Bank, Credit Card, Social Security...

(Jesus Cruz, Spain 1995)

Bank

Most of the Eurostudents 95 had their accounts in two banks: either Wells Fargo or HP Credit Union.

Wells Fargo has branches all along California (even inside Safeways - a very well-known chain of supermarkets), and you can find Wells Fargo ATM even in some HP sites. To open an account, just go there and say you are an HP employee (usually you don't have to prove it, but bring your HP letter just in case - and your passport, of course). If you want a check account you must open a saving one too (it's a combined account with the same number); they will give you at the moment a check book and will send you a week later an absolutely impossible of using up bunch of books (well, only if you paper your room with them).

The account fees should be free the first three months (including checks), but since some Euros were charged some fees it's better for you to check it out when you open the account.

You can order a Direct Deposit of your HP paycheck from HP to your account. In order to get that, you have to go to the Financial Services Center of your site and fill in a form (first you must have your own bank account, of course). We had some problems to get it (in fact, only one Euro got it, and after six weeks), but I hope next year you won't have so many problems.

The HP Credit Union is a bank inside HP (and part of HP, too). Its procedures are pretty similar to Wells Fargo, and you get an ATM card to be used at any ATM machines. The account is free only if you have over $1000; otherwise, you will be charged $3 a month (it's not a big deal).

Credit Card

My most important advise about this: get your major credit card in Europe. It takes a long time getting your card in USA, and you need the Social Security number too (see below). You will need the card to get a lot of things (renting a car, getting a room in a hotel, renting a movie)for instance).

The most usual cards in USA are VISA and MasterCard - be careful, American Express isn't taken in a lot of places (!?). The Euro Card with your checking account in Europe does not work in the US.

Social Security Number

You will need to get your SS# if you want to get either a California Driving License, or a credit card, or whatever that implies American burocracy. It's not very difficult to obtain it, but since it takes two weeks it's a good idea to apply for it the first week of your stay.

All you have to do is to go to the Social Security Administration (ask at HP about the local site) with your passport and fill in a form SS-5.

Important hint: there is a field where you have to check your employment status. It's better saying you're a "Legal Alien Allowed To Work" than a "Foreign Student Allowed Restricted Employment".