How to Open a US Business Bank Account for an LLC in 2027 and 2028

A US limited liability company (LLC) can be formed in a day, but it can't really trade until it has a US business bank account. You need one to receive payments from customers and marketplaces, pay suppliers and contractors, keep company money separate from your own, and give payment processors and the IRS a clean picture of the business. For owners who live outside the United States, the bank account is often the hardest step of the whole setup, so knowing how to open a US business bank account before you start saves weeks.

This guide explains how to open a US business bank account for an LLC in 2027 and 2028: the documents US banks ask for, the difference between traditional banks and online business accounts, what non-resident owners can realistically expect, how deposit protection works, how long it takes, and the reasons applications are most often refused. If you also run a UK company or a Canadian corporation, see our separate guides on opening a UK business bank account and opening a business bank account in Canada.

Banks and online providers change their policies often, especially for non-resident owners. Use this guide to prepare, then check each provider's current requirements before you apply. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Before you apply: the LLC must be ready

US banks open accounts for the LLC, not for you personally. That means the company has to exist, be in good standing and have its own tax number before any provider will look at the application. Work through these steps in order:

1. Form the LLC with the state and receive the filed articles of organization (some states call them a certificate of formation).
2. Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS. Almost every US bank and online provider requires it. Our guide on how to get an EIN as a non-resident explains the Form SS-4 route for owners without an SSN or ITIN.
3. Sign an operating agreement that names the members, their ownership percentages and who is authorised to manage the company and sign for it.
4. Arrange a US address for the business. Your registered agent's address is fine for official mail, but many banks won't accept it as the business's operating address.
5. Decide who will sign on the account and make sure each signer has a valid passport and proof of address.

If any of these are missing, the application will stall. Biz E-Formations Inc. helps non-residents form US LLCs, obtain EINs and prepare bank account applications, which is often the fastest way to get every document right first time.

The documents US banks ask for

Every provider has its own checklist, but almost all of them ask for the same core set. Prepare clear PDF copies before you start.

Beneficial ownership

Under the US Customer Due Diligence rule, banks must identify the beneficial owners of every company that opens an account: each person who owns 25% or more, plus one person who controls the company, such as the managing member. They will ask for each person's name, date of birth, address and ID number. Be ready to show this information for every member who meets the threshold, even if they won't sign on the account.

The EIN letter

Keep the CP 575 notice the IRS sends when the EIN is issued. If you lost it, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line and ask for a 147C verification letter. Many online providers accept a screenshot of the EIN confirmation, but traditional banks usually want the IRS letter itself.

Traditional banks versus online business accounts

When people search for a US business account, they find two very different kinds of provider. Understanding the difference saves weeks.

Many LLCs end up with both: an online account to start trading quickly, then a traditional bank account later for lending, cash handling or a long-term banking relationship. Whichever you choose, the account must be in the LLC's exact legal name, never in an owner's personal name.

Online providers commonly used by LLC owners

Online business accounts are the usual starting point for non-resident owners. Providers such as Mercury focus on US startups and LLCs and accept many non-resident founders, while Wise and Payoneer offer business accounts with US receiving details that suit companies selling internationally. Each provider sets its own eligibility rules by country, industry and business model, and those rules change, so always check the current requirements and terms before applying.

How non-resident owners can open a US business bank account

Non-residents can and do open US business accounts every day, but the route is different from a US resident's.

Traditional banks

Large US banks generally ask at least one signer to visit a branch in person, and some will only open accounts for owners who have an SSN, a US address or US residency. Policies vary between banks and even between branches. If you're planning a trip to the US, book a branch appointment in advance, tell the banker you're a non-resident owner of a US LLC, and ask exactly which documents they need.

Online providers

Online providers verify identity remotely with a passport scan and a live selfie or short video. They are generally more open to non-resident owners, but most still ask for:

• the LLC's EIN and formation documents;
• a US business address (some accept a virtual office, others don't);
• details of where your customers and suppliers are; and
• in some cases an SSN or ITIN for the owner. Our guide on how to get an ITIN explains when an owner needs one.

Countries and industries

Every provider screens against sanctions lists and has its own list of countries and industries it doesn't serve. If you or your customers are in higher-risk countries, or the business is in a regulated sector such as money transfer, crypto or gambling, expect extra questions or a refusal from mainstream providers. Be open about it: hidden activity usually leads to an account being closed later, often with funds held during a review.

How to open a US business bank account online: step by step

A typical online application for a non-resident LLC owner looks like this:

1. Check eligibility on the provider's website: supported states, owner countries, industries and business types.
2. Start the application with the LLC's exact legal name, state of formation and EIN.
3. Add the people: every member who owns 25% or more, and the person who controls the company.
4. Verify identity: upload a passport and complete the live selfie or video check.
5. Upload company documents: articles of organization, the EIN letter and the operating agreement.
6. Describe the business: products or services, customers, countries, expected monthly deposits and payments, and how you'll use the account.
7. Answer follow-up questions quickly. Applications that sit unanswered for a week or two are often closed.
8. Fund the account once approved, then add users, cards and approval rules.

Step by step: applying at a branch

If you can visit the US, a branch application can be completed in a single appointment when the documents are complete:

1. Call ahead and book an appointment for a business account.
2. Bring originals and copies: passport, a second form of ID if possible, articles of organization, EIN letter, operating agreement and proof of address.
3. Bring every required signer if the bank requires all signers to be present.
4. Make the opening deposit if the bank asks for one.
5. Set up online banking before you leave and test the login.

FDIC deposit protection

Deposits at FDIC-insured banks are protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category. A business account held by an LLC is insured separately from its owners' personal accounts.

Online business accounts usually hold customer money at one or more partner banks. Some spread deposits across several banks to offer protection above $250,000; others hold funds in a way that isn't FDIC insured at all. Read the provider's terms and check which bank actually holds your money before keeping large balances there. If you need help comparing options for your situation, speak to a qualified adviser.

The questions you'll be asked

US providers must understand your business to meet anti-money laundering rules. Prepare short, factual answers to:

• What does the LLC sell, and to whom?
• Where are your customers and suppliers?
• How much do you expect to receive and pay each month?
• Where will the money that funds the account come from?
• Will you send or receive international payments, and in which currencies?
• Does anyone other than the members control the company?
• Does the business need a licence for its activity?

Vague answers slow everything down. "Software subscriptions sold to small businesses in the US and Europe, about $10,000 a month, paid by card through Stripe" gets approved much faster than "online business".

How long it takes

Most delays come from missing ownership information, an EIN letter that hasn't arrived yet and names or addresses that don't match the state record, not from the provider's own processing.

Fees to compare

The cheapest-looking account isn't always the cheapest to run. Compare:

For LLCs that receive money from abroad or pay contractors overseas, the exchange rate margin often costs more than every other fee combined. Ask for a sample conversion before you choose.

Why US applications get rejected

If you are refused, ask the provider whether it can tell you why. Fix the problem before you reapply, wait the period the provider recommends, and consider a provider that specialises in your type of business. Never open an account in your personal name to run the LLC's business as a workaround.

Keeping the account open

Approval is not the end of the checks. Banks and online providers carry out periodic reviews and can ask for updated documents at any time, especially when activity changes sharply, payments go to or from higher-risk countries, or the company's details change. To keep the account in good standing:

• Keep business and personal money separate. Mixing them weakens the LLC's limited liability and complicates your tax filings.
• File the state annual report on time so the LLC stays in good standing. Our guide to the cheapest US states for an LLC covers state fees and deadlines.
• Tell the provider when members, managers or addresses change.
• Keep a folder of current documents: ID, proof of address, the EIN letter, the operating agreement and recent statements.
• Reply to review requests quickly. Accounts are often frozen when a review goes unanswered.

Protecting the account from fraud

Business accounts are a common target for fraud, and remote banking makes good habits essential:

• Verify payment details by phone before paying a new supplier or changing an existing supplier's bank details.
• Give each person their own login with only the permissions they need.
• Turn on two-factor authentication and approval rules for large payments.
• Never share one-time passcodes, even with someone who claims to be from your bank.
• Watch the official record of your companies. If you also run a UK company, Company Monitor alerts you the moment its Companies House record changes.

Practical scenarios

A UK resident with a Wyoming LLC

The owner formed the LLC online, got the EIN by phone using Form SS-4, and applied to an online provider that accepts non-resident LLC owners. The application was approved after the owner uploaded the articles of organization, the CP 575 notice, the operating agreement and a passport, and described the customers and expected monthly volumes.

A two-member Delaware LLC with owners in Pakistan and the UAE

Both members owned 50%, so both had to complete identity verification. The first application stalled because the operating agreement listed only one member. After the agreement was corrected and both members were declared as beneficial owners, the account opened within a week.

An Amazon seller moving from a personal account

The seller had been receiving marketplace payouts into a personal account. To keep the LLC's liability protection and satisfy the marketplace's verification, the seller opened a business account in the LLC's name and updated the payout details. Our guide on getting funds released by PayPal, Stripe, Wise or Amazon explains why name and address matches matter for payouts.

Checklist

Receiving payouts from Stripe, PayPal and marketplaces

Most LLCs that sell online are paid through a payment processor or marketplace rather than by direct bank transfer. To avoid held payouts:

• Use the same legal name and EIN on the processor or marketplace account as on the bank account.
• Add the business bank account, not a personal one, as the payout account. Many processors check that the account holder name matches the business.
• Keep the business address consistent across the state record, the bank, the processor and your website.
• Expect verification when you change payout details. Processors often pause payouts briefly to confirm a new bank account, so change them before a busy period, not during one.
• Keep records of each payout so your bookkeeper can match processor reports to bank deposits.

If payouts are held, the cause is often a mismatch between the business details on the processor account and the official company record. Fixing the record and the bank details together usually releases them.

Key takeaways

• Form the LLC and get the EIN first; no US provider opens an account without it.
• Use the LLC's exact legal name and declare every owner of 25% or more.
• Non-resident owners usually start with an online business account; traditional banks often need a branch visit.
• FDIC protection covers $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category; check how online providers protect your money.
• Keep the LLC in good standing and reply quickly to reviews to keep the account open.

Related guides

• How to get an EIN for a US LLC as a non-resident
• How to get an ITIN
• How to set up a US LLC as a non-resident
• How to form a US LLC
• How to open a UK business bank account
• How to open a business bank account in Canada

The bottom line

Opening a US business bank account for an LLC comes down to preparation. Form the company, get the EIN letter, sign an operating agreement that matches reality, and prepare ID and proof of address for everyone who owns 25% or more. Non-resident owners will usually find an online business account the fastest first step, with a traditional bank added later if the business needs lending or cash services. Biz E-Formations Inc. can form your US LLC, obtain the EIN and help prepare your business bank account application.