[2022.8 Update] It now supports ITIN. If you apply with an SSN or ITIN, you probably won’t need passport or visa verification. Good luck. HT: Kang

[2022.7 Update] Sable is about to launch its own credit score tracking system. It also has a credit hub; after completing milestone tasks, you can upgrade your secured card to an unsecured card, with approved credit limits of $1,000-$7,500. The milestone tasks are not difficult, so this may be worth considering if you want an unsecured credit card.

  • Feel free to use our referral link
  • Get $20 after opening an account and spending $250, or scan the QR code below to sign up:
  • Note: You can open it even if you have an SSN.

[Original article below]

Sable, nicknamed the “Diaochan card” and previously also called “Cheetah,” is a bank account product aimed at people who do not have an SSN and have just arrived in the U.S. It offers a checking account, debit card, and credit card products, and it’s quite a good option. Sable has been planning a revamp recently (originally scheduled to launch in January 2021, but it still has not gone live). Sable’s Chinese website: https://zh.sablecard.com/

 How to Apply

Let’s get straight to the point: how do you apply? Sable used to offer an account opening bonus, but there isn’t one right now. It may return in the future, so if you’re not in a hurry, you could wait until there’s a sign-up bonus again. The application itself is very simple, and Sable’s website also provides instructions.

  • Use the referral link, enter your email, download the app, set your account password, confirm your email, and then follow the prompts in the app to open the account.

For application requirements, see:

To open a Sable account you only need three things:

  • Your SSN/ITIN information

OR

  • Your Passport, a valid passport
  • Your U.S. Address, a U.S. address
  • Your U.S. Visa or Non-Tourist I94 entry of your US visit, a valid U.S. visa or a non-tourist I-94

The visa can be a B1/B2 tourist visa, as long as it is still valid.

The entire application only takes about 5 minutes. Just use the app to scan your passport and valid visa. After applying, you can immediately see the card number, CVV, and mmyy, and you can add it to mobile pay right away.

One more thing worth mentioning: Sable supports opening an account from outside the U.S. You need a U.S. IP address and a real U.S. address. I won’t go into details here.

Application link:

Who It’s Good For

Who should consider applying for Sable: people without an SSN who have a U.S. address and a U.S. visa (including B1/B2).

  • For example, if you don’t have an SSN but want to get into the U.S. credit card game, Sable is a good starter option.
  • For example, if you want to help family in China apply for U.S. credit cards and bank accounts, having a Sable Checking account may be very helpful. The author opened one for LD two years ago using a B1/B2 tourist visa. It has been used to receive some payments and occasionally to make payments, and the overall experience has been good.
  • Of course, you can also apply if you have an SSN, but since there is no sign-up bonus right now, those with an SSN may want to wait until one returns.

Product Features

Sable offers Checking, a debit card, and a Credit Card. Let’s go through them one by one. Note: the official site has mentioned many new benefits, but in reality most of them have not launched yet. For features and terms of all products, see:

Checking Account and Debit Card

Sable’s partner bank is Coastal Community Bank, and deposits are FDIC insured (it was previously Evolve Bank And Trust). It also has a $0-fee structure. The debit card is a Mastercard and can be used for free ATM cash withdrawals (including outside the U.S., though that feature has not launched yet). The official summary of features is below:

The debit card also added 1% cash back at select merchants (not officially launched yet). See the image below for details:

Sable Checking is a standard U.S. checking account. Since there is no Evolve Bank And Trust online banking login, you need to manually enter the Acct and Rout numbers. It can be used for the following purposes (not limited to these):

  • Linking U.S. PayPal, Venmo, Square, and Cash App
  • Connecting to various investment accounts, such as Schwab accounts
  • Paying U.S. credit cards, including AMEX, Chase, Citi, BofA, and Capital One
  • Receiving ACH payments from affiliate programs, such as Google ADs and Amazon Associate

Sable Checking also supports transfers.

The methods for domestic U.S. and international transfers are both explained there:

Checking account information lookup in the app:

Debit card information lookup: you can check card details anytime, lock the physical card, lock the card, replace the card, set the PIN, add it to mobile pay, etc.

Credit Card: Sable One

This is somewhat like the secured cards offered by many banks, so it is not a credit card in the strict sense. In Chinese it’s called “Diaochan Loan,” and it requires enough funds in your Checking account. Like U.S. secured cards, Sable One starts building your U.S. credit history after you open it. Sable One also offers a variety of benefits (though these also have not really launched), which feels a bit too good to be true.

After opening the account, it also provides credit tracking (without much detail). This card does have a sign-up bonus, but the requirement is fairly strict: if within 12 months of use you build your credit score to above 700, you can receive $25.

Other benefits are also interesting. For example, the cell phone insurance does not specify the coverage amount, and it is secondary coverage, so the claims process seems like it could be cumbersome. Hopefully the detailed terms will become clearer later.

Sable Customer Service

Sable offers the following support channels:

  • Live chat in the app
  • Email contact
  • Phone support

The author has used the in-app chat once, and the response speed was decent. You can also contact them by phone or email.

What About Existing Users?

For existing users who already opened accounts earlier, because the partner bank changed, cards are now being replaced automatically, though many of the benefits are still not in place yet. Sable has emailed many people in the past few days saying that the new cards have already been mailed out.

The email also shows the back of the card, where the card number is printed vertically. More and more U.S. online debit cards are using vertical card numbers now. Other examples include Upgrade (unlimited 1% Debit) and Betterment (free global ATM access), which the author may also cover later.

Other Notes

Sable also has some hidden perks. For example, you can print a PDF statement that includes your billing address. It’s not pretty, but older Americans generally won’t reject it, and sometimes it can be used for address verification, YMMV. There are also some other tricks and use cases, which I’ll cover in more detail after those benefits go live.

Similar to Sable, and also allowing account opening with a visa, there is another useful classic European online virtual account: Revolut (offering Checking, Debit, and virtual cards), as well as Passbook (with limits). I’ll introduce those in more detail when I have time.

Application Link

  • Feel free to use our referral link
  • Get $20 after opening an account and spending $250, or scan the QR code below to sign up:
  • Note: You can open it even if you have an SSN.