US Corporate Banking — Mercury, Brex & Tier-1 Banks
Mercury and Brex for tech-first founders; JPMorgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo for established businesses. EIN and ITIN requirements navigated. Multi-currency accounts.
What Banking & Treasury includes in the US
What you receive
How it works
Useful materials
Where to register and how we differ
Banking & Treasury in the US — frequently asked questions
Non-US residents can open a US business bank account through: (1) Mercury Bank — fully online, accepts non-US founders, no minimum balance, fast EIN-based onboarding, ideal for tech startups. (2) Relay Financial — similar remote-friendly process. (3) Traditional banks (Chase, Bank of America, Citibank) require in-person branch visit with passport, company documents, and EIN. Mercury is the fastest option for international founders, often opening accounts within 1–3 days of EIN receipt.
Yes. Mercury Bank is the most widely used banking option for international founders operating a US LLC or C-Corp. Mercury requires: the EIN, Certificate of Formation/Incorporation, Operating Agreement or Bylaws, and passport. No SSN or ITIN is required. Mercury provides a US routing number and account number, debit Visa card, and free domestic/international wires. Mercury is FDIC-insured through its partner banks (Choice Financial Group, Evolve Bank & Trust) up to $5M via sweep programs.
A US bank routing number (ABA routing number) is a 9-digit code identifying the financial institution for wire transfers, ACH payments, and check processing. US clients, marketplaces (Amazon, Stripe, PayPal), and payroll providers require a US bank account with a valid routing number to disburse funds. Without a US routing number, international founders face delays, higher FX fees, and may be locked out of US payment infrastructure entirely.
Standard documentation includes: EIN confirmation letter from the IRS (Form SS-4 approval), Certificate of Formation (LLC) or Certificate of Incorporation (C-Corp), Operating Agreement or Bylaws, government-issued ID (passport) for all beneficial owners, and proof of business purpose (website, invoices, or business plan). For high-risk industries (crypto, cannabis, MSB), enhanced due diligence applies and traditional banks may decline — fintech alternatives like Mercury or Brex are more accessible.
Stripe requires a US bank account with a valid ACH routing number for payouts to US entities. PayPal US business accounts can receive funds but require a US bank for withdrawals above certain thresholds. Stripe Atlas helps founders incorporate a Delaware C-Corp and open a Mercury account simultaneously. Without a US bank account, a US entity cannot receive ACH payouts, which affects most SaaS, marketplace, and e-commerce payment flows.