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, Washington address and SSN or ITIN if issued. Federal Customer Identification Program rules explicitly permit a passport number and country of issuance instead of a taxpayer number for non-US persons — a refusal on that ground is bank policy, not law.
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; raising it can pull your banking forward by weeks.
In personWho: You
3
Consider a credit union
Washington has an unusually strong credit union sector — BECU is one of the largest in the country and was founded by Boeing employees. Credit unions frequently take a more human approach to thin credit files than large banks, and their rates on savings and loans are generally better.
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, often $500, and get a card with a matching limit that reports to the bureaus like any other. Age of history matters as much as behaviour, so start immediately rather than when you need credit.
OnlineWho: YouMonth 1
6
Pay in full every month and keep utilisation low
Autopay the statement balance and keep the balance under 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 Washington address
Employer offer letter, accepted by many Seattle banks and credit unions

Things most newcomers don’t know

Seattle's credit unions are unusually strong and unusually flexible.

BECU, founded by Boeing employees, is among the largest credit unions in the United States, and the region has several more of real scale. Credit unions are member-owned, tend to price loans and savings better than large banks, and are often more willing to work with a thin credit file and an employer letter. In a region built on importing workers, that flexibility is well practised.

Source: community-reported

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 often do not know this. If refused, escalate or try a bank or credit union with a stated newcomer programme.

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

No credit history is treated worse than bad credit history.

US underwriting scores a file; a file that does not exist cannot be scored. A well-paid engineer with an Amazon or Microsoft offer can be declined for a flat, a phone contract and a card in the same week. Nothing about your financial standing at home transfers.

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 typically 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.
Overlooking credit unions, which frequently offer better terms and more flexibility here than the big banks.
Delaying a secured card until credit is needed.
Carrying a balance in the belief that 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.