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The short answer
Most US banks open accounts for new immigrants who bring an unexpired Nigerian passport, a second form of ID or immigration document, and a US address. A Social Security number makes it easier, but each bank sets its own list, and some accept an ITIN or no taxpayer number at the start. The SSA suggests waiting about 10 days after arrival before applying for an SSN, so plan for a short gap.
What a US bank needs to see
Every US bank has to confirm who you are before it opens an account, but the exact documents are the bank's own policy, not one national list. That is why one branch in Houston may open your account on the day and another in the same street asks you to come back. For a Nigerian who has just landed, the request usually falls into four groups.
- Primary ID: your unexpired Nigerian passport. Banks rarely accept a Nigerian driving licence or NIN slip on its own, because staff cannot check them easily.
- Immigration document: the visa in your passport, your I-94 arrival record, a Green Card (Form I-551) or an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766). These are the same documents the Social Security Administration lists for SSN applications.
- US address: a lease, a utility bill, a letter from an employer or university, or official post at the address. A hotel or a friend's home address is often not enough.
- Taxpayer number: an SSN if you have one, or an ITIN, or a note that you have applied. Policies differ most here.
Bring originals. The SSA refuses photocopies and notarised copies for its own applications, and bank staff tend to follow the same instinct.
The SSN gap and how to work around it
Most new immigrants arrive without an SSN. If you came on an immigrant visa and asked for an SSN with the visa application, the SSA says the card is usually mailed to the address on that application, with no office visit. If you are adjusting status inside the US, the request goes through Form I-485 and the SSA asks you to contact it if no card has arrived 14 days after your Green Card. Work-visa holders and students apply themselves, and the SSA recommends waiting about 10 days after arrival so it can verify your documents.
In those first weeks you have three practical options:
- Ask your chosen bank whether it will open an account with a passport and immigration document and add the SSN later. Many large banks and credit unions have a written policy for this; ask the branch to show it.
- If you are not eligible for an SSN at all (for example a dependant spouse without work permission), apply for an ITIN when you have a tax reason to do so. The IRS is clear that an ITIN is for federal tax purposes only, but some banks accept it as the taxpayer number on an account.
- Use an account you already hold. Your Nigerian accounts and any multicurrency account you opened before moving keep working while the US paperwork catches up.
Checking or savings, bank or credit union
A checking account is where your salary lands and your debit card draws from. A savings account pays interest and is for money you do not plan to spend this month. Most newcomers open both at once. Credit unions are member-owned and often more flexible with new arrivals, but you have to meet their membership rule, such as living or working in a county or working for a named employer.
| Question to ask | Why it matters for a newcomer |
|---|---|
| Is there a monthly fee, and how is it waived? | Fees are often waived with a direct deposit or a minimum balance; check the bank's fee schedule. |
| Can I open without an SSN today? | Saves a second trip and a delay to your first pay cheque. |
| Is there an international wire fee, in and out? | Matters if family or your old employer will send you money. |
| Does the account come with a debit card I can use abroad? | Useful for trips home; foreign transaction fees vary. |
Worked example: your first fortnight
Example only. Ada lands in Atlanta on a work visa on a Monday. She signs a lease on day 3, which gives her a proof of address. On day 10 she starts her SSN application online and books an office visit, taking her passport and I-94. On day 11 she opens a checking account with her passport, visa, I-94 and lease, and the bank notes the SSN as pending. Her employer pays her first salary into that account on day 21, and she updates the bank with her SSN once the card arrives by post. Her Nigerian account carries her through the gap. For Atlanta specifics, see opening a bank account in Atlanta as a newcomer.
What to check first
- Your passport is unexpired and your I-94 record matches it.
- You have one document that shows your US address in your name.
- You have asked the bank, in writing or on its website, what it accepts without an SSN.
- You know whether you qualify for an SSN or need an ITIN (see how to get an SSN).
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal Account can be opened from any country and holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR with local account details for each, so you are not without an account while a US bank processes your file. Money stays in the currency it arrived in; Swap converts only when you choose, and the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners. You can see how the multicurrency account works or open an account.
Questions people ask
Can I open a US bank account before I get my SSN?
Often yes. Many banks open with an unexpired passport, an immigration document and a US address, and add the SSN later. Ask the branch for its written policy.
Will a US bank accept my Nigerian driving licence as ID?
Usually not as your main ID. Use your Nigerian passport as primary ID and a US immigration document as the second.
Is an ITIN the same as an SSN for banking?
No. The IRS issues an ITIN for federal tax purposes only. Some banks accept it as the taxpayer number on an account, others do not.
How long after arriving should I apply for my SSN?
The SSA recommends waiting about 10 days after you arrive so it can verify your documents faster.
Sources
- Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens, SSA Publication 05-10096 (Feb 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Instructions for Form W-7 (Rev. December 2024), IRS · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.