A complete guide to opening a US business bank account for your LLC — remotely, without visiting the US. We'll walk you through which banks work, what documents you need, and what to do if you get rejected.
You cannot open a US business bank account without these documents. Make sure you have all of them ready before applying to any bank.
Articles of Organization — Your state-approved LLC formation document (stamped copy)
EIN Confirmation Letter — IRS CP575 letter or SS-4 with EIN stamped
Valid Passport — International passport for identity verification
Operating Agreement — Signed document showing you are the LLC owner
US Business Address — Your registered agent address works for this
Business Email Address — A professional email for your business
Our Standard and Premium LLC packages include all documents needed to open a US bank account — Articles of Organization, EIN, Operating Agreement, and Registered Agent address.
Start LLC Formation →Not all US banks accept non-residents. These are the ones that do — and how they compare.
The #1 choice for non-resident LLC owners. Free business checking, no minimum balance, virtual and physical cards, and seamless integration with Stripe and PayPal. Available to LLCs in most countries.
Best for international transactions. Holds USD, GBP, EUR, and 40+ currencies. Low transfer fees. Great if you receive payments in multiple currencies. Not available in all countries.
Best for budget management. Create up to 20 separate accounts for different expenses. No fees. Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero. Good for businesses needing organized cash flow management.
Best for teams and subscription management. Virtual cards with spending limits, cashback rewards, and expense tracking. Excellent for businesses with multiple team members managing expenses.
Each bank has its own country restrictions. Check your country against each bank before applying — policies change frequently.
Banking policies change frequently. Always verify with the bank's official support page before applying. Links above go directly to each bank's official prohibited countries list.
Mercury is the recommended option for most non-resident LLC owners. Here's exactly how to apply.
Have your Articles of Organization, EIN letter, passport, and operating agreement ready in PDF format before starting.
Visit mercury.com and click "Open Account". Select "LLC" as your business type and start the online application.
Enter your LLC name, EIN, business address (your registered agent address), business description, and expected monthly revenue.
Upload your Articles of Organization and your passport for identity verification. Make sure scans are clear and fully readable.
Mercury reviews applications in 1-3 business days. You'll receive an email when approved. Some applications may require additional documents.
Once approved, transfer a small amount to fund your account. Your virtual debit card is available immediately — physical card ships within 5 days.
Mercury rejections are common for new applicants. Here are the most common reasons and what to do about each:
Incomplete documents — Make sure your EIN letter is the official IRS confirmation, not just a number you wrote down
Mismatch in business name — The name on all documents must exactly match your LLC name
High-risk business category — If your business is in crypto, CBD, or similar categories, try Relay or Wise instead
Country restrictions — If Mercury rejects for your country, try Wise Business as an alternative
Our recommendation: If Mercury rejects, apply to Relay or Wise next. We guide you through the right option for your situation.
We'll send you a detailed PDF guide with step-by-step screenshots for Mercury, Wise, Relay, and Slash — specific to your country.
Check your email inbox within 1 hour. Also check your spam folder if you don't see it.
You need a formed LLC and EIN before you can open a US bank account. We handle both in our Standard and Premium packages.