Ruling on opening an empty account in a riba-based bank

It is permissible to put
money in a riba-based bank without interest in cases of necessity in order
to protect the money, if there is no Islamic bank. If there is an Islamic
bank, then it is not permissible, because that is helping in sin, as the
bank benefits from this money by using it in riba. 

As for opening an account
without putting money in it, there does not seem to be anything wrong with
doing this, but it should be for a reason, and not just for no purpose, so
as to avoid joining the people of falsehood in this matter. 

And Allaah knows best.