How to Open a US Bank Account as a Non-Resident (Without an SSN)

Opening a US bank account as a non-resident has gotten harder, not easier. In 2025 and 2026, neobanks like Mercury and Relay tightened their requirements. Traditional banks still require in-person visits. And the options that are marketed to non-residents often come with limitations that are not immediately obvious.

This guide covers what actually works in 2026, what the trade-offs are, and where virtual accounts fit into the picture.

---

Traditional Banks: Possible but Difficult

The major US banks — Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Citibank — all accept an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) in place of an SSN for account opening. But there are catches.

Most banks require an in-person branch visit. Bank of America explicitly requires branch enrollment for ITIN-based accounts. Chase and Citibank may allow it online in some cases, but the typical experience involves showing up with a passport plus additional ID. Wells Fargo is the most straightforward, accepting ITIN applications online for checking, savings, and some credit products.

The problem: if you do not live in the US, visiting a branch is not a simple task. And even with an ITIN, you will face limited product access, potential minimum balance requirements, and maintenance fees that erode small balances.

---

Mercury: Getting Harder for Non-Residents

Mercury was the go-to recommendation for international founders opening US business accounts remotely. That is no longer the case. Throughout 2025 and 2026, Mercury tightened compliance requirements significantly. The platform now asks for US addresses and no longer accepts registered agent addresses for banking purposes.

Non-resident founders with newly formed entities report longer review times and higher rejection rates. Mercury still works for some international founders — particularly those with established businesses and a clear US nexus — but it is no longer the reliable on-ramp it once was.

---

Relay: Now Requires a Physical US Address

Relay Financial no longer accepts companies without a physical US address. The workaround of using a registered agent address no longer works. Personal addresses must be physical US street addresses — no PO boxes or virtual mailboxes. For non-residents without a US presence, Relay is effectively off the table.

---

Wise: Accessible but Limited

Wise Business accounts are available to non-residents and offer multi-currency holding with local account details in USD, EUR, and GBP. The account is free to open (Essential plan) with transparent conversion fees starting at 0.43%.

The limitations: Wise is an Electronic Money Institution, not a bank. Your funds are not FDIC-insured. Individual accounts have receiving limits (up to $6 million over a rolling 365 days depending on your routing details), and Wise is not recognized as a bank by many US-based services. You may run into issues connecting Wise to platforms that require a “real” US bank account.

---

Virtual Accounts on Stablecoin Rails: A Different Approach

Here is where honesty matters. VaultLeap is not a traditional bank account. It is a virtual account on stablecoin rails — and that distinction is important to understand.

What you get: real US account details (account number + routing number) for receiving ACH and Fedwire payments. Real IBAN for SEPA in Europe. Real CLABE for SPEI in Mexico. Clients send you money via normal bank transfer. The funds convert to USDC in your self-custody wallet.

What you do not get: a “bank account” in the traditional sense. VaultLeap is a financial technology company. Banking and payment services are provided by Bridge (a Stripe company) in partnership with Lead Bank, Member FDIC. You cannot write checks, get a debit card tied to a checking account in the traditional way, or use VaultLeap as a bank reference on a mortgage application.

What it solves: if you need US-compatible account details to receive payments from American clients or platforms — without an LLC, without a US address, and without visiting a bank branch — a virtual account gets you there. The sign-up uses your local documents and compliant identity verification, and account details are issued in minutes.

For the specific use case of receiving international payments as a non-resident, virtual accounts fill the gap that traditional banks, Mercury, and Wise cannot.

Open your free virtual USD account at vaultleap.com — no LLC required.

---

VaultLeap is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking and payment services are provided by Bridge, a licensed money transmitter and regulated payment provider, in partnership with Lead Bank, Member FDIC. VaultLeap does not hold or have custody of customer funds.