How to open Mercury Bank
from Latin America without an SSN — 2025 Guide

What is Mercury Bank? The bank for startups and digital entrepreneurs

Mercury is a digital bank (neobank) designed specifically for startups, tech companies and digital entrepreneurs. It was founded in 2019 and today is the bank of choice for thousands of Latin American, European and Asian founders who run LLCs in the United States remotely.

Unlike traditional American banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo), Mercury was built from the ground up for the modern entrepreneur: everything is managed online, the account opening process is 100% digital, and its basic plan has no monthly fees.

Requirements to open Mercury from Latin America

Mercury is relatively accessible for non-residents, but it has clear requirements you must meet before applying:

Mandatory requirements

• An active LLC in good standing: you need the Articles of Organization or Certificate of Organization issued by the state, showing that the LLC is active.
• EIN (Employer Identification Number): your LLC's tax number with the IRS. Essential.
• Valid passport: of the LLC's owner or owners. It must be valid and legible.
• Operating Agreement: the LLC's internal document describing who the members are and their ownership percentages.
• U.S. address: Mercury requires a physical address in the United States for the account. If you use Start Companies as your registered agent, this address can be your registered agent's address.

Recommended requirements (not mandatory, but they improve approval odds)

• An active website for your business
• The founder's LinkedIn profile
• A clear description of the business model (what the company does, who it serves, how it generates revenue)
• Prior LLC activity (even if only a few months)

Application process: step by step

1. Go to mercury.com and click "Get Started"

   Start the process from Mercury's website. The application takes between 15 and 30 minutes to complete.

2. Describe your business

   Mercury will ask about the type of business, the industry, the expected revenue model and the estimated monthly volume. Be specific and honest. Avoid vague answers like "consulting" without further detail.

3. Enter the LLC's details

   The LLC's legal name, state of formation, formation date and EIN. Make sure these details match your official documents exactly.

4. Upload the LLC's documents

   Articles of Organization (or Certificate of Organization) and Operating Agreement. The files must be clear, legible PDFs. Mercury reviews them manually.

5. Verify your personal identity

   Upload your passport. Mercury uses an identity verification system (usually Persona or similar) that may ask for a photo of your passport and a selfie.

6. Add the U.S. address

   Enter the physical address of your registered agent in the USA. Make sure it matches the one shown on your LLC documents.

7. Wait for the review

   Mercury reviews applications in 1 to 5 business days. They may contact you by email if they need additional documentation. Check your spam folder.

8. Approval and first card

   Once approved, you will get immediate access to your account. Your physical card will arrive by mail at the U.S. address in 7–10 business days.

Common reasons for rejection and how to avoid them

• ⚠️
  Vague or inconsistent business description

  Mercury screens out high-risk businesses. If you describe your business ambiguously ("various services", "general consulting") or if there are inconsistencies between what you say and your website, a rejection is likely. Be specific: "custom software development for e-commerce companies in the USA" is much better than "digital services".

• ⚠️
  Recent EIN or EIN pending confirmation

  If your EIN was issued less than 2 weeks ago, it may not yet appear in the IRS verification systems that Mercury checks. Wait at least 2–3 weeks after receiving your EIN before applying.

• ⚠️
  Illegible or incomplete documents

  PDFs must be clear, with all pages included. An unsigned or undated Operating Agreement, or Articles of Organization with missing pages, leads to immediate rejection.

• ⚠️
  Restricted industries

  Mercury does not accept certain industries: cryptocurrencies (in many cases), gambling, weapons, cannabis, currency exchange (FX) services, and some high-financial-risk industries. If your business falls into any of these categories, consider Relay or other alternatives.

• ⚠️
  No verifiable online presence

  Mercury expects the business to have some online presence. If you have no website, no LinkedIn and no verifiable presence at all, the application may be rejected or delayed for manual review.

Tips to maximize your chances of approval

• Have your website live before applying, even if it is just a simple landing page describing your service.
• Make sure your website's domain name matches or is consistent with your LLC's name.
• Update your LinkedIn profile and include the link in the application if Mercury allows it.
• Describe the flow of money: where the revenue comes from, who you charge and how.
• Wait at least 3 weeks after obtaining your EIN before applying.
• Upload high-quality PDF documents, with all pages complete and signatures visible.
• Use your registered agent's address as the LLC's principal address.
• If Mercury rejects your application, you can wait 60–90 days and try again with improved documentation.

Alternatives to Mercury Bank: Relay and Lili