What banks accept for digital national ID
Most banks do not yet accept a digital national ID as your sole form of identification to open an account. Banks are required by federal law to verify your identity using documents they can physically inspect or documents issued by a government agency in a format they recognize. A digital ID on your phone—even if it's an official state ID—exists in a format most banks' systems are not set up to process.
Some banks have begun testing digital ID acceptance, but this is still rare. Your best approach is to call the specific bank where you want to open an account and ask whether they accept digital IDs. If they do, ask which states' digital IDs they recognize and what additional documents you may need to bring.
If the bank declines your digital ID, you will need a physical document: a state-issued driver's license, passport, passport card, or state ID card. These remain the standard forms of identification for account opening across all major banks and credit unions.
Key Takeaways
- Most banks require a physical government-issued ID document and do not yet accept digital IDs as your primary form of identification.
- Federal identity verification rules require banks to inspect documents in formats their systems recognize, which digital IDs do not yet meet.
- A few banks are testing digital ID acceptance, so calling ahead to your specific bank is the only way to know if yours will take it.
- If your bank declines a digital ID, bring a physical driver's license, passport, passport card, or state ID card instead.
Why banks have not widely adopted digital ID yet
Banks must comply with the Customer Identification Program (CIP), a federal rule that requires them to verify your identity before opening an account. The rule does not specify which documents are acceptable—it only says the bank must use "documents, information, and other identifying information" to verify you are who you say you are.
In practice, banks have built their account-opening systems around physical documents they can examine in person or documents they can verify through established channels. A digital ID stored on your phone creates a verification problem: the bank cannot easily confirm whether the ID on your screen is genuine, whether it belongs to you, or whether it has been altered. The technology and legal frameworks to verify digital IDs at scale do not yet exist across the banking industry.
State governments have issued digital IDs in a few states—including Maryland, Delaware, and Arizona—but each state's digital ID uses different technology and security features. Banks would need to build separate verification systems for each state, which is expensive and time-consuming. Until there is a national standard or a widely adopted verification method, most banks will stick with physical documents.
What documents banks will accept instead
If your bank does not accept digital ID, bring one of these government-issued documents:
- State driver's license
- State ID card (non-driver)
- U.S. passport or passport card
- Military ID
- Tribal ID (if issued by a federally recognized tribe)
The document must be current and not expired. Some banks will accept an expired ID if it is only recently expired, but this varies by bank. Call ahead if your ID is expired.
You will also need a second form of identification to verify your address. This can be a utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or recent bank statement showing your name and current address. Some banks accept a recent tax return or insurance policy instead.
How to learn about your bank accepts digital ID
Contact the bank directly before you visit. Call the main customer service line and ask: "Do you accept a digital state ID to open a checking account?" Be specific about which state issued your digital ID.
If the bank says yes, ask what additional documents you need to bring and whether you can complete the process online or must visit a branch in person. Some banks that accept digital IDs may still require you to come to a physical location to verify the ID on your phone.
If the bank says no, ask what forms of ID they do accept. This conversation takes five minutes and saves you a wasted trip to the branch.
Opening an account online versus in person
Online account opening is where digital ID acceptance is most likely to appear first. Banks that offer remote account opening have already invested in identity verification technology, and some are experimenting with accepting digital IDs through video verification or document upload.
If you want to open an account online and your bank accepts digital ID, you may be asked to upload a photo of your digital ID or to hold your phone up to your camera so a bank employee can view it on screen. The bank will likely also ask you to verify your address and may run a credit check.
In-person account opening at a branch still relies almost entirely on physical documents. A teller can hold your driver's license in their hands, compare your face to the photo, and check the expiration date. They cannot do this with a digital ID on your phone, which is why branch staff are slower to adopt digital ID verification.
What to do if you do not have a physical ID
If you do not have a current driver's license, passport, or state ID card, you will need to get one before opening a bank account. Visit your state's Department of Motor Vehicles website to find out how to apply. You can usually apply online, by mail, or in person at a local DMV office.
Getting a physical ID takes time—typically two to four weeks by mail, or same-day if you visit in person. If you need to open a bank account urgently, visiting the DMV in person is faster.
Some states allow you to use a digital ID as proof of identity when applying for a physical ID, which can speed up the process. Ask the DMV whether this option is available in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a bank account with just a digital ID and no physical ID?
Not at most banks. The vast majority still require a physical government-issued ID because their systems are built to verify documents you can hold in your hand. A few banks are testing digital ID acceptance, so call your bank to ask whether yours is one of them.
Is a digital ID as secure as a physical ID for banking?
Digital IDs use encryption and security features that can be as secure as physical IDs, but banks have not yet built the systems to verify them reliably. The security of the ID itself is not the issue—the issue is that banks need a standardized way to confirm a digital ID is real and belongs to you.
What states have digital IDs right now?
Maryland, Delaware, and Arizona have issued digital IDs that residents can download to their phones. Other states are developing digital ID programs but have not yet launched them. Check your state's DMV website to see whether a digital ID is available in your state.
If my bank accepts digital ID, do I still need to bring a second form of ID?
Probably yes. Even if your bank accepts a digital ID as your primary form of identification, they will likely still ask for a second document to verify your address, such as a utility bill or lease agreement. Ask the bank what they need before you visit.
Can I use a digital ID to open an account at a credit union?
Credit unions follow the same federal identity verification rules as banks, so most do not yet accept digital IDs. Some credit unions may be more willing to experiment with new verification methods than large banks, but you should call ahead to ask.