Both Chase and Citi allow H1B holders to open accounts with:
Chase vs Citi for H1B: Quick answer
Chase Bank — largest US bank by assets. Best for branch access, Sapphire banking, and Chase ecosystem.
Citibank — global banking, best for international wire transfers and NRI-friendly policies.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Chase | Citi |
|---|---|---|
| H1B account opening | ✅ Passport + visa | ✅ Passport + visa |
| Monthly fees | Varies (often waivable) | Varies |
| International wire fee | $25-$45/wire | $25-$45/wire |
| ATM network | Large | Large |
| HYSA rate | Low (check current) | Low (check current) |
| Mobile app rating | 4.5+ stars | 4.5+ stars |
| NRI/international support | Varies | Varies |
Opening an account as an H1B holder
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Both Chase and Citi allow H1B holders to open accounts with:
- Valid passport
- H1B visa (I-797 approval notice)
- US address (even a temporary hotel address for recent arrivals)
- SSN (or ITIN if SSN not yet issued)
International transfers to India
For sending money to India, neither Chase nor Citi should be your first choice. Bank wire rates are typically $25-45/wire + 3-5% exchange rate markup. Use Wise instead — typically saves $30-50 per $1,000 transfer.
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The H1B verdict
For H1B holders: use a big bank (Chase or BoA) for your paycheck, debit card access, and building a banking relationship. Keep a separate HYSA (SoFi, Ally, Marcus) for your savings at 4-5% APY — bank savings accounts pay 0.01%.
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