Mercury
Fintech business banking (via partner banks Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC) popular with non-resident founders of US companies; free core banking, stricter address rules since 2024.
Last verified: June 15, 2026
Key Facts
Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, Ukraine, Belarus, Lebanon, Cuba, Iran, North Korea
Data sourced from official vendor pages. See claims table below for individual sources.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Billing | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury (core banking) | $0 | monthly | Business checking + savings, Debit cards, ACH + domestic/intl wires... |
| Mercury Plus | $35 | monthly | Invoicing, Advanced workflows, Priority support |
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum balance
- Modern interface designed for startups
- Treasury product for earning yield on deposits
- Good integration with accounting tools
Cons
- Stricter compliance since 2024—may reject some applications
- May not accept registered agent addresses
- Crypto restrictions in place
Who Should NOT Use Mercury
- Founders in high-risk countries (higher rejection rate)
- Crypto exchanges or high-volume crypto businesses
- Those with only an RA address (may need virtual mailbox)
Alternatives to Mercury
Frequently Asked Questions
Can non-US residents open a Mercury account?
Yes, but you need a US-registered business entity (LLC or Corp) with an EIN. Mercury has increased compliance requirements since 2024.
Does Mercury accept registered agent addresses?
Mercury has become stricter about addresses. Recent reports suggest they may not accept RA-only addresses—you may need a virtual mailbox or physical address.
Is Mercury free?
Yes, Mercury has no monthly fees for their standard business checking account. There are no minimum balance requirements.
How long does Mercury approval take?
Approval can take 1-14 days depending on your documentation and country of residence. Some applications require additional verification.
Is Mercury crypto-friendly?
Mercury has restrictions on crypto businesses. They may reject applications from crypto exchanges or businesses with high crypto transaction volumes.
Data Sources
Every fact on this page is backed by a source. Here are the claims we've verified:
| Claim | Value | Status | Last Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury core business banking monthly fee | 0 USD/month | Verified | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Mercury supports non-resident-owned US companies (no SSN; EIN required) | true | Verified | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Mercury maintains a ~50-country prohibited list (incl. Philippines, Nigeria, Pakistan) | ~50 countries | Verified | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Mercury does not accept registered-agent-only / PO box / UPS Store addresses | true | Vendor Claimed | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Mercury banking provided via Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC | Choice, Column | Verified | Jun 15, 2026 |