Money & Cost

Bank Account Comparison (no-SSN friendly)

Pick a bank that opens accounts without SSN. Most do; the differences are in fees, ATM access, and wire rates.

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ATM visits per month

International wires / transfers per month

I have an SSN / ITIN Opens more bank options.

Average monthly deposits (USD)

Idle

If you have SSN/ITIN: most traditional banks (Chase, BoA, Wells) will open a basic checking instantly. If not, only some banks will.
Estimate monthly ATM visits. If your bank doesn't refund out-of-network ATM fees, $3 per visit adds up.
If your parents send money internationally each month, factor the wire fee.
Watch the minimum-balance fee — many accounts advertise 'free' but charge $12 if your balance dips under $1,500.

Do I need SSN to open a US bank account?

Most major banks accept passport + I-20 + student ID + second form (visa, I-94). Some online banks (Ally, SoFi) require SSN/ITIN.

What about Zelle vs Venmo vs CashApp?

All three work without SSN for sending/receiving up to weekly caps. Zelle ties to your bank; Venmo and CashApp can hold a balance.

Is opening multiple accounts allowed?

Yes, but ChexSystems tracks bounced checks and excess account applications. Don't open 5 accounts in a month.

Bank fees change quarterly; figures are approximate.
Promotional sign-up bonuses (Chase $200, etc.) aren't modeled.
International transfer fee includes only the bank side. Wise / Remitly / Western Union add their own on top.