Typically, you’ll have to provide your Social Security number when you open a bank account, but there are some limited scenarios where you may be able to sidestep that requirement.

Opening a bank account that's best suited to your financial needs can be tricky. Here's how to find and open the right bank account for you.

A bank's routing number is a nine-digit number associated with a particular bank, while your account number is explicitly assigned to your account within a bank.

How Undocumented Immigrants Can Get Bank Accounts Some banks let you open an account with an ITIN or passport instead of a Social Security number.

To open a checking account, you must provide government-issued identification with your photo, your Social Security card or Taxpayer Identification Number, and proof of your address.

The Federal Reserve System has disputed claims that a Social Security card can be used to make purchases.

Here’s how to find your checking account number on a check, in an online bank account or within your banking app.

You can't freeze your Social Security number. But you can protect your data by freezing your credit or creating a my Social Security account.