Apply for Membership

You may apply for membership and fund your membership share in one simple process. Depending on your internet connection speed, applications may take up to 30 minutes to complete.


USA PATRIOT Act — Important Information About Opening a New Account

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, U.S. Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, tax identification number, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver's license or other identifying documents. Generally, we require documents submitted in support of an application for membership to be legible and presented in English. Identifying documents presented in a language other than English must be legible and accompanied by a certified English translation obtained by the applicant. The certification from the translator must indicate that the translation is complete, accurate and attest to his/her competence as a translator. We will not be able to accept notarized copies of self-translated documents.

Online Membership Opening: Domestic Applicants

Domestic applicants are those who are subject to U.S. taxes and reside in the United States. To speed service, please have the following information available when you apply:

  • Unexpired U.S. Driver's license or U.S. Government Issued Passport
  • U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or Tax Identification Number (TIN)
  • Credit or debit card or U.S. checking or savings account to fund the membership share.
  • We recommend an initial deposit of at least $25 to fund your new accounts

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Online Membership Opening: International Applicants

International applicants are those who are not subject to U.S. taxes and/or do not reside in the United States. To speed service, please have the following information available when you apply:

  • Unexpired U.S. Driver's license, U.S. Government Issued Passport, or Foreign Passport with the English translation
  • Credit or debit card or U.S. checking or savings account to fund the membership share.
  • We recommend an initial deposit of at least $25 to fund your new accounts

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Within 30 days of applying for membership online, please return your membership application, tax documents and unexpired picture identification.

Apply for Membership in Person

If you prefer to apply for membership in person at one of our branch locations, please  bring a combination of supporting documents to enable BFSFCU to verify your legal name, date of birth, address, and Personal ID Number. All documents must be unexpired. Walk-ins are welcome, but we encourage you to schedule an appointment.

Schedule an Appointment

Individual U.S. Person

  • U.S. Driver's license; U.S. non-driver's identification card; U.S. Passport or passport card; U.S. military identification card

Individual Non-U.S. Person

  • Foreign passport; U.S. permanent resident card; U.S. driver's license; U.S. non-driver's identification card

In addition, you will need the following:

  • $5 purchase of a Membership Share
  • We recommend an initial deposit of at least $25 to fund your new accounts
  • Appropriate tax form (see below)

Tax Forms

Depending on your taxable status with the U.S. government, you will need to submit either IRS Form W9 or IRS Form W-8BEN. To aid you in determining the appropriate form to use, please reference the table below.

Table data for Determine Which Tax Form You Need
 
IRS Form W-9 IRS Form W-8BEN Alert Me
This form should be completed by members who are U.S. taxpayers. This form should be completed by members who are not U.S. taxpayers and do not have to pay U.S. income taxes.
The form must be completed with a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN). If you do have a U.S. Social Security Number, please include it on the W8 form for reference purposes.
For joint accounts, if one member is a U.S. taxpayer, they will be considered the tax owner of account as required by IRS regulations.
This table is a quick reference only. If you are unsure of your taxable status, we recommend consulting a tax attorney. When completing your tax form, ensure that you enter your name as it appears on your government-issued photo ID.