What Do I Need To Open a Checking Account

What do you need to open a checking account? It can vary a little from bank to bank but there are typically some fundamental necessities needed to open a checking account.

First Bank has five levels of checking accounts, each with varying conditions and capabilities. But let’s start with the basics that hold true for any checking account:

  1. Identification. You will be required to show a picture ID in order to open a checking account such as a driver’s license, passport or military ID card.
  2. Personal information. Basic information such as name, address, telephone number, date of birth and social security number.
  3. Deposit. You’ll need a small minimum amount of money to make the initial deposit into the account.
  4. Clean record. Before opening a new checking account, a most banks will run a consumer report of your previous banking relationships to make sure you don’t have a record of charged-off accounts or fraudulent activity. A bank will sometimes allow you to still open a new account provided you repay the charged off account.

What Kind Of Checking Account Do You Want To Open?

What you need to open a checking account depends on what you want out of a checking account. Let’s take a look at First Bank’s five personal checking account options.

  • Everywhere Checking. This is our most fundamental checking account.
  • Everywhere Plus. This option allows you to earn interest on your balance.
  • Everywhere Premium. Earn interest plus enjoy some additional perks such as an unlimited number of out-of-network ATM transactions with no First Bank fee.
  • Campus Checking. College students under the age of 25 get the benefit of a checking account free of a minimum balance requirement and monthly maintenance fees
  • Senior Checking. Customers age 65 and older can be fee-free with direct deposit and get free checks.

Visit your local First Bank and one of our friendly associates will help you with what you need to open a checking account. Or use our Compare Accounts feature to see which checking account is right for you.

Related Links