Before you start

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

Step-by-step

1
Open a checking account in branch
Bring your passport, California 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. Chula Vista and South Bay branches handle this daily.
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
If you have cross-border finances, say so up front
Several banks operate on both sides and can link US and Mexican accounts, which matters if you are paying rent in pesos or supporting family across the line. Ask specifically rather than assuming international transfers are your only option.
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 $500, and get a card with a matching limit that reports to the credit bureaus. Age of history matters as much as behaviour.
OnlineWho: YouMonth 1
6
Pay in full every month and keep utilisation low
Autopay the statement balance and keep the balance below about 30% of the limit. Carrying a balance builds interest, not credit.
Mobile appWho: 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 California address
Employer offer letter, accepted by some banks as supporting evidence

Things most newcomers don’t know

Border-region branches are the easiest place in America to open an account on a foreign passport.

South Bay and Chula Vista branches serve cross-border customers as a matter of routine, so a Mexican or other foreign passport is unremarkable rather than a problem to escalate. If you have been refused elsewhere in the US, this is where the same application usually succeeds.

Source: community-reported

California bans credit-based pricing of car insurance.

Under Proposition 103 rules, California insurers may not use credit history to set auto premiums, unlike most states. For a newcomer with no US credit file this removes one penalty entirely — though a lack of US driving history still counts against you.

Source: California Department of Insurance

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 and a car loan in the same week.

Source: community-reported

Carrying a balance builds interest, not credit.

Scores respond to on-time payment and low utilisation, not 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 usually enough here.
Delaying a secured card until credit is needed.
Using expensive wire transfers for routine cross-border payments without asking about linked accounts.
Carrying a balance in the belief it helps your score.
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.