Ben Gran is a freelance contributor for Forbes Advisor on banking. He also writes for The Ascent (a Motley Fool service), where he covers insurance, credit cards, personal finance and investing. Ben ...

Mark Henricks has written on mortgages, real estate and investing for many leading publications. He works from Austin, Texas, where he engages in songwriting, wilderness backpacking, whitewater ...

Have your contact information and proof of identity ready, and be prepared to fund your new account. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who ...

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, ...

You'll need a government-issued ID and some basic information, and you might have to deposit some money to get started. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising ...

Not all banks require every document, but better to have them and not need them Drazen Zigic / Getty Images Opening a bank checking account requires specific documents due to federal verification laws ...

Fraudsters can open bank accounts using stolen personal information like your name, address, Social Security number, and existing account details. Check for unauthorized accounts by reviewing ...

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, ...