If you already receive Social Security or SSI benefits and you have a bank account, you can sign up for Direct Deposit by: You can also sign up for the Direct Express® debit card. The Direct Express® card is a debit card you can use to access your benefits and you don't need a bank account. With the Direct Express® card program, your federal benefit payment directly deposits into your card account. Your monthly benefits will be available on your payment day—on
time, every time. You can use the card to make purchases, pay bills or get cash at thousands of locations. It’s quick and easy to sign up for the card. Call the toll-free Direct Express® hotline at 1-800-333-1795. Also, Social Security can help you sign up. If you receive a paper check, you may visit Treasury’s webpage - Go Direct® - Home to enroll in direct deposit. If you don't have a bank account, you
must open an account before you can sign up for Direct Deposit. (You don’t need a bank account when you sign up for the Direct Express® card.) You should shop around in your area to find an account that has the features you want at a price you can afford. When you decide on the account that is right for you, let the representative at the financial institution know that you are interested in signing up to receive your benefits by Direct Deposit. If
you don’t get Social Security or SSI benefits yet but are planning to apply, tell the Social Security representative when you apply for benefits that you want to sign up for Direct Deposit. If you already have an account, have your checkbook or a copy of your bank statement with you.Already receiving benefits
Not currently receiving benefits
last reviewed: AUG 19, 2020
You are not required to have a social security number to open a checking or savings account.
To open a checking or savings account, the bank or credit union will need to verify your name, date of birth, address, and ID number. An ID number can be a social security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). To get an ITIN, you will need to fill out a form with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) .
If you don’t have a U.S. government-issued SSN or ITIN, some banks and credit unions will accept a passport number and country of issuance, an alien identification card number, or other government-issued ID number.
Visit different banks and credit unions to find out what types of accounts they offer, and what types of ID numbers they accept.
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It is about a year I am in the U.S. and have an account at Bank of America. I also have a travel reward credit card, but when I wanted to get my credit report from Credit Karma, I was told they could not find my information, or there was a mistake in my information, but I am sure I did not make any mistake.
The only thing I am concerned about is that I have not linked my Social Security Number to my bank account. Honestly, I do not know how to link my SSN to my bank account! I searched the internet, but I could not find any useful hint.
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- Required Identification
Yes, in certain circumstances. A bank may be required to obtain an identification number for several kinds of banking-related activities, including:
- When opening an account
- For monetary (deposit and loan) transactions
- For large currency transactions
- When reporting the interest earned on deposit accounts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
For a U.S. citizen, an identification number is the individual's Social Security number. For business accounts, an identification number is the employer identification number issued by the IRS.
Refer to 31 CFR 1020 "Rules for Banks."
Last Reviewed: April 2021
Please note: The terms "bank" and "banks" used in these answers generally refer to national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches or agencies of foreign banking organizations that are regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Find out if the OCC regulates your bank. Information provided on HelpWithMyBank.gov should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion of the OCC.