[Update: this page now has a YouTube version.] A local bank confirmed a security number is not required for a bank account; meaning the ‘social’ security number or any other security number. But rather than just walk in and bring a print-out of the gov’t website stating a security number is not required, I sent […]
Tag: Banking
Signature-card of bank tries to Shanghai me into U.S. jurisdiction
The bank signature-card–to provide a signature when opening an account–can place one into the U.S. jurisdiction. The form prominently assumes ‘U.S. citizen’ or other ‘U.S. Person’ status. Only in de-emphasized print, below the U.S. citizen area, is there a note for non-resident alien depositors (that’s me!) and that I should instead complete the W-8 form […]
A (social) security number not needed for bank account, per U.S. government website
Update: I fixed the source link below. – August 11, 2022 A page by the United States government states that a (social) security number is not needed. Can I get a checking account without a social security number? You are not required to have a social security number to open a checking or savings account. […]
Re-added video for page about banks not technically making loans
I have re-added the video on the page about banks not making loans and not taking deposits. The video link was broken. A full transcript of the video is on this page along with commentary. This is one of the popular pages on this site. Worth watching the video and reading the transcript many times […]
The banking page about ALL CAPS name is trending. Dear JOHN SMITH…
Banks on a river, not for money
Nautical or maritime words are everywhere. Even the word ‘bank’ literally means a river bank. Ships pull up to the bank. They assume I’m a master/mister of a vessel and banked at the river. I expect I need to find a ‘savings and loan’ or a ‘safe deposit’ company, though even the word deposit/depose is […]
Banks always capitalize the name! Dear FIRST LAST,
In most bank correspondence, the name on the account is capitalized. A letter may say, “Dear FIRST LAST, We are writing….” All the other words in the email, letter, or even the email subject line will be lower-case, but the name is typed in capital letters. The words are capitalized because banks treat it as […]
MP stands for the microprint on checks.
Suddenly the post about the microprint on checks is getting traffic so I added that bank checks also have the letters MP beside the signature line. MP stands for microprint, meaning the line where one signs ‘the name’ is actually very small print that says Authorized Signature. Related Banks don’t take deposits, don’t lend money […]
