Yes, you can open a US small business bank account without a Social Security Number in 2026 – if you own a US-registered business entity and have an EIN. What changed this year is the mix of who will approve you. Traditional banks tightened their rules, some fintech platforms added an SSN or ITIN requirement, and a smaller set of providers doubled down on serving non-resident and foreign founders remotely. The path still exists, but the list of platforms that actually work has shifted.
Here is what changed, what you need instead of an SSN, and where each major platform stands now.
Can you open a US business account without an SSN in 2026?
Yes. An SSN identifies a person; a business account identifies a company. If your business is a US-registered LLC, corporation, or partnership with its own EIN, several platforms verify you through the entity and your foreign passport instead of an SSN.
The requirement that actually trips people up is not the SSN – it is the EIN. No serious platform will open a business account without one, and getting an EIN from the IRS as a non-resident is often the slowest step in the whole process.
What changed in 2026
Two things moved in opposite directions this year, and both matter if you do not have an SSN.
Traditional banks got stricter
Enhanced beneficial-ownership rules under the Corporate Transparency Act and tighter KYC compliance left branch staff with less discretion and more reasons to decline non-standard applications. For a foreign founder walking into a US branch, 2026 is harder than it was a few years ago, and many traditional banks now effectively require an SSN, US residency, or an in-person visit.
Fintechs split into two camps
At the same time, digital platforms leaned into international founders, but not uniformly. Some tightened. Relay now asks for an SSN or ITIN, which removes it from the no-SSN list. Mercury still opens accounts without an SSN in most cases but applies a prohibited-country list and stricter internal risk screening, so approval is less predictable and a US address is commonly requested for records. Bluevine added dedicated international-founder support in mid-2026. Lili continues to open accounts with no SSN, fully remotely, using a foreign passport and EIN.
The takeaway: “no SSN” is no longer a single category. Which platform fits depends on where you live, how your entity is structured, and whether you have a US address.
What you need instead of an SSN
Across the platforms that serve non-residents, the core document set is consistent:
- A US-registered business entity. An LLC, C-corp, S-corp, or partnership formed under US law. Sole proprietorships are usually not supported for international applicants.
- An EIN from the IRS. Have your CP-575 confirmation letter ready, or request a 147C letter if you lost it. Get this before you apply.
- A foreign passport. Often plus a second government-issued ID for each owner with 25% or more of the business.
- Beneficial-owner details. Source of the capital used to start the business, whether it is new or established, and the countries it operates in.
- Entity formation documents. Certificate of formation, operating agreement or bylaws, and proof of the ownership structure.
Where each platform stands in 2026
The table below compares the platforms most often used by founders without an SSN. Verify current terms before applying, since eligibility rules changed several times across 2025 and 2026.
| Platform | SSN required? | Founder can live abroad? | US business address required? | Currencies and FX | Entry fee |
| Lili | No | Yes – inside or outside the US | No | 140+ currencies; $0 FX fees on debit card purchases | $0 (Core) |
| Bluevine | No, for international owners | Yes | Varies by applicant | 39 currencies supported | $0 (Standard) |
| Mercury | Not required in most cases | Yes, but a prohibited-country list applies | Commonly requested for records | USD-focused; international wires | $0 |
| Relay | Yes – now requires SSN or ITIN | Limited | Varies by applicant | Multi-currency via partners | $0 |
Read it by your own situation. If you live abroad, have no US address, and want low FX costs, Lili and Bluevine are the most flexible. Mercury is strong for funded startups but geography-dependent. Relay, useful as it is for budgeting, no longer fits if your only ID is a foreign passport.
The four questions that actually decide approval
Approval for non-residents comes down to four eligibility axes, not just the SSN. Sort these out before applying:
- Is your entity US-registered and an accepted type? LLC, C-corp, S-corp, or partnership – not a sole proprietorship.
- Do you have an EIN in hand? With the CP-575 or 147C letter to prove it.
- Is your country supported? Platforms maintain supported and prohibited country lists that differ from each other.
- Do you need a US business address? Some platforms require one; others, like Lili, do not.
Common reasons no-SSN applications get rejected
- No EIN yet, or applying with an EIN application still pending at the IRS.
- A vague business description that does not clearly explain what the company does in plain English.
- A mismatched or placeholder web presence, such as a free-subdomain site instead of a real domain.
- Residence in a country on the platform’s prohibited or unsupported list.
- Inconsistent details between the application, the entity documents, and the source-of-funds explanation.
How Lili helps
Lili was built for exactly this situation. International entrepreneurs who own a US-registered business can open a Lili account with no SSN, using a foreign passport and their EIN, 100% online, in minutes. There is no requirement to visit the US and no requirement for a US business address – what matters is that your entity is properly formed under US law and you hold citizenship from a supported country.
Lili accepts LLCs (single or multi-member), C-corporations, S-corporations, general partnerships, and limited liability partnerships. Once open, the account handles the cross-border basics that hit non-residents hardest: $0 FX fees on debit card purchases, payments across 140+ currencies, domestic and international wires, and direct integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal. The Core plan is $0 a month, banking services are provided by Sunrise Banks, and savings pay up to 4.00% APY.
As always, confirm the latest requirements against your own country and entity before applying, since platform rules continue to shift.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you have a US-registered business entity and an EIN. Platforms like Lili and Bluevine verify you through the entity and a foreign passport instead of an SSN, and open the account remotely.
Not always. Some platforms accept a foreign passport plus an EIN with no ITIN. Others, including Relay in 2026, now require an SSN or ITIN. The EIN is the non-negotiable document, not the ITIN.
Traditional banks tightened under beneficial-ownership and KYC rules, Relay began requiring an SSN or ITIN, and Mercury applies a prohibited-country list with stricter screening. Meanwhile Bluevine added international-founder support and Lili continued no-SSN remote onboarding.
It depends on the platform. Mercury commonly requests a US address for records, while Lili does not require a US business address. Your entity must be US-registered, but you can operate from abroad.
A US-registered entity, an EIN with its CP-575 or 147C letter, a foreign passport (often plus a second ID), beneficial-owner and source-of-funds details, and entity formation documents.
Most rejections trace to a missing or pending EIN, a vague business description, a placeholder website, residence in an unsupported country, or details that do not match across the application and entity documents.
