Banking Comparison
Select up to 3 banking options to compare across key dimensions. Data is approximate and for informational purposes only.
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This month's picks
How we pickThree vendor-neutral options that accept non-US-resident founders. Acceptance, KYC, and supported jurisdictions shift quarterly — verify current state with each vendor before opening.
Mercury
Best for: US-only revenue, fastest non-resident KYC, single-currency simplicity
Visit MercuryWise Business
Best for: Multi-currency revenue, lowest FX spread, EU operations
Visit Wise BusinessLive outside the US? Check acceptance by your country of residence →
The Banking Access Index documents published non-resident policy for 18 US providers × 8 countries — 239 claims, every cell quoted from provider sources. Free CC BY 4.0 dataset.
Best for US-focused startups. Strong API, FDIC up to $5M through partner banks' sweep networks. Accepts non-US-resident founders of US entities, but rejects registered-agent, PO-box and virtual addresses and excludes ~50 countries of founder residence. Balances are USD-only, though incoming wires are accepted in 139 currencies and vendor payouts run to 40+ local currencies at a 1% FX fee — note that incoming non-USD wires on Choice Financial Group pass through intermediary banks that typically add a 2–3% markup Mercury does not control. *Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.
Best for multi-currency operations. Local bank details in 9 countries/regions, transparent mid-market rates, and 40+ holdable currencies. Not a bank — Wise US Inc. is a licensed money transmitter; funds are safeguarded by default, with a $250K FDIC pass-through via a Program Bank only if you opt into the interest feature. Address gates are the catch for founders abroad: USD account details are unavailable to addresses in China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Türkiye, and the Wise Business card is limited to a published country allowlist.
Best for profit-first budgeting. Category-based accounts help separate operating, tax, and profit funds (Relay is the official banking platform for Profit First Professionals, with up to 20 real checking accounts). USD-only balances. Savings accounts earn 1.11–3.00% APY depending on subscription plan (rates variable, as of 5/1/2026). Explicitly accepts US entities with non-resident, non-citizen owners, excluding 31 countries of citizenship or residency. Read the account tiers before you rely on it, though: Relay's binding Deposit Account Agreement names a "Basic" tier for "U.S. based entities with foreign beneficial owners", who "may be placed in this tier at account opening at Relay's sole discretion" — and that tier caps INCOMING ACH at $2,000/day while still allowing $400,000/day outgoing and $200,000/day by domestic wire. A foreign-owned US LLC can therefore be approved, and pay its bills normally, while being unable to receive ordinary customer ACH payments. Relay publishes no criteria for which applicants land in Basic or how to leave it, and directs you to log in to see your own limits — so plan to invoice for wire rather than ACH until you know your tier.
Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Deposits in checking and savings accounts are FDIC-insured through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A. and their Sweep Program Network Banks. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through FDIC insurance to apply.
The Mercury Debit Cards are issued by Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to licenses from Mastercard®.
Wise is not a bank and is not FDIC-insured. FDIC insurance is provided as pass-through insurance through a Program Bank (currently JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.). Eligible customers must opt in to the interest feature. Availability of FDIC deposit insurance is subject to certain conditions. For customers opted in to receive interest on EUR and GBP, the $250,000 pass-through limit applies to USD, EUR and GBP balances combined.
Wise is not a bank. Interest is paid via an opt-in feature under which balances are held at a Program Bank (currently JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.). Eligible customers must opt in. Rates are variable and were last updated 2025-12-17.
Relay is a financial technology company and is not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. FDIC insurance available for funds on deposit through Thread Bank, Member FDIC. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through FDIC insurance to apply.
The Relay Visa® Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
All data is approximate and intended for informational comparison only. Pricing, features, and availability change frequently. Verify all figures directly with each provider before making banking decisions.
*Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through FDIC insurance to apply.
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How We Compared
We compared account features, fee structures, multi-currency support, integration options, and non-resident eligibility. Banking terms change frequently — we verify core features monthly.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
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