Can You Open a US Bank Account Without Flying to the US? (Yes)
European founders often assume a US bank account means a US flight. It does not. Here is exactly what remote onboarding requires, and where the process actually gets tricky.
The short answer
Yes. You can open a US business bank account entirely from Europe, without ever setting foot in the United States. Fintech-forward banks built for startups, such as Mercury, Wise Business and Relay, verify founders remotely using video calls, document uploads and business records. Thousands of non-US founders open accounts this way every year. The catch is not the flight, it is the paperwork you need in place before you apply.
What 'remote' actually means in practice
These banks are not traditional retail banks with branches. They are built specifically to onboard founders who are not physically in the US, which means their compliance teams expect non-resident applicants and have workflows for them. In practice, opening remotely usually involves:
- Submitting your US LLC formation documents and EIN confirmation letter
- Uploading a passport and sometimes a proof of address from your home country
- A short video verification call or a liveness check through the app
- Answering questions about what your business does and where your customers are
None of this requires a US mailing address in the sense of living there. You do need a US address for the LLC's registered agent and often for the bank application itself, but a registered agent service covers that.
What you need before you apply
The bank account is the last step, not the first. Before any of these providers will open an account, you generally need:
- A registered US LLC (most non-US founders default to Wyoming for low cost and simple compliance, though Delaware and other states work too)
- An EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS, tied to your LLC
- A clear, honest description of your business activity
- Your passport and basic personal details
Notice what is missing: a US visa. It is not needed anywhere in this process. Company formation, EIN issuance and business banking are all designed to be accessible to foreign owners who never travel to the US.
Mercury, Wise and Relay compared
| Bank | Best for | Notes for non-US founders |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | Startups, especially those planning to raise funding | Popular with LLCs and C-corps, strong dashboard, remote onboarding is standard |
| Wise Business | Founders who bill and pay in multiple currencies | Fast setup, useful if most of your revenue or spend is outside the US |
| Relay | Founders who want multiple sub-accounts for budgeting | Good for teams that want to separate tax, payroll and operating funds |
None of these require a Social Security Number to apply. That single fact surprises a lot of European founders who assume US banking is closed to them without one.
The EIN is the real key, not a US visit
Your EIN, not your presence on US soil, is what actually opens doors. Banks, payment processors and most B2B software tools ask for an EIN before anything else. As a non-resident without a Social Security Number or ITIN, you apply for an EIN using Form SS-4, submitted by fax or mail to the IRS. There is no online EIN application path for applicants without an SSN or ITIN, so this step needs to be done correctly the first time, since processing by fax or mail takes weeks, not minutes.
An ITIN is a separate thing. It is a taxpayer identification number for individuals who are not eligible for a Social Security Number, and you do not need a visa to get one. But you generally do not need an ITIN just to open a business bank account, since the EIN belongs to the LLC, not to you personally. An ITIN becomes relevant later, mainly for personal tax filings tied to US-sourced income.
Common myths, debunked
- 'I need a US address where I actually live.' No. A registered agent provides the legal US address your LLC needs; you do not need to reside there.
- 'I need a visa to get an ITIN.' No. ITINs exist specifically for people who are not eligible for an SSN, visa status is irrelevant.
- 'I need to visit a branch to open the account.' No, not with Mercury, Wise or Relay. Verification happens over video and document upload.
- 'Once the account is open, I am done.' No. Opening the account is the easy part; staying compliant is the part founders underestimate.
The compliance step you cannot skip
If your LLC is foreign-owned and has a single member, it is treated as a disregarded entity for tax purposes, but that does not mean it is invisible to the IRS. You are required to file Form 5472 along with a pro-forma Form 1120 every year, even if your LLC had zero revenue and zero activity. Form 5472 is an information return, it reports transactions between your LLC and its foreign owner, it does not calculate or pay tax on its own. Skipping this filing is not a minor paperwork slip: the penalty starts at 25,000 dollars per omitted or incorrect filing. Many founders open their bank account, get busy building, and forget this deadline entirely. It is worth putting on a calendar the day your LLC is formed, not the week the deadline arrives.
Quick glossary
LLC: Limited Liability Company, the standard US entity structure for founders who want liability protection with simple tax treatment. EIN: Employer Identification Number, issued by the IRS, functions like a tax ID for your business. ITIN: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, for individuals who cannot get a Social Security Number; no visa required. Registered Agent: A person or company with a physical US address who accepts legal and state correspondence on your LLC's behalf. Form 5472: An annual information return required for foreign-owned single-member LLCs, filed with a pro-forma Form 1120. Pro-forma 1120: A cover form filed alongside Form 5472 even when there is no tax due.
How Founders Credit handles this
Founders Credit sets up the LLC, obtains the EIN through the correct fax or mail process, and manages the bank account application with Mercury, Wise or Relay so European founders never need to guess which documents a compliance team wants to see. The entire process, formation through a working US business bank account and card, is done remotely, with no flight and no branch visit required.
The flight was never the obstacle. Missing paperwork and missed deadlines are.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to visit the US at any point to open a business bank account?
No. Mercury, Wise Business and Relay all support fully remote onboarding for non-US founders using video verification and document uploads. Company formation and EIN issuance can also be completed without traveling.
Do I need an ITIN before I can open a US bank account?
Usually not. Business bank accounts are opened under your LLC's EIN, not your personal ITIN. An ITIN becomes relevant later for personal US tax filings, and it does not require a visa to obtain.
Which bank is best, Mercury, Wise or Relay?
It depends on how you operate. Mercury suits startups planning to raise funding, Wise Business is strong if you deal in multiple currencies, and Relay is useful if you want several sub-accounts for budgeting. All three onboard non-US founders remotely.
What happens if I forget to file Form 5472?
Foreign-owned single-member LLCs must file Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 every year, even with zero activity. Missing this filing carries a penalty starting at 25,000 dollars, so it should not be treated as optional paperwork.
How does Founders Credit help with this process?
Founders Credit forms the LLC, secures the EIN through the IRS's fax or mail process for non-residents, and manages the bank account application with a suitable provider, handling the entire done-for-you setup remotely.
Want this done for you?
Founders Credit sets up your US LLC, ITIN, banking and credit cards end to end, 100% remote. Skip the guesswork.
Book a free strategy call →