Opening an Account FAQs
FAQs
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To open an account with Ally Bank or Ally Invest:
- You have to be a citizen or a legal permanent resident of the United States
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must have a Social Security number to open an Ally Invest account
- For bank accounts, you can use your Social Security number or your Taxpayer Identification number
- You need a U.S. street address
We don't open accounts for non-resident aliens.
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Yes, for the life of the account.
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Visit our rates page or select the Rates tab on any of our product pages.
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Yes. Once you've opened and funded an account with us, you're good to go.
To get started with Online and Mobile Banking, you can either create a username and password online when you first open your account, or give us a call at 1-877-247-2559 and we’ll help you set it up.
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It's a card you sign when you open an account at any bank, including Ally. It identifies you as the owner of the account and allows your bank to conduct everyday banking business for you. Federal law requires banks to verify the identity of anyone who opens an account and to keep that information on file. A signature card helps fulfill these requirements, so we keep one signature card on file for each customer.
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We only need one signature card for each customer no matter how many accounts the customer has with us.
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To access your accounts online, we require your consent to send and receive your account information electronically.
Once you provide your consent, you can bank with Ally Bank online and:
- Manage your accounts with free online banking
- Make deposits using Ally eCheck Deposit℠
- Pay your bills online with free online Bill Pay
- Make easy payments to almost anyone in the U.S. with Zelle®
- Access Mobile Banking
- Get Account Alerts and Notifications
If you provide your consent and decide to withdraw it later, you can call us any time to do so, at no charge. If you choose to withdraw consent, you'll lose access to online banking services.
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It's always $0 to open. There are also no monthly service fees.
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No later than the business day we receive your opening deposit.
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Federal law requires that we have a signature card for each authorized signer of an account.
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If for any reason we don't have a signature card for you, we're required by federal law to withhold taxes on the interest earned on each of your accounts. You have 60 days to sign your card before we start withholding taxes (backup withholding), and we cannot stop withholding until we have a card on file for you. We want to help, so we send out regular reminders letting you know your 60 days are almost up and that we don't have a card on file for you.
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Even though Ally Bank doesn't offer subaccounts, it's easy to open multiple accounts to organize your savings goals. When you create separate accounts you can give them nicknames like 'New Car' or 'Hawaii Vacation'. That way every time you log in you'll see how close you are to meeting your goal.
Just follow a few simple steps to get started.
- Open a new account for each savings goal
- Nickname the accounts to label your savings
- Set up recurring transfers or add to your savings when you want to
- Manage all your Ally Bank accounts in one place with online banking
If you're Starting to Save, Saving as a Family or Planning for Retirement, learn how we can help you reach your financial goals.
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Like most banks, we look at your credit information to:
- Verify your identity
- Protect you from online fraud
- Comply with federal regulations
This won't impact your credit score.
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Opening an Ally Bank account online is simple. Select the type of account you want to open ( Spending Account , Savings Account , CD , Money Market or IRA ) and select Open Account. Then, enter your personal information and choose the terms and funding options you prefer. You’ll receive an email once your application is approved.
To apply over the phone, call us 24/7 at 1-877-247-2559 .
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There are five ways to add money to your account:
1. Online transfers: Log in to your account online at ally.com or on our app. You can transfer money from another Ally account or an account you have at another institution. Select Transfers to get started.
To add a new account from another institution, go to Transfers and select + Link other accounts.
2. Ally eCheck Deposit℠: You can deposit a check in our app with your phone’s camera, or scan and submit an image of your check at ally.com.
Make sure each check is properly endorsed with signatures of all payees. Also write For Mobile Deposit Only on the back.
3. Wire transfer: If you want to wire money from an account you have at another institution, log in to your account at ally.com, select Transfers and then choose Wires. Then select Receive a wire for more info on how you can wire from another financial institution into your Ally Bank account.
4. Mail your check: Make sure each check is properly endorsed with signatures of all payees. Also write your account number and For Deposit Only on the back. Be sure to seal the envelope properly and mail it to us at:
Ally Bank
P.O. Box 13625
Philadelphia, PA 19101-36255. Direct deposit: Log in to your account online at ally.com or on our app. Head over to our direct deposit setup page and set it up with your payment provider to automatically add money to your account every time you get paid.
We don’t accept cash.