Banking & Money

• How close is the bank to school or where I live?
• Is there an ATM (automatic teller machine) for this bank on campus or close to where I live?
• Are there monthly fees for a checking or savings account?
• Is there a minimum amount of money I need to keep in my account?
• Does the bank have a no-fee account for students?
• Can I receive a wire transfer of money from home? What are the fees for this?

• Passport
• I-20 (or DS-2019)
• Acceptance letter (“Proof of invitation”)
• US Social Security Number (SSN) if you have one
• Proof of local address 
  • Log into Webcat and click on “Personal Information” to see your Granite Square Station (GSS) address.  
  • Print this if possible.

• Banks will often ask for your social security number when you open an account, but this is not always required. 
• If you later receive a social security number or taxpayer identification number, you should report the number to your bank.

This list of local banks and ATMs is not comprehensive and may change. OISS does not endorse any of these banks.
 

• First Seacoast Bank
  7A Mill Road Plaza
  Durham, NH 03824
  (603) 868-1111
   
• M&T Bank
  70 Main Street
  Durham, NH 03824
  (603) 868-5574
   
• Service Credit Union
  155 Main Street
  Durham, NH 03824
  (603) 868-1425
   
• Kennebunk Savings
  701 Central Avenue
  Dover, NH 03820
  (603) 516-6660
   
• M&T Bank ATM
  Memorial Union Building – UNH
  82 Main Street (24-hour access)
  First Floor, bookstore entrance
   
• Service Credit Union ATM
  Whittemore Center – UNH
  128 Main Street (24-hour access)
  Durham, NH 03824

• Banking fees: you may be charged fees to use an ATM machine that is not from your bank. There may also be monthly fees on a checking or saving account if you do not keep a minimum amount of money in the bank.
• A “bank debit card” looks very much like a credit card and may even have a Visa or MasterCard logo on it. Bank debit cards take money directly out of your checking or saving account and are not credit cards.
• US paper currency is all the same size. Be sure you are looking closely at your bills when paying someone in cash. US coins do not follow the rule “bigger is worth more”. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need help in understanding US currency.

Follow this simple rule: if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it or pay for it with a credit card.

• Pay your bills on time every month. This will help you to build a good credit history.
• A poor credit history can hurt your chances of getting an apartment, a car or personal loan, or a credit card.
• Before you move, notify your bank, credit card company, phone company and other companies of your new address so that you do not miss your bills or statements.

Identity theft is the theft of your private information (name, birth date, social security number, etc.) and use of it for fraudulent purposes which results in damage to your credit history.

• Destroy private records and statements prior before you throw them away.
• Secure your mail. Empty your mailbox daily.
• Safeguard your social security number. Never carry your social security card with you unless you need it for a specific purpose.
• Never leave ATM, credit card or other receipts behind.
• Never let your credit card out of your sight or loan it to anyone.
• Know who you are dealing with and do not give out private information when it is not necessary.
• Be defensive about your private information. Question whether your social security number, driver’s license number or other private information is required or optional.
• Review your bank records and credit card statements carefully.
• If something looks wrong or if you have lost your bank card or credit card, contact the bank or company immediately.
• If you think you are the victim of identity theft, report this to UNH Police and ask if you need help in contacting companies/bank/etc.