Arif Hossain

Co-Founder, Evendeals

Mar 6, 2026

10 min read

6 Best Mercury Alternatives for International Founders in 2026

Mercury just shut down operations in 68+ countries. If you're an international founder affected by this change, here are 6 viable alternatives to manage your US business finances.

Table of Contents

Why Mercury Stopped Serving International Founders

In late 2024 and early 2025, Mercury Bank made a significant policy change that affected thousands of international founders. The company stopped opening accounts for founders living in 68+ countries, citing compliance challenges and regulatory concerns.

Countries affected include:

• Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Vietnam
• Africa: Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Eritrea, Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Zimbabwe
• Europe: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Latvia, Ukraine
• Middle East: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Yemen
• Latin America: Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela
• Other regions: Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, Russia, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu

This abrupt change left many founders scrambling for alternatives, especially those running US LLCs or C-Corps from abroad. If you're searching for a Mercury alternative for India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Philippines, or any other affected country, this guide will help you find the right solution.

What You Need in a Mercury Alternative

Before diving into specific alternatives, here's what matters most for international founders:

• Remote account opening - No need to visit the US
• No SSN required - Only EIN and company documents
• USD account details - Routing and account numbers for payments
• International wire support - Send and receive money globally
• Integration with payment processors - Works with Stripe, PayPal, etc.
• Reasonable fees - No hidden charges or expensive monthly plans

1. Relay - Best for Simple US Banking

Website: relayfi.com

Best for: Single-member LLCs, digital entrepreneurs, and founders who need straightforward US banking without complexity.

Key Features

• Up to 20 checking accounts and 2 savings accounts - all free
• No monthly fees on the Starter plan
• $3 million FDIC insurance through deposit sweep program
• QuickBooks and Xero integration
• Virtual and physical debit cards
• Works without SSN - only needs EIN

Pricing

• Starter: $0/month
• Grow: $30/month
• Scale: $90/month
• Domestic wires: $8 outgoing
• International wires: $5 (local network) or $25 (SWIFT)

Limitations

Relay recently switched international wire providers from Currencycloud to Nium, which caused disruptions. Some users reported delays receiving international wires. If multi-currency is critical, consider Wise Business instead.

Who Should Choose Relay?

Relay works best if you primarily do business in USD, need multiple sub-accounts for organization, and want a straightforward US business checking account. It's one of the most similar alternatives to Mercury in terms of features and pricing.

2. Wise Business - Best for Multi-Currency Operations

Website: wise.com/us/business

Best for: International founders who work with clients across multiple countries and need to hold, send, and receive payments in different currencies.

Key Features

• Hold and send 50+ currencies
• Get local account details (including USD routing number)
• Real exchange rates - no markup on currency conversion
• Integration with Stripe, PayPal, Amazon, and other platforms
• Multi-currency debit card
• Open to most countries (some restrictions apply)

Pricing

• Setup fee: $31 one-time for USD account details (Advanced plan)
• Monthly fee: $0 for standard features
• Transfer fees: 0.4-2% depending on currency and amount
• No monthly minimums

Important Note

Wise is not a traditional US bank - it's a payment service provider that gives you US bank details. This works perfectly for receiving payments and paying vendors, but some services might not accept it as a "bank account."

Additionally, Wise has tightened KYC requirements in 2025-2026. They're more selective about approving US LLC accounts for non-residents. Make sure to choose the correct business industry during setup to avoid verification issues.

Who Should Choose Wise Business?

Perfect if you're running an e-commerce business, freelancing for international clients, or managing multi-currency operations. It's particularly popular among SaaS founders selling globally and agencies with international contractor payments.

3. Brex - Best for Funded Startups

Website: brex.com

Best for: Venture-backed startups, tech companies with significant funding, and businesses that need sophisticated expense management alongside banking.

Key Features

• Corporate credit cards with high limits (based on cash in account)
• Spend management in 40+ currencies
• Advanced expense tracking and categorization
• Integration with accounting software
• Multi-entity management from one dashboard
• SWIFT network access for international transfers

Requirements

Brex has higher barriers to entry than other alternatives:

• US EIN (required)
• US incorporation (Delaware, Wyoming, etc.)
• US business address (virtual office acceptable)
• Minimum $50,000 cash balance (for funded startups)
• US operations or clear plans for US expansion

Pricing

Brex doesn't publish pricing publicly - it varies based on company size and needs. Generally:

• Free for qualifying startups with venture funding
• Paid tiers for larger companies
• Wire fees and international transfer costs apply

Important Update

Capital One announced acquisition of Brex in January 2026 for $5.15 billion. Requirements and policies may change as the acquisition completes.

Who Should Choose Brex?

Best for well-funded startups (seed stage or later) that need corporate cards, expense management, and banking in one platform. If you haven't raised funding or have less than $50k in the bank, consider Relay or Wise instead.

4. Payoneer - Best for Marketplace & Platform Payments

Website: payoneer.com

Best for: Founders working with marketplaces (Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon), affiliate platforms, or businesses receiving payments from multiple international sources.

Key Features

• Receive payments in 150+ local currencies
• Virtual bank accounts in USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CNY, MXN
• Prepaid Mastercard for ATM withdrawals
• Integration with major marketplaces and platforms
• Mass payout features for paying contractors
• Available in most countries worldwide

Pricing

• Account setup: Free
• Receiving payments: 0-3% depending on source
• Currency conversion: Up to 2% above mid-market rate
• Bank withdrawals: $1.50 per withdrawal
• ATM withdrawals: $3.15 per transaction

Limitations

Like Wise, Payoneer is not a traditional bank account. It's a payment service provider. Some platforms (like Stripe) might not accept it as your primary bank account during setup, though you can usually add it later for payouts.

Who Should Choose Payoneer?

Ideal if you're earning from marketplaces, running affiliate programs, or managing payments across multiple platforms. Many Amazon FBA sellers, freelancers, and digital agencies rely on Payoneer as their primary payment solution when traditional banking options are limited.

5. Ramp - Best for Spend Management & Corporate Cards

Website: ramp.com

Best for: Startups and growing businesses that need corporate cards, expense management, and spend controls alongside their banking solution.

Key Features

• Corporate credit cards with no personal guarantee required
• Apply using company EIN - no personal credit check
• Automated expense tracking and receipt matching
• Bill pay automation and vendor management
• Real-time spend controls and budget limits
• Integration with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and other accounting tools
• Cash back on purchases (up to 1.5%)

Requirements for International Founders

• US-registered business (LLC or Corporation)
• EIN (Employer Identification Number)
• Minimum $25,000 in any US business bank account
• Physical US address (cannot be PO box or virtual office)
• Most operations and spending in the US
• Foreign passport accepted (SSN not required)

Pricing

• Base plan: Free for most startups
• Premium plans: Custom pricing for larger teams
• Annual fee: None
• Foreign transaction fees: None on most cards
• Cash back: Earn up to 1.5% on purchases

Important Note

Ramp is NOT a bank account - it's a spend management platform with corporate cards. You still need a separate business checking account (like Relay, Wise, or traditional bank) to receive payments and fund your Ramp card. However, Ramp does offer a Ramp Business Account feature that provides business checking functionality in partnership with banks.

The physical US address requirement is stricter than other alternatives - virtual offices, registered agent addresses, and mail-forwarding services are not accepted.

Who Should Choose Ramp?

Perfect if you have a US business bank account with at least $25k and need powerful expense management, corporate cards for your team, and automated accounting. Works great as a complement to Wise or Relay for banking + Ramp for spending.

Particularly strong for SaaS companies, agencies, and startups with multiple team members who need cards with spend controls. The no-personal-guarantee feature is valuable for international founders who want to keep business and personal finances separate.

6. Novo - Best for Freelancers & Solo Founders

Website: novo.co

Best for: Solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses that want simple, mobile-first banking.

Key Features

• No monthly fees, no minimum balance
• Free ACH transfers and unlimited transactions
• Integrates with invoicing tools (FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Wave)
• Built-in invoicing features
• Physical and virtual debit cards
• FDIC insured up to $250,000

Pricing

• Monthly fee: $0
• Domestic wires: $5 outgoing
• International wires: $25 outgoing
• ACH transfers: Free unlimited

Requirements for International Founders

Novo accepts international founders with US LLCs, but you'll need:

• Valid US business entity (LLC or Corporation)
• EIN from the IRS
• US business address (virtual office works)
• Passport or government ID

Who Should Choose Novo?

Perfect for solopreneurs, freelancers, and consultants who want zero-fee banking with solid mobile app experience. If you're primarily receiving payments via ACH or check and don't need complex features, Novo is a solid Mercury alternative.

Quick Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Relay if:

• You want the closest Mercury replacement
• You primarily work in USD
• You need multiple checking accounts for organization
• You want free banking with basic features

Choose Wise Business if:

• You handle multiple currencies regularly
• You have international clients or contractors
• You want the best exchange rates
• You run e-commerce or SaaS with global customers

Choose Brex if:

• You've raised venture funding ($50k+ in bank)
• You need corporate cards with high limits
• You want advanced expense management
• You're planning significant US expansion

Choose Payoneer if:

• You work with marketplaces (Amazon, Upwork, Fiverr)
• You receive payments from multiple platforms
• You need to pay contractors in different countries
• Traditional banking options aren't available

Choose Ramp if:

• You have at least $25k in your US business bank account
• You need corporate cards for team members with spend controls
• You want automated expense tracking and bill pay
• You can provide a physical US address (not virtual office)
• You want to earn cash back on business purchases

Choose Novo if:

• You're a solo founder or freelancer
• You want zero fees and simple mobile banking
• You primarily use ACH transfers
• You don't need multi-currency features

Final Thoughts

Mercury's decision to exit 68+ countries created challenges for thousands of international founders. But it also revealed a robust ecosystem of alternatives that, in many cases, offer better features for global businesses.

Whether you're in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Philippines, Ukraine, or any other affected country, you have viable options. The key is choosing the one that matches your business model:

• Simple US business? Go with Relay
• Global operations? Use Wise Business
• Funded startup? Apply for Brex
• Marketplace seller? Open Payoneer
• Need corporate cards? Get Ramp
• Solo freelancer? Try Novo

Many successful international founders use a combination - for example, Wise for multi-currency operations + Relay for straightforward USD banking, or Relay for banking + Ramp for expense management and corporate cards.

Don't let banking limitations stop your business growth. These alternatives have already served millions of international founders successfully.

Maximize Your Global Reach

Once you've set up your banking alternative, the next step is optimizing your pricing for international customers. Many founders lose 60-70% of potential sales by charging the same price globally.

If you're selling digital products, SaaS, or courses, consider implementing parity pricing to unlock sales from customers who find Western prices prohibitively expensive in their local currency.

Evendeals makes it simple - add location-based discounts to any website in minutes, helping you convert international visitors who would otherwise bounce due to price.