Strategy to obtain US Amex

[nthd_nthd]

Really? I only connected my Wise to my USA Amex account probably 6mths ago and it worked fine. You can't use the Wise USA bank address they give you with your Wise USA bank details?

I tried to show Wise Statement with US Address on it but Amex refused. So a more concrete Bank statement down the line will be beneficial.

 

[diamondhands]

Is there a preferred bank to open your first U.S. checking account with? I’ll be going to the U.S. next month and may look to open one while I’m there if it’s not too much of a pain.

 

[DAC1]

Is there a preferred bank to open your first U.S. checking account with? I’ll be going to the U.S. next month and may look to open one while I’m there if it’s not too much of a pain.

It doesn’t really matter who it is. I currently have checking accounts with BOFA, PNC, Wells Fargo, HSBC US, SoFi and Chase.

My personal view:
- Don’t do Chase. Yes I know, I have one. It was to get a credit card sooner. But it draws attention to your account. Try and limit your engagement with Chase to CCs only.
- If you have an established credit file, get SoFi. It’s an easy win. They verify you based on your credit file. Also looks like you need to be in the US to set up their account (I tried both US VPN and US residential IP to set up their account and neither worked).
- If you can only pick one physical bank, based on my experience, pick PNC. They didn’t care about anything.
- BOFA is okay but clunky. It’s worthwhile if you’re aiming for a Atmos card.
- Don’t bother with Wells Fargo.
- HSBC US is dead to most of us.

So summary of that is probably PNC/BOFA and maybe SoFi if you have credit file.

 

[kpc]

It doesn’t really matter who it is. I currently have checking accounts with BOFA, PNC, Wells Fargo, HSBC US, SoFi and Chase.

My personal view:
- Don’t do Chase. Yes I know, I have one. It was to get a credit card sooner. But it draws attention to your account. Try and limit your engagement with Chase to CCs only.
- If you have an established credit file, get SoFi. It’s an easy win. They verify you based on your credit file. Also looks like you need to be in the US to set up their account (I tried both US VPN and US residential IP to set up their account and neither worked).
- If you can only pick one physical bank, based on my experience, pick PNC. They didn’t care about anything.
- BOFA is okay but clunky. It’s worthwhile if you’re aiming for a Atmos card.
- Don’t bother with Wells Fargo.
- HSBC US is dead to most of us.

So summary of that is probably PNC/BOFA and maybe SoFi if you have credit file.

Useful info. Thanks

 

[diamondhands]

It doesn’t really matter who it is. I currently have checking accounts with BOFA, PNC, Wells Fargo, HSBC US, SoFi and Chase.

My personal view:
- Don’t do Chase. Yes I know, I have one. It was to get a credit card sooner. But it draws attention to your account. Try and limit your engagement with Chase to CCs only.
- If you have an established credit file, get SoFi. It’s an easy win. They verify you based on your credit file. Also looks like you need to be in the US to set up their account (I tried both US VPN and US residential IP to set up their account and neither worked).
- If you can only pick one physical bank, based on my experience, pick PNC. They didn’t care about anything.
- BOFA is okay but clunky. It’s worthwhile if you’re aiming for a Atmos card.
- Don’t bother with Wells Fargo.
- HSBC US is dead to most of us.

So summary of that is probably PNC/BOFA and maybe SoFi if you have credit file.

Thanks, appreciate the detailed response.

Currently just have a <6 month old HSBC Elite and no ITIN so I assume I have no credit file.

To put it another way, are there any banks where having a pre-existing checking account/banking history would actually help at the time of a credit card application or do I just need an account anywhere so I have a backup when premier is gone?