Can't open bank account due to silly address mismatch

1 mring33621 1 8/14/2025, 4:51:33 PM
Chicago, IL, US Citizen here

I'm trying to open a new checking account.

I just got divorced and moved to a condo, which I recently purchased outright.

The bank, BMO, requires one of: a matching driver's license; a lease; a mortgage statement or a utility bill.

Well, I haven't yet updated my license, because I just moved. Since I own outright, I have neither lease nor mortgage. Ok here's my utility bill...

Approval Denied: Utility bill says "BSMT" but application says "Unit G"

Well, my condo is a "Garden Unit", sometimes called "Unit G", but People's Gas hard-coded it as "BSMT".

BMO says I should reapply with "BSMT"

So no one really cares about the actual address. They only care about exact string match.

UGH!

Comments (1)

toomuchtodo · 3h ago
See if they will accept the deed for the condo with your name and address on it. You can retrieve it from the Cook County Clerk’s website if you don’t have the copy from closing.

https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/recordings