The Common Myth: Does Having an LLC Mean You Can Open a Mercury Account?
A lot of guides out there treat "register a US LLC + open a Mercury account" as a standard two-step formula. It sounds clean and simple โ but for non-residents without any US status, this combination doesn't always work the way people expect.
Mercury has tightened its account opening requirements in recent years. Currently, Mercury generally requires account holders to be US citizens, permanent residents (green card holders), or individuals living in the US on a valid work or residency visa. If you have no US status at all โ just a freshly registered LLC and an EIN โ there's a good chance your application gets rejected or stuck in review indefinitely. That's not to say Mercury is completely off the table, but treating it as something you can "easily open with an LLC" is one of the most common misconceptions floating around in the cross-border seller community.
Relay is somewhat more flexible toward non-residents than Mercury, though it still has its own review process and approval isn't guaranteed. Brex โ which doesn't get mentioned nearly enough in these conversations โ is worth serious attention. Brex was built with international founders in mind from the start, has a higher tolerance for non-US resident shareholders, primarily serves fast-growing tech and e-commerce companies, and supports fully remote applications. If Mercury turns you down, Brex should be your next stop.
Traditional banks like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo are generally even harder to work with โ they typically require an in-person branch visit, US address verification, and in many cases will still turn you away even with an LLC in hand. If you happen to be traveling to the US, going in person dramatically improves your odds, but whether it actually works still comes down to individual branch policies and the specific person behind the counter. There's no universal answer.
Forming a US LLC: There's More to This Step Than People Realize
Before getting into the banking question, it's worth spending a moment on the LLC formation itself โ because the choices you make here have real downstream consequences.
State selection matters more than most tutorials let on. The two most common options are Delaware and Wyoming. Delaware has the most developed corporate legal framework and is the go-to for startups planning to raise venture capital. Wyoming, on the other hand, has significantly lower annual fees โ around $60/year versus $400 in Delaware โ and no state income tax, making it a much better fit for cross-border sellers and solo operators. Honestly, if your main use case is e-commerce and collecting payments for a DTC store, a Wyoming LLC is almost always the smarter, cheaper choice.
Once your LLC is formed, you'll need to apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS โ this is your company's tax ID, and you'll need it to open a bank account, connect Stripe, or register through Stripe Atlas. Non-residents can apply by fax or mail, though fax applications typically take 4โ6 weeks. If you have an ITIN, the online application process is faster.
Realistic Paths for Non-US Residents
Option 1: Travel to the US and open an account in person
This is the highest-probability approach. Bring your passport and visa documentation, walk into a branch, and some banks โ Chase, Citibank, and Capital One among them โ do accept non-residents using a passport, no SSN required. Before you go, call ahead or check the bank's website to confirm current policy, since requirements can vary significantly between branches and states. Once the account is open, you can request a debit card and operate it like a standard business account.
Option 2: Apply remotely through non-resident-friendly digital banks
This mainly means Brex and Relay, with Mercury as a possible attempt depending on your specific situation. These platforms don't require you to show up in person โ you submit your LLC documents, passport, and EIN information online and go through their review process. As noted above, approval isn't guaranteed, but if one rejects you, move on to the next. It's a numbers game to some extent.
Option 3: Build the whole stack through Stripe Atlas
Stripe Atlas is Stripe's all-in-one US company formation service, starting at around $500. It handles your Delaware LLC registration, EIN application, and Stripe account setup in one bundled process. The big advantage here is that your Stripe account activation is tied directly to the company formation โ you don't have to separately navigate the bank account question. If your core need is accepting credit card payments on your DTC store, Stripe Atlas sidesteps the "can I even open a US bank account" problem entirely. Once that's set up, you can circle back and try Mercury or Brex for a proper bank account.
Option 4: US dollar collection without a full bank account
If what you actually need is to collect payouts from Shopify or Amazon, or receive transfers from international clients, a Wise Business multi-currency account or Airwallex USD receiving account can cover those scenarios without requiring a real US bank account. The trade-offs are real though โ no physical debit card, occasional restrictions on ad account billing, and no path to building a US credit history. This option makes most sense in the early validation stage; once your business has traction, it's worth upgrading to a full banking setup.
The Real Difference Between a Bank Account and a Payment Collection Account
A lot of people use these terms interchangeably, but they're not the same thing:
| Feature | Actual US Bank Account | Collection Account (e.g. Payoneer / Wise) |
|---|---|---|
| Physical debit card | Yes | Usually no (or limited) |
| ACH transfers | Supported | Supported |
| US credit history | Possible to build | Not applicable |
| Ad account billing | Full support | Partial platform support |
| US tax compliance | Standard bank reporting | Relatively straightforward |
| Full business operations | Yes | Supplementary tool |
Using a collection account as a temporary bridge in the early stages is completely reasonable. But if you're building a business seriously oriented toward the US market, a proper bank account setup is worth the effort โ there are things it enables that collection accounts simply can't replicate.
The Credit Card Situation โ Let's Be Honest About This
Without an SSN, getting a US credit card is genuinely difficult. Credit card approvals depend on SSN and US credit history, and having an LLC and EIN doesn't change that equation much. There are some documented cases of banks accepting ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, which non-residents can apply for) in place of SSN for credit card applications, but it's not a standard process and the success rate is inconsistent.
If your actual goal is just having a card that works for Meta Ads, Google Ads, and TikTok Ads billing, Airwallex or Worldfirst virtual cards are the more practical solution โ no SSN required, no credit history gymnastics.
Tax Obligations: This Part Doesn't Get Talked About Enough
Here's something a lot of first-timers completely miss after forming a US LLC: even if your company has zero US-source income and every single shareholder is a non-US person, you still have annual federal filing obligations. A single-member LLC is treated as a "disregarded entity" and must file Form 5472 along with a Pro Forma Form 1120. A multi-member LLC files Form 1065. Failing to file can trigger penalties starting at $25,000 โ not a typo, and not something to brush off.
Practical advice: before you form the LLC, talk to a CPA who specializes in US tax for non-residents. Get clear on your filing obligations and factor the annual compliance cost into your decision. If you're only occasionally collecting through Payoneer or Wise, you probably don't need a US LLC. If you need Stripe or want a proper US banking infrastructure, the filing cost is worth it โ just go in with realistic expectations about what that ongoing commitment looks like.
A Recommended Decision Path Based on Where You Are
Just starting out, only need basic payment collection: Start with Wise Business or Payoneer โ validate your product and business model โ revisit the LLC question once you have traction.
Store is running, now you need Stripe: Register a US LLC (Wyoming recommended) + apply for EIN โ try Stripe Atlas, or apply to Brex / Relay for a business bank account.
Building a long-term brand focused on the US market: Full US entity + business bank account + Stripe infrastructure, with a tax professional handling annual filings.
Whichever path you take, do not buy "US bank cards" or "US identities" from anyone online. These are almost always accounts registered under someone else's name or accounts that have already been flagged. Your funds can be frozen at any point, and you'll have no recourse. It's not worth the risk.