Opening a US Dollar account - here or in the USA?

Hi all,

I have a question to ask you all and hoping someone may know a little more.

I know I can open a US Dollar account here via Citi and/or my own bank (HSBC) after going through whatever hoops etc.

I've heard from another reputable web forum, it's quite quick and relatively easy to open a US bank account whilst over in the USA visiting.

Does anyone know if this is indeed possible and what kind of things I'd need to show and provide in order to get it done?

I do have lots of family and friends all over the US, mainly the larger cities etc so using an address of one of them shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Could I pop into a local or even one of the large US banks with my passport, birth certificate, drivers license etc as proof of ID and open a basic account with them?

Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

To open a checking account at my bank in the U.S. I only needed a driver's license.  This is from their website, as to what you need to open an account...

U.S. Driver’s license, U.S. State-issued ID, or Passport

Your current bank ABA routing and account numbers OR your credit card
(depending on how you choose to fund your accounts)

Information from any joint account holders
(full name, social security number and date of birth)

My cousin from India tried doing this - I think the thing is, you have to have a social security number?

Does anyone know if this is indeed possible and what kind of things I'd need to show and provide in order to get it done?

I do have lots of family and friends all over the US, mainly the larger cities etc so using an address of one of them shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Could I pop into a local or even one of the large US banks with my passport, birth certificate, drivers license etc as proof of ID and open a basic account with them?

I don't know how hard it is in the UK, so I can't say having an account based here is easier or harder than in the States.  I do know, having opened and closed many accounts over the years due to my semi-nomadic ways, you can open an account in the states very easily.  I've only heard of two people in my whole life who have ever been denied an account at a bank (one because he had written a ton of bad cheques, the other because of some problems with probate after a relative died).  

Anytime I've opened an account, savings or chequeing, I just needed my ID and some money.  I may have had to show proof of address, but that is relatively easy to obtain in your intended US address.  I don't even know if you always need that because I know I had two accounts at college, both opened well before I had a chance to establish an address.  However, they may make exceptions for college students and they were both savings not chequeing.

If you do decide to get the US account, I'd just have the people at the address get some sort of mail put in your name, at least temporarily.

i just opened a US bank account online.  but i had a NJ licence & social security number.  i needed both to open online.  not sure if if would have been different in person?

I've opened accounts without a license or state ID.  Of course, I used a US passport.  I am not sure if Dennis is American or not.

You have to have a social security number to open an account in the US as well as photo ID & proof of address.

However, if you get added onto a family member's account (to start yourself off) all you need is photo ID & social security number, however you usualy have to have a reason for getting added onto a family member's account.   

By any chance are any family members part of a credit union?  If so they tend to run on a grandfather system where a family member has to sign you up...

Hi

cheers for the responses so far! yep, the having to have a US Social Security number is a sticking point! I'll need to look into that further.

Moggs - I'm an Brit citizen and national, so I don't have any official US documentation.

more research time!

DtM! West London & Slough UK!