It used to be that banks would let you open an account without an SSN but they would automatically close it after a period of time if you did not provide one. H

It used to be that banks would let you open an account without an SSN but they would automatically close it after a period of time if you did not provide one. However since the "Know your customer" regulations Banks are a lot more skittish about opening accounts for people without the proper identifiers. Probably the best way to start is to talk to your existing bank and see if they have arrangements in place for this sort of thing (most of the large ones do). They can probably also tell you what identifiers you will need to obtain. Be warned generally these kinds of account either require you to maintain a minimum balance or pay a monthly fee.