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US Physical Business / Personal Bank Account Remotely, money stuck in Stripe

Alenka

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Jul 1, 2021
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Is it possible to open a US Business or Personal bank account in physical bank remotely?

My case: my old business US bank account was closed because as a company we don’t have physical presence in the US, except majority of our customers.
But big amount of funds have stacked in my Stripe account and I can’t find an option how to withdraw them, because stripe requires “Checking US account”. It can be any US bank or anything where it’s possible to withdraw stripe funds, any schemes are acceptable as well: such as an intermediary agent who can accept money for % from stripe and then send them to my personal bank account in the UAE. Just want to know how it works in practice and if I’m able to use them in my case.

Got rejected from Mercury and Brex. But physical banks usually accept me.
Unfortunately, I Don’t have US visa to visit the US in person and open bank account personally.

I’m okay to make for up to 500k USD deposit. ~70% of customers are US customers of my business.
I don’t have SSN or ITIN.

If there are physical banks that can open bank account under my company name or my personal name remotely?
Any suggestions how you would act to withdraw those money from Stripe are appreciated.

I thought I can hire someone and appoint as director to go to the bank and open an account for my single-owner disregarded US LLC, but in that case my US entity will probably be considered as having physical presence = liable for US taxes. But in some articles that I read it’s stated that if the person likes as “independent agent who offering services to all companies, instead of only working for your company” then it will be fine and my US entity won’t be liable for taxes.
 
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I would say it's impossible what you are seeking without showing up at the bank in person. However, I also know that if you have a lot of money, nothing is impossible. With the figures you're throwing around, I would find a law office that can help you facilitate everything needed for you to have a real company - that will help you a long way. In addition, you will probably still need to enter the USA at some point to open an account, unless you can convince the EMIs you've tried that they can take you now, or you find a new EMI you haven't tried before.

Why can't you get a VISA, which country are you from?
 
Is it possible to open a US Business or Personal bank account in physical bank remotely?

My case: my old business US bank account was closed because as a company we don’t have physical presence in the US, except majority of our customers.
But big amount of funds have stacked in my Stripe account and I can’t find an option how to withdraw them, because stripe requires “Checking US account”. It can be any US bank or anything where it’s possible to withdraw stripe funds, any schemes are acceptable as well: such as an intermediary agent who can accept money for % from stripe and then send them to my personal bank account in the UAE. Just want to know how it works in practice and if I’m able to use them in my case.

Got rejected from Mercury and Brex. But physical banks usually accept me.
Unfortunately, I Don’t have US visa to visit the US in person and open bank account personally.

I’m okay to make for up to 500k USD deposit. ~70% of customers are US customers of my business.
I don’t have SSN or ITIN.

If there are physical banks that can open bank account under my company name or my personal name remotely?
Any suggestions how you would act to withdraw those money from Stripe are appreciated.

I thought I can hire someone and appoint as director to go to the bank and open an account for my single-owner disregarded US LLC, but in that case my US entity will probably be considered as having physical presence = liable for US taxes. But in some articles that I read it’s stated that if the person likes as “independent agent who offering services to all companies, instead of only working for your company” then it will be fine and my US entity won’t be liable for taxes.
What is Your origin ?

Is it possible to open a US Business or Personal bank account in physical bank remotely?

My case: my old business US bank account was closed because as a company we don’t have physical presence in the US, except majority of our customers.
But big amount of funds have stacked in my Stripe account and I can’t find an option how to withdraw them, because stripe requires “Checking US account”. It can be any US bank or anything where it’s possible to withdraw stripe funds, any schemes are acceptable as well: such as an intermediary agent who can accept money for % from stripe and then send them to my personal bank account in the UAE. Just want to know how it works in practice and if I’m able to use them in my case.

Got rejected from Mercury and Brex. But physical banks usually accept me.
Unfortunately, I Don’t have US visa to visit the US in person and open bank account personally.

I’m okay to make for up to 500k USD deposit. ~70% of customers are US customers of my business.
I don’t have SSN or ITIN.

If there are physical banks that can open bank account under my company name or my personal name remotely?
Any suggestions how you would act to withdraw those money from Stripe are appreciated.

I thought I can hire someone and appoint as director to go to the bank and open an account for my single-owner disregarded US LLC, but in that case my US entity will probably be considered as having physical presence = liable for US taxes. But in some articles that I read it’s stated that if the person likes as “independent agent who offering services to all companies, instead of only working for your company” then it will be fine and my US entity won’t be liable for taxes.
Payset You can consider
 
I would say it's impossible what you are seeking without showing up at the bank in person. However, I also know that if you have a lot of money, nothing is impossible. With the figures you're throwing around, I would find a law office that can help you facilitate everything needed for you to have a real company - that will help you a long way. In addition, you will probably still need to enter the USA at some point to open an account, unless you can convince the EMIs you've tried that they can take you now, or you find a new EMI you haven't tried before.

Why can't you get a VISA, which country are you from?
From Belarus. I don’t have ties to the UAE and don’t have big travel history. Plus, it takes 3+ months just to get to the interviewer.

What is Your origin ?


Payset You can consider
Belarus

Thanks for the advice about Payset, do they onboard US entities as well?
 
From Belarus. I don’t have ties to the UAE and don’t have big travel history. Plus, it takes 3+ months just to get to the interviewer.


Belarus

Thanks for the advice about Payset, do they onboard US entities as well?
Regrettably Belarus is considered an enemy of the collective West, which makes your chances of getting an account very slim. You could find a nominee or resort to darks.
 
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Regrettably Belarus is considered an enemy of the collective West, which makes your chances of getting an account very slim.
It's true, unfortunately.
You could find a nominee or resort to darks.
Yes, this is a possible solution.

In addition to this:

1) Even some non-US EMIs are offering USD accounts accessible locally in the US <=> checking US acounts. Many of them, unfortunately, do not accept US companies but e.g. Airwallex do (Payset might too, just try it).

2) Re: US banking options for a LLC, you can find various alternatives in discussions here US neo-banks List [For Non-Residents LLCs] and here Mercury, TryNovel, or something else?.

3) IIRC, Charles Schwab opens (personal) accounts remotely; and you are able to deposit enough. I admit that I have no clue how they see Belarus but generally, cash makes miracles...

I thought I can hire someone and appoint as director to go to the bank and open an account for my single-owner disregarded US LLC, but in that case my US entity will probably be considered as having physical presence = liable for US taxes. But in some articles that I read it’s stated that if the person likes as “independent agent who offering services to all companies, instead of only working for your company” then it will be fine and my US entity won’t be liable for taxes.
It is a good idea in general and especially for (2) above.
 
It's true, unfortunately.

Yes, this is a possible solution.

In addition to this:

1) Even some non-US EMIs are offering USD accounts accessible locally in the US <=> checking US acounts. Many of them, unfortunately, do not accept US companies but e.g. Airwallex do (Payset might too, just try it).

2) Re: US banking options for a LLC, you can find various alternatives in discussions here US neo-banks List [For Non-Residents LLCs] and here Mercury, TryNovel, or something else?.

3) IIRC, Charles Schwab opens (personal) accounts remotely; and you are able to deposit enough. I admit that I have no clue how they see Belarus but generally, cash makes miracles...


It is a good idea in general and especially for (2) above.
I also considered the option you mention: to open Dubai entity, for the entity to open Payset / Multipass account (they offer USD local checking account) and then to withdraw to that company from stripe US.

It should be ok on paper, but depends if EMI is fine with such transactions from another company with same ownership structure.
 
I also considered the option you mention: to open Dubai entity, for the entity to open Payset / Multipass account (they offer USD local checking account) and then to withdraw to that company from stripe US.
Yes, Multipass could work, too. Bilderlings or Centtrip are perhaps also worth checking – but I have no relevant references about aforementioned.
It should be ok on paper, but depends if EMI is fine with such transactions from another company with same ownership structure.
Well, I think an EMI could/should be fine with this; but the core question IMO is what about Stripe? I admit that I am not well oriented re: Stripe; but I guess that they demand the account to be in the name of the company that uses Stripe (or perhaps in the name of the company owner), not in the name of the another entity – or am I wrong?
 
I also considered the option you mention: to open Dubai entity, for the entity to open Payset / Multipass account (they offer USD local checking account) and then to withdraw to that company from stripe US.

It should be ok on paper, but depends if EMI is fine with such transactions from another company with same ownership structure.
Either of those 2 should accept your UAE company for account opening, and they most likely wouldn't have much of an issue with receiving the Stripe funds. Although, you should check with Stripe if you can receive funds with "a payment agent" (if your UAE entity is not part of the US structure) or to the "parent company". If the UAE company is the owner, I guess it should be easier for Stripe to understand the situation. They might also simply not care what account the payments are being sent to, but I am pretty sure that depends on several factors, including the country in which Stripe is registered.
Yes, Multipass could work, too. Bilderlings or Centtrip are perhaps also worth checking – but I have no relevant references about aforementioned.
Multipass is a decent option, but in the same way as PaySet, the costs can be a bit high. Centtrip is only with the UK since their EU partner entity is being liquidated, and they didn't support the US earlier, either. Bilderlings is only SEPA, SWIFT, BACS/FPS as well.
Well, I think an EMI could/should be fine with this; but the core question IMO is what about Stripe? I admit that I am not well oriented re: Stripe; but I guess that they demand the account to be in the name of the company that uses Stripe (or perhaps in the name of the company owner), not in the name of the another entity – or am I wrong?
Exactly what I was saying, just noticed you posted about it too, but I think that in theory it could still work.

I think that OP could also open a Payoneer account for the US company. AFAIK, they do not accept Belarusian clients on their own, but they do allow them for corporate accounts in non-sanctioned countries. Payoneer will provide a US account with Citibank, N.A., and a second account at First Century for some businesses.

If the business is low risk, I think Airwallex would be great for it too, again for either company. They don't reject Belarusians and Russians as long as they do not reside there. Airwallex will provide local accounts practically anywhere and also save a lot of money on (potential) forex like USD to AED when transferring out.

I think Currenxie can do the same, but I am not sure whether they have dedicated US ACH/Fedwire accounts, or if they accept Belarusian citizens like AWX. Forester, you may know that.
 
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I think Currenxie can do the same, but I am not sure whether they have dedicated US ACH/Fedwire accounts, or if they accept Belarusian citizens like AWX. Forester, you may know that.
Currenxie gives you a local US account, currently with Community Federal Savings Bank; however it is ACH-capable only, not Fedwire. But what is probably more important, they have Belarus on the blacklist as the sanctioned country – it concerns transfers, nevertheless I doubt that they are open to accept a company with Belarusian citizen as the UBO, having in mind that they are backed by Citi HK. (Of course it is possible to ask them, their support is friendly and usually not behaving as monkeys /I remember only one example of that/).

In general, also WorldFirst now comes to my mind as something worth checking but I have no clue how they treat Belarus.
 
Currenxie gives you a local US account, currently with Community Federal Savings Bank; however it is ACH-capable only, not Fedwire.
That's actually a bit strange, because Airwallex uses CFSB as well, but it has both ACH and Fedwire. In fact, Airwallex is connected with them for instant outgoing Fedwire as well, so I can make payments within the US in just a couple of minutes.
But what is probably more important, they have Belarus on the blacklist as the sanctioned country – it concerns transfers, nevertheless I doubt that they are open to accept a company with Belarusian citizen as the UBO, having in mind that they are backed by Citi HK.
That's true. Airwallex specifically state that they will accept Russian and Belarusian UBO and directors on their helpdesk, as long as they have companies in the accepted jurisdictions and reside in a non-sanctioned country. I would say they are some of the only ones to do this, especially for banking that will provide US local accounts.
In general, also WorldFirst now comes to my mind as something worth checking but I have no clue how they treat Belarus.
Not a bad suggestion - and WorldFirst will also provide the required local accounts. However, I couldn't find their stance on accepting Belarus anywhere.
 
That's actually a bit strange, because Airwallex uses CFSB as well, but it has both ACH and Fedwire.
Yes, it seems really strange – but it's true, unfortunately. Tested 3-4 months ago; fedwires return back to the sender.
In fact, Airwallex is connected with them for instant outgoing Fedwire as well, so I can make payments within the US in just a couple of minutes.
Well, I guess that in such a case, there can be something as simple as a different mutual agreement behind. Currenxie local USD accounts are mainly presented as collection accounts, sending USD locally is said to be also possible (I have never tested it) but it seems a little bit more complicated (receiving is really flawless).
That's true. Airwallex specifically state that they will accept Russian and Belarusian UBO and directors on their helpdesk, as long as they have companies in the accepted jurisdictions and reside in a non-sanctioned country. I would say they are some of the only ones to do this, especially for banking that will provide US local accounts.
I agree.
Not a bad suggestion - and WorldFirst will also provide the required local accounts.
Yes, it was the background for my recommendation.
However, I couldn't find their stance on accepting Belarus anywhere.
Well, if the problem is not solved, @Alenka can simply give it a try... :)
 
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