Anyone know where to get a safe deposit box?
u/The3rdLetterr/AskNYCAug 1, 2026
TD Bank is the answer -- I went through this earlier this year.
You can look for a jewelry box at three named Manhattan bank branches or a private 47th Street vault that advertises rentals without a bank account.
“I recently moved to NY from London and am looking for a safety deposit box for my jewelry. They seem less common here than in the UK. What are my options for finding a provider in Manhattan as a newcomer?”
Summary
You have identifiable places to start even if you have only recently arrived. The uncertain parts are whether a suitable box is vacant, what each bank charges and what insurance actually covers—not a requirement to have lived in New York for a particular length of time.
You can compare a bank branch with a private vault; the main newcomer difference is each provider’s identification and account requirements.
Ask a Manhattan bank branchbank option
These branches expressly list boxes: [TD Bank, 1504 Third Avenue](https://locations.td.com/us/1504-3rd-avenue-85th-3rd), (212) 396-5740; [Apple Bank, 1555 First Avenue](https://www.applebank.com/contact/locations/1555-first-avenue), (212) 472-5576; and [Ridgewood Savings Bank Yorkville, 1646 First Avenue](https://branches.ridgewoodbank.com/ridgewood-savings-bank-017fd8b8), (212) 348-2200. A bank must apply rules to a box. For a non-U.S. person, the federal rule permits a passport number and issuing country as identifying information, but it does not establish that a particular branch has space or will accept your documents without anything else. [31 CFR 1020.100](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-31/subtitle-B/chapter-X/part-1020/subpart-A/section-1020.100); [31 CFR 1020.220](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-31/subtitle-B/chapter-X/part-1020/subpart-B/section-1020.220).
Ask a private vaultno bank account
[Manhattan Vaults](https://manhattanvaults.com/) advertises storage on 47th Street without requiring a bank account. Its [published prices](https://manhattanvaults.com/prices/) list a small box at $400 per year and a refundable $125 key deposit; its [FAQ](https://manhattanvaults.com/faq/) describes passport or driving-licence identification and recent proof of address. Email **info@manhattanvaults.com** for its precise visit address, a vacant size and written insurance terms before paying or bringing your jewelry. Its advertised $10,000 insurance is not . [FDIC](https://www.fdic.gov/consumer-resource-center/deposit-insurance-glance).
Neither an advertised safe-deposit service nor an advertised insurance amount confirms that a box is vacant or that your jewelry is fully covered.
Read the full explanationHide the full explanation
Watch out for
A bank box still requires identificationFederal rules treat a bank safe-deposit box as an account for . If the bank classifies you as a non-U.S. person, its rules permit a passport number and issuing country as identifying information; if it classifies you as a U.S. person, the rule calls for a taxpayer identification number. A UK passport does not, by itself, settle which category applies to you, and the bank may have its own document requirements. [31 CFR 1020.100](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-31/subtitle-B/chapter-X/part-1020/subpart-A/section-1020.100); [31 CFR 1020.220](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-31/subtitle-B/chapter-X/part-1020/subpart-B/section-1020.220).
The box is not deposit-insured does not cover a safe-deposit box or its contents. Manhattan Vaults advertises $10,000 of complimentary insurance, but that is not proof that all your jewelry—or every type of loss—is covered; obtain the policy terms and compare them with your own jewelry or renters coverage before storing anything. [FDIC](https://www.fdic.gov/consumer-resource-center/deposit-insurance-glance); [Manhattan Vaults](https://manhattanvaults.com/); [New York Department of Financial Services](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/help_for_homeowners/renters_tenants/renters_insurance).
An advertised service is not an empty boxThe three bank branches list safe-deposit service, but their pages do not establish a box available for you today or a rental price. Manhattan Vaults advertises a 47th Street location without publishing a precise street number on the pages reviewed. Confirm the address and available box size before making a trip or paying. [TD Bank](https://locations.td.com/us/1504-3rd-avenue-85th-3rd); [Apple Bank](https://www.applebank.com/contact/locations/1555-first-avenue); [Ridgewood Savings Bank](https://branches.ridgewoodbank.com/ridgewood-savings-bank-017fd8b8); [Manhattan Vaults](https://manhattanvaults.com/).
Next steps
These steps let you compare actual providers without assuming that an advertised box is vacant or insured.
Before contacting a provider
Gather identification and an address document
Manhattan Vaults’ [FAQ](https://manhattanvaults.com/faq/) describes a passport or driving licence plus recent proof of address. For a bank box, the federal rule permits passport number and issuing country as an identifying-number option if you are a non-U.S. person; a bank may require additional documents under its own identification procedures. [31 CFR 1020.220](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-31/subtitle-B/chapter-X/part-1020/subpart-B/section-1020.220).
Requirements
Your valid passport or other photo identification
A recent document showing your New York address, such as a utility or bank statement
Bank route
Compare the three bank branches
Contact [TD Bank, 1504 Third Avenue](https://locations.td.com/us/1504-3rd-avenue-85th-3rd) at (212) 396-5740, [Apple Bank, 1555 First Avenue](https://www.applebank.com/contact/locations/1555-first-avenue) at (212) 472-5576, and [Ridgewood Savings Bank, 1646 First Avenue](https://branches.ridgewoodbank.com/ridgewood-savings-bank-017fd8b8e026) at (212) 348-2200. Ask each for a vacant size, total rental cost, document requirements and whether an additional banking relationship is required. Their published branch listings do not answer those questions; no government application fee or filing deadline applies to this comparison.
Requirements
Your preferred box size
Your identification documents
Private-vault route
Request a written private-vault offer if useful
Email **info@manhattanvaults.com**. Its [price page](https://manhattanvaults.com/prices/) advertises a small box for $400 a year plus a refundable $125 key deposit, and its [site](https://manhattanvaults.com/) advertises $10,000 insurance. Obtain the exact street address, confirmation of a vacant box, the rental agreement and the insurance policy terms before paying.
Requirements
Your preferred box size
Passport or driving licence and recent proof of address
Before you deposit anything
Record and protect the jewelry before storing it
Photograph and list the pieces, then compare the provider’s written insurance terms with your renters or jewelry policy. [New York’s insurance regulator](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/help_for_homeowners/renters_tenants/renters_insurance) flags limited jewelry coverage; [FDIC insurance](https://www.fdic.gov/consumer-resource-center/deposit-insurance-glance) does not cover box contents.
Requirements
Photographs and an inventory of the jewelry
The applicable vault agreement and insurance terms
Others who faced this
You are not the first to go through this. Here is how it went for others who asked the same thing.
Legal sources
This answer uses federal bank-identification regulations, FDIC and CFPB guidance, New York insurance guidance, and the providers’ own branch and rental pages.
TD Bank 85th & 3rd branch listing
TD’s own branch page advertises safe-deposit service at its 1504 Third Avenue branch.
TD Bank 85th & 3rd branch listing
Safe Deposit Boxes available
Apple Bank 1555 First Avenue branch listing
Apple Bank’s own 1555 First Avenue branch listing identifies safe-deposit service.
Apple Bank 1555 First Avenue branch listing
Safe Deposit Box
Ridgewood Savings Bank Yorkville branch listing
Ridgewood’s own Yorkville branch listing identifies safe-deposit service.
Ridgewood Savings Bank Yorkville branch listing
Safe Deposit
Manhattan Vaults service page
The private provider says a bank account is unnecessary and advertises an insurance amount, whose policy terms still need confirmation.
Manhattan Vaults service page
You do not need a Bank Account to store valuables with us. Complimentary insurance of $10,000 on all box rentals.
Manhattan Vaults prices
The provider’s price table lists $400 for its smallest advertised box; the table presents rental prices annually.
Manhattan Vaults prices
Box A price
$400
Manhattan Vaults prices
The provider’s price page lists a refundable $125 key deposit.
Manhattan Vaults prices
Key deposit
$125
Manhattan Vaults FAQ
The provider’s FAQ describes identification and address-document requirements for renting.
Manhattan Vaults FAQ
Identification
passport
31 CFR 1020.100(a)
For bank identification rules, establishing a safe-deposit-box relationship counts as opening an account.
31 CFR 1020.100(a)
§ 1020.100(a)
Account also includes a relationship established to provide a safety deposit box or other safekeeping services, or cash management, custodian, and trust services.
31 CFR 1020.220
A bank’s federal identification rule allows passport details as one identifying-number option for a non-U.S. person.
31 CFR 1020.220
§ 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.
31 CFR 1020.220
The regulation sets a different identifying-number requirement for a person the bank classifies as a U.S. person.
31 CFR 1020.220
§ 1020.220(a)(2)(i)(A)(4)(i)
For a U.S. person, a taxpayer identification number;
CFPB Checklist for Opening a Bank or Credit Union Account
The CFPB cautions that acceptance of foreign identification differs among financial institutions.
CFPB Checklist for Opening a Bank or Credit Union Account
If you do not have a U.S. or state government issued form of identification, some banks and credit unions accept foreign passports and Consular IDs, such as the Matricula Consular card.
FDIC Deposit Insurance at a Glance
Federal deposit insurance does not insure rented boxes or the property inside them.
FDIC Deposit Insurance at a Glance
Not covered
Safe deposit boxes or their contents
NYDFS Renters Insurance
New York’s insurance regulator flags limits for jewelry in ordinary renters coverage.
NYDFS Renters Insurance
jewelry (limited)
NYDFS Renters Insurance
The state insurance regulator recommends documenting belongings, including jewelry.
NYDFS Renters Insurance
Before purchasing a renters policy, conduct a complete inventory of all your personal belongings, taking photos or a video of things like furniture, jewelry and expensive electronics items.
These are the published rules and provider descriptions on the dates stated; rules, offers and availability can change.
This is general information about official processes, not legal advice, and SettleKit is not a law firm.
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