Answered August 2026

For checking before an ITIN, Bank of America has the clearer published route; for your first card, Chase has the clearer route after you qualify for an ITIN.

“I am traveling to the US soon for a short stay and want to open a bank account and start building US credit history. I have a US phone number and my partner's address, but no ITIN yet. Is Bank of America easier than Chase for this, and what are the steps to get an ITIN and a credit card to successfully build credit?”

Summary

You do not need to solve the ITIN first to try opening checking: federal rules allow a bank to identify a non-U.S. person by passport, and Bank of America publishes a foreign-TIN route. The harder part is your own credit card, because Chase requires an SSN or legitimately obtained ITIN and checking/debit alone will not build credit.

Your route forks between opening checking now and getting your own credit card only after you have a valid SSN or tax-based ITIN.

Bank of America checking before an ITINclearest now

This is the clearest published no-ITIN route for your profile: its international-professional page requires a physical U.S. address, foreign address, two IDs, and foreign , and says a U.S. TIN/ITIN is not required unless already issued. You apply at a Bank of America financial center.

Chase checking before an ITINbranch backup

This is a possible branch alternative. Chase requires original, unexpired primary and secondary IDs; for a visitor without a green card, a primary or secondary ID must contain a U.S. address. The fetched Chase guide does not resolve whether it will also demand an ITIN for your exact profile.

Your own Chase card after an ITINafter ITIN

If you legitimately qualify for an , Chase Freedom Rise is the best-documented first-card route here: it accepts an SSN or ITIN and targets people new to credit. At least $250 available in Chase checking or savings may improve approval odds, but is neither required nor a guarantee.

Partner’s authorized-user bridgeconditional

If your partner has a well-managed card and that issuer can identify and report you, being added as an may help establish credit history. Chase describes this only as a possibility, and the fetched page does not establish that you can be added without an SSN/ITIN.

Get an ITIN only to build creditnot allowed

Do not file Form W-7 solely for banking or credit. You need a federal tax purpose, must be ineligible for an SSN, and normally must attach a federal return unless a listed exception applies.

All accounts remain subject to identity checks and approval; neither a U.S. phone number nor a $250 balance guarantees approval.

Read the full explanation

Watch out for

An address is not the same as address proofYour partner’s address may fit the federal fallback for a contact address when you have no residential or business street address, but a bank may impose stricter identity procedures. Bank of America asks for proof of a physical U.S. address; Chase says a visitor without a green card must have a primary or secondary ID containing a U.S. address. A U.S. phone number does not replace that proof (31 CFR 1020.220; the banks’ ID rules).

An ITIN is not a credit-building numberThe IRS issues an only when you need a U.S. taxpayer number for a federal tax purpose and cannot get an SSN. Wanting a bank account or credit card is not, by itself, an IRS eligibility ground; an ITIN also does not authorize work or change immigration status (IRS ITIN guidance and Form W-7 Instructions).

The bank-interest exception is narrowForm W-7 Exception 1(c) avoids attaching a tax return only if you are a , have an interest-bearing individual deposit account whose interest is subject to IRS reporting or withholding, and obtain the bank’s original signed letter stating those facts. A short visit alone does not establish those conditions.

Bank of America publishes conflicting instructionsIts page tailored to international professionals says a foreign works and a U.S. TIN/ITIN is unnecessary unless already issued, while its general application FAQ says a nonpermanent resident must provide an ITIN. There is no hierarchy between those two bank pages, so the tailored route is the clearer first attempt—not a guarantee.

Checking and debit do not build creditA checking account can support payments and a later card application, but CFPB says debit-card use is not borrowing and does not prove that you can repay debt. Credit-building starts with a reported credit product or, sometimes, an relationship.

Avoid repeated card applicationsAn actual card application can create a , and Chase says many hard inquiries may reduce a score. Use its no-impact preapproval tool first, then make one well-prepared application; approval is not guaranteed.

Next steps

These steps separate what you can do before an ITIN from the tax and credit actions that must come later.

Before you travel

Prepare your in-branch banking packet

For Bank of America’s tailored route, the decisive items are the foreign and U.S. addresses, two IDs, and foreign FTIN; its page says no U.S. TIN/ITIN is needed unless already issued. Do not call your partner’s address your residence unless that is true; if it is only a contact address, the bank may require different proof.

Requirements

Your home-country

Your original, unexpired passport and any U.S. visa or border document you have

One original secondary ID, such as a foreign driver’s license or major Visa/Mastercard

Proof of your permanent foreign street address

Proof of the U.S. physical address you actually use, such as a government photo ID, current utility bill in your name, or rental agreement

Your U.S. phone number

During your U.S. stay

Open checking at a Bank of America financial center

Book the international-professional appointment at https://secure.bankofamerica.com/secure-mycommunications/public/appointments/?marketingCode=ENGPRO_ECBBA and take the originals. If the branch follows the conflicting general FAQ and insists on an ITIN, do not invent one or file W-7 just for banking; try Chase in-branch with a passport plus a second original, valid ID, one containing your U.S. address. The fetched Bank of America international page does not state an opening deposit or product fee, so those amounts remain unresolved rather than guessed.

Requirements

The complete document packet from Step 1

An in-person appointment

Before filing Form W-7

Place yourself in the correct ITIN branch

Branch A: if you must file a U.S. federal return, complete Form W-7 and attach that signed return. Branch B: without a return, use Exception 1(c) only if you are a , the interest-bearing individual account produces interest subject to IRS reporting or withholding, and the bank gives the required original signed letter. Branch C: if neither branch applies, you are not eligible for an ITIN merely to obtain a card.

Requirements

Proof that you are not eligible for an SSN

A genuine federal tax purpose

With the return or exception evidence

File Form W-7 if you qualify

The IRS charges $0. Mail the package to Internal Revenue Service, ITIN Operation, P.O. Box 149342, Austin, TX 78714-9342; make a designated IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center appointment; or use an IRS-authorized Acceptance Agent/Certifying Acceptance Agent, which may charge its own fee. File with a current-year return by that return’s due date; a prior-year return or qualifying exception may be filed at any time. Allow 7 weeks, or 9–11 weeks during January 15–April 30 or when applying from overseas.

Requirements

Completed and signed Form W-7

The federal return, or every document required by the claimed exception

Original valid passport or an issuing-agency-certified copy

After the ITIN arrives

Apply once for Chase Freedom Rise

Apply at https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/freedom/rise. The card has a $0 annual fee. At least $250 available in Chase checking or savings before applying may improve approval likelihood; it is not a security deposit, not required, and not a guarantee. Use https://creditcards.chase.com/check-for-preapproved-offers first because preapproval has no score impact, while the actual application can create a hard inquiry.

Requirements

Your SSN or issued

A U.S. mailing/street address matching your ID or legal documents

Gross annual income and proof such as pay stubs or self-employment records

Employment status, rent amount, and U.S. phone number

Age 18 or older

Every statement cycle

Build credit with repeatable habits

Put one small recurring purchase on the card, set automatic payment for the full statement balance by the due date, and keep well below the limit; CFPB cites no more than 30% as expert guidance, but lower is safer. Do not submit several applications close together, and keep the account open and current. Once it reports, review all three reports free each week at https://www.annualcreditreport.com; checking and debit-card use alone do not build this history.

Requirements

One reported credit-card or authorized-user account

Enough cash to pay the statement in full

Legal sources

This answer is based on 31 CFR 1020.220, IRS Form W-7 instructions and Publication 1915, CFPB guidance, and the banks’ own account and card materials.

31 CFR 1020.220

Federal bank-ID rules permit a passport or another listed government document instead of a U.S. taxpayer number for a non-U.S. customer.

31 CFR 1020.220

(a)(2)(i)(A)(4)(ii)

For a non-U.S. person, one or more of the following: A taxpayer identification number; passport number and country of issuance; alien identification card number; or number and country of issuance of any other government-issued document evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard.

Read the full text

Bank of America International Professionals

Bank of America publishes a profile-specific checking route using a foreign TIN rather than an unissued U.S. ITIN.

Bank of America International Professionals

Step 2, Collect required documents

Foreign Tax Identification Number (FTIN) An FTIN issued by a country other than the U.S. A U.S. TIN/ITIN is not required unless you’ve been issued one.

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Bank of America International Professionals

The same Bank of America page lists the address and ID packet.

Bank of America International Professionals

Step 2, Collect required documents

You’ll need to provide both a foreign and U.S. address, as well as two forms of ID and a tax identification number.

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Bank of America Account Application FAQ

Bank of America’s general FAQ conflicts with its tailored international page.

Bank of America Account Application FAQ

Nonpermanent-resident FAQ

You must be able to provide both your permanent (foreign) and local address, as well as your ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number).

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Chase Acceptable Forms of Identification

Chase requires two original, valid ID documents for branch account opening.

Chase Acceptable Forms of Identification

Things to know before you go

Please bring a primary and secondary form of ID. All documents must be original (we cannot accept copies or screenshots) and valid (not expired).

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IRS ITIN guidance

ITIN eligibility requires both a federal tax purpose and SSN ineligibility.

IRS ITIN guidance

What an ITIN is

An ITIN is a 9-digit number the IRS issues if you need a U.S. taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes, but you aren’t eligible for a Social Security number (SSN).

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