Citi bank vs Wise for non residents

By Rohan Smith, 15 December, 2022

Citi bank review for non-residents without SSN

Bank
Citi bank
SSN Required?
Yes
ITIN Required?
No
Can Apply Online?
With SSN
Summary

Citi Bank is one of the largest Neobanks in the country, specializing in credit cards. Citi offers 13 types of cards, including free ones (no monthly fee). The Visa and Mastercard standards are accepted all around the world. Cash withdrawal is free from 65,000 ATMs. Citibank allows its clients to shop online and offline, and make international transfers. The mobile app features detailed analytics on the accounts and cards; as well as options for systematizing expenses. Also, the digital bank offers savings accounts at up to 1.01%.

Features
  • No minimum opening deposit.
  • Paperless statements option.
  • Unlimited reimbursement of non-Citi ATM fees.
  • No foreign exchange fee when using Citibank Debit Card abroad.
Cons
  • Does not provide a Multi-currency account.
  • Does not issue debit cards (pre-paid).
  • High-interest rate (APR) for most credit cards of the bank is rather high, up to 26.49%.
Link
https://online.citi.com/US/ag/banking/checking-account

Wise review for non-residents without SSN

Bank
Wise
SSN Required?
No
ITIN Required?
No
Can Apply Online?
Yes
Summary

Wise isn't a bank in the US but a money transfer operator that's well-known for offering some of the cheapest international transfers globally. However, in addition to money transfers, Wise also offers a Multi-Currency Account, a low-cost foreign currency spending account, and a Visa debit card.

Features

Even without a US residence, the Wise Account gives you US checking details.

  • A debit card to spend in 50+ currencies, including US dollars.
  • You can use this account to get paid by employers in US dollars. - Send money domestically within the US.
  • The Wise debit card is accepted worldwide.
  • Local bank details are not just in the US, but also in the UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Romania, Canada, and Hungary.
Cons
  • The fee to receive wire transfers (domestic and international) is $7.50 per transaction.
  • Incoming payments can only be in US dollars, no other currency will be accepted.
  • Incoming domestic transfers take 2 to 3 working days to arrive in the account, while international transfers take 4 to 5 days.
  • You can't yet set up a direct debit.
Link
Apply Now!
Neobank?
Yes