How to Open a US Business Bank Account from France
If you have formed a US LLC while living in France, you still need a real US business bank account to get paid and pay vendors like a US company. Here is what that process actually looks like, provider by provider.
Why this is harder than it should be
Most French founders assume that once the LLC is formed, the bank account is a formality. It is not, because you are asking a US financial institution to open an account for a company with no US owner physically present, no US phone history, and no US credit file. Banks and fintechs handle this every day now, but they each have their own rules about who they will take on, and getting rejected once can make you gun shy about applying elsewhere. The good news is that several providers are built specifically for non resident founders, and if you prepare the right documents up front, the process is usually straightforward.
What you need in place before you apply
Before you contact any bank or fintech, you should already have:
- A US LLC formed in a state that suits a non resident owner, commonly Wyoming, Delaware, or New Mexico
- An EIN (Employer Identification Number) issued by the IRS for that LLC
- A US business address, this can be a registered agent address or a virtual mailbox, but it needs to be a real street address, not a PO box
- Your passport, and ideally a second form of ID
- A short, honest description of what your business does and how it makes money
You do not need an ITIN to open a business bank account. The EIN is what identifies your LLC to the IRS and to banks. An ITIN is a separate number for individuals who are not eligible for a Social Security Number and need to file personal US tax returns, so it matters later for your own tax filings, not for the account opening itself.
Providers that actually onboard French residents
Not every US bank will open an account for someone who has never set foot in the US. These three are the ones French founders use most often, and each has a slightly different profile.
| Provider | Type | Remote onboarding from France | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | Fintech, FDIC insured via partner banks | Yes, fully online | SaaS, ecommerce, agencies with clean, explainable revenue |
| Wise Business | Multi currency account, not a US bank in the traditional sense | Yes, fully online | Founders who need to hold and convert EUR, GBP, USD alongside a US account number |
| Relay | Fintech business banking | Yes, but approval can be less predictable for first time non resident applicants | Founders who want multiple sub accounts for budgeting |
Mercury is usually the first stop for a new LLC because its application is built around exactly this profile, a foreign owned single member LLC with an EIN and no US address history. Wise is a strong second option or backup, particularly if you are already invoicing European clients in euros and want to avoid conversion fees. Relay works well once you have some track record, but as a first account for a brand new LLC it can be slower to approve.
What the application actually asks for
Expect to upload a copy of your passport, your EIN confirmation letter (the CP 575 or 147C from the IRS), your Certificate of Formation or Articles of Organization, and to answer a few questions about expected monthly volume and the nature of your business. Some providers will do a short video call to verify your identity. Keep your answers consistent with what is on your formation documents, because mismatches between what you type and what your paperwork says is one of the fastest ways to get flagged for manual review.
Common reasons French founders get declined
- The business description is vague. Writing 'consulting' or 'online business' triggers extra scrutiny. Be specific: what you sell, to whom, and how payment flows.
- The EIN was only just issued and has not fully propagated through IRS systems yet. Waiting a week or two after receiving your EIN letter before applying can help.
- The registered agent address looks like a mail drop with hundreds of other companies attached to it, which some compliance teams flag automatically.
- The industry is one that fintechs generally avoid remotely, such as anything touching crypto, gambling, or adult content.
- Personal details do not match across documents, for example a name spelled differently on your passport versus your LLC filing.
What to do if you get declined
A decline from one provider is not a verdict on your business, it is that provider's specific risk appetite on that day. First, ask for the reason if the platform gives you one. Then check your formation documents and EIN letter for any inconsistencies before you reapply anywhere. It is usually better to wait a short period and apply to a different provider with a clearer business description than to immediately reapply to the same one. If you are being declined repeatedly across multiple providers, that is usually a sign the underlying LLC setup needs attention, wrong state, missing EIN, or an address that will not pass verification, rather than a banking problem specifically.
This is the part of the process where a lot of founders get stuck, not because the paperwork is complicated in theory, but because one wrong detail early on (state choice, registered agent, how the EIN application was filed) causes friction two steps later at the bank. Founders Credit handles LLC formation, EIN, ITIN, and the bank account application together as one done for you process, specifically for non US founders, so the details line up the first time instead of causing a decline that then has to be untangled.
Do not forget the compliance side
Once your account is open, remember that a foreign owned single member LLC has an annual US filing obligation even if it made no money: Form 5472 alongside a pro forma Form 1120. This is an information return, it reports transactions between the LLC and its foreign owner, it does not calculate tax on its own. Missing this filing carries a penalty of 25,000 dollars, so it is worth diarising alongside your French tax obligations rather than treating the US side as done once the bank account is open.
Glossary
EIN (Employer Identification Number): the number the IRS assigns to your LLC, required to open a bank account and file taxes, obtained via Form SS-4.
ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number): a tax ID for individuals not eligible for a Social Security Number, used for personal US tax filings, does not require a visa.
Registered agent: a person or company with a physical address in your LLC's state who receives legal and state mail on the company's behalf.
Form 5472: an annual information return foreign owned single member LLCs must file alongside a pro forma Form 1120, even with zero activity.
Foreign owned single member LLC: an LLC with one owner who is not a US person, the most common structure for non resident founders.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open a US business bank account from France without visiting the US?
Yes. Mercury, Wise Business, and Relay all offer fully remote onboarding, and this is the standard route for non resident founders. No US visit or SSN is required.
Do I need an ITIN to open the account?
No. The bank account is opened under your LLC's EIN, not your personal ITIN. An ITIN becomes relevant later when you file personal US tax returns.
How long does it take to get a US business bank account from France?
Once you have your EIN and formation documents, online applications with Mercury or Wise are often reviewed within a few business days, though manual review can take longer if your business description is unclear.
What if Mercury rejects my application?
Check your business description and documents for inconsistencies first, then consider applying to Wise Business or Relay. A decline from one provider does not mean the others will decline you, but repeated declines usually point to an issue with the LLC setup itself.
Does Founders Credit handle the bank account as well as the LLC and EIN?
Yes. Founders Credit sets up the LLC, EIN, ITIN if needed, and the US business bank account as one coordinated process, so the details match across every step instead of causing avoidable rejections.
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