How to Get a USD Receiving Account for Your Business (2026)

• Wise Business (recommended for non-US entities): Free USD account (routing number + account number) available in 170+ countries. Held at Community Federal Savings Bank (FDIC-insured). No US company required. Get it in minutes after identity verification.
• Airwallex: USD account available in most countries. Held with US bank partners. Similar to Wise. Requires registered business entity. More suited to companies vs individual freelancers.
• Payoneer: USD virtual account available globally. 0% receiving fee from Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon. 2% conversion fee when withdrawing to local currency. Best for platform workers.
• Mercury (US company required): A real US bank account (not a virtual account), FDIC-insured, interest-bearing. Free. Requires a US-registered LLC or C-corp. Takes 1–5 business days to open.
• Brex: US corporate card + banking. Requires US company registration. Not suitable for non-US entities.
• Relay: US business banking. Requires US company. Strong for multiple accounts and cash flow management.

1. Go to wise.com/business and sign up. Choose your country of residence — not the US.
2. Complete identity verification: government-issued ID (passport, national ID) + selfie.
3. For business accounts: provide business name and basic details. For individual freelancers, the personal Wise account also provides USD local account details.
4. Once verified, navigate to 'Balances' → 'USD' → 'Account details'. You'll see a US routing number and account number.
5. Share these details with your clients exactly as you would share a US bank account number. Confirm with them to use 'ACH' or 'domestic wire' — not international wire.
6. When USD arrives, you'll see it in your Wise USD balance. Convert to your local currency (INR, PHP, NGN, etc.) at 0.45% FX margin.

When emailing your account details to a US client:

• Bank name: Community Federal Savings Bank (for Wise) or whatever Wise shows
• Account type: Checking
• Routing number: [your Wise routing number]
• Account number: [your Wise account number]
• Account holder name: Your registered name on Wise
• Payment method: ACH (preferred) or domestic wire — NOT international wire
• Add a note: 'Please send as a domestic ACH or domestic wire, not as an international wire transfer.'
• Some US clients' payment software will ask for a 'SWIFT code' — explain that you use domestic ACH rails and no SWIFT code is needed.

• Is the Wise USD account FDIC-insured? Yes — Wise holds customer funds at FDIC-insured partner banks. In the event Wise fails, your USD balance is protected up to $250,000 per depositor under FDIC insurance.
• Can I accept Zelle into my Wise USD account? No. Zelle requires a US phone number registered with a US bank. Your Wise USD account accepts ACH and wire transfers only.
• Does my US client need to know I'm outside the US? No. To them, it looks like a normal US bank account. Many freelancers don't disclose their location to clients for this reason.
• What's the maximum I can receive? Wise has no stated limit for business accounts, though large sudden inflows may trigger enhanced verification (standard for all financial institutions).
• Can I use this as a PayPal withdrawal account? Yes — add your Wise routing + account number as a bank account in PayPal. PayPal will send a small deposit for verification, then you can withdraw to Wise.

The right USD receiving account depends on how you receive, how much you receive, and how you'll use the funds:

• Freelancer or consultant (<$10,000/month): Wise Business. Free US ACH details, low conversion fees, no monthly fee. Supports individual or company account.
• Software company receiving SaaS payments: Stripe (for card processing) + Wise Business for bank transfers. Stripe integrates with Wise for payouts.
• Marketplace seller (Amazon, eBay, Etsy): Payoneer. Marketplaces integrate natively. Despite higher withdrawal fees, the marketplace compatibility is worth it.
• Startup with US investors or customers (with US entity): Mercury or Brex. FDIC-insured US bank accounts. Integrate with Stripe, Gusto, QuickBooks.
• Import/export business: OFX Business or Currencies Direct Business. Forward contracts + bulk payments + dedicated account manager for high-volume FX.
• Non-profit or NGO: Wise for international grant receipt. Some NGOs also use GlobalGiving or Stripe Climate-integrated platforms.