Before you start

Passport, with visa and I-94 if applicable
A Pennsylvania 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, Pennsylvania address and SSN or ITIN if issued. Federal Customer Identification Program rules explicitly permit a passport number and country of issuance instead 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 local bank or credit union alongside a national one
PNC is headquartered in Pittsburgh and Dollar Bank is a large local mutual; the region also has a deep credit-union sector tied to the hospitals and the universities. Local institutions tend to be more flexible on thin credit files and much more comfortable with the city's older housing stock than a national app is.
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 around $500, and get a card with a matching limit that reports to the credit bureaus. Age of history matters as much as behaviour, so the clock is the thing you are buying.
OnlineWho: YouMonth 1
6
If you are thinking of buying, price the assessment before the mortgage
Allegheny County assessments run against a 2012 base year and a newly purchased house is a standing candidate for an appeal that raises it. Look the parcel up on the county's real estate portal, find out whether the Act 50 homestead exclusion is on file, and get local advice on the appeal calendar. This is a bigger number over ten years than a quarter-point on the rate.
OnlineWho: You
7
Set up water and sewer billing deliberately
Pittsburgh Water bills water and sewer separately from other utilities and has been running a large lead service line replacement programme across the older neighbourhoods. Confirm at lease signing whether water is in your name or the landlord's, get the meter reading in writing on move-in day, and ask whether the line to the property has been replaced.
OnlineWho: 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 a Pennsylvania address
Employer offer letter, accepted by some institutions as supporting evidence

Things most newcomers don’t know

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 often do not know this. Escalate politely, or try a credit union, before concluding you must wait for the SSN.

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

Buying here is an assessment question before it is a mortgage question.

Allegheny County assesses against a 2012 base year, so the assessed value on the parcel today may bear little relation to what you paid. A sale is exactly the event that invites an appeal — often from the school district, which has the most to gain. Budget for the possibility that your tax bill rises after year one, and check the parcel on the county portal before you offer.

Source: Allegheny County Office of Property Assessments

The Act 50 homestead exclusion has to be applied for.

Allegheny County reduces the assessed value of an owner-occupied principal residence by $18,000 for county tax purposes — but only for owners with an application on file, and it does not arrive with the deed. Municipalities and school districts may add their own exclusions on top. Filing it is a single form and people forget for years.

Source: Allegheny County — Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (Act 50)

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.
Buying without checking the parcel's assessment and appeal history on the county portal.
Assuming the homestead exclusion transfers with the property — it does not.
Using a national lender on a cheap pre-war hillside house and being told it cannot be financed.
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.