How to open a US business bank account as a non-resident

You can open a US business bank account as a non-resident, but almost every provider expects two things first: a company formed in the US and an EIN from the IRS. After that, the requirements differ on where you live, what address you give and how much US activity you have. This guide summarizes what Mercury, Brex, Relay and Wise Business state on their own pages, as read in October 2026.

Greatweek is a US market-entry agency. It has no affiliate relationship with any provider named here and does not recommend one over another. Eligibility rules change, so confirm them with the provider before you apply.

The two things every provider asks for

The first is a US entity. Mercury, Brex and Relay all describe their customers as businesses registered in the United States. A company incorporated in Sweden, Germany or India will not qualify on its own. You need a Delaware corporation, an LLC or another US-formed entity.

The second is an EIN. Mercury asks for the IRS-issued EIN document, Brex requires a valid US EIN, and Relay includes the EIN as an application field. If you do not have one yet, start with Greatweek's guide on how to get an EIN without an SSN.

The table summarizes each provider's stated rules, as read on their own pages in October 2026. The sections below give the detail.

Mercury

Mercury's page for LLC banking states that customers "must be formed and registered in the United States or a U.S. territory" and "must have some type of existing or planned operations in the U.S." Non-US residents can apply, except founders or financial controllers living in countries on Mercury's prohibited list.

Mercury accepts a US or international address as the principal place of business, including a residential one. It does not accept a registered agent address, PO box or UPS box. The documents listed are your formation documents, the IRS-issued EIN document and government ID for each founder or majority owner.

Mercury describes itself as "a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank", with banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A. As of October 2026, its pricing page lists a $0 plan, Mercury Plus at $29.90 per month and Mercury Pro at $299 per month. Domestic and USD international wires are $0 on all plans, and non-USD international wires carry a 1% FX fee.

Brex

Brex's commonly asked questions say an applicant must be a business entity "Duly organized and registered in the US", in good standing, "With a valid US Employer Identification Number (EIN)". Brex also states that it "only enters into order forms for services with US businesses."

For owners, the controlling officer and anyone holding 25% or more must give a physical street address, residential or business. A passport number can be used in place of an SSN, which matters for founders who have neither an SSN nor an ITIN.

Relay

Relay's sign-up guidance describes an eligible customer as "A business registered and operating in the United States" with owners "residing outside the restricted countries list". The EIN is an application field.

Relay's help pages are not consistent on one point. One says a physical US personal address is required. Another says non-US residents may use a registered agent address for the business but must give a residential address for each owner. Ask Relay which rule applies to you before you prepare documents.

Wise Business: USD details, not a US bank

Wise Business works differently. It gives you USD account details, including a routing number, an account number with account type "Checking" and Swift details. You can receive ACH and wire transfers from the US and Swift payments in USD from outside the US. Per Wise's help page as of October 2026, there is no fee to receive ACH, and 6.11 USD to receive a domestic wire or a Swift payment.

Wise is explicit that "This isn't a bank account". Availability also depends on your address: a US business with an address in Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Nigeria or Pakistan cannot get USD details. You may want Wise alongside a US bank account rather than instead of one. Check any fee for opening USD details on Wise directly, as it was not stated on the help page read.

Routes through formation services

Some formation services connect you to banking. As of October 2026, Stripe Atlas lets companies open a Stripe Treasury account and accept US card payments before the EIN arrives, with payouts capped at $100,000 until then. Checking accounts are provided by Fifth Third Bank, N.A., and Stripe states that "Stripe is not a bank". doola integrates directly with Mercury and states a bank account timeline of three to six weeks for non-US founders. Firstbase refers to banking partners without naming them on its pricing page.

What to prepare before you apply

Have these ready before you start an application:

• Your formation documents from the state, such as the certificate of incorporation or the LLC formation filing.
• The IRS letter confirming your EIN.
• A valid passport or government ID for each founder, controlling officer and significant owner.
• A real street address for each owner, and a principal business address that is not a registered agent or PO box address, at least for Mercury.
• A few plain sentences on your existing or planned US operations: who your US customers are, what you sell them and how money will flow.

That last point is not paperwork for its own sake. Providers that ask about US operations want to understand the account's purpose. A clear answer comes from a clear US commercial plan.

That plan is what Greatweek's US Market Entry work helps you build: whether the US opportunity is real at your stage or a year too early, which buyers to target first and which route to market fits your economics. The free US Market Entry Playbook is a good place to start. Account opening itself stays between you and the provider.

Frequently asked questions

Can a non-resident open a US business bank account online?

Yes, with providers that accept non-resident owners, such as Mercury, if your company is formed in the US, has an EIN and you do not live in a country on the provider's restricted list.

Do I need an SSN to open a US business bank account?

Not necessarily. Brex states that a passport number can be used in place of an SSN. Mercury lists government ID, formation documents and the EIN document.

Can I use my registered agent address?

Mercury does not accept a registered agent address as the principal place of business. Relay's guidance on this is inconsistent, so ask Relay directly.

Is Wise Business a US bank account?

No. Wise provides USD account details for receiving ACH, wire and Swift payments, and states that "This isn't a bank account".

A bank account is one step in a longer sequence that leads to accepting payments from US customers. For the full picture, read the benefits of incorporating in the US, or book a 20-minute US Entry Review to test whether you are ready for a US entity at all.