How to Open a Bank Account for a Delaware or Wyoming LLC in 2026

A bank account for a Delaware or Wyoming LLC lets your company invoice clients, pay contractors and keep its money apart from yours. Separate accounts also make the yearly IRS filing easier. Delaware and Wyoming LLCs are quick to form, cheap to keep and accepted by clients around the world.

The hard part is the bank. Most US banks want the owners in a branch, a Social Security number or ITIN and a physical US address. Bank of America says foreign business customers cannot apply at all. Fintech apps ask for real US operations and block owners from dozens of countries. For a founder abroad, refusals are common.

This is where we come in. We build a complete LLC bank file: formation documents, EIN letter, operating agreement and KYC pack for every owner. Our regulated banking partners then open a multi-currency account for your LLC in days, remotely, with no SSN and no US address. One team, one point of contact, and we get it done.

Our top-rated, licensed banking providers open multi-currency accounts for LLCs owned by non-residents, with no SSN, no US address and no branch visit.

Why US Bank Accounts Are Hard for Non-Resident LLC Owners

US bank accounts are hard for non-resident LLC owners because US banks are built around US residents. To open a business bank account in the US, most banks expect you to live there. They verify identity in person, rely on US tax numbers and want a physical US address. Federal rules also make them look closely at companies owned and run from abroad. A Delaware or Wyoming LLC on its own does not give the bank the US connection it wants, which is why a bank account for a Delaware LLC is often harder to get than the LLC itself.

Branch Visits and US Tax Numbers

The big banks set clear rules. Chase lets only single-member LLCs with one authorised representative apply online, and a member-managed LLC opening in a branch needs all members present. Chase requires an EIN, and single-member LLCs may use an SSN or ITIN. Bank of America asks for the SSN and date of birth of everyone on the application and states that "foreign business customers are unable to apply at this time". Wells Fargo prefers all owners present and asks anyone absent for notarised forms.

A Physical US Address

Your registered agent's address is not a business address in the eyes of a bank. Wells Fargo says registered agents, virtual addresses and PO or commercial mailboxes are not acceptable. Many fintechs apply the same rule, and some ask every beneficial owner for a physical US address. A founder in Lisbon or Lagos who runs the LLC from home has no US address to give.

Federal Rules on Owners and Control

US banks follow two federal rules. The customer identification rule, at 31 CFR 1020.220, requires the bank to collect a name, address and identification number before opening an account, and to have a plan for customers who do not appear in person. The customer due diligence rule, at 31 CFR 1010.230, requires the bank to identify every person who owns 25% or more of an LLC and one person who controls it. Chase goes further and collects details on owners of 10% or more.

The US Connection Test

Supervisors tell banks to watch for companies with no real link to the United States. The FFIEC examination manual notes that such entities "may have no other connection to the United States, and ownership and management of the entities may reside abroad". Fintechs apply the same idea: Mercury requires existing or planned operations in the US, Relay records each applicant's US nexus, and Brex requires US operations and a US physical address.

Country Restrictions

Where you live matters as much as the LLC. Mercury blocks founders who live in 48 countries, including Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Ukraine, based on residence rather than citizenship. Relay restricts 31 countries by citizenship or residence of any owner. A founder from one of those countries is refused however strong the business is.

A Refusal Follows You

Banks rarely explain a refusal, and several refusals in a row make the next review harder. Apply once, with a complete file, to a provider that accepts your country and your activity.

Read more: Why banks reject business account applications.

US Banks for LLC Business Accounts

When you look for a bank account for a Delaware LLC or a Wyoming one, US banks come first. They offer solid business checking accounts, but they are designed for owners who live in the US. The table shows what the big four publish for a small LLC account. Fintech apps such as Mercury and Relay are not banks: they offer accounts through partner banks and apply their own country lists and US operations test.

The pattern is clear. A US bank account is cheap for a US resident who can walk into a branch. For a non-resident owner, most doors are closed, and the accounts that do open cost more once you add wires, currency conversion and the balances needed to avoid fees.

High Fees on International Wires

US banks charge for every wire that leaves the country. Chase charges $40 for an international USD wire online and $50 in branch. Bank of America charges $45. Wells Fargo charges $30 online and $40 in branch, and Citi charges $27 online and $65 otherwise. Incoming international wires cost up to $15 each.

Currency Margins You Cannot See

US banks build their profit into the exchange rate. Chase warns that its rates "will be less favorable than rates quoted online or in publications". Bank of America charges no wire fee on foreign currency wires, but says exchange rate markups apply. None of the four publishes a percentage, so you only see the cost after the money arrives.

Balances to Avoid Fees

The monthly fee is waived only if you keep money in the account. Chase and Wells Fargo want $2,000 a day, Citi wants a $5,000 average on its entry account and $10,000 on the next one. For a new LLC with irregular income, those balances are hard to keep.

In-Person Onboarding

Branch onboarding means travel for most non-resident owners. A multi-member LLC at Chase needs every member present, and Wells Fargo asks absent owners for notarised forms. A trip to the US for a bank appointment, with no guarantee of approval, is the most expensive part of the process.

Read more: Best US banks for non-resident Delaware and Wyoming LLCs.

A Faster and Cheaper Way to Open a Bank Account for an LLC

There is a better way to open a bank account for an LLC owned from abroad, and you can open a US business account with our partners without leaving home. Our regulated banking partners are licensed e-money institutions built for international companies. They review US LLCs owned by non-residents, including a bank account for a Delaware LLC with owners in several countries, and open multi-currency accounts in days, fully online, with no SSN, no US address and no branch visit.

We prepare the file before the partner sees it: the certified certificate of formation or articles of organisation, the EIN letter, the operating agreement, identity documents for each owner and a clear description of the business. A complete file means one review instead of weeks of questions. LLCs that sell services or goods to clients in Europe, the UK, the Gulf and Asia are the best fit.

Be clear about what a partner account does. It gives your LLC GBP and EUR account details, so clients pay you like a local supplier, and it sends and receives USD through SWIFT. It does not give you a US routing number for ACH. Many LLC owners use the partner account for international clients and currencies, and add a US account later for ACH and US payment processor payouts.

Client money is protected differently from a bank deposit. E-money institutions keep client funds separate from their own money, in safeguarding accounts at major banks, and they cannot lend it out. Funds are not covered by FDIC insurance, which protects deposits at US banks up to at least $250,000 per bank.

To be fair, a US resident running a US-only LLC will pay less at a US bank, and ACH is free there. For an LLC owned from abroad, billing clients in several countries, our partners are faster to open and cost less on every international payment.

When You Also Need a US Account

Some LLCs need US rails as well. US customers may want to pay by ACH, some US payment processors pay out only to a US account, and US payroll runs through US banks. In that case, keep the partner account for international clients and currencies, and add a US account once the LLC has a trading record and a clearer US footprint. A US LLC bank account for non-residents is much easier to get with six months of invoices, contracts and statements behind it.

The order matters. Starting with the partner account gets the LLC paid in days, and the trading history it builds makes the later US application stronger. Starting with a US bank that refuses you leaves you with nothing and a refusal on record.

US LLC Bank Account for Non-Residents Online

A US LLC bank account for non-residents with our partners takes about half an hour of your time. You complete a short application, verify your identity with a passport and a live selfie, and sign electronically. We upload the LLC documents, answer the partner's questions and tell you when the account is live.

Delaware or Wyoming for Your Bank Account

Banks accept both Delaware and Wyoming LLCs, so the state does not decide the answer. It does change the paperwork and the yearly costs that keep the company in good standing, and good standing is what banks check.

Bank Account for a Delaware LLC

A bank account for a Delaware LLC needs a certified certificate of formation. Chase accepts website validation of formation documents in every state except Delaware and New Jersey, so Delaware owners should order a certified copy, which costs $50, and a good standing certificate, also $50. Delaware LLCs file no annual report, but they pay an annual tax that rose from $300 to $400 under HB 400, signed in May 2026, due by 1 June. Late payment costs $200 plus 1.5% interest a month.

Bank Account for a Wyoming LLC

A bank account for a Wyoming LLC is simpler on the paperwork. Wyoming charges $100 to file articles of organisation, issues electronic good standing certificates for free and charges a minimum annual report license tax of $60. The annual report is due on the first day of the month the LLC was formed. If it is not filed within 60 days of the due date, the LLC is dissolved, and a dissolved LLC cannot keep a bank account.

Which State Banks More Easily

Neither state gives you an easier bank, and Delaware company formation with a bank account works the same way as in Wyoming. What matters is the owners, the activity and a complete file. Delaware is often chosen for investor-backed companies and Wyoming for low running costs. With Delaware company formation with a bank account planned together, the certified copies are ordered with the filing. For a bank account for a Delaware LLC or a Wyoming one, the same documents and the same checks apply.

Read more: Delaware LLC formation guide for non-US residents and Wyoming LLC formation guide for non-US residents.

Documents Needed to Open a Bank Account for a Delaware or Wyoming LLC

This is how to open a bank account for a Delaware LLC or a Wyoming LLC without delays. To open a bank account for a Delaware or Wyoming LLC, you need the formation documents, the EIN, the operating agreement and identity documents for each owner. We tell you exactly what the partner needs and prepare everything on the company side.

Documents for the LLC

The LLC provides its certificate of formation in Delaware or articles of organisation in Wyoming, certified by the state, and the EIN confirmation from the IRS. It also provides a signed operating agreement that lists the members and managers, and the registered agent's details. An LLC formed more than a year ago should add a certificate of good standing.

Getting the EIN Without an SSN

Owners without an SSN or ITIN cannot use the IRS online form. They apply with Form SS-4 by fax, phone or mail. The IRS says a faxed application generally gets an EIN within four business days, and a mailed one takes about four weeks. On line 7b, the responsible party writes "foreign" or N/A. The original CP 575 notice cannot be reissued, so keep it safe; banks also accept Letter 147C or the digital CP 575.

Documents for Each Owner and Manager

Each member with 25% or more, and the person who controls the LLC, provides a passport and a proof of address from the last three months. Some providers look from 10%. Where another company owns the LLC, the bank looks through it to the people at the top.

Documents About the Business

The provider wants to know what the LLC does and who pays it. That means a business description, a website, the countries of your clients and suppliers, expected monthly volumes and a source of funds explanation. Contracts and invoices make the file stronger.

LLC Bank Account Costs

An LLC bank account at a US bank looks cheap because the monthly fee is small and often waived. The real cost is in wires, currency margins, the balance you must keep and, for owners abroad, the trip to a branch. The table sets typical ranges at US banks against our partners' published plans.

For a bank account for a Delaware LLC owned from abroad, the monthly fee is the smallest cost. Twenty international wires a month at $40 to $65 cost $800 to $1,300. Keeping $2,000 to $10,000 in the account ties up money a new company needs. One trip to the US for a branch appointment can cost more than a year of partner fees.

A US bank is cheaper for a US resident who pays US suppliers by ACH, and you may still want one later for US payment processors. For international billing, our partners cost less overall. All figures are planning ranges, and we confirm the final price in writing before you apply.

How Long an LLC Bank Account Takes

A bank account for a Delaware LLC or a bank account for a Wyoming LLC takes one to six weeks for a non-resident owner once you count the EIN. The EIN is the first wait, then the bank review. With our partners, the account opens in days once the EIN and the documents are ready.

What Slows It Down

The usual delays are a mailed EIN application, a lost CP 575, formation documents that are not certified, an operating agreement that does not match the members and a registered agent address used as the business address. Branch appointments add weeks for owners abroad.

How to Speed It Up

If you want to know how to open a bank account for a Delaware LLC faster, start with the EIN. Fax the SS-4 rather than posting it, order certified documents with the formation, keep the operating agreement current and give a real business address. With a complete file, a partner review takes days.

What Happens After the Account Is Open

After the account opens, fund it, add your users and send the account details to your clients. Some partner plans ask for a first deposit within 30 days, and we confirm the amount before you sign.

Keep the LLC compliant, because providers check it at every review, and an LLC bank account can be frozen while questions are open. A single-member LLC owned by a foreign person files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 each year, by 15 April for a calendar year. The penalty for not filing is $25,000, plus $25,000 for each further 30 days after an IRS notice. Pay the Delaware annual tax by 1 June or file the Wyoming annual report on time, and keep a registered agent in the state.

Beneficial ownership reports to FinCEN are no longer needed for US companies. A final rule effective 14 August 2026 made the exemption permanent, and only foreign companies registered to do business in a US state still report. Tell your provider about new members, new managers or a change in activity, and keep your documents current for periodic reviews.

Why the Company Comes Before the Account

A provider can only verify an LLC that exists on the state register and has an EIN. The certificate of formation and the IRS letter are the first two documents every provider asks for. If you have not formed the LLC yet, talk to us first about US company formation for a non-resident with a bank account: we plan the state, the ownership and the EIN so the LLC can be banked, and prepare the bank file while the state processes the filing.

Common LLC Bank Account Mistakes

Most problems with a bank account for a Delaware LLC come from the paperwork, not the bank. These are the mistakes we see most.

Using the Registered Agent Address

A registered agent address is for legal notices, not for banking. Most providers refuse it as the business address. Give the real address where the business is run, even if it is abroad.

Applying Before the EIN Arrives

No provider will finish the file without the EIN. Apply for it by fax as soon as the LLC is formed, and wait for the confirmation before you apply.

Losing the CP 575 Notice

The IRS cannot reissue the original CP 575. If it is lost, ask for Letter 147C or download the digital CP 575 from the business tax account. Both are accepted as proof of the EIN.

Assuming a Fintech Works From Every Country

Fintech apps block founders from dozens of countries and ask for US operations. Check the country list before you plan the whole business around one app.

Missing Form 5472

Owners often think a foreign-owned LLC with no US income files nothing. It files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, and the penalty for missing it is $25,000.

Letting the State Fees Lapse

A missed Delaware tax payment or Wyoming annual report costs the LLC its good standing, and in Wyoming it can lead to dissolution. Providers check this at every review.

Bottom Line

A bank account for a Delaware or Wyoming LLC is easy for a US resident and hard for everyone else. US banks want branch visits, US tax numbers and a US address, and fintech apps test for US operations and block many countries. Once open, US accounts charge heavily for international wires and hide their currency margins.

For an LLC owned from abroad and billing clients around the world, the faster route is a regulated partner built for international companies. US company formation for a non-resident with a bank account then runs as one plan, and you can open a US business account with a partner from anywhere. With a complete file, including the EIN and certified documents, a multi-currency account opens in days, remotely, with no SSN and no US address.