BANKING & TRANSFERS

You will find that the answer to this question varies. Before opening an account, make sure to check online for the documents each account requires. Generally, they may ask for any of the following information:

• A valid government issued photo ID

• Date of birth

• Social Security number

• Home address

• Phone number

• Proof of residency (this less common, but some traditional banks do ask for it)

While many banks require an initial deposit that can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, checking accounts without deposit requirements exist. Their availability can vary from bank to bank, and some may even have hidden fees and significant limitations. At N26, our accounts don’t require a minimum deposit, so you can bank your way no matter your situation.

For your first account, you should keep things simple. A free checking account is a good place to start, allowing you to pay with the swipe of a card at most retailers, withdraw cash, and manage your money through a variety of online and mobile tools. There are plenty of free accounts out there, so make sure you find one that fits your lifestyle.

Some accounts have minimum balance requirements — that is, a minimum amount of money that banks require you to keep in your account from month to month. If you don't manage to do so, you may have to pay a fee. While maintaining a minimum balance may not seem like a big deal in the beginning, keep in mind that you might need access to those funds in case of an emergency. Once you dip below the minimum balance, it can be hard to get your head above water again. When choosing an account, make sure it is a good fit for wherever you are in your financial journey.

Banking fine print can be tricky, and if you’re not careful, hidden fees can surface seemingly out of nowhere. There are plenty to watch out for when choosing your first bank account, but here are some fairly common culprits:

Overdraft fees: Many accounts for people who are new to banking come with an overdraft service, which allows you to spend more money than is actually available in your account. While this could help you out in a pinch, it's a bit of a double-edged sword: If you dip into your overdraft, you may have to pay a fee — in some cases for every purchase over the limit. For your first bank account, it's a good idea to look for a bank with no hidden overdraft fees or tricky overdraft programs.

ATM fees: Many traditional banks have a network of ATMs that you can use to withdraw money when you need it. But these ATMs aren't everywhere, and if you use ATMs outside of your network, you'll probably have to pay a fee or two to take your money out. N26 offers a large network of partner ATMs, plus the added benefit of instantly reimbursing all fees for two out-of-network transactions each month.

Transfer fees: Many banks will charge you to transfer funds from one account to another. That can be annoying if you want to send money to a friend or from your savings to your checking account. Peer to peer alternatives exit, but they may include grace periods and in some cases transfer fees. When you bank with N26, you can use MoneyBeam to instantly send and receive money to and from anyone with an N26 account.

Foreign transaction fees: This is definitely one to pay attention to if you like to travel. International spending can become a costly experience, as some banks will charge you for transactions made in different currencies or in different countries. N26 doesn’t charge foregin transaction fees when you pay with your card abroad, so you can travel with peace of mind.

Actually, it won’t. Credit scores measure your reliability when it comes to paying back money loaned to you within a certain time frame. Checking and savings accounts are for depositing and withdrawing existing funds — that means they have no impact on your credit score whatsoever.