Five years ago, opening a US bank account from outside the US meant flying to Florida and hoping a Wells Fargo branch would help you. In 2026, you can open a fully functional US business account from your laptop in 30 minutes. Here is what works.
Mercury
Best for: software, SaaS, Stripe-powered businesses, agencies.
Requirements: US LLC + EIN + passport + proof of address.
Time to approval: 1-3 business days.
Cost: free. No monthly fee, no minimum balance.
Limitations: no cash deposits, US-based businesses only (the LLC must be US even if you live abroad).
Relay
Best for: small businesses that want sub-accounts and bookkeeping integration.
Requirements: same as Mercury.
Time to approval: 1-2 business days.
Cost: free for the basic plan.
Wise Business
Best for: businesses sending or receiving payments in multiple currencies.
Requirements: passport, proof of address, business documents.
Time to approval: 1-2 weeks.
Cost: one-time $33-$50 fee, then free.
Strength: get USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, INR account details all in one dashboard.
Brex
Best for: VC-backed startups with significant runway.
Requirements: stricter — typically requires $50,000+ in the account or VC backing.
Most non-resident bootstrappers will be approved more easily at Mercury or Relay.
Documents you'll need
Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation (state-issued).
EIN confirmation letter (CP 575 from the IRS).
Operating Agreement (signed).
Passport.
Proof of personal address (utility bill or bank statement, less than 3 months old).
Business website or LinkedIn (helps approval).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fly to the US to open a bank account?+
No. Mercury, Relay, Wise and most modern US business banks open accounts 100% online for non-residents. You never need to enter the US.
Will my account be a real US bank account with US wire details?+
Yes. You get a real ABA routing number and US account number that accepts ACH and wires from anywhere in the US.
Can I open the bank account before forming the LLC?+
No. You need a state-formed LLC and an EIN before any US business bank will open an account.
What's the approval rate?+
Mercury approves roughly 70-80% of legitimate non-resident-owned LLCs on the first try. Wyoming and Delaware LLCs have the highest approval rates. Vague business descriptions are the most common rejection reason.
Ready to form your LLC?
Start with one of the states covered in this article.
Open your US LLC the easy way
Formation, EIN and Registered Agent in one fixed-price package. Real humans on WhatsApp when you need help.