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).
The four platforms, compared
| Mercury | Wise Business | Relay | Brex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Bank via partners | E-money institution | Bank via partners | Corporate card and spend |
| SSN or ITIN required | No | No | Sometimes, as of 2026 | Effectively yes |
| Approval difficulty | Moderate | Easiest | Moderate to hard | Hard |
| Registered agent address accepted | Case by case | Yes | No, as of 2026 | No |
| FDIC coverage | Yes, via partner banks | No, safeguarded instead | Yes, via partner banks | Yes, via partner |
| Stripe integration | Direct | Workable | Workable | Workable |
| Best for | Most non-resident LLCs | Multi-currency invoicing | US-resident owners | Funded startups |
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).
LLC cost calculator
Work out what an LLC actually costs to keep alive. Pick a state, a number of years and your Registered Agent price.
| State filing fee, once | $100 |
| Annual report, 4 renewals | $240 |
| Registered Agent, 5 years | $0 |
| Total over 5 years | $340 |
Estimate only. State fees are the published amounts at the time of writing and can change. Taxes, foreign qualification in your operating state and optional services are not included.
BF Solutions LLC, Sheridan, Wyoming. WY Filing ID 2026-001992102.
We file with the Secretary of State and apply for your EIN with the IRS.
Most US LLC filings are completed in a few business days, EIN follows after approval.
Talk to the team that handles your file, before and after formation.
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.
Bastion Formations is a company formation agent that files LLCs and corporations in all 50 US states and incorporates companies in the UAE, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Thailand and Indonesia. Our team files with the Secretary of State directly, applies for EINs with the IRS and supports founders through bank account opening. This article reflects fees and filing rules we work with day to day.
- Registered entity
- BF Solutions LLC
30 N Gould St Ste R, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA
WY Filing ID 2026-001992102 - UAE office
- Online Solutions LLC, Licence 2221203
Sharjah Free Zone, United Arab Emirates
Fees checked and article last updated on August 14, 2026. State fees can change, so confirm before you file.