Online Account Opening FAQs

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Answers to some frequently asked questions as you open your account online

If you will be the only person to have ownership on this account select Individual. If you want to add a co-owner to the account, select Joint.

If you already have an account with us, we can automatically fill out parts of your application using the information you provided when you opened your other account. You can speed up your application using information from your ATM/check card, online banking, or a deposit account (excluding CD accounts), or a loan account.

All information is required to open a new account. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at 800-478-2265.

Federal law requires that all financial institutions obtain, verify and record personal information that identifies each person who opens an account. Your information is securely stored on your account and customer records once your new account is opened.

If you need to update your personal information, please contact us at 800-478-2265.

All ATM/debit cards will be mailed to the current address listed on your application. If you have a mailing address, it is important to note that ATM/debit cards will mail to your current address not your mailing address. Contact Us right away if this will cause an issue for you. Check orders will be mailed to the mailing address indicated on your application. If you did not enter a mailing address, check orders will be mailed to the current address listed.

Before establishing an account for a new customer, Northrim Bank must obtain identifying information from each applicant. If you prefer to provide your identifying information in person, you may visit us at any of our branch locations to open your new account.

You may review detail for all Northrim Bank products and services by using the website navigation links at the top of this page, calling us at 800-478-2265, or stopping by one of our branches and speaking with a banker.

A secret word is a phrase that we may use to verify your identity when you are calling us for information on your account. The hint is another phrase that we may provide to you to aid you in recalling your secret word. Your secret word and hint may be up to 20 characters long, must contain only numbers and letters, and must not include spaces.

Your mother’s maiden name is used as an additional verification tool to verify your identity when you are calling us for information on your account.

Please contact us to update your mailing address.

Disclosures contain the important terms and conditions that apply to your new account. Reviewing and accepting disclosures ensures that you are informed about how we will manage your new account.

Backup withholding is a type of withholding for federal income taxes on certain types of income. Backup withholding may be mandatory in certain circumstances. Most taxpayers, however, are exempt from backup withholding. The IRS requires backup withholding if your name and Social Security number on Form W-9 does not match their records. They often require backup withholding if you owe federal income taxes, or if you have not reported all your interest, dividends and other income on your tax returns. You will be notified by the IRS if you are required to have backup withholding or if your name and Social Security do not match the IRS records.

A beneficiary is any person or entity the owner chooses to receive the benefits of a Health Savings Account (HSA) after he or she dies. If your spouse is the designated beneficiary of your HSA, it will be treated as your spouse’s HSA after your death. If your spouse isn’t the designated beneficiary of your HSA, the account stops being an HSA and the fair market value of the HSA becomes taxable to the beneficiary in the year in which you die. If your estate is the beneficiary, the value is included on your final income tax return.

You can assign no more than 3 primary beneficiaries and no more than 3 contingent beneficiaries for your Health Savings Account (HSA).

Providing your login information allows us to verify that you own the account you are using to make a deposit into your new account.

You can still use your account at a different bank to make a deposit. Click the link in the login information section to use test deposits and withdrawals to verify your account ownership.

You can choose to fund your account by transferring money from a different account, charging your debit or credit card, or by sending a direct deposit.
  • Transfer Money from a Different Account: Your account will fund with money from another bank account. When you choose this method, Northrim will transfer the funds from your other account via electronic transfer. For external accounts, you must first validate 2 small dollar transactions to verify the account. The transfer will be initiated after the small dollar transactions have been verified, typically within 2-5 days. If you are an existing customer, you will have the option to instantly transfer funds from one of your open accounts at Northrim Bank. 
  • Charge My Debit or Credit Card: If you prefer to fund your account using a debit or credit card, you may enter your card details, and Northrim Bank will initiate a transaction from your credit or debit card. Funds will appear in your new account within 2-3 days.
  • Direct Deposit: If you prefer to fund your new account with funds from an employer, you can select Direct Deposit. Your new account information will display on the screen, you will need to provide that account information displayed, along with our routing number 125200934 to your employer for your direct deposit. Your new account will be funded when the deposit is received from your employer.

The routing number, a nine digit number identifying the bank, can be found on your bank’s website or at the bottom left corner of your checks and deposit slips. Next to the routing number is your account number.

This authorization is required in order for Northrim Bank to initiate an electronic withdrawal on your behalf from your account at another institution.

If you choose this option, we will make two test deposits ($0.99 or less) and two matching withdrawals to your external account. You will need to access that account to see the amounts and then return to our website to enter the amounts and verify account ownership. It typically takes 2-3 days for these transactions to appear in your external account.

Your account at a different bank requires that you answer these questions to ensure that you own the account. This additional layer of security protects you against fraudulent attempts to withdraw money.

You can still use your account at a different bank to make a deposit. Click the link in the Security questions section to use test deposits and withdrawals to verify your account ownership. If you choose this option, we will make two test deposits ($0.99 or less) and two matching withdrawals to your external account. You will need to access that account to see the amounts and then return to our website to enter the amounts and verify account ownership. It typically takes 2-3 days for these transactions to appear in your external account.

You should receive an email confirming your account application. Within 2-3 days, you can expect a welcome call from one of our bankers to make sure you have been able to log into online banking, and to answer any questions you may have. Please note: if your account was funded with a transfer from an account at another institution you will need to verify your small dollar transactions before your account application is complete.

You may review the online account disclosures at the links below.