International students partner with PUC and local bank to open US accounts

One of the items on an international student’s agenda is opening a bank account in the United States as a measure of financial and personal security.

Fulfilling the myriad of requirements that come with being an international student can be overwhelming, but getting a local bank account may be one of the easier steps.

“When the international students came to orientation, the International Programs Office provided transportation to the local Chase bank to help them adjust to American life,” Graduate Assistant for the International Programs Office Nevenka Stefanovska said. 

According to Katherine Haan, immigration assistant for the International Programs Office, the individual bank branch a student chooses can make a big difference in how simple the process can be. 

“It depends on the bank. Many international students go to the local Chase. This branch makes this process easier for international students at Purdue than other banks or branches do,” Haan said.

The local Chase bank, located at 2734 169th St. in Hammond, requires international students to procure only a fraction of the paperwork usually involved in opening an account.

“At this bank branch, international students must bring a passport, an I-20 form and money to open an account with. At other banks, students may also need to have a letter from the International Students & Scholars Office stating that the student has a Visa, and another federal form in addition to the I-20,” Haan said.

Using a U.S. bank account in conjunction with a foreign bank account is also a popular option among international PUC students. Such is the case for Stefanovska, who uses both her Macedonian and U.S. bank accounts.

International students planning to remain in the U.S. for an extended period of time may choose to get a debit card instead of carrying cash. Fahd Alzamanan, a freshman majoring in civil engineering, said he feels uneasy carrying cash in certain parts of the country.

Alzamanan said that he does not feel comfortable carrying cash when he goes to Chicago.

Before returning to Saudi Arabia, Alzamanan said that his future plans include getting an internship in the United States, and after that he hopes to work for a large company. Alzamanan said he has already been in the US for two years, but he wants to stay for five.

Alzamanan said he prefers the U.S. monetary system to that of Saudi Arabia.

“It’s awesome. It’s better than what we have back home,” he said. “I have a U.S. bank account because it makes everything easier,” Alzamanan said.