US Banking for Non-Residents

What to Look For When Choosing a Bank for Your LLC

Not all banks treat non-resident LLC owners equally. Here are the criteria that actually matter — in order of importance.

1. Will they accept you?

This is the first filter. Every bank has a list of countries they won't work with (sanctions, high-risk jurisdictions) and business types they restrict (crypto, gambling, money services). Before you apply:

• Check their restricted countries list — this is usually buried in the terms of service
• Check their prohibited business types — some banks won't touch anything crypto-adjacent
• Verify they accept single-member LLCs owned by non-residents — not all do

I link to the official terms and restrictions pages in each individual review so you can verify this yourself.

2. What account details do you get?

This determines how your clients can pay you.

• Mercury and Relay give you US bank details only — ACH routing number and account number. US clients can pay you easily; international clients need to send a wire.
• Wise gives you local bank details in 22 currencies — your German client pays you with a regular SEPA transfer to your EUR IBAN, your US client pays via ACH. This is a significant advantage for receiving international payments.

3. Can you get a card?

This is where it gets interesting for non-residents. Getting a US credit card normally requires a Social Security Number and US credit history — which you don't have.

• Mercury's IO card is the standout — it's a real Mastercard with 1.5% cashback, no SSN required, no personal guarantee. It's based on your Mercury balance. This alone is a reason to choose Mercury.
• Debit cards — Mercury, Relay, Wise, and Revolut all offer them. Most ship internationally.

4. How much does it cost to move money internationally?

You'll be sending and receiving international wires regularly. The fees add up:

• Mercury: Free incoming, free outgoing with SHA (shared fees)
• Relay: $30 per international wire — gets expensive fast
• Wise: Low-fee transfers at the real exchange rate — best for frequent international payments

5. Is it a real bank (FDIC)?

FDIC insurance protects your deposits if the institution fails. Mercury offers up to $5M coverage through sweep networks. Relay has standard $250K. Wise is not a bank and has no FDIC insurance — your funds are in pooled accounts.

For your primary operating account, I recommend an FDIC-insured option.

My Recommended Setup

For most foreign-owned US LLCs, I recommend a two-account setup:

1. Mercury — Primary US bank account. FDIC insured, IO credit card for expenses, free wires, clean integrations for bookkeeping.
2. Wise Business — Secondary account for international payments. Receive money in EUR, GBP, and 20+ other currencies with local bank details. Convert to USD and transfer to Mercury.

This combination covers both US and international banking needs at minimal cost.

Documents You'll Need

Most neobanks require the same documents:

• Articles of Organization (or Certificate of Formation) from your LLC state
• EIN Verification Letter (CP 575 from the IRS)
• Operating Agreement
• Government-issued ID — Passport works best
• Proof of address — Utility bill or bank statement from your home country
• US phone number — For 2FA. See my Tello guide ($6/month)

Need Help?

Our LLC Formation package includes banking guidance — I help you pick the right bank for your situation and walk you through the application to maximize your chances of approval on the first try.