Wells Fargo non resident account guide

Wells Fargo® has a broad range of account services for everyday use, savings and investments, designed to meet diverse customer needs.

If you’re looking for a Wells Fargo bank account for foreigners residing in the US, or wondering if Wells Fargo can open accounts for non-US citizens, this guide is for you.

We’ll look at all the details of how non-US citizens can open a Wells Fargo account for daily use or investment, and also highlight an alternative — Wise. Wise accounts can be opened online and hold 50+ currencies for easy global spending. More on that later.

Learn more about Wise

Can a non-US citizen open a Wells Fargo account?

Wells Fargo offers regular checking account services¹ to non-US citizens. However, you’ll need to meet account eligibility requirements, which vary based on the specific account you’re interested in, and you’ll need to provide a set of documents for verification.

The exact documents you need can vary but it will usually include a proof of US address, and a government issued ID document to verify your identity.

Wells Fargo also has an international service for non-US residents looking to invest². This service allows non-US residents to invest with the help of Wells Fargo support staff or independently, and also access financial advice.

Can a non-resident open a Wells Fargo account online?

Not all Wells Fargo checking accounts can be opened online — even by US resident customers.

Where accounts are offered for online opening, you’re asked to provide your SSN or ITIN, a valid ID and an opening deposit.

If you’re a non-resident without a standard set of documents for verification, the chances are that you’ll need to open your account in a Wells Fargo branch.

Which Wells Fargo accounts are available for foreigners?

Wells Fargo offers checking accounts which can be opened by foreign customers. The 4 Wells Fargo checking account options are¹:

• Clear Access Banking
• Everyday Checking
• Prime Checking
• Premier Checking

All of these checking account products are available to foreign customers, subject to meeting the other account requirements and providing adequate documents for verification.

We’ll look at the documents needed later in more detail, but this will usually mean you have to provide 2 forms of ID, one of which must confirm your address.

If you’re a non-US citizen and don’t have an SSN or ITIN you’ll also need to have a government issued document which confirms your nationality or residence.

Opening a Wells Fargo account as a foreigner is possible, but it can be a bit more hassle compared to opening an account as a US citizen.

Opening a Wells Fargo account for non residents: step by step

Wells Fargo offers a pretty broad range of accounts, including 4 different checking account products. Some accounts can be opened online by eligible customers, but in other cases you’ll need to make an appointment at a branch to open your account.

If you’re a non-resident customer and don’t hold the standard documents used for ID and address verification, the chances are that you’ll need to visit a branch to get your account set up.

Here’s the process you’ll need to follow to open a Wells Fargo account as a non-US resident:

Step 1. Pick the Wells Fargo account that suits your needs

Step 2. Double check your eligibility for the account you prefer

Step 3. Gather the documents needed — these may vary based on your nationality and residency

Step 4. Apply in person or online, and present your documents for verification

Step 5. Pay your opening deposit — if you’re not a Wells Fargo customer already, you may be asked to deposit a check to get started

Step 6. Once your account is verified you can start to transact

We mentioned earlier that Wells Fargo also offers investment services for overseas and non-US customers.

These include a self-directed account you may be able to open online, and a couple of different managed investment services, which have to be opened with the help of a broker online or in a branch.

To learn more about Wells Fargo international services you can check out their desktop site² or call into a branch to ask for advice.

Advantages and disadvantages of a Wells Fargo non-resident account

There are several different accounts available from Wells Fargo for non-resident customers, including regular day to day accounts, and investment products.

If you’re still not sure whether Wells Fargo non-resident services are right for you, check out these pros and cons:

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Large branch and ATM network Different account types for different customer needs Non-residents can open accounts in the US or through Wells Fargo’s international investment arm	You’ll usually need to open your account in branch if you’re non-resident Checking accounts may have maintenance fees and usually require an opening deposit Transaction and service fees apply to all accounts

Everywhere money. Meet Wise: the world's most international account

Send, receive, and spend foreign currencies more easily with a multi-currency Wise Account. Wise is not a bank, but can be an attractive alternative for anyone looking for a flexible way to manage their money across USD and other foreign currencies.

You can open a Wise account for free online or in the Wise app, to hold 50+ currencies and get local bank details for USD and up to 9 other currencies.

Wise accounts also offer linked international debit cards for use in 170+ countries — and whenever you need to switch from one currency to another you’ll get the mid-market exchange rate with low conversion fees from 0.41%³.

Get started with Wise online or using just your phone, with your ID and a local proof of address from wherever you call home — no need to stand in line in a branch, and no minimum or opening deposit to pay, either.

Get started with Wise

This list is for information purposes only and is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all of the items that Wise may request to verify a customer's identity Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

What are the requirements to open a Wells Fargo bank account for foreigners?

Wells Fargo offers checking accounts to foreigners who hold the documents required for verification. If you’re not a US resident or citizen you can also choose to use the Wells Fargo international investment services which are available online, in branch and by phone.

Generally, to open a Wells Fargo account as a non-resident customer without standard US issued paperwork, you’ll need to visit a branch. Online account opening usually requires an SSN and US issued documents like a driving license.

Who's eligible?

Eligibility for Wells Fargo accounts can vary based on the specific account you’re interested in. For day to day checking accounts you’ll normally have to provide a couple of pieces of ID, one of which must prove your US address.

If you don’t have a US issued SSN you may still be able to open a Wells Fargo foreigner account, but you’ll be asked for more documents to support your application.

What documents will you need to open a Wells Fargo foreigner account?

You’ll usually have to provide 2 pieces of ID to open a Wells Fargo checking account. These can include:

• Primary ID: such as a US issued ID or driving license, Green Card, passport
• Secondary ID: employee ID, student ID or a credit card

One piece of ID must include your full address for verification purposes. If you don’t have a local SSN number or ITIN you’ll also be asked to provide a government issued document which shows your nationality or residence.

Account opening requirements for investment account products from Wells Fargo’s international arm vary — if you’re looking for ways to invest with Wells Fargo you’ll need to call the support team to discuss your specific situation and needs.

Wells Fargo foreigner account features

As mentioned before, Wells Fargo has 4 different checking account packages which suit different customer needs.

All of the Wells Fargo checking accounts have monthly maintenance fees, but you may be able to have these charges waived if you hold a minimum balance in your account.

Several of the checking account packages offer online account opening, but this may not be available for non-US customers, as standard documents are usually required.

If you’re not sure whether Wells Fargo’s non-resident account options are right for you, it makes sense to compare a few different providers to help you decide.

Here’s a quick overview of how Wells Fargo measures up against another major US bank, and Wise — a non-bank provider — on some key features and fees:

	Wells Fargo⁴	Bank of America®⁶	Wise**
Maintenance fee	10 USD (waived if minimum balance is maintained)	12 USD (waived if minimum balance is maintained)	No fee
ATM fee	2.50 USD out of network fee for non-Wells Fargo withdrawals in the US 5 USD for international withdrawals	2.50 USD out of network fee for non-Bank of America withdrawals in the US 5 USD for international withdrawals	2 withdrawals, to 100 USD/month free — low fees after thatWise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks
International transfer fee	Incoming 16 USD, outgoing 0 USD — 35 USD depending on how the transfer is arranged⁵	Variable fee for both incoming and outgoing transfers	Incoming — 4.14 USD wire fee, free to receive ACH and local transfers in a selection of other currencies Outgoing transfers from 0.41%
Foreign transaction fee	3%	3%	No fee

*Wells Fargo account profiled — Everyday Checking. Bank of America account profiled — Advantage Plus Banking, other account options also exist, which have their own features and fees

**Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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If you’re a non-US resident looking for easy ways to manage your money in USD you’ll find you can open a Wells Fargo account as long as you have the right paperwork to support your application. However, you may need to pop into a branch with your ID, and pay an opening deposit to get your account set up.

For an easier way to hold, receive, send, spend and exchange USD alongside 50+ other currencies, check out Wise. Wise accounts are free to open and come with local banking details to get paid easily from around the world, plus international debit cards for easy spending and withdrawal in 170+ countries.

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Sources:

1. Wells Fargo checking accounts
2. Wells Fargo International
3. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
4. Wells Fargo Everyday Checking fees
5. Wells Fargo service fees
6. Bank of America fee schedule

Sources checked on 04.25.2023