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.

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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.

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.

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 account!¹

Credit cards³

Whether you are living in the U.S. permanently or temporarily, getting a U.S. credit card and building your credit history can be challenging. We're here to help—with the Bank of the West credit card for International Clients.

No US credit history required⁵
No annual fee⁴
Unsecured credit line up to $12,000
Compatible with Apple® and Android Pay™

Auto loans

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 required^5,6
Borrow $2,000 - $75,000, for up to 75% of the vehicle's value and up to a 60-month term^7,8
Competitive interest rates
Use loan for purchasing a new or used car, truck or SUV from any dealership
No prepayment penalty if you refinance or pay off your loan early

Home mortgages⁹

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 Pricing
Choose between a fixed rate and a variable rate option
Enjoy competitive interest rates
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.

³Acceptable identification must also be presented (e.g., foreign passport, alien registration card). Must open an account at a Bank of the West branch.

⁴Credit cards subject to credit approval. Certain fees and restrictions may apply. Only Platinum credit card product is available in this program. 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 must currently reside within the Bank’s retail footprint.

⁵The Bank of the West Credit Card for International Clients is a no Annual Fee card. The Bank of the West Platinum Credit Card Introductory 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) applies to purchase transactions only for the first 6 months and after that the variable APR will be 15.49% to 23.49%, based on your creditworthiness. The APR for Balance Transfers for the Bank of the West Platinum Credit Card is a variable APR of 15.49% to 23.49%, based on your creditworthiness. The Penalty APR is 30.49% variable for Platinum Credit Cards. Other charges and fees may apply. Transaction fees vary from $5 to 4% depending on the transaction. Penalty fees vary from state by state to a maximum of $35 per violation. See card Terms and Conditions for more information on rates and fees.

⁶Contact your International Banking specialist for more information about eligible Visas.

⁷Subject to credit approval. Terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations may apply.

⁸The value for new vehicles is the lesser of the cash sales price or the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The value for used vehicles is the lesser of the cash sales price or NADA Wholesale book value. The loan amount includes tax and license.

⁹All loans subject to credit approval, standard mortgages qualifications and underwriting requirements. Additional fees, conditions and restrictions may apply. Not applicable to Home Equity Lines of Credit. Relationship Pricing Interest Rate Discount requires loan applicants to establish a Bank of the West personal checking account and automatic mortgage payment and is subject to the terms of a Relationship Pricing Promotion Agreement. Minimum opening deposit for a Bank of the West checking account ranges from $100, depending on the type of checking account you choose.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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