How to open a bank account with an ITIN or consular ID

This page is for anyone in California who wants a safe place for their money and does not have a Social Security number. Each bank and credit union sets its own rules. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.

What ID can I use instead of a Social Security number?

You do not need a Social Security number to open a checking or savings account. The federal government says so (CFPB).

The bank or credit union must check four things: your name, your date of birth, your address and an ID number. If you are not a U.S. citizen, the ID number can be:

• An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) from the IRS
• Your passport number and the country that issued it
• An alien identification card number
• The number from another government ID that has your photo, like a consular ID

Federal rules (31 CFR 1020.220) allow all of these. But each bank and credit union decides which ones it will take. So ask first.

What should I bring?

• A photo ID that has not expired. It can be from the U.S., a state or another country. Examples are a passport, a matrícula consular or another consular ID, or a California driver's license or ID card.
• Your ID number. This can be your ITIN or your passport number.
• Proof of where you live. A bill or a letter with your name and address works.
• Money for your first deposit. The CFPB says this is usually between $25 and $100.

What if a bank says no?

Try again. One no is not the end. Being turned away stings, but you still have options.

• Ask why. Ask which other IDs they accept.
• Try another place. Rules differ from one bank or credit union to the next.
• Ask about a lower risk account. Some accounts do not allow overdrafts. The CFPB says banks may rely less on past records for these accounts, so you might qualify even after a no.
• Check your report. If you were turned down because of a checking account report, the bank must send you a notice with the name of the company that made the report. You can then ask that company for a free copy. If something is wrong, you can dispute it in writing.
• File a complaint. If you think you were treated unfairly, see Who can help? below.

How do I find a low cost account?

Look for a Bank On certified account or a credit union. Fees can eat away at a small balance, and these are built to keep costs low.

Bank On certified accounts meet national standards set by the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, a nonprofit. These accounts have:

• No overdraft fees and no fees for bounced payments
• A monthly fee of $5 or less. If the fee can be waived, it can be up to $10, but there must be at least two simple ways to avoid it.
• An opening deposit of $25 or less
• A debit card, online banking and insured deposits

The standards strongly recommend that these accounts accept ITINs and consular IDs. They do not require it. So ask, even at a bank with a Bank On account.

Credit unions are another choice. You join as a member. The state says some credit unions focus on serving immigrant communities.

How do I get a matrícula consular?

Book an appointment at your Mexican consulate. The matrícula consular is an official ID from the Mexican government. Mexican consulates in the U.S. issue it. Some other countries offer a similar consular ID card through their consulates.

For the Mexican matrícula:

• Where to go: if you live in East Palo Alto or anywhere in San Mateo County, your consulate is the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco, 532 Folsom Street. If you live in Santa Clara County, it is the consulate in San José.
• Book first. Book online at citas.sre.gob.mx, or call or send a WhatsApp message to 1-424-309-0009.
• Bring the original of a paper that proves you are Mexican, like a birth certificate or a valid Mexican passport. Bring an official photo ID that matches it, and proof of your address in your name.
• Cost: Mexico's consulates list the 2026 fee as $41. Fees can change each year, so confirm the amount when you book.
• The card is good for five years.

Some banks and credit unions accept the matrícula. Others do not. Always ask before you go. A California driver's license or ID card can also work as photo ID; see Driver's license without papers.

What is an ITIN, and should I get one?

An ITIN is a nine digit number from the IRS. It is for people who need to file taxes but cannot get a Social Security number.

An ITIN is only for taxes. The IRS says it does not give you immigration status, and it does not give you permission to work.

You apply with IRS Form W-7, usually along with a tax return. Help is free at IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers and at some free tax help (VITA) sites. Before you pay anyone for help, read the warning signs of an immigration scam.

Our page on CalEITC and the Young Child Tax Credit with an ITIN explains how to apply, how long it takes, how to renew, and what is known about tax records and immigration. If you are worried about applying, talk first with a trusted immigration attorney or DOJ accredited representative.

Is my money safe in a bank?

Yes, if the bank or credit union is insured.

• Banks: the FDIC protects your money up to $250,000 per person, for each type of account ownership, at each insured bank. Protection starts on its own when you open the account. The FDIC says this protection is not limited to citizens and residents.
• Credit unions: the NCUA protects your money up to $250,000 for individual accounts at a federally insured credit union. It starts on its own when you join. It is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
• Not protected: stocks, bonds, investment products and crypto, even if you buy them through a bank.
• Payment apps: the state says payment apps do not have the same deposit protection as banks and credit unions.

Check if a bank is insured with the FDIC's BankFind tool.

What do check cashers and prepaid cards really cost?

More than you think. Check cashers charge you every time. California law limits the fee for cashing a paycheck or a government check. The limit is 3% if you show a California driver's license, a California ID card or a U.S. military ID. Without one of those, the limit is 3.5%. On a small check, they may charge up to $3 instead. A matrícula does not count for the lower rate.

Do the math. On an $800 paycheck, 3.5% is $28. Paid every two weeks, that adds up to $728 a year. A Bank On account with a $5 monthly fee costs $60 a year.

Check cashers must post all their fees where you can see them. If something seems wrong, you can file a complaint with the state.

Prepaid cards can help in a pinch, but most charge fees, such as to keep the card open, buy things or take out cash. If you use one, register it with the card company. The CFPB says a card that is not registered has fewer protections if it is lost or stolen.

Does a bank account help when I send money home?

Yes. Since January 1, 2026, a federal law (26 U.S.C. 4475) adds a 1% tax when you send money abroad through a money transfer company and pay with cash, a money order or a cashier's check. The tax does not apply when the transfer is paid from a bank or credit union account, or with a debit or credit card issued in the U.S. The transfer company collects it from you.

Do the math. Sending $400 home each month with cash costs $4 in tax each time, or $48 a year, on top of the company's fees. Paying from your account avoids that tax. Fees and exchange rates still differ by company, so compare before you send.

Who can help?

These are public offices and programs. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): complaints about banks, credit unions, prepaid cards and checking account reports. Online, or by phone at (855) 411-2372. Submit a complaint (consumerfinance.gov)
• California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI): complaints about state licensed banks, credit unions and check cashing stores. Help is offered in many languages. Call 1-866-275-2677. File a complaint (dfpi.ca.gov)
• Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: complaints about national banks. Help in English or Spanish. Call 1-800-613-6743. HelpWithMyBank.gov
• IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers and VITA sites: free help applying for an ITIN. How to apply for an ITIN (irs.gov)
• Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco: matrícula consular for people who live in San Mateo County, including East Palo Alto. 532 Folsom Street, San Francisco. Appointments by phone or WhatsApp at 1-424-309-0009, or online. citas.sre.gob.mx
• FDIC BankFind: check if a bank is insured. BankFind (fdic.gov)
• NCUA: check credit union insurance. ncua.gov
• Bank On: list of certified low cost accounts, run by a nonprofit. joinbankon.org

What should I ask the bank?

A safe place for your money is a real step toward the future you are building. You can do this.