Before you start

Passport, with visa and I-94 where applicable
A Florida residential address
An SSN or ITIN if you have one; a passport number if not
An opening deposit, which varies by institution

Step-by-step

1
Open a checking account in branch
Bring your passport, Florida address and SSN or ITIN if issued. Federal Customer Identification Program rules allow a passport number and country of issuance in place of a taxpayer number for non-US persons.
In personWho: YouWeek 1
2
Mention a pending ITIN if you have no SSN
Banks may open accounts for people who have applied for but not yet received an ITIN. File IRS Form W-7 and keep the receipt.
In personWho: You
3
Consider a Jacksonville credit union
VyStar and Community First both began as local institutions and have a large regional membership, including military-linked eligibility. Credit unions are routinely more flexible with thin files and price loans better than national banks.
In personWho: You
4
Set up direct deposit
Give payroll your routing and account numbers. Direct deposit waives the monthly maintenance fee on most US checking accounts.
Via employerWho: You and your employer
5
Open a secured credit card in month one
Post a deposit, typically $200–500, and get a card with a matching limit that reports to all three credit bureaus. Age of history matters as much as behaviour, so starting early is worth more than starting large.
OnlineWho: YouMonth 1
6
Expect the credit file to affect your insurance quotes too
Florida permits credit-based insurance scoring in auto and homeowners pricing. In the most expensive insurance state in the country, a thin file is not just a lending problem — it shows up on a premium you cannot avoid paying.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport, with country of issuance serving as the identifying number if you have no SSN or ITIN
Visa and I-94, where applicable
SSN card or ITIN letter, if issued
Proof of a Florida address
Employer offer letter, accepted by some banks as supporting evidence

Things most newcomers don’t know

In Florida the credit file prices your insurance, not just your loans.

Florida permits credit-based insurance scores in auto and property underwriting. Because premiums here are already among the highest in the US, the effect of a thin file is larger in dollar terms than it would be in most states — and unlike a car loan, you cannot simply defer buying insurance until your file matures.

Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

Federal rules let a bank take your passport instead of an SSN.

The Customer Identification Program rule accepts a passport number and country of issuance for non-US persons. Branch staff frequently do not know this; escalate to a manager or try a credit union rather than waiting months for an SSN.

Source: FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual — Customer Identification Program

No credit history is treated worse than bad credit history.

US underwriting scores a file, and a file that does not exist cannot be scored. A well-paid newcomer can be declined for an apartment, a car loan and a phone contract in the same week.

Source: community-reported

Carrying a balance builds interest, not credit.

Scores respond to on-time payment and low utilisation, not to interest paid. Paying in full each month builds history identically and saves a rate above 20% APR.

Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — credit cards

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting for an SSN before trying to open an account, when a passport is often enough.
Financing a car in month one with no credit file and accepting a punitive rate.
Not realising a thin file raises your Florida insurance premiums as well as your borrowing costs.
Delaying a secured card until credit is actually needed.
Paying an avoidable monthly maintenance fee by never setting up direct deposit.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

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