Most banks offer ATM bank cards which enable you to use ATMs to access your account at any time. You can request an ATM card when you open your account or later if you decide you would like one. You will choose a private code called a personal identification number (PIN) to type into the machine each time you access your account.

Debit cards allow you to pay for goods and services directly from your bank account, reducing the need for cash. You can request a debit card when you open your checking or savings account or later if you decide you would like one.

Requirements for obtaining a credit card and interest rates charged on unpaid balances vary among banks. Keep in mind that it is common to have a checking or savings account with one bank and a credit card with another.

Most international students find it difficult to get a credit card in the U.S. because they have not established a credit history* and because they are not U.S. residents. For newly arrived students, you may want to try using a "secured credit card". These cards offer some of the conveniences of a credit card, except that you secure your credit card with a deposit that becomes your credit line. The best part is that your secured card is reported as a regular credit card on your credit report. Check with your bank on the secured credit card.

Because getting a major credit card is very difficult, international students should take every opportunity to establish a good credit history. For international students who have been in the U.S. a little longer, obtaining credit cards becomes a little easier once they have established some sort of credit history.

* See the next topic: Establishing a Credit History in the U.S. for more information on this subject.

Writing personal checks may be new for you. In the U.S., you may pay bills (utility bills, rent, credit card bills) by personal check. You can also often buy things in stores and pay for restaurants by check (as long as you have a credit card and/or picture identification with you, too). Although on-line bill paying and credit card payments are becoming more popular, most people need to use checks occasionally.

If you write a check for an amount you do not have in your checking account (called an overdraft or a bounced check), you may be charged a penalty fee, even if you have plenty of money in another type of account in the same bank. Some banks offer overdraft protection, but you may not qualify if you do not have income or a credit history in the U.S.

A wire transfer is the method of transferring funds from one entity to another, such as, from one bank account to another. After you have set up your new bank account, you can arrange for a wire transfer by providing your bank with your U.S. bank details. You will need to provide your account number, the U.S. bank's name and address, and the U.S. bank's ABA number. Wire transfers typically take between 2-5 days. Ask your bank for a confirmation once the funds are wired.

Most banks offer safe deposit boxes to protect your valuables. If you have irreplaceable items or important documents that you would like to secure in a safe deposit box, you can rent a box on an annual basis through your bank. The box is kept in the vault of the bank and is protected by bank security. You will have a key to the box but will only have access to your valuables during banking hours.