Mercury vs Relay for a non-resident LLC owner
Written and fact-checked by Alan Maldonado · Updated Oct 23, 2026 · 2 min read
Mercury and Relay look alike on paper: both are fintechs, both have a free plan, and both hold deposits at FDIC-insured partner banks. If you live outside the US, one requirement separates them.
Side by side
Read on each provider’s pages October 23, 2026.
| Mercury | Relay | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Paid plan | Mercury Plus, $35/mo | Grow, $30/mo |
| Partner banks | Choice Financial Group and Column N.A. | Thread Bank |
| Owner’s address | Your real home address, in any supported country | A physical US address for every beneficial owner |
| Company address | US or international (not a registered agent, P.O. box or UPS Store) | US address and phone number |
| Countries it can’t serve | By the owner’s country of residence | By the owner’s citizenship or residency |
| Wires in USD | $0, domestic and international | See Relay’s pricing page for its plans |
| Zelle | Not currently | Not currently |
The address question
Mercury says “You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or resident to apply.” The company needs existing or planned operations in the US and an address for its principal place of business, which can be residential and outside the US. Each owner gives the address where they actually live.
Relay’s documents page asks every beneficial owner for a “Physical U.S. address (no PO boxes, no virtual mailboxes)”. The same page asks non-US resident owners for more information, such as the source of the money that started the business and their annual personal income. Those two lines don’t fit together cleanly, so if you have no US address, ask Relay before you apply.
Countries
The two lists work differently. Mercury’s is based on “your country of residence, not your citizenship or nationality”: a Venezuelan citizen living in Spain may still qualify. Relay excludes owners who hold citizenship or residency in any listed country.
Venezuela, Nicaragua and Haiti are on both lists. Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Chile and Spain are on neither.
Which one
- You live outside the US and have no US address: Mercury.
- You have a US address and phone and want Relay’s plans (many checking accounts, cash back on cards): Relay.
- Either way, keep the LLC’s name identical on the state document, the EIN letter and the application.
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Mercury · Relay · All options for non-residents
Sources
Checked October 23, 2026.
- Mercury, pricing, eligibility, prohibited countries and integration FAQs
- Relay, pricing, required documents, prohibited countries and Zelle