (i.e. an open checking or savings account) greatly improves your odds of being approved when applying with these issuers, in particular Chase. If you are new to the idea of US bank accounts, you might also want to consider looking into the best US bank accounts for Canadians.

The challenge of course is that to open a US bank account, you generally need to visit the branch in person. I was personally able to open a Capital One account online, but this did take some effort to push through. 

Recently, my friend and I decided to take a little road trip from Vancouver, BC to Seattle, WA to try our luck at opening bank accounts at both Chase and Bank of America. It is often said that opening a Chase Bank account as a Canadian is a good way to strengthen your relationship with them for future credit card applications. We reasoned that we would also try our hand at applying for credit cards at each bank at the same time.

Fortunately, we were successful in opening these American bank accounts and credit cards at both banks! What follows is our experience and data points we gathered going through the process.

Opening a Chase Bank Account as a Canadian

Front view of Chase bank in Seattle

Chase Appointment Booking Process

Chase had a very straightforward booking process using an online form on their website.

There was a Chase branch right across from my hotel (Marriott Westin Seattle), so I searched that location and was able to nab an appointment on Saturday at 10 AM.

A calendar event was automatically added to my Google calendar along with the branch advisor’s name: Jonah Rushing. 

Chase Bank Accounts of Interest

We were really only interested in a very basic account to start a relationship with Chase. The following are the most basic checking and savings accounts offered.

Chase Total Checking Account

  • Basic everyday checking account
  • In branch $250 signup bonus offer (has direct deposit requirements)
  • Monthly fee of $12 USD
  • Fee waived if the account has a $1,500 minimum daily balance
  • Chip and pin debit card provided

Chase Savings Account

  • Most basic savings account
  • No signup offer in-branch
  • Monthly fee of $5 USD
  • Fee waived if $300 minimum daily balance maintained
  • Debit card with chip/pin technology

We had some chit-chat about the different accounts with Jonah, our personal Chase banking representative, and ultimately elected to open only one account, the Chase Savings account.

Note: They will only mail you debit card/atm cards when opening accounts in the US, unlike Canadian banks which can issue the cards at the branch.

Required Documents

We were only asked to present the following when setting up our Chase bank accounts as non-resident aliens:

  • Passport for identification
  • Utility bill/ bank statement for address verification
  • Individual taxpayer identification number

I provided a Google Fi bill which has the address of a friend who forwards my mail for me. My friend provided an actual utility bill (Google Fiber). I do know from other data points that a simple bank statement would have also sufficed. 

We didn’t stretch the truth too much when opening this account. We just said that we rent a place where we usually stay when doing business or visiting in the US. 

We were asked about our presence, including the number of days spent in America in 2021, 2020, and 2019. We stated that we had spent less than 30 days within each calendar year. This answer determines whether you are considered a non-resident alien or meet the substantial presence test – which may prompt the advisor to require further documentation. Ultimately I think it is best to just be honest here.

We were also asked about our investments and mortgages/loans. It’s ultimately up to you if you want to provide this. We provided info on Canadian investments but not on debts or mortgages. :/

Result and Overall Experience with Chase

In about 40 minutes, Jonah was able to open two bank accounts for us. The process was very smooth. After each bank account was opened, we went to the teller and completed the initial deposit of $300 to meet the account fee waiver requirement.

Jonah was phenomenal and we highly recommend going to him if you end up opening your US bank account in Seattle and have the opportunity.

Business card for Chase banker Jonah Rushing at 1950 6th Ave in Seattle, Washington.

Opening a Chase Credit Card In-Branch

After getting the accounts set up, my friend decided to try his luck immediately applying in-branch for a credit card.

He chose to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card (US), which is the same card I have.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points and is available to individuals in the United States.

Check out our Chase Sapphire Preferred card review for more details.

BONUS
60,000 Ultimate Rewards
MINSPEND
$4,000
NET VALUE
$925+
ANNUAL FEE
$95
FOREX FEES
No
EXPIRY

Interestingly, the offer is different in-branch. The welcome bonus was still 60,000 Ultimate Rewards, but the annual fee was waived for the first year. Additionally, a referral cannot be used in-branch.

The application only took about 10 minutes, and the questions asked by the rep were very similar to online applications. After processing, the application went to instant approval! 

This is actually an interesting data point, as my friend only had about 5-6 months of US credit history, which is less than what people typically get approved with.

Jonah was even cool enough to get the credit card shipped in 1-2 business days by immediately reporting it ‘damaged’.

Related: Applying for a Chase Business Credit Card: A Guide for Canadians

Note: there is a limited selection of cards available to apply for in-branch. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy co-branded cards are not available. From what I could tell, only non-co-branded Chase cards were available to apply for, including Ultimate Rewards cards and cash back earning cards.

Opening a Bank of America Bank Account as a Canadian

Bank of America customer parking sign

Appointment Booking Process 

As with Chase, the appointment can be booked entirely online using their booking tool.

Do be careful when selecting a branch, firstly because the hours of operation are all over the place. Many branches only have one advisor. Our first appointment was cancelled two days before as the advisor had to be out of town that day. There was no other advisor available and somehow this information was not communicated via the booking tool. I would recommend calling to confirm your appointment after booking.

Secondly, I recommend booking at one of the larger branches, as we had a few hiccups at the first very small branch we visited. More on that later. 

Bank Accounts of Interest

As with Chase, we just wanted the most basic of accounts with an affordable or easily waivable monthly fee. Bank of America offered three basic checking accounts, only two of which are worth mentioning:

Advantage SafeBalance

  • Most basic account
  • Some transaction limitations
  • Monthly fee: $4.95 USD
  • Fee waived for students under 25
  • Fee waived if enrolled in Preferred Rewards (must have $20,000 held across all BoA accounts)

Advantage Plus

  • More options than SafeBalance, overdraft protection, checks etc.
  • Monthly fee: $12 USD
  • Fee waived for students under 25
  • Fee waived if direct deposit of $250+ or $1500 minimum daily balance

Instead, we elected to just open the base savings account:

Bank of America Advantage Savings

  • Basic savings account
  • Limit of 6 withdrawals/transfers per month
  • Monthly fee: $8 USD
  • Fee waived if $500 minimum daily balance
  • $100 required opening deposit
  • No debit card, ATM card only

Required Documents 

As with Chase, Bank of America only asked to present the following when setting up a US bank accounts as a non-resident alien:

  • Passport for identification
  • Utility bill/ bank statement for address verification

An ITIN number was not outright requested, and in fact, at the first branch, they seemed quite confused as to what it was. Ultimately we opened our accounts at a different branch and there they did enter our ITIN number into our profiles.

Result and Overall Experience with Bank of America

Opening an account at Bank of America was not quite as smooth as with Chase. In fact, until we found a knowledgeable advisor, it was downright painful.

The first branch we went to, 2202 Westlake Ave, was uncertain about what documentation we were expected to provide. They insisted we needed a rental agreement, and that the utility bill/bank statement was not sufficient. Curiously, they did allow us to apply for credit cards without a rental agreement, but would not open a bank account.

In addition, the advisor and even the branch manager seemed very inexperienced and we often had to try to guide them through some of the application steps. They seemingly were not familiar with how to process our non-resident situation.  

We eventually went to another branch on 100 W Mercer St to open the bank account.

We had a much better experience with an advisor named Ali Hashemi. We even discussed (where possible) maintaining a remote banking relationship with him in the future. Because of course, we will want to apply for many more credit cards in the future. 😉

Business card for Bank of America Relationship Manager Ali Hashemi at 100 W Mercer St branch in Seattle.

If you are unable to meet with Ali, I would suggest making two appointments at two different Bank of America’s in case you run into hiccups at one as we did.

Opening a Bank of America Credit Card In-Branch

We actually applied for credit cards at the branch mentioned (2202 Westlake Ave), a different one from where our bank accounts were opened, and we applied before having an open BoA account. We both applied for the Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card (US).

Bank of America Alaska Airlines Card

The Bank of America Alaska Airlines card is a credit card that earns Alaska Miles and is available to individuals in the United States.

BONUS
50,000 Alaska Miles
MINSPEND
$2,000
NET VALUE
$1,055+
ANNUAL FEE
$95
FOREX FEES
No
EXPIRY

Unfortunately, our applications were likely not completed properly. The advisor deliberated quite extensively on 1) where to put our foreign tax ID (SIN), and 2) where to put our ITINs. Ultimately, our application was filled out without either ITIN or SIN entered…

Curiously, my friend’s application went to instant approval, whereas mine went to ‘your application is being processed’. 

When we saw Ali and opened the savings accounts, he was then able to attach my friend’s ITIN to his credit card, however, I was required to wait until the system processed my card application.

Take this data point with a grain of salt, as I suspect it would have gone smoother if we’d gone to Ali Hashemi or another competent representative first. 

Conclusion: What’s Next

Having opened Chase and Bank of America accounts made for a successful weekend trip  (paired with some great fresh seafood in Seattle). Getting approved with Chase is never a guarantee, myself having been denied for the Bonvoy Boundless even after 2 years of credit history in the United States in addition to holding the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Going forward, we hope to have greater success with Chase, including their elusive business cards.

Related: US Credit Cards for Canadians – Comparison Tool

Bank of America was primarily attractive to us for the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature and Alaska Airlines Visa Business card, both of which we intend to hold for a combined 100,000 Alaska miles. We’ve also heard rumors of other tricks that are possible with these cards, which you can bet we’ll be exploring in the near future 😉 

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the debit card must be mailed out separately.

With Chase, there are data points that you can have your debit card mailed to your Canadian address.

On the other hand with Bank of America, the debit card must be mailed to your US mailing address.

It will take 1-2 weeks to receive your debit card from Chase or Bank of America.

For Canadians, your personal banker may ask about your foreign tax ID (Social Insurance Number). We recommend not providing this because bankers can get confused with real Social Security Number in the US. When in doubt, leave it blank if it is not a mandatory field.

Yes, but the option to rush deliver credit cards is only available at the time of application if the application is done in person at the financial center (according to Bank of America).

Reed Sutton

Reed Sutton

Founder at Frugal Flyer
Reed is addicted to the art of earning and redeeming travel points, and frequently pairs his trips with his other hobby: photography. Through Frugal Flyer, Reed aims to distill some of the complex and esoteric points strategies into digestible information. Furthermore, he hopes to use his technical expertise to develop invaluable applications and tools for the travel community.

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22 comments on “Opening US Bank Accounts for Canadians: Experiences with Chase and Bank of America

  1. I would first like to thank you for the super practical information here on this site. I live in Germany and would also like to have a US credit card. I have not found such a comprehensive and well-researched site on the topic in the German-speaking world. There people get excited about the topic in posts or blogs, but then you have to book a paid appointment with a consultant if you need more and, above all, practical information. I have now used your ITIN service. Today you sent me the forms, which I immediately signed and sent to the IRS by registered mail.

    The tips on opening a bank account with Chase or Bank of America are super practical for me. My family and I are on a road trip in the Canadian Rockies for three weeks this year. However, we are not flying to Vancouver, but to Seattle. In this respect, it’s great that the addresses of the branches in Seattle are listed on the site. Of course I will try to get an appointment with the bank advisors you mentioned and hope that they still work there!

    Regarding the postal address in the USA: I have an acquaintance who lives in San Antonio. I hope that’s not a problem when I want to open the account at the bank in Seattle.

    Here in Germany it is always recommended to start with a secured credit card to build your credit history in the USA. Do you agree and should I apply for one at Chase or BoA?

    Reply
    • Hi Claudio,

      A secured credit card is a decent option, but I would first try to get in with Amex via Nova Credit if its available in Germany, or global transfer if you have an amex card already in Germany.

      Regarding the address, I think you should be fine with that.

      Cheers,
      Reed

      Reply
      • Thank you for the fast feedback. Can you tell me what questions I will be asked about myself when it comes to opening a US account? Are you asked about your job, your income situation, whether you own real estate, whether you have debts? Do you have to or should bring any documents with you to the appointment in order to be able to prove this if necessary. I could bring my German credit score, which in Germany comes from the company “Schufa”. Does something like that make sense? Will you also be asked how to use the account?

        Reply
        • Hi Claudio,
          From what I recall, you would be asked about job and income, but I do not believe I had to provide any verification of the same.
          Yes you may be asked the purpose of the account.

          Reply
  2. Thanks for the article. Very helpful! One question though – Is ITIN a requirement for Canadians to open a saving account at Chase?

    Reply
  3. Hey Reed,

    Just tried this today. Managed to get a Chase account opened without an ITIN, but the representative that set up my account assured me you cannot get a credit card without either an SSN or ITIN.

    She said she was curious after I cited your site as saying your friend had done it without an ITIN, but after speaking with the credit card department at the bank they said they could not and have never heard of that being an option.

    Can you confirm your friend got a Chase credit card with no ITIN?

    Thanks!

    Tom

    Reply
  4. Hi there, Will you need a ITIN to sign up for an account ? and if so, what box would I check off if i am a Canadian who wants a US bank account

    Reply
  5. Hi, I’m trying to open a personal account in the US, and then apply for credit cards as well.

    I have ITIN and I’m a NRA.

    I wonder how to supply a proof of address or a utility bill that’s actually on my name. How were you able to show a Google Fibre bill with your name on it if the bill went to your friend’s? I struggle with the proof of address part.

    Reply
  6. Hello Reed,

    I am interested in opening a Chase checking account when i visit the US.
    I have an AMEX Hilton Aspire card, and i was wondering if i can
    use the credit card statements as an example of a utility bill.

    Thank you.

    Reply
  7. Cn you use the Chase savings account to pay your US credit cards? I ask as that’s usually done from a checking account.

    Reply
  8. Hi Reed,

    I just wonder how do you check your credit score for the US credit, I went to credit.com, they said they only accept ssn registration. Is mailing to Experian the only way to get a credit report for us? I know the fico score on the Amex, but it is not that clear.

    Thank you for your time!
    Best,

    Yilin Guo

    Reply
      • As long as you have personal cards with them:
        – Amex provides an Experian FICO score;
        – Citi provides an Equifax FICO score;
        – Bank of America provides a TransUnion FICO

        Additionally:
        – credit.com provides an Experian-based score (but it’s not a FICO score)
        – my.equifax.com provides an Equifax-based score (but it’s not a FICO score)

        Reply
        • Thanks Efrant! We’ve since updated that article with my.equifax.com. Useful info too regarding the source bureau of FICO scores provided by BoA and Citi.

          Reply