Once you have a US LLC (see US LLC for non-residents), you need a business account in the company's name. You'll use it to get paid by Stripe, marketplaces and clients, and to pay US vendors. Traditional US banks rarely open business accounts for owners who can't visit, so most foreign founders use fintech business accounts: Mercury, Wise Business and, less often for non-residents, Relay.
These are fintech platforms. Deposits are held at partner banks that provide FDIC coverage under the programme's terms. They decide based on where the owners live, what the business does, and whether it looks real. The hardest part in 2026 is country eligibility, so check it first.
Options compared (as of September 2026)
| Mercury | Wise Business | Relay | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Fintech with US bank partners | E-money/money transmitter (not a bank) | Fintech with US bank partners |
| Remote opening for non-resident owners | Yes, if not in a prohibited country | Yes (if Wise supports your region) | Possible, but strict |
| SSN/ITIN needed | No (EIN + passport) | No | SSN or passport number per Relay's docs |
| Address requirement | Physical business address. No registered-agent, P.O. box or UPS Store addresses | Business address + owner residential address | Physical US address, no P.O. boxes or virtual mailboxes |
| USD ACH + wire details | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-currency | Limited (FX available) | Strong (40+ currencies) | USD only |
| Cards | Business debit (and credit for eligible companies) | Business debit (region-dependent) | Business debit |
| Notable restriction | 2026 prohibited-country list | Wise country list; business usage review | US address requirement |
Mercury
Eligibility
- The company must be formed in the US and have existing or planned operations tied to the US.
- You don't need to be a US citizen or resident.
- Every founder or owner with 25% or more must be listed and verified with a passport (or US ID).
- You need an EIN document: CP 575, 147C, the completed SS-4, or a screenshot of the online EIN confirmation.
- Eligibility depends on where the founders live, not their citizenship.
Prohibited countries (changed in 2026)
In early 2026 Mercury expanded its prohibited-countries list and reportedly began closing accounts of founders living in the newly listed places. As reported in March 2026, the list includes, among others: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, Venezuela and Vietnam. It also covers a number of African and Balkan countries.
Mainland China and Hong Kong were not reported on the list. Founders there go through the standard process but can expect more scrutiny of their business evidence. Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and Korea are not reported as prohibited.
Application steps
- Prepare documents: Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation, EIN letter, operating agreement, and each owner's passport.
- Prepare your business story: a live website (not a placeholder), product description, expected monthly volume, where customers are, and where money comes from.
- Business address: a real office, coworking space or virtual office that isn't a registered-agent address. Enter your real residential address (foreign is fine) for the owners.
- Apply online and complete ID verification for each owner.
- Answer follow-up questions quickly. Mercury often asks for invoices, contracts, or proof of your online presence.
- After approval, turn on 2FA, order cards, and connect Stripe or your marketplaces.
Wise Business
- Available to US LLCs owned by non-residents, provided Wise supports the countries involved. Mainland Chinese residents can't get Wise USD details, although the company itself is in the US. Check Wise's eligibility rules for owners, and see Wise USD account.
- Gives the company USD ACH and wire details plus local details in several other currencies. Good for paying suppliers worldwide.
- A one-time setup fee may apply depending on the region. Check Wise's business pricing page.
- Wise reviews what you declared your business does. Receiving money unrelated to it causes holds.
Relay
Relay accepts US businesses owned by non-US citizens or residents if the business has an operating presence in the US. According to Relay's help centre, every beneficial owner must give a physical US address (no P.O. boxes or virtual mailboxes) plus an SSN or passport number. For founders who live abroad with no US home, this is usually a blocker. Most use Mercury or Wise Business instead.
Why applications are rejected
| Reason | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Owner lives in a prohibited or high-risk country | Check the list first. Don't misstate residence |
| Registered-agent, UPS Store or P.O. box used as business address | Use a real office, coworking space or accepted virtual office |
| No website, or a template site with no real content | Launch a real site: product, pricing, contact, terms |
| Vague business description ("consulting", "trading") | Be specific: who pays you, for what, and how much |
| Restricted industries (crypto exchange, gambling, adult, some supplements, money services) | Check the prohibited-business list |
| Mismatched names or addresses across documents | Keep the company name, EIN letter and address consistent |
| Shell-company signals (brand-new LLC, no activity, owner abroad) | Show contracts, invoices, a Stripe account, or a customer pipeline |
After approval: staying in good standing
- Pay Form 5472 and state fees on time. Banks may ask for proof the company is in good standing.
- Keep personal and business money separate.
- Keep invoices for large incoming payments.
- Avoid sudden changes: a new country of login, a new industry, or unusual volumes without context can trigger reviews.
- Keep two business accounts if possible (for example Mercury + Wise Business), so a review at one doesn't stop your operations.
Sources
- Mercury: Eligibility and requirements, https://support.mercury.com/hc/en-us/articles/28770467511060-Eligibility-and-requirements-for-opening-a-Mercury-account
- Mercury: Prohibited countries, https://support.mercury.com/hc/en-us/articles/28771710754580-Prohibited-countries
- Mercury: Company address requirements, https://support.mercury.com/hc/en-us/articles/28769699533588-Company-address-requirements
- Mercury: Getting an EIN, https://support.mercury.com/hc/en-us/articles/28771757604244-Getting-an-EIN
- The Paypers: Mercury stops serving startups in several countries, https://thepaypers.com/fintech/news/mercury-stops-serving-startups-in-several-countries
- Relay: Required documents by entity type, https://relayfi.com/hc/en-us/articles/38049251551636-Required-Documents-and-Organization-Details-to-Open-a-Relay-Account-by-Entity-Type/
- Wise: Can I get USD account details?, https://wise.com/help/articles/2810318/can-i-get-usd-account-details
- Wise Business, https://wise.com/business/
