What are the requirements to open a bank account at BNP Paribas in the United States?

This French bank works in strategic areas of the country

In May 2000, the Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) and Paribas merged to strengthen their presence and services in the United States, where they have been since the end of the 19th century. Currently, it has 14,000 employees within the country, with its main centers of operation in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, King of Prussia, New Jersey, New York and Boston.

It should be noted that BNP Paribas specializes in individual, corporate and commercial investment accounts. Therefore, when it comes to a personal checking account, this bank works through its subsidiary Bank of the West.

If you live in the cities mentioned and want to open a checking account at BNP Paribas, you need:

  • Social security number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or a certification of status as a foreigner
  • Contact information: phone number, email and address in the United States
  • Official identification such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID, or military ID

You can open the account at one of their branches or even online through their website bankofthewest.com.

Types of US Bank Checking Accounts

Any Deposit Checking

This account is the most accessible of BNP Paribas since you can open it with any amount of money. It has a $10 fee that can be waived if you are under 25 or make any deposits each monthly statement cycle. You can withdraw cash at any ATM in the Bank of West network and you have a $3 fee if you do it at ATMs of other banks.

1% for the Planet

It is basically the Any Deposit Checking account with the difference that BNP Bank donates 1% of the profits generated through this account. If you are a fan of ecology, you also have a carbon tracking meter within the Bank of the West mobile application, which indicates how much carbon impact you generate with each purchase you make through your card.

Premier Checking

It has a $25 fee that you can avoid if you maintain an average monthly combined balance of $25,000. On this account you earn an APR of 0.01% APY and incur no cash withdrawal fees at any ATM outside the bank’s network.