How to Open a Girl Scout Bank Account
This article outlines information for Girl Scouts River Valleys troops, communities, areas or groups on where and how to open their Girl Scout bank account.
Where to Bank
Volunteers needing to open a Girl Scout troop, community, area, or group (day camp, encampment) bank account are welcome to open an account at any bank that best suits their needs.
Opening a Girl Scout bank account at one the listed banks offer benefits such as easy account setup and improved customer service. For more details, refer to each bank’s section. If your bank isn’t listed, check the “Other banks” section for instructions on using alternative banks.
Girl Scout bank accounts cannot be opened at the following banks:
- Wings Credit Union
- TruStone Financial Federal Credit Union
Bell Bank
Volunteers who wish to open an account at Bell Bank no longer need to visit a local branch. Instead, they can open an account through Girl Scouts River Valleys and Bell Bank’s Commercial Relationship Associate by submitting the Bank Account Request Form.
Once you have submitted the Bank Account Request Form, Girl Scouts River Valleys completes the following steps:
- Verifies requested signers are unrelated, not living in the same household, are registered members with current background check and have a volunteer role assign to troop, community, area, or group.
- Collects signed Girl Scout Bank Account Agreement Form (PDF) from each account signer.
IMPORTANT: Each account singer is required to complete, sign and return a Girl Scout Bank Account Agreement Form (PDF) confirming that they have reviewed and agree to follow Girl Scouts River Valleys Finance Policies. Only once all signed agreement forms from each signer are received by Girl Scouts River Valleys, then can the authorization letter for the account to be opened be sent to Bell Bank. - Forwards the request to the bank.
Responsibilities of Commercial Relationship Associate at Bell Bank
The account signer #1 is then contacted by Bell Bank to complete the process for opening the "Business Checking" bank account under Girl Scouts River Valleys Tax ID number.
PLEASE NOTE: Bell Bank requires additional information like your social security number, a copy of your driver’s license or other necessary information for opening the account. However, this data will not be shared with Girl Scout River Valleys.
Once you have been notified that your Girl Scout account is open with Bell Bank, please submit your Girl Scout Bank Account Record Form. Every troop, community, area or group that is setting up a new Girl Scout bank account must complete this form within 30 days of it opening. The information collected on this form will assist Girl Scouts River Valleys in maintaining accurate records.
Fees Associated with the Bell Bank "Business Checking" Account
- Minimum to Open - $50 (to be deposited with 10 days of opening)
- Monthly Service Fee - None
- Minimum Monthly Balance to Avoid Monthly Service Fee - None
- Transaction - Up to 100/month – No charge
- Transactions - Over 100/month - $.25/item
- Online and Mobile Banking
- Free Debit Card
- Free Statements
- Free Standard Checks
- Free Nationwide ATMs
Bremer Bank
Volunteers who wish to open an account at Bremer Bank no longer need to visit a local branch. Instead, they can open an account through Girl Scouts River Valleys and Bremer Bank’s Commercial Banker Associate by submitting the Bank Account Request Form Bank Account Request Form.
Once you have submitted the Bank Account Request Form, Girl Scouts River Valleys completes the following steps:
- Verifies requested signers are unrelated, not living in the same household, are registered members with current background check and have a volunteer role assign to troop, community, area, or group.
- Collects signed Girl Scout Bank Account Agreement Form (PDF) from each account signer.
IMPORTANT: Each account singer is required to complete, sign and return a Girl Scout Bank Account Agreement Form (PDF) confirming that they have reviewed and agree to follow Girl Scouts River Valleys Finance Policies. Only once all signed agreement forms from each signer are received by Girl Scouts River Valleys, then can the authorization letter for the account to be opened be sent to Bremer Bank. - Forwards the request to the bank.
Responsibilities of Commercial Banker Associate at Bremer Bank
The account signer #1 is then contacted by Bremer Bank to complete the process for opening the Bremer "Classic Business Checking" bank account under Girl Scouts River Valleys Tax ID number.
PLEASE NOTE: Bremer Bank requires additional information like your social security number, a copy of your driver’s license or other necessary information for opening the account. However, this data will not be shared with Girl Scout River Valleys.
Once you have been notified that your Girl Scout account is open with Bremer Bank, please submit your Girl Scout Bank Account Record Form. Every troop, community, area or group that is setting up a new Girl Scout bank account must complete this form within 30 days of it opening. The information collected on this form will assist Girl Scouts River Valleys in maintaining accurate records.
Fees Associated with the Bremer Bank "Bremer Classic Business Banking" Account
- Minimum to Open - $100 (to be deposited with three days of opening)
- Monthly Service Fee - None
- Minimum Monthly Balance to Avoid Monthly Service Fee - None
- Transaction - Up to 100/month – No charge
- Transactions - Over 100/month - $.75/item
- Free Business Debit Card
- Online and Mobile Banking
Frandsen Bank & Trust
Volunteers who wish to open an account at Frandsen Bank & Trust no longer need to visit a local branch. Instead, they can open an account through Girl Scouts River Valleys and Frandsen Bank & Trust’s Vice President of Treasury Management Services by submitting the Bank Account Request Form.
- Verifies requested signers are unrelated, not living in the same household, are registered members with current background check and have a volunteer role assign to troop, community, area, or group.
- Collects signed Girl Scout Bank Account Agreement Form (PDF) from each account signer.
IMPORTANT: Each account singer is required to complete, sign and return a Girl Scout Bank Account Agreement Form (PDF) confirming that they have reviewed and agree to follow Girl Scouts River Valleys Finance Policies. Only once all signed agreement forms from each signer are received by Girl Scouts River Valleys, then can the authorization letter for the account to be opened be sent to the bank. - Forwards the request to the bank.
Responsibilities of Vice Present of Treasury Management Services at Frandsen Bank & Trust
The account signer #1 is then contacted by Frandsen Bank & Trust to complete the process for opening the "Community Group Checking" bank account under Girl Scouts River Valleys Tax ID number.
PLEASE NOTE: Frandsen Bank & Trust requires additional information like your social security number, a copy of your driver’s license or other necessary information for opening the account. However, this data will not be shared with Girl Scout River Valleys.
Once you have been notified that your Girl Scout account is open with Frandsen Bank & Trust, please submit your Girl Scout Bank Account Record Form. Every troop, community, area or group that is setting up a new Girl Scout bank account must complete this form within 30 days of it opening. The information collected on this form will assist Girl Scouts River Valleys in maintaining accurate records.
Fees Associated with the Frandsen Bank & Trust "Community Group Checking" Account
- Minimum to Open - $1 (to be deposited with three days of opening)
- Monthly Service Fee - None
- Minimum Monthly Balance to Avoid Monthly Service Fee - None
- Transaction - Up to 100/month – No charge
- Transactions - Over 100/month - $.15/item
- Online and Mobile Banking
- Free Debit Card
- Free Statements
- Access to MoneyPass surcharge-free ATM network
Wells Fargo
Effective September, 24, 2024. new Girl Scout accounts cannot be opened at any Wells Fargo branch location. Due to this change and Wells Fargo going away from free banking, any new account opened after 9/24/24 will incur fees on the account (see below). To continue to deliver quality programs, maintaining properties, and providing financial assistance, we River Valleys are not able to absorb these additional account costs into the council expenses. The exception would be during the Fall Program (November – December) and Cookie Program (February – April), River Valleys will reimburse troops for deposit fees during those program months. (see Finance/Inventory Issue Form FAQ).
Account Fees and Examples:
Monthly Service Fee $15
Deposit Fee $6 per deposit (non-electronic deposit processed by teller or mailed to bank)
Check Deposit Fee $.37 per check
Example: deposit includes 10 checks (10 x $.37 = $3.70 fee)
Cash Deposit Fee $.006 x the amount of cash
Example: deposit includes $200 in cash ($200 x $.006 = $1.20 fee)
Here is an example of a deposit that has both cash and checks. If you are depositing 15 checks and have $500 in cash, the total amount in fees the troop would be charged is $14.55.
15 checks x $.37 = $5.55
$500 x $.006 = $3.00
Deposit Fee = $6
If you would like to open a new Girl Scout account at Wells Fargo, please submit the Bank Account Request form.
After the request to open an account form has been submitted to council, Troop Finance Specialist will email two forms to all the signers that will be required to be completed and returned before account can be opened.
- One form will be the Wells Fargo Personal Profile form which will collect personal information needed by Wells Fargo.
- Second form will be Girl Scouts River Valleys Bank Account Signer Agreement.
River Valleys will work with Wells Fargo to open your account when both forms for all signers have been received.
Other Banks
First, research banks in your area to see if you can open a business account under Girl Scouts River Valleys Tax ID number.
When you have decided on a bank, set up an appointment with a business banker to open account.
Ask the banker what documentation, other than an authorization letter and a copy of Girl Scouts River Valleys EIN (W-9) Tax ID form, they require to open an account.
Complete the Girl Scout Bank Account Request Form at least three days before your appointment.
Once you have submitted the Bank Account Request Form, Girl Scouts River Valleys completes the following steps:
- Verifies requested signers are unrelated, not living in the same household, are registered members with current background check and have a volunteer role assign to troop, community, area, or group.
- Collects signed Girl Scout Bank Account Agreement Form (PDF) from each account signer.
IMPORTANT: Each account singer is required to complete, sign and return a Girl Scout Bank Account Agreement Form (PDF) confirming that they have reviewed and agree to follow Girl Scouts River Valleys Finance Policies. Only once all signed agreement forms from each signer are received by Girl Scouts River Valleys, then can the documentation for the account to be opened be sent to the volunteer. - Emails the authorization letter, EIN form, and any other required documentation to the volunteer who submitted the request.
With the authorization letter and other documents in-hand for your appointment, work with banker to complete the process for opening your Girl Scout bank account.
Once you have been notified that your Girl Scout account is open, please submit your Girl Scout Bank Account Record Form. Every troop, community, area or group that is setting up a new Girl Scout bank account must complete this form within 30 days of it opening. The information collected on this form will assist Girl Scouts River Valleys in maintaining accurate records.
