Banking Access Index Maps US Provider Hurdles for Non-Resident Founders
AI-generated image · US National Wire
A new dataset verifies which US business banking entities explicitly accept or restrict founders living abroad, highlighting a divide between open access and strict residency requirements.
A new analysis of US business banking providers reveals a fragmented landscape for non-resident founders seeking financial services, as first reported by Global Solo. The Banking Access Index, published by Global Solo, evaluated 19 providers and verified 239 claims against published source material as of July 2026.
The index categorizes providers based on their documented residency policies. Some firms, such as Payoneer, are listed as accepting non-resident founders, with explicit acceptance for founders in India, China, the UK, Canada, and Pakistan. Others, including Mercury and Airwallex (US), are also categorized as accepting non-resident founders, though the index notes that Mercury requires companies to be registered in the US or a US territory.
Conversely, several traditional and digital providers maintain strict residency barriers. The index identifies Novo, Found, NorthOne, Grasshopper Bank, Bank of America Small Business, and Wells Fargo Business Banking as requiring users to be US residents or persons. For these providers, the index marks founders from countries such as India, China, and the UK as explicitly restricted.
Global Solo notes that restrictions are derived from three types of evidence: named prohibited lists, absence from closed eligibility lists, or blanket rules (such as "US citizens or permanent residents only"). The data also highlights "conditional" providers, including Relay, Wise Business, Bluevine, Lili, Meow, Rho, Revolut Business, and Chase Business Banking, whose acceptance varies by country. For example, Lili explicitly accepts founders in India, China, the UK, and Canada, but restricts those in Pakistan and Nigeria.