Before you start

Passport, with visa and I-94 where applicable
An Ohio residential address
An SSN or ITIN if you have one; a passport number if not
An opening deposit, which varies by institution

Step-by-step

1
Open a checking account in branch
Bring your passport, Ohio address and SSN or ITIN if issued. Federal Customer Identification Program rules allow a passport number and country of issuance in place of a taxpayer number for non-US persons.
In personWho: YouWeek 1
2
Mention a pending ITIN if you have no SSN
Banks may open accounts for people who have applied for but not yet received an ITIN. File IRS Form W-7 and keep the receipt.
In personWho: You
3
Consider a Cleveland credit union
The metro has a deep credit-union sector, including institutions serving Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals staff. They are routinely more flexible with thin files than national banks and price loans better.
In personWho: You
4
Set up direct deposit
Give payroll your routing and account numbers. Direct deposit waives the monthly maintenance fee on most US checking accounts.
Via employerWho: You and your employer
5
Open a secured credit card in month one
Post a deposit, typically $200–500, and get a card with a matching limit reporting to all three bureaus. Age of history matters as much as behaviour, so starting early beats starting large.
OnlineWho: YouMonth 1
6
Think about a mortgage earlier than you would elsewhere
Cleveland has some of the cheapest housing of any major US metro, so buying becomes realistic on an ordinary salary far sooner than on the coasts. That makes credit-file building unusually valuable here — two years of clean history is the difference between a mortgage and another five years of renting.
In personWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport, with country of issuance serving as the identifying number if you have no SSN or ITIN
Visa and I-94, where applicable
SSN card or ITIN letter, if issued
Proof of an Ohio address
Employer offer letter, accepted by some banks as supporting evidence

Things most newcomers don’t know

Cheap housing makes the credit file matter sooner here than on the coasts.

A median Cleveland house is within reach of an ordinary professional salary, so the question 'can I get a mortgage' arrives in year two rather than year eight. Anyone who spends their first two years paying for everything in cash arrives at that moment unscoreable. Start a secured card in month one specifically because of this.

Source: community-reported

Federal rules let a bank take your passport instead of an SSN.

The Customer Identification Program rule accepts a passport number and country of issuance for non-US persons. Branch staff frequently do not know this; escalate to a manager or try a credit union rather than waiting months for an SSN.

Source: FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual — Customer Identification Program

No credit history is treated worse than bad credit history.

US underwriting scores a file, and a file that does not exist cannot be scored. A well-paid newcomer can be declined for an apartment, a car loan and a phone contract in the same week.

Source: community-reported

Carrying a balance builds interest, not credit.

Scores respond to on-time payment and low utilisation, not to interest paid. Paying in full each month builds history identically and saves a rate above 20% APR.

Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — credit cards

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting for an SSN before trying to open an account, when a passport is often enough.
Paying cash for everything for two years and arriving at a mortgage application unscoreable.
Financing a car in month one with no credit file and accepting a punitive rate.
Delaying a secured card until credit is actually needed.
Paying an avoidable monthly maintenance fee by never setting up direct deposit.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.