SSN (Social Security Number)
The nine-digit number issued by the Social Security Administration; the de facto U.S. financial ID.
Originally created in 1936 just to track Social Security earnings, the SSN is now required to open a bank account, file taxes, apply for credit, get a job, or invest in a brokerage account. Because it is the master key to your financial identity, it is the prime target of identity theft. You can freeze your credit reports for free at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to prevent new accounts being opened in your name. Non-citizens may use an ITIN issued by the IRS for tax purposes instead.
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