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Info needed for apartment rent application?

Hi, I'm planning to rent an apartment in Beaverton,OR. I was asked for SS#,DOB and DL info. Which I feel was okay. But the application says that I need to furnish my Bank Account No too? I've never heard of giving bank account no. for a rent application though I knew that I need to give SS#,DOB, and DL photo copy. Any advice on giving the bank account no for rent application? ~Chokka

Public Comments

1. NO WAY! never should u do that. Leave it blank. They may be doing this in case u dont apy your rent and go in your account or something.
2. NEVER give your bank account # to ANYONE. Look for another place. If the landlord has access to your account he could be a scam artist who could drain your account without your knowledge.
3. I asked the OR screening service we use about the bank account question too. The screener said they mainly use the bank account info to confirm that the applicant has a bank account and to verify they are pulling the correct credit report. Whenever you write a rent check, you're giving away your bank account number. So, it's not secret information. You've already given the necessary info (SSN, DOB, DL) to access your bank account over the telephone anyways. If you can't trust the folks you are going to have keys to your home, then you're pretty much screwed no matter what you do.
4. I'm the leasing agent at the apartments I live in. When I process an application I send it in to a company that checks credit and collections accounts. I don't ever need to enter a bank account number for anyone that is applying. In fact, if anyone does fill in that info I usually do my best to black it out or make it unreadable in some way. All the financial information I take into account can be obtained through the name, social, and date of birth. Why don't you try writing 'provided upon request' in that spot. If the screening process they use really does require that info then they will contact you. If it doesn't, they probably won't even ask you for it.
5. When you pay you rent with a check, your landlord will already have your bank account information. In today's world it would be my SS# that I wouldn't have an easy time giving out.