# tinkoff bank debit card for USA citizen **URL:** \ **Category:** Travel to Russia\ **Created:** [August 1, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162 "2024-08-01T22:45:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/u/KO11)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/1 "2024-08-01T22:45:55Z")
Hello. I’m starting to plan for a return visit to Russia. I’ve been told Tinkoff bank will be a option for me. Can anyone provide insight on this? I found their website but its in Russian. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Irena](https://forum.russiable.com/user_avatar/forum.russiable.com/irena/32/7_2.png) [@Irena](https://forum.russiable.com/u/Irena)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 8:00am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/2 "2024-08-02T08:00:07Z")
How to apply for a Tinkoff card in this article: > **[Open a Bank Account in Russia as a Foreigner – 2026](https://russiable.com/open-bank-account-russia/)** > > Learn how foreigners can open a Russian bank account in 2026: passport translation, SNILS, Gosuslugi, biometrics, SIM card, plus best banks. ---
**Author:** ![Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/u/Cal)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:00am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/3 "2024-08-07T05:00:23Z")
Keep in mind - You will need a Russian phone number. You can start with the app and use your USA phone number. But just make sure when you go to Russia and the Tinkoff man (or woman) comes to you, that you make sure they change the phone number to the Russian number that you are going to get. Have a Russian phone number working before you make Tinkoff come out. ---
**Author:** ![Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/u/Cal)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:02am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/4 "2024-08-07T05:02:42Z")
Also - Sber and Raiffeisen will want to see a social security card if you use either of those. So take your SS card just in case. ---
**Author:** ![KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/u/KO11)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/5 "2024-08-14T16:23:57Z")
Very good. Thank you. I’ll start diving deeper on this. ---
**Author:** ![antoniob](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@antoniob](https://forum.russiable.com/u/antoniob)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2024, 1:17pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/6 "2024-08-18T13:17:56Z")
> @Cal Sber and Raiffeisen will want to see a social security card if you use either of those what? Sber wanting to see a FOREIGN security card? Do you know that most visiting foreigners in Russia are Europeans from a diversity of countries, and many countries don’t even have a “social security card”, this is one point, and the other concurrent point is that documents that are not “social security card” but show a kind of national personal number are written in a diversity of languages, there’s often no way to tell what number is what, and moreover and in the first place it has zero relevance for Russian administration. ---
**Author:** ![Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/u/Cal)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:20am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/7 "2024-08-24T05:20:56Z")
@antoniob The title of the post says that the person is a USA citizen. If a USA citizen tries to open an account at Sber and / or Raiff, they will want to see a social security card. So I gave good information. The post has nothing to do with Europeans or other foreigners or whatever you are saying there. The “social security card” is a card (in USA) that has one’s tax ID number. Sber and Raiffeisen will want to see the card. Tink doesn’t care at first, and doesn’t ask when you open the account, but they will follow up through email maybe 3 or 4 weeks later, asking for the same thing. They will ask for a W-9 form, which is basically a declaratory statement of your tax ID (social security) number. Note: Everything I’m stating here is applicable to “debit card for USA citizen” like the title of the post says. ---
**Author:** ![Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/u/Cal)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/8 "2024-08-24T17:39:47Z")
Furthermore, both Russia and USA share a common interest (even though there are sanctions) in that they both want to tax a person if they can. A United States person that has a financial interest in or signature authority over foreign financial accounts must file an “FBAR” if the aggregate value of the foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. So for a citizen of USA, try not to go over $10,000.00 (US) combined total of all foreign accounts, and you don’t have to file any forms. If you go over $10,000.00 (US) you will need to file the FBAR. For example, if you have $6000 in Tinkoff and $5000 in Sber, you are over by $1000 and you have now just triggered an FBAR. Try to stay below $10,000.00 (US) threshold. There are huge fines for not doing this. But if someone forgets or doesn’t know, they also have an amnesty program. Even though there is a war and even though USA is considered “unfriendly” there are regulations in place (in Russia) even today, to allow banks in different countries to share Tax Information. So the Russian banks want your social security number in order to comply with Russian law. If it’s one thing they all agree on, it’s that they want to tax you. ---
**Author:** ![antoniob](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@antoniob](https://forum.russiable.com/u/antoniob)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 12:37am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/9 "2024-08-25T00:37:31Z")
> @Cal . If a USA citizen tries to open an account at Sber and / or > Raiff, they will want to see a social security card. So I gave good information. from where? personal experience? for Sber It makes no sense. For Raiffeisen probably because they operate still in Russia under constraints, ie. there are allowed by USA to do so. It is known that in the case of USA income tax is not tied to residency in the country but to citizenship and that USA did blackmail a diversity of countries in order to force their banking system to check citizenship of customers and list the ones who are USA. > @Cal both Russia and USA share a common interest (even though there are sanctions) in that they both want to tax a person if they can. Russia doesn’t tax citizens who reside abroad if they don’t run a business in Russia. It does tax benefits made abroad by residents in Russia, which is different. > @Cal " there are regulations in place (in Russia) even today, to allow banks in different countries to share Tax Information. “different countries”: make it “one country”. As I mentioned, years ago USA threatened a range of countries with financial sanctions if they didn’t provide to US Treasury names of their residents of USA citizenship. This is the “sharing”. Another “sharing” operates inside EU members, with various levels of implementations. Something else are treaties to avoid double taxation. Very common in Europe between Schengen and non-Schengen zone, like for instance people with residency in France but work in Switzerland. there was such a treaty USA-Russia but it was de facto nullified because banking systems are severed. There are no transfer protocols. And notice that this was valid for US citizens with RESIDENCY in Russia, not tourists. after a while in limbo, the treaty was suspended at vitam aeternam probably: > **[United States suspends income tax treaty with Russia](https://www.rsmus.com/insights/tax-alerts/2024/united-states-suspends-income-tax-treaty-with-russia)** > > The United States suspends certain provisions of the United States-Russia income tax treaty. ---
**Author:** ![Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/u/Cal)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:18am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/10 "2024-08-25T05:18:55Z")
If a USA citizen tries to open an account at Sber and / or Raiff, they will want to see a social security card. So I gave good information. Have no idea what the point is about the rest of your rant. The article you posted is for corporations, not individuals, so none of it applies to this conversation. Every bit of information I gave is good information that can help a USA citizen looking to open a bank account in Russia. So let’s move on now, shall we? ---
**Author:** ![vanyaya](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@vanyaya](https://forum.russiable.com/u/vanyaya)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 9:24am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/11 "2024-09-06T09:24:56Z")
Yes. They will ask for your SSN and W-9 Form. Just do it and opening a bank account in Russia is very easy. Our SSNs are nothing special. You will also be asked for a picture of your passport and a picture of you with your passport. ---
**Author:** ![Timoti](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a88e4f/32.png) [@Timoti](https://forum.russiable.com/u/Timoti)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 4:25am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/12 "2024-09-11T04:25:45Z")
I was in Russia earlier this month. I was not able to open a tinkoff card online because it didn’t give the option for United States. I ended up getting a Raffheisen bank card. They asked for my passport and I needed proof of income which I was able to provide. I also gave my ss number but was not asked for my actual card. It took a couple days to get approval but I was able to pick it up in Moscow at a different branch when it was ready (I applied in St. Petersburg). ---
**Author:** ![PeterChan](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@PeterChan](https://forum.russiable.com/u/PeterChan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/13 "2024-09-16T18:37:01Z")
Hi all, I just back from Russia on 16 Sep. Upon arrived Moscow I go to terminal C, Yoomoney shop to get my sim card & MIR card done. ---
**Author:** ![pattruong9872](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@pattruong9872](https://forum.russiable.com/u/pattruong9872)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 8:40am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/14 "2024-09-29T08:40:33Z")
I am from the US and just got back from Russia on 09/28. I was able to get the tinkoff debit card. You will have to write in their support chat on the website for them to help you setting up the account in advance before you arrive in Russia. Making sure you make an appointment with one of their representatives and they can come directly to wherever you stay. ---
**Author:** ![KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/u/KO11)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 1:16pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/15 "2024-09-29T13:16:30Z")
@pattruong9872 Interesting. So you went to their website, talk in chat (in english?) and were able to do all this before arrival? I do have a friend in Russia and was going to ask them to help. And to confirm, this company has no locations, only online, and they send someone to your hotel to set this all up? I just want to confirm all this as it seems like the best option. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/u/KO11)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 1:29pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/16 "2024-09-29T13:29:30Z")
@antoniob Thanks for the insight. Is Raff a German bank that works in Russia without a Visa or Mastercard processing? I might prefer that because I’d be spending a year in and around Europe. Are you saying a USA citizen without residency abroad can get an account with them or would I need residency? What would you recommend? ---
**Author:** ![KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/u/KO11)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 1:32pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/17 "2024-09-29T13:32:48Z")
@Cal Can you provide a source for the FBAR information? ---
**Author:** ![pattruong9872](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@pattruong9872](https://forum.russiable.com/u/pattruong9872)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/18 "2024-09-29T16:34:33Z")
@KO11 Yes. The first few questions will be in Russian. It will ask for your name, date of birth,etc… You can easily answer them (in English), then the chat will direct to a real person to chat in English with you This is the link [https://www.tbank.ru/contacts/](https://www.tbank.ru/contacts/) The chat icon is at the bottom right corner ---
**Author:** ![KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/u/KO11)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/19 "2024-09-29T17:12:50Z")
@pattruong9872 Thanks, Ill have a look later today. ---
**Author:** ![KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@KO11](https://forum.russiable.com/u/KO11)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 5:15pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162/20 "2024-12-23T17:15:51Z")
@Cal I’ve had some time to research everything you said and it all makes sense now. As a USA tourist, traveling into Russia for 2-3 months at a time, 2x a year, and never having more than $10k (max cash import is $10k) in a single Tinkoff account, it seems like there is no need to report anything. I would however hesitate at the idea of providing my SSN to any foreign business because that would give them unfettered access to everything in my life, would it not? I didn’t even need to provide a image or copy of a SSN or W9 when opening a bank account in the US. Why would this be required in Russia? Or is this not a concern in your opinion? [Next page](https://forum.russiable.com/t/tinkoff-bank-debit-card-for-usa-citizen/162.md?page=2)