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Wise Business

EMI · not FDIC-insured

Easiest to open, with mid-market FX — best for cross-border, not primary US banking.

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ApplyRight field notes

Fastest to open — but Chinese-national owners get no USD account details, so no Stripe/Shopify Payments and no US ACH. Best as a cross-border / FX wallet, not a primary account. For Stripe/Shopify Payments, choose Mercury or Relay.

Eligibility at a glance

Requires SSN
No
Overseas operating address
No
Intl wire (out)
Free
Virtual cards
None
Account manager
None

Best for

  • Freelancers and founders without a US entity (foreign companies accepted)
  • Cross-border payments and multi-currency holding (40+ currencies)
  • Low-to-moderate volume operations
  • Anyone wanting real mid-market exchange rates

Where it falls short

  • Owners who are Chinese nationals get no USD account details — can't connect Stripe/Shopify Payments, receive US ACH, or link other platforms that need US account details
  • Not a bank — the standard account has no FDIC
  • No savings interest
  • Stricter KYC since the 2025 regulatory fine
  • High-risk country users still face rejection

Restricted countries

CubaIranNorth KoreaSyriaRussiaBelarusCrimeaAfghanistanYemenSudanSomalia

Restricted industries

CannabisAdult contentGamblingFirearmsCrypto exchangeShell companiesWeapons

Documents to prepare

  • Business registration number
  • Registered address + operating address (may be in different countries; service is limited to what works in both)
  • Industry classification + online business info (if any)
  • Key people (directors, owners) plus the account opener's personal details
  • If the opener isn't a director: proof of authorization (signed letter, power of attorney, or board resolution)
  • The team may also request: proof of business registration, proof of operating address (utility bill / lease / bank statement), ownership docs (shareholder register / operating agreement), personal ID
Open the full checklist →