Yeah, the Patriot Act changed the requirement to open a bank account. It requires anyone who opens an account to provide a tax identification number and government ID that shows either nationality or residence. It also requires the application to provide a physical address. Before that, though, all we had to provide was a TIN.

Otherwise, an American citizen who doesn't drive and who only has banking accounts that pre-date the Patriot Act doesn't need a photo ID at all. Even to get a new job, a Voter Registration Card and Social Security Card are sufficient identification.