Before you start

Passport, with visa and I-94 if applicable
A Lexington 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, local address and SSN or ITIN if issued. Federal Customer Identification Program rules explicitly allow a passport number and country of issuance instead of a taxpayer number for non-US persons.
In personWho: YouWeek 1
2
Mention a pending ITIN if you have no SSN
Institutions may open accounts for people who have applied for but not yet received an ITIN. File IRS Form W-7 and bring the receipt.
In personWho: You
3
Try a credit union, especially a university one
The University of Kentucky's credit union and several community-chartered Kentucky credit unions serve anyone living or working in the area, and they are consistently more flexible with a thin file than a national bank. If you are joining the university or the hospital system, this is the obvious first stop.
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 around $500, and get a card with a matching limit that reports to the credit bureaus. Age of history counts as much as behaviour, so start immediately rather than well.
OnlineWho: YouMonth 1
6
Think hard before financing a car in week one
Kentucky's 10-day registration deadline applies to a car you brought, not one you must buy — so there is no legal reason to rush a loan. With no credit file you will be offered a large deposit or several points above market. If a UK ID or a short commute can carry you for six months, it will save real money.
In personWho: 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 Lexington address
Employer offer letter, accepted by some institutions as supporting evidence

Things most newcomers don’t know

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 and will tell you to come back with a Social Security card. Escalate, or try a credit union.

Source: FDIC — Customer Identification Program requirements

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 a flat and a car loan in the same week, and building one takes months rather than days.

Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — bank accounts

The 10-day vehicle deadline does not mean you must buy a car in 10 days.

The clock applies to registering a vehicle you already own, not to acquiring one. People conflate the two, rush into finance with no credit file, and pay for it over five years. If you can get to work without a car for a few months, do.

Source: Kentucky DRIVE — new to Kentucky

A pending ITIN is often enough to open an account.

You do not have to wait for the number to arrive. Form W-7 takes weeks; many institutions will open an account on the receipt plus a passport, which unblocks payroll and a deposit on a flat.

Source: IRS — US taxpayer identification number requirement

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.
Never trying a credit union, where a human reads a thin file.
Delaying a secured card until you actually need credit, and losing six months of history.
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.