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  Home >> Accounts >> Checking Accounts  
Opening Accounts for Foreign Employees

My boss has asked me to open two checking accounts in my name for two employees coming from Russia and India. When they arrive, they will become co-signers on the account until they can get SSNs and a drivers license. Should I do this? My husband says "No way!"


Your husband is right. This involves significant risk for you.

Your employer may have vetted the new employees, but you don't know them. It's likely that neither has any experience with a U.S. bank. You also have no idea how long it will take them to obtain social security numbers and driver's licenses so they can take over the accounts on their own. You can't be certain a bank in your area will even open accounts for foreign nationals, even if they are in the country legally.

The big risk, however, is that if you are a joint owner on the proposed accounts, even for a short period of time, you will be liable for whatever happens in those accounts. If one or both of the new employees proves unable to manage properly a checking account, you could be left with overdrafts and fees.

Your boss wants things to go as smoothly as possible for the two new employees. However, try to explain to her or him that you don't want to put your finances and credit history at risk for individuals you've never met.

Published on BankingQuestions.com 9/11/08