You don’t have to be an American citizen or a U.S. resident alien to apply for a business bank account in the U.S.
Apply for an LLC and make sure your LLC is approved and has an EIN Number (see how to get an EIN without SSN) before applying for a U.S. LLC bank account.
Foreigners (non-US residents) can open a U.S. LLC bank account.
Additionally, many banks require proof of address, like a lease, utility bill, or phone bill. They want to see that you have an office in the US. And most don’t allow you to use your Registered Agent address.
Note: Chase and CitiBank have higher balance requirements; $2,500 or $5,000. These banks also have higher monthly fees. On the other hand, Wells Fargo and TD Bank have lower monthly fees, or no fees at all.
Business debit card for your LLC
Call the bank and ask when you will get a debit card for your LLC bank account.
Most banks will give you a debit card right after they open your account.
However, some banks will mail your debit card in 1 to 2 weeks.
If the bank will mail the debit card, ask them which address it will be sent to. Make sure you can receive mail there. Or ask the bank if they can mail your debit card to your address outside of the U.S.
Do I need an SSN to open an LLC bank account?
No, you don’t need a Social Security Number (SSN) to open a U.S. LLC bank account.
Do I need an ITIN to open an LLC bank account?
No, you don’t need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to open a U.S. LLC bank account.
In fact, you can’t even apply for an ITIN unless you have a U.S. tax reporting requirement. If you do need an ITIN or have questions about U.S. taxes, we recommend talking to GW Carter. They specialize in working with non-US residents.