Mercury vs Relay vs Lili: Which US Business Bank Account Is Best for Non-Residents in 2026?

Mercury, Relay and Lili can all serve eligible US businesses, but they are built around different priorities. Mercury is positioned around startup and business financial operations; Relay puts more emphasis on cash organization, multiple checking accounts and business workflows; Lili has a dedicated proposition for eligible international founders who operate US registered businesses remotely. The right option depends on your company, country of citizenship or residence, business activity, address, ownership structure and how you expect to move money.

For non-residents, eligibility should come before features. A US LLC by itself does not guarantee that any particular provider will approve an account. Mercury requires a US-registered business, existing or planned US operations and an acceptable principal place of business. Relay has its own operating, address and identity requirements. Lili explicitly supports eligible international founders from supported countries and says non-US residents can apply using a foreign passport and EIN instead of an SSN. Always confirm the provider’s current requirements before applying.

A quick comparison between Mercury vs Relay vs Lili 

Factor	Mercury	Relay	Lili
US-registered business	Required	Required	Required
Non-US founders	Eligible businesses can apply	Eligible businesses can apply subject to requirements	Dedicated international-founder offering
Remote onboarding	Yes, for eligible applicants	Online application	Yes, for eligible international founders
SSN for eligible non-US residents	Not necessarily; identity requirements apply	Requirements depend on applicant and account	Lili says eligible non-US residents can use passport instead of SSN
Multiple checking accounts	Business banking features available	Up to 20 on Starter/Grow; up to 50 on Scale	Available account structure varies by product
Standard ACH	Yes	Yes	Yes
Domestic wires	Free to send/receive according to current Mercury pricing	Available; fees depend on plan	Available
International payments	USD international wires can be free to send; non-USD wires have 1% FX fee	Local Network and SWIFT options	International wires available for eligible customers
Accounting integrations	Available	QuickBooks Online, Xero and others	QuickBooks and Xero
Best fit to investigate	Startups, SaaS, agencies, ecommerce and growing businesses	Businesses that want detailed cash separation and controls	Eligible international founders and small US businesses

This is a comparison framework, not an approval guarantee. Product features, pricing and eligibility can change.

What is the difference between Mercury, Relay and Lili?

All three are fintech platforms that provide access to US business banking services through partner banks. They overlap on everyday functions such as ACH, cards, wires and business money management, but the way each platform approaches business banking is different.

Mercury is designed around a broader financial operating system for startups and growing companies. Its current offering includes business checking and savings, ACH, domestic wires, international payments, cards, invoicing, bill pay, expense management and accounting connections.

Relay is particularly useful to examine if your business treats cash management as an operating system. Its standout structure is the ability to create multiple checking accounts inside one business relationship, making it possible to separate taxes, payroll, operating expenses, profit and other budgets.

Lili has a specific international-founder proposition. Its current US business account pages state that eligible non-US residents can apply remotely, use a foreign passport and EIN instead of an SSN, and manage a US-registered business from abroad.

1. Mercury for non-residents

Mercury is a US fintech platform whose banking services are provided through partner banks. Its current eligibility documentation says a company must be formed and registered in the United States or a US territory. Mercury also requires existing or planned US operations and an acceptable principal place of business address.

Importantly, Mercury says founders do not have to be US citizens or US residents. An international founder can apply if the business and application satisfy Mercury’s requirements. Mercury also says a registered-agent address, PO box or UPS Store address cannot be used as the principal place of business.

What Mercury asks for?

• US company formation documents
• IRS-issued EIN documentation
• Government-issued ID for relevant owners and an individual with operating control
• Business activity and business description
• Source-of-funds information
• Information about existing or planned US operations
• Principal place of business information
• Beneficial-owner information, including owners with 25% or more ownership

Mercury’s documentation requirements make one point clear: the application is not just about proving that an LLC exists. The provider wants to understand the company, its owners, its activity and its connection to the US.

Mercury pricing and international payments

Mercury currently states that it does not charge monthly overdraft fees or require a minimum balance, and ACH and domestic wires are free to send and receive. For international wires, Mercury says USD wires can be sent without a Mercury sending fee, although intermediary or recipient-bank charges can still apply. For non-USD international wires, Mercury currently charges a 1% currency-conversion fee.

Who should investigate Mercury?

• SaaS and technology businesses
• Ecommerce companies
• Digital agencies and consultants
• Growing US LLCs
• Businesses that need ACH, wires, cards and integrated financial workflows
• International founders who meet Mercury’s US operations and address requirements

2. Relay for non-residents

Relay takes a more explicit cash-management approach. The platform lets a business divide its funds across multiple checking accounts rather than forcing every operating category into one balance.

For example, an owner could maintain separate accounts for taxes, payroll, software, marketing and operating cash. That structure can make budgeting and bookkeeping easier, particularly for businesses that use an envelope-style or Profit First approach.

Relay account structure

Relay’s current pricing documentation lists a $0 Starter plan, a $30 Grow plan and a Scale plan currently listed at $90 per month on promotion, with a regular price of $120. Starter and Grow support up to 20 checking accounts; Scale supports up to 50. All plans can have up to two savings accounts.

Relay international payments

Relay currently supports two international-wire routes: a Local Network for selected currencies and a SWIFT Network for broader international coverage. Local Network wires support EUR, GBP, CAD and AUD. Current published pricing is $5 on Starter, $3 on Grow and $1.50 on Scale for Local Network wires; SWIFT wires are currently $25, $22 and $20 respectively.

Relay accounts hold funds in USD. International incoming payments in other currencies are converted to USD, and outgoing international wires can be sent in non-USD currencies subject to the applicable process and fees.

Relay and non-US owners

Relay’s onboarding requirements should be checked carefully before applying. Its current application guidance requires a US-registered business and collects ownership, identity, business-address and operating information. Relay’s international-wire activation process also requires additional verification for qualifying owners, including proof of identity and address.

Who should investigate Relay?

• Businesses that want multiple checking accounts
• Owners using cash-envelope or Profit First methods
• Agencies and consultancies with several recurring budgets
• Businesses using QuickBooks Online or Xero
• Companies that want detailed spending controls and team permissions

3. Lili for non-residents

Lili is particularly relevant to this comparison because it has built a dedicated proposition for international founders. Its current US business banking page states that eligible non-US residents can apply remotely, use a foreign passport and EIN, and do not need an SSN.

That does not mean every non-resident qualifies. Lili maintains a supported-country list and requires the business to be registered in the US. Its current help-center documentation says international applicants must be citizens of a supported country and provides additional requirements for ownership and identity verification.

What international applicants should expect?

• A US-registered business
• Citizenship from a currently supported country
• Foreign passport for eligible non-US applicants
• EIN and business information
• Ownership information for qualifying owners
• Personal and business address information
• Business activity and expected transaction information

Lili’s current international-founder page also promotes ACH, domestic and international wires, check deposits from US clients, QuickBooks and Xero integrations, and connections with platforms such as Shopify, Stripe and PayPal.

Lili international wires

Lili’s current country-specific information states that international wires are available to eligible customers with registered businesses, with the exact supported countries and wire terms subject to change. Its current India page, for example, lists India among supported countries and states that international wires can be sent in USD and received in many foreign currencies, with published inbound and outbound wire fees.

Who should investigate Lili?

• International founders running US-registered businesses
• Solo founders and small businesses
• Consultants and digital service providers
• Ecommerce sellers
• Founders who do not have a US SSN but meet Lili’s international eligibility rules

Mercury vs Relay vs Lili: Feature by feature comparison

Non-resident eligibility

All three can potentially work for businesses with non-US owners, but the requirements are not interchangeable. Mercury requires a US-registered company, US operations or planned US operations, and an acceptable principal place of business. Relay has its own US operating and identity requirements. Lili specifically publishes an international-founder pathway based on supported citizenship, a US-registered business and passport-based verification for eligible non-US residents.

ACH payments

ACH matters because many US businesses use it to receive customer payments, pay vendors and contractors, connect payment services and move money between US accounts. All three platforms support ACH-related functionality, but transaction limits and exact capabilities depend on the account and provider.

Domestic wires

Each provider supports domestic wire functionality. The meaningful comparison is therefore not simply whether domestic wires exist, but what they cost, what limits apply and how the feature fits the business’s normal payment volume.

International payments

This is one of the most important differences for a non-resident. Mercury currently offers free-to-send USD international wires through its standard SHA option, while non-USD international wires carry a 1% FX fee. Relay offers Local Network and SWIFT options with plan-based fees. Lili supports international wires for eligible customers, with supported countries and fees varying by its current terms.

Multiple checking accounts

Relay is particularly distinctive here. Its current plans allow up to 20 checking accounts on Starter and Grow and up to 50 on Scale. That can be useful when the business wants to separate tax reserves, payroll, operating costs and profit without opening multiple banking relationships.

Accounting and payment integrations

Mercury, Relay and Lili all provide integrations or connections designed to reduce manual financial administration. Relay supports accounting platforms such as QuickBooks Online and Xero. Lili also promotes QuickBooks and Xero, along with Shopify, Stripe and PayPal connections for eligible businesses. Mercury provides accounting, payment and financial-management integrations.

A connection to Stripe, PayPal or Shopify should not be treated as a guarantee that the payment processor will approve the underlying business. Each provider performs its own onboarding and risk review.

Which provider should you consider?

Instead of asking which platform is universally best, match the account to the way your business operates.

Your situation	Providers to investigate	Why
US SaaS or technology startup	Mercury	Broad startup-oriented financial tooling and payment workflows
Business that separates cash by purpose	Relay	Multiple checking accounts and cash-management structure
International founder without a US SSN	Lili, Mercury, Relay	Eligibility depends on country, identity and business requirements; Lili explicitly supports passport-based onboarding for eligible non-US residents
Small international service business	Lili / Mercury / Relay	Compare eligibility, payment needs and account features
Ecommerce business	Mercury / Lili / Relay	Compare payment connections, ACH, wires and operational requirements
Business with many budgets or entities	Relay	Higher account-count limits can simplify cash organization

The table is a starting point, not a ranking. Approval remains subject to the provider’s review.

Can a non-resident open a US business bank account without an SSN?

Sometimes, yes. An SSN is not a universal requirement for every non-resident business banking application. Mercury accepts international founders who meet its eligibility requirements, and Lili explicitly states that eligible non-US residents can apply using a foreign passport and EIN instead of an SSN. Relay has its own identity and tax-ID requirements, so applicants should verify the current rules for their situation.

The important distinction is between ‘no SSN required’ and ‘no verification required.’ Financial providers still need to verify the business, its owners and the intended use of the account.

What documents should a non-resident prepare?

The exact list depends on the provider and business structure, but preparing a consistent document set can make onboarding easier.

• Certificate of Formation or Articles of Organization/Incorporation
• EIN confirmation from the IRS
• Operating Agreement, where applicable
• Valid passport or other accepted government ID
• Proof of personal residential address
• Proof of business or operating address, where required
• Ownership and beneficial-owner details
• Business website or online presence
• Clear description of products or services
• Expected transaction volume
• Source-of-funds information
• Countries where the company operates, sells or pays suppliers

Why applications get delayed?

A banking application can take longer when the information submitted does not tell a consistent story. The legal name on the formation documents should match the application. The website should accurately describe the business. The stated activity should match what the company actually does. The source of funds and expected transaction activity should be credible and explainable.

Address information deserves particular attention. A registered-agent address may satisfy a company-formation requirement but may not satisfy a provider’s principal-place-of-business or operating address requirement. Mercury, for example, explicitly distinguishes an acceptable principal business address from a registered-agent address.

Do not use a borrowed address, misleading business description or inaccurate transaction estimate to make an application look stronger. Financial providers conduct their own verification and compliance checks.

How to choose between Mercury, Relay and Lili?

Use this five-step process before you submit an application:

• Check whether your country of citizenship and residence are supported.
• Confirm that your US entity type is eligible.
• Confirm the address requirements and whether your available address qualifies.
• List the transactions you actually need: ACH, domestic wires, international wires, card spending, payment processing and checks.
• Compare current fees, limits and onboarding requirements immediately before applying.

For international founders, eligibility is more important than brand familiarity. A provider with a feature you like is not useful if the business cannot satisfy its onboarding rules.

How Activate Global Limited can help?

For a non-resident founder, the difficult part is often not completing an online form. It is knowing whether the company profile, ownership, address, business activity and documentation are aligned with the provider’s requirements before the application is submitted.

Activate Global Limited can help international entrepreneurs assess their US banking setup, review company information and prepare for the application process.

The process can include:

• Initial eligibility review
• Review of country and residence information
• Business activity assessment
• Ownership and beneficial-owner review
• Address assessment
• Company-document review
• Banking-provider comparison
• Application information preparation
• Remote onboarding support

This assistance does not guarantee approval. The final decision belongs to the banking or fintech provider.

Mercury vs Relay vs Lili: final takeaway

Mercury, Relay and Lili are not interchangeable products. Mercury is worth investigating when you want a broader financial platform for a growing US business. Relay is particularly relevant when separating and controlling business cash is a priority. Lili deserves close attention from eligible international founders because it has a specific remote banking proposition for non US owners and supports passport-based onboarding instead of requiring an SSN for eligible applicants.

For a non-resident, however, the most important comparison is not the logo on the account. It is whether your company, country, address, ownership structure, business activity and expected transactions fit the provider’s current onboarding rules.

Check the current provider requirements before applying, because eligibility, pricing, supported countries, transaction limits and product features can change.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mercury available to non-US residents?

Yes, Mercury says eligible US companies can be founded by people living outside the United States. The company must be US-registered, have existing or planned US operations and meet Mercury’s address and verification requirements.

Can I open Relay if I am not a US citizen?

Potentially. Relay supports US-registered businesses with non-US owners subject to its current operating, address, country and identity requirements. Verify the current requirements before applying.

Can a non-resident open Lili without an SSN?

Lili says eligible non-US residents can apply using a foreign passport and EIN instead of an SSN. Eligibility depends on supported citizenship and other onboarding requirements.

Which is better for a US LLC owned by a non-resident?

There is no single answer. Compare the providers against your country, business activity, address, payment needs, transaction volume and account-management requirements.

Does Mercury require a US address?

Mercury requires an acceptable principal place of business address. Its current guidance says a US or international address can be used, but a registered-agent address, PO box or UPS Store address cannot be used as the principal place of business.

Does Relay support multiple checking accounts?

Yes. Relay currently allows up to 20 checking accounts on Starter and Grow and up to 50 on Scale, subject to its current plan terms.

Does Lili support international wires?

Yes. Lili currently supports inbound and outbound international wires for eligible customers, with supported countries, currencies and fees subject to its current terms.

Do I need a US bank account to operate a US LLC as a non-resident?

Not necessarily in every situation, but a US business bank account can make it easier to receive US payments, pay US vendors and manage business finances. The practical requirements depend on the business model and payment providers involved.

Can I apply remotely without visiting the United States?

These providers offer online or remote application pathways for eligible applicants. Remote onboarding does not remove identity, business or compliance verification.

Can Activate Global Limited guarantee bank account approval?

No. Activate Global Limited can help assess eligibility and prepare an application, but the final approval decision is made by the banking or fintech provider.