Pros
- $0 monthly fee, no minimum balance, no opening fees
- Free ACH and free domestic wires, sent and received
- Free outgoing USD international wires
- Up to $5M FDIC coverage through partner-bank sweep
- Unlimited virtual cards, invoicing and bill pay
- Accepts founders who live outside the US
Cons
- No cash deposits
- Principal address can’t be a registered agent or P.O. box address
- 1% fee on non-USD wires; 3% on non-USD card purchases
- Mercury is a fintech, not a bank — banking via partner banks
Mercury at a glance
| Monthly fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Minimum balance | None |
| Interest | No checking APY (Treasury up to 4.05% with $250K+, investment risk) |
| FDIC coverage | Up to $5M via partner-bank sweep (Choice Financial Group, Column N.A.) |
| ATMs & cash | No Mercury ATM fee; no cash deposits |
| Wires | Free domestic wires and free USD international wires |
| Non-US owners | Yes — US-formed companies with US operations; some countries excluded |
Good fit if you are…
- Online businesses and startups that never handle cash
- Founders outside the US with a US LLC
- Anyone who sends domestic or USD international wires often
Look elsewhere if you are…
- Businesses that deposit cash
- Owners who need branch support
Mercury alternatives
| Provider | Price | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relay | $0/mo (Grow $30, Scale $120) | Profit First · up to 20 accounts · cash deposits | Visit Relay |
| Bluevine | $0/mo (Plus $30, Premier $95) | Interest on checking · credit line | Visit Bluevine |
| Novo | $0/mo | Simple free account for US-based owners | Visit Novo |
| Found | $0/mo (Plus $35, Pro $80) | Freelancers · built-in tax tools | Visit Found |
| Lili | $0/mo (Pro $15, Smart $35, Premium $55) | Non-US owners incl. Latin America · savings APY | Visit Lili |
| Wise Business | $31 one-time | Multi-currency · getting paid from abroad | Visit Wise Business |
How to get started with Mercury
- Get your LLC’s EIN from the IRS.
- Have your Articles of Organization, operating agreement and an ID for each owner ready.
- Apply online on Mercury’s site and verify the owners.
- Fund the account and connect your payment and accounting tools.
Mercury vs the alternatives
Mercury is our pick for free wires · non-us founders · startups ($0/mo). If that isn’t your priority:
- Relay — better for profit first · up to 20 accounts · cash deposits ($0/mo (Grow $30, Scale $120)). $0 Starter plan with no minimum balance.
- Bluevine — better for interest on checking · credit line ($0/mo (Plus $30, Premier $95)). Interest on checking: 1.3% APY on Standard (with $500 card spend or $2,500 in customer payments a month).
- Novo — better for simple free account for us-based owners ($0/mo). $0 monthly fee with no minimum balance.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Mercury cost?
$0/mo. Monthly fee: $0. Minimum balance: None. Verified October 18, 2026 on Mercury’s website.
Is Mercury good for an LLC?
The strongest free option if you send wires or live outside the US: $0 a month, free domestic and USD international wires, and up to $5M in FDIC coverage through partner banks. The trade-off is no cash deposits. Good fit: online businesses and startups that never handle cash; founders outside the us with a us llc; anyone who sends domestic or usd international wires often.
What are the downsides of Mercury?
No cash deposits. Principal address can’t be a registered agent or P.O. box address. 1% fee on non-USD wires; 3% on non-USD card purchases. Mercury is a fintech, not a bank — banking via partner banks.
Can non-US residents open Mercury?
Yes — US-formed companies with US operations; some countries excluded.
What are the alternatives to Mercury?
Relay ($0/mo (Grow $30, Scale $120)), Bluevine ($0/mo (Plus $30, Premier $95)), Novo ($0/mo), Found ($0/mo (Plus $35, Pro $80)), Lili ($0/mo (Pro $15, Smart $35, Premium $55)), Wise Business ($31 one-time).
Is Mercury safe?
Mercury isn’t a bank itself; deposits are held at partner banks that are FDIC members. FDIC coverage: Up to $5M via partner-bank sweep (Choice Financial Group, Column N.A.).
How do I sign up for Mercury?
1. Get your LLC’s EIN from the IRS. 2. Have your Articles of Organization, operating agreement and an ID for each owner ready. 3. Apply online on Mercury’s site and verify the owners. 4. Fund the account and connect your payment and accounting tools.
Rates, fees and eligibility change often. Figures come from each provider’s own site on the date shown; confirm before opening an account. Fintechs are not banks — deposits are held at partner banks, Member FDIC. Verified October 18, 2026. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. How we’re funded.
Your LLC setup checklist
- Get a free EINFrom the IRS, in minutes online.
- Open a business bank accountKeep LLC money apart from yours to protect the liability shield.
- Sign an operating agreementSettle who owns and decides what before it matters.
- Get business insuranceCover what the LLC itself doesn’t protect.
- Plan your taxesKnow your tax status and federal due dates.
- Track state deadlinesFree reminders before each filing.
Everything in one list: printable LLC compliance checklist · live deadline calendar.