What do I need to open a checking account? To open a checking account, you must be 18 years or older and are required to have the following: Valid U.S. government-issued ID (e.g. Driver’s License, Passport, State or Military ID) Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) Basic employment and personal information such as date of birth and primary address You may also need to lift a credit freeze to open a checking account because the credit union or bank may run a soft credit pull to verify your identity. A soft pull will not impact your credit score. The above requirements usually do not apply if you are opening a checking account at your current credit union or bank.
