INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS CAN FEEL RIGHT AT
HOME IN THE WEST

Bank of the West is your local bank with global connections

We'll help you get settled.

Have you recently moved to the United States? Welcome! Our international services have been carefully designed to help you get off to a great start.


Since 1980, Bank of the West has been affiliated with BNP Paribas, a global leader in financial services and one of the world's six highest rated banks. In 2001, our holding company BancWest Corporation became a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas – an international bank with a presence in 74 countries serving nearly 32 million individual customers worldwide.

Bank of the West provides a wide range of personal, commercial, wealth management and international banking services through digital channels and offices in 23 states. Prudent credit underwriting, a diversified loan portfolio, and careful risk management have allowed us to grow to $83.8 billion in assets as of March 31, 2017

As one of the nation's largest banks, Bank of the West preserves its local ties and its award-winning style of relationship banking that ensures superior customer service.

Bank of the West is headquartered in San Francisco and has almost 600 branches in the Midwest and Western United States.

Map of USA

The International Banking Group is a team of Bank of the West multilingual specialists dedicated to helping international clients who have recently moved to the U.S.

Our diverse cultural backgrounds and personal experiences help us provide specific products and solutions that address the unique challenges and opportunities facing international clients.

Do you want to start organizing what you need before you move? Or, would you prefer to arrange it all when you arrive in the U.S? Nonresidents, expatriates and international hires have unique needs that our team has been addressing for years.

We look forward to helping you feel right at home.

Thierry Gabadou
Armando Gonzalez
Nada Jackson
Irene Muir

Julien Christiaens
Adrien Millen
Junyun Tan
Arnaud Sintes

Marco Mavvilla
Aspet Hovanessiangholikand
Gianluca Paci
Thomas Riebs

In addition to our traditional banking products, we offer products and solutions specifically designed for international clients. To learn more, visit www.bankofthewest.com.

Checking accounts

  • Open a checking account with a minimum opening deposit of as little as $0.01.No Social Security number, Visa or U.S. address is required to open the account1.


Credit cards2,3

New to the U.S.? Getting a credit card and building your credit history can be challenging. As a Bank of the West client we’re here to help—with a Bank of the West credit card3 for our International Clients.

  • No annual fee4
  • No US credit history required3
  • Unsecured credit line up to $15,000 (up to $25,000 for Wealth Management Clients)
  • Compatible with Apple® and Android Pay™


Auto loans2,6

Have you recently moved to the U.S. to pursue your career? If so, financing a car without an established credit history can be challenging. We're here to help you get behind the wheel.

  • No U.S credit history required5,6
  • Borrow $7,500 - $150,000, for up to 90% of the vehicle’s value (based on your relationship with the bank)7
  • Enjoy competitive interest rates even with no U.S. credit history, and various terms available
  • Use toward purchasing a new or used car, truck or SUV from a dealership of your choice
  • No prepayment penalty if you refinance or pay off your loan early


Home mortgages2,8

You'll be working with a dedicated professional who understands the unique challenges and opportunities of living and working in the U.S.

  • No U.S. credit history required to apply
  • Receive a .125% interest rate reduction when you sign up for Relationship Pricing8
  • Choose between a fixed rate and a variable rate option
  • Enjoy competitive interest rates even with no U.S. credit history
  • No prepayment penalty if you refinance or pay off your loan early


For questions about our products or to schedule a meeting in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento Area, Seattle, Portland, Denver or anywhere in NorCal, OR, WA, ID, WY, ND, SD, MN, WI, IA, NE, CO, KS, MO please contact: julien.christiaens@bankofthewest.com. Or call 415-866-4909.

Download and print the following brochures for information on applying for credit cards, auto loans or home mortgages. Or, contact Julien for assistance.

For questions about our products or to schedule a meeting in Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara, San Diego, anywhere in SoCal, Las Vegas, NV, AZ, UT, NM or OK, please email marco.mavilla@bankofthewest.com. Or call 213-972-0421.

Download and print the following brochures for information on applying for credit cards, auto loans or home mortgages. Or, contact Marco for assistance.

1Acceptable identification must be presented (e.g., foreign passport, alien registration card). Checking account must be opened at a Bank of the West branch.

2Acceptable identification must also be presented (e.g., foreign passport, alien registration card). Must open an account at a Bank of the West branch.

3Credit cards subject to credit approval. Certain fees and restrictions may apply. The Work visa must have 1 year remaining. One of the following Visa types must be presented at the time of application: A-1, A-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-11, EB -1, EB-5, H-1B, H-3, I, J-1, J-2, K-1, L-1, L-1A, L-1B, L-2, O-1, O-2, O-3, P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4, PERM, R-1, TN, V-1, V-2, V-3. Applicants who are also Green Card holders may apply. Green Card holders that qualify for this program include: IR1, CR1, IB1, CF1, IF1, E11, E12, E13, E21, E14, E22, EX1, EX31, E32, EX2, E34. Proof of Green Card status will need to be presented. Applicants must have a valid residential address in the U.S. in order to qualify.

4The introductory 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) applies to purchase transactions only for the first 6 months. After that, the variable APR will be 16.99% to 24.99% for Platinum and 17.99% to 24.99% for Cash Back World Mastercard, based on your credit worthiness. For Wealth Management World Elite Mastercard, the purchase APR will be 9.15%. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate and are accurate as of 9/27/2018, at the time this flyer was published. There is no annual fee for Platinum or Cash Back World Mastercard. The annual fee is $295 for Wealth Management Elite Mastercard unless certain conditions are met. For the most current credit card pricing information, see the Pricing and Terms provided with your credit card application.

5Contact your International Banking specialist for more information about eligible Visas.

6Subject to credit approval. Terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations may apply.

7The value of the financed vehicle is: Total Purchase Price (including tax, license and fees) as documented on the Purchase Agreement. Any Add On (warranty, rust protection, etc.) are the responsibility of the borrower and cannot be financed. Borrow up to $75,000 and 85% of the total value of the car for retail clients. Borrow up to $150,000 and 90% of the total value of the car for Bank of the West Wealth Management Clients with verified assets under management amounts. Subject to credit approval.Terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations may apply.

8All loans subject to credit approval, standard mortgages qualifications and underwriting requirements. Additional fees, conditions and restrictions may apply. Relationship Discount of 0.125% off standard rates requires applicants to establish automatic mortgage payments from their new or existing Bank of the West personal checking account and is subject to the terms of a relationship pricing agreement. For adjustable-rate mortgage products, the discount is applicable only during the initial fixed-rate period. All terms and conditions applicable to the checking account apply, including fees and minimum opening deposits Not applicable to Home Equity Lines of Credit.

International Banking Group professionals available to assist you – nationwide

Prior to your arrival in the U.S., we can schedule a phone/Skype call to answer your questions about the U.S. banking system.

Our team understands the value of being flexible. While, most clients prefer to schedule account opening meetings in advance, we are happy to accommodate short notice requests.


Julien-Christiaens

For questions or to schedule a meeting in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento Area, Seattle, Portland, Denver or anywhere in NorCal, OR, WA, ID, WY, ND, SD, MN, WI, IA, NE, CO, KS, MO please contact: julien.christiaens@bankofthewest.com. Or call 415-866-4909.


Marco Mavilla

For questions or to schedule a meeting in Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara, San Diego, anywhere in SoCal, Las Vegas, NV, AZ, UT, NM or OK, please email marco.mavilla@bankofthewest.com. Or call 213-972-0421.

Relocation and Global Mobility professionals

Our International Banking Group has experience working with DSCs, RMCs, Global Mobility departments and their clients.

We understand that flexibility and consistency are important to you and we want to make sure that you receive dedicated support and services from our team.

While appointments are not required, we would appreciate if you could let us know the branch location, date and approximate time for your visit. If you decide to visit the branch, please contact Julien or Marco as soon as possible.

Interested in learning how Bank of the West can help your international clients? We would love to hear from you.

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