How to Add Someone to Your Bank Account

Adding a person to your bank account is a big decision—but it can also make managing money a whole lot easier.

Whether it’s with your spouse, kids, or even a business partner, having a joint account where you can put everything in one place can simplify your finances and keep them organized.

Research suggests that couples who share a bank account tend to have better-quality relationships—so that’s a nice bonus. 👌

If the idea of adding someone seems like a hassle, don’t worry—it’s not as tricky as it sounds.

Every bank has its own process, but the steps are generally pretty straightforward.

We’ll guide you through what you can expect when adding someone to your bank account.

⚠️ Be careful about who you add to your bank account.

When you give someone joint access to your account, they have full control. This means they can make transactions without needing your approval.

Once someone’s on the account, it can be difficult to remove them. So, it’s important to choose someone you trust completely.

With that in mind, here’s how to add someone to your bank account:

How to Add Someone To Your Bank Account

When you decide to add someone to your bank account, you’re basically turning your existing checking or savings account into a joint one. This will make all account holders have access to the account.

The process generally involves these steps:

1. Visit the bank together or make a joint call. Some banks or credit unions also allow you to do it online.
2. Ask to include the person in your savings or checking account.
3. The person must show their proof of identification to the bank and share basic details like birth date and Social Security number.
4. Depending on the bank, you can create individual online profiles or share one and customize alerts as needed.

Below are the steps to add someone to your bank account online or through a bank visit. We’ve outlined the process for each well-known financial institution:

Bank of America

Adding someone to your Bank of America account requires completing the following steps:

1. Go to the “Account Changes” page on the Bank of America website.
2. Choose your account type and the specific changes you wish to make.
3. Bank of America will provide information on the required documents and details you must bring to the appointment for a swift update.
4. Schedule your financial center appointment.
5. Show up for your appointment with the necessary documents.

In most cases, all it takes is a quick visit to your local financial center, and you’ll be all set. Just bring along the necessary documents, and their team will take you through each step of the process.

But if getting to a financial center isn’t convenient for you, you can always give Bank of America a call at 800-432-1000, and they’ll help you out.

Wells Fargo

Adding someone to your Wells Fargo bank account is pretty straightforward – just visit a Wells Fargo branch together with the person you want to add and make a request. To incorporate a power of attorney (POA) into your account, sign the Wells Fargo Power of Attorney form (applicable for mortgage and home equity accounts) or present a pre-existing POA document at any Wells Fargo branch.

Chase Bank

Adding someone to your Chase Bank account involves the following steps:

1. Check account requirements to review eligibility:
   1. Log in to your Chase Bank online account.
   2. Click on the “Checking & Savings” tab.
   3. Go to your checking account to access more details.
   4. Under the account details, look for information about joint account holders or additional account holders.
   5. If you cannot find any information or the option to add joint account holders, visit a Chase branch or contact customer service for further assistance.
2. Reach out to Chase Bank customer service through a phone call, online chat, or visit a Chase branch to request adding someone to your bank account.
3. Submit the necessary documentation required of you. These may include the joint account application form, identification documents, Social Security numbers, proof of address, proof of relationship, and any additional documentation.

U.S. Bank

If you’re a U.S. Bank user, simply call U.S. Bank at the number on the back of your credit card or their general number, 800-285-8585. Then, follow these steps:

1. Talk to a banker and express your desire to add a joint owner.
2. They will mail you a form to be completed so they can review the request.
3. Once received, fill out the section applicable to you and provide your signature.
4. Have the potential joint owner complete their part and add their signature.
5. Optional: While it’s not required, make a copy of the completed document for your records.
6. Submit the completed form and wait for the completion of the review.

Once you’re approved, they will send a card in the joint owner’s name, along with a copy of the Cardmember Agreement. But if things don’t go as planned and the application gets declined, they’ll send you a letter explaining why. This way, you’ll know what steps to take to improve and try again later if needed.

Citizens Bank

As a Citizens Bank user, adding a joint owner to your account can take less than five minutes by following these steps:

1. Ensure the joint owner can provide their Social Security number, personal details, and additional information to verify their identity.
2. Next, sign in to access your account.
3. Select “Add Joint Owner” from the Manage Accounts menu.
4. Choose the account(s) you’d like to add that individual to and follow the prompts to complete the process.

Huntington Bank

For existing Huntington Bank users, adding someone to your account involves the following steps:

1. Visit any Huntington branch. Both parties must be present.
2. Bring your Social Security number/card and U.S. government-issued ID.
3. Request to add someone to your account and follow their process.

TD Bank

For a seamless process of adding someone to your TD Bank account, do the following:

1. Schedule an appointment to visit a TD Bank branch.
2. You’ll be required to present proof of identification and provide your birth date, Social Security number, and current address.
3. During the appointment, a dedicated TD representative will work closely with you and the individual you intend to add. They will guide you through the whole process.

PNC Bank

Adding someone to your PNC bank account involves the following:

1. Visit a PNC Bank branch and make a request to add someone as a joint owner to your account.
2. Both parties may be required to present proof of identification and provide your birth date, contact number, Social Security number, and mailing address.

Bell Bank

To add someone to your bank account with Bell Bank, follow these steps:

1. Stop by any of their bank locations.
2. Make sure to be ready to provide the bank with information, including your proof of identification, Social Security numbers, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth.

Risks to Consider When Adding Someone To Your Bank Account

Just because you can add someone to your bank account doesn’t always mean you should.

Sure, joint accounts come with perks—like easier money management and shared access—but there are also some real risks to think about.

For example, the Sift 2023 Index Report found that Account Takeover (ATO) attacks have skyrocketed by 354% in just a year 🚀 and 29% of people pointed out that bank or credit accounts are key targets for this type of attack.

When you share an account, you’re giving someone full access to your money, which means you need to be cautious about who you trust with your financial info.

On top of that, there are also tax-related consequences to consider.

When you add someone to your account, you’re sharing more than just funds—you’re sharing income, and that can lead to possible tax implications. If the other person has debt or tax problems, those could spill over into your financial life.

And don’t forget, you’ll both need to report any interest earned on that account when tax season rolls around.

So, what can you do to protect yourself while still keeping things convenient?

One great option is signing up for Cushion

This app not only helps build your credit with every transaction but also helps manage your spending. It keeps you from going overboard or missing payments. Cushion is a great tool for staying financially organized and making sure you and the other account holder maintain financial discipline.

Alternative: Sharing Access or Adding Guest Users To Your Bank Account

If a joint bank account doesn’t really feel like the right fit for your situation, but you still want to let someone you trust have access to your account, sharing access is an alternative worth exploring.

Sharing access keeps things flexible. You get to decide how much access they have, like maybe letting them pay bills or check balances, without going all-in with a full joint account.

It’s a great middle ground if you want to stay in control while still allowing someone to help out when needed.

Here are some banks that allow sharing access or adding authorized users to your account:

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo allows online banking customers to add guest users to their accounts.

These guest users can:

• Check your account balance.
• Download transaction history for up to 18 months.
• Review and request copies of checks and statements.
• Access additional account details.

To manage guest users, follow these steps:

1. Sign on to Wells Fargo Online.
2. Go to “Security & Support.”
3. Click on “Account Access Manager.”
4. Select the “Guest Users” tab.
5. There, you can view, add, edit, or delete access of guest users at any time.

Chase Bank

With Chase, you’ve got the option to set up multiple authorized users, each with their own unique ID and password. What’s great about this is you get to control exactly what they can access—whether it’s just a specific account or certain services. Follow these steps to do so:

1. Log in to your Chase account.
2. Go to “Account Management” and select “Access & Security Manager.”
3. Review the information and click on “Add user.”
4. Share the provided username with your authorized user. They will receive an email from Chase containing a temporary password for their initial login.
5. To assign rights, select the access level for each account.
6. Depending on the chosen access level, opt for some, all, or none of the additional services offered. Set daily limits as needed.
7. Click “Next” when done, then select “Next” again to confirm.
8. Manage your authorized user information, security settings, and access rights anytime through the “Access & Security Manager” dashboard.

U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank allows you to add a Share Access user.

1. Go to “Profile & settings,” located at the top of the page, and select “Manage profile & settings.”
2. Click on “Edit login preferences” within Login preferences, then proceed to “Manage” to the right of Share Access.
3. Select “Add user” to enter the Shared Access user’s first and last name.
4. Choose how you want them to view your account by selecting the applicable radio button.
5. Select “Continue” to choose which accounts they will have access to. Select the accounts and choose “Continue” to review the confirmation screen.
6. Go over the “Terms and Conditions,” and once you’re ready, click “Submit” to send the invitation.

Huntington Bank

Huntington Bank allows you to share your accounts with an authorized user. Simply do the following:

1. Log into your online banking account.
2. Head to your Profile at the top of the page to find the “Access Sharing” option.
3. Click “Enroll” to initiate Access Sharing.
4. On the Access Sharing page, read the Terms & Conditions and press “Continue.”
5. Choose “Add a User.”
6. On the Add A New User page, enter the name, email address, and contact number of the user you wish to grant access. Then, press “Continue.”
7. On the Choose Accounts page, pick the account(s) the new user will access. Then, select “Continue.”
8. Review and verify the information entered. Once confirmed, press “Continue.”
9. Read the Terms & Conditions, then click “Submit.”

For more instructions on managing users with sharing access, check out this Access Sharing User Guide from Huntington Bank.

But if you’re looking for a way to manage transactions without necessarily sharing your bank account with someone, you might want to give Cushion a try. This app is designed to help you stay on top of bills and recurring expenses so you don’t have to worry about missing payments and late fees.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best bank for couples?

As of February 2024, Business Insider recommends Qapital Goals Account for couples. This account is particularly appealing if you’re searching for innovative, flexible saving tools—whether on your own or with a partner. Its Dream Team feature is a standout, providing couples a shared view of each other’s banking activities while maintaining individual account autonomy. Although finding the “best” bank can be subjective to the features you are looking for, you can also consider Ally Spending. It doesn’t have any monthly service fees and offers a $0 minimum deposit requirement.

Who owns a joint account when one person dies?

The surviving account holder maintains ownership regardless of the contributor of the funds, and the account avoids the probate process. At the moment of death, the joint owner assumes both legal and equitable ownership of all funds in the joint account.

What proof is required for a joint bank account?

Opening a joint bank account requires proof of identification for both account owners. These may include a driver’s license, state ID, or passport. The bank would also request your date of birth, Social Security number, and current address.

Related article: How to Close a Chase Account

Bottomline

Adding someone to your bank account is pretty simple.

You can either swing by your local bank branch or, if your bank offers it, take care of things online from the comfort of your couch. Just make sure you have all the necessary info on hand, like your ID, Social Security number, proof of address, and contact details.

Some banks also let you grant shared access to your account. This means you can give someone certain privileges (like viewing or managing transactions) without fully making it a joint account.

It’s a great option if you want flexibility without the commitment of sharing everything.