Can a non-us citizen get a checking account?

Someone asked me about this but I have no idea..anyone?

Wasn't there a big deal several months ago about Bank of America deciding to allow illegal immigrants to open checking accounts?

I don't remember all of the details, so I might be wrong, but it seems to me that I read about it in the news somewhere!?

Alias...Do you mean non-resident aliens?

MCA...In order to open the account, they need be a US Citizen with State or Military issued ID or have a US Permanent Alien Identification (green card) for non-US citizens. Some banks will open an account to a non-resident alien but only in person in the branch, not online.

No, Guest, I do mean illegal immigrants. The following article is from USA Today, February 13, 2007.

Bank of America, the country's second-largest bank, "has quietly begun offering credit cards to customers without Social Security numbers -- typically illegal immigrants," according to the Wall Street Journal.

Customers can qualify for a credit card if they have had a checking account at the bank for at least three months. They are required to leave a deposit and pay a relatively high interest rate, according to the paper.

The program is controversial. Bank of America says it will help undocumented workers build good credit. But critics say one of the USA's largest financial institutions should not be helping people who violate the country's immigration laws.

"They are clearly crossing the line; they are actually aiding and abetting people who broke the law," says the spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

Apparently, the article that I remembered reading was referring to credit cards, not to bank accounts. However, if you note in the second paragraph, they have to have had a checking account with the bank for at least three months in order to qualify for the credit card. So I guess that means they can open a checking account.

You are right alias I remember reading about this also. I would think that if they are going to give out credit cards why not open other accounts for them.

I believe as long as someone has a social security number, they can get a bank account. At least that was the way it was for my husband, he was unable to be put onto my checking account and credit cards until I was able to provide them with his social security number. That was 3 years ago and a lot of the "immigration" laws have changed so that might not be the case any longer.

thanks for all the responses everyone