Banking

Banks and credit unions offer safe places to put money during your visit to the U.S. Services include checking and savings accounts, investment vehicles such as certificates of deposits (CDs), loans, automatic teller cards (ATM), debit cards, credit cards, safe deposit boxes, and security. Whatever your source of income, it is important to have some liquid assets.

Although most U.S. financial Institutions require a social security number in order to open an account, international students and scholars who are not eligible to apply for social security numbers or individual taxpayer identification numbers may open bank accounts.

The following banks are available locally and listed with the nearest branch address to UAF:

A credit union offers services similar to a bank, but exists for its members and operates as a nonprofit organization. Under U.S. regulations, a social security number is required to open an account. International students and scholars who work for UAF and have received their social security number are eligible for an account in a credit union.

The following credit unions are available locally and listed with the nearest branch address to UAF:

Since banks and credit unions use terms that may not be obvious or familiar to international students and scholars, see a glossary of banking terms.