Living in Tampa Bay

Banking

Banking Tips

Students should look into opening a bank account to keep track of money and finances, recieve money into an account (deposit) for an on-campus job, send and receive funds internationally, or obtain student loans. Opening an account in person rather than online or via telephone is advisable.

What do banks require to open an account as in international student?

Each bank will have a different list of requirements for what students need. When students open an account, they will generally need the following: 

  • A passport,
  • Verification/Letter of enrollment at university,
  • Immigration documents I-94, I-20, or DS-2019,
  • Proof of residence (example: a utility bill or letter with U.S. residential address),
  • Secondary form of identification with signature (like USF ID card or birth certificate).

Some banks may require individuals to have a Social Security Number (SSN), so students may want to ask about this requirement when they begin their applications to open an account.

If you need to apply for a SSN as an international student and are eligible, you can follow the instructions from the (SSA) on how to obtain a card.

What should I look for when choosing a bank?

When choosing to open an account, students should look at the location of the nearest bank branch from where they are going to live, if the bank has any fees associated with opening an account or any reoccurring fees (for example, monthly maintenance, domestic/international transfer, a minimum balance), or if the bank offers any perks (cash back, free museum passes, etc.).

Where can I look for student loans as an international student?

Students can get free financial mentorship and advice from Bull2Bull, which offers one-on-one meetings in-person and virtually and online resources.

SETTING UP A BANKING ACCOUNT

Students have several banking options in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and the Sarasota-Manatee area, and are encouraged to research the surrounding banking institutions.

Each section below will direct you to a list of Bank locations that are the nearest to a main campus student center:

Tampa campus

Bank branch Directions walking from MSC
 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

Distance from closest Bank location to the Marshall Student Center (MSC):

  • USF Federal Credit Union (0 miles/kilometers)
  • Wells Fargo (1 mile; 1.61 kilometers)
  • Regions (1.3 miles; 2.09 kilometers)
  • Chase (1.5 miles; 2.41 kilometers)
  • Fifth Third Bank (1.8 miles; 2.9 kilometers)
  • PNC (1.9 miles; 3.06 kilometers)
  • Truist (2.1 miles; 3.38 kilometers)
  • Bank of America (2.2 miles; 3.54 kilometers)

St. Petersburg campus

Bank branch Directions walking from USC
 

 
 

 		  or
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
   

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

Distance from closest Bank location to the University Student Center (USC): 

  • USF Federal Credit Union (0.1 miles; 0.16 kilometers)
  • Fifth Third Bank (0.4 miles; 0.64 kilometers)
  • Bank of America (0.4 miles; 0.64 kilometers)
  • Bank of Tampa (0.5 miles; 0.8 kilometers)
  • Truist (0.5 miles; 0.8 kilometers)
  • DFCU Financial (0.5 miles; 0.8 kilometers)
  • Bank OZK (0.7 or 0.8 miles; 1.13 or 1.29 kilometers)
  • Regions (0.7 miles; 1.13 kilometers)
  • Hancock Whitney (0.7 miles; 1.13 kilometers)
  • BayFirst (0.9 miles; 1.45 kilometers)
  • Synovus (0.9 miles; 1.45 kilometers)
  • First Horizon Bank (1.1 miles; 1.77 kilometers)
  • Flagship Bank (1.2 miles; 1.93 kilometers)
  • Chase (1.6 miles; 2.58 kilometers)

Sarasota-Manatee campus

Bank branch Directions driving from Atala Hall
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

Distance from closest Bank location to the Atala Hall: 

  • Wells Fargo (3 miles; 4.83 kilometers)
  • BMO Bank (3.3 miles; 5.31 kilometers)
  • Fifth Third Bank (3.3 miles; 5.31 kilometers)
  • First Horizon Bank (3.4 miles; 5.47 kilometers) 
  • Truist (3.6 miles; 5.80 kilometers)

(Last updated/checked May 6, 2024)