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Business bank accounts
A US business bank account, opened in your company’s name.
We guide you through your applications step by step, with the exact documents each institution asks for. You are the applicant and the account holder.
At a glance
What is included.
The right applications for your case
We tell you which institutions accept applications from companies like yours.
Document checklist
Formation documents, EIN letter, ID, proof of address: prepared and checked before you apply.
Application walkthrough
We go through each question with you so that your answers are accurate and consistent.
Follow-up
If the bank asks for more information, we help you answer it.
How it works
How business account opening works
A company needs its own account before it can trade properly. Payment providers pay out to it, suppliers are paid from it and the accountant relies on its statements. An account in the company’s name also keeps business money separate from your personal money, which supports the separation between you and the company. For a founder who lives outside the country where the company is registered, opening that account is usually the step that takes the most preparation.
Every bank and regulated account provider is required to know its customer. Before opening an account it verifies the company, the people who own and control it, and the business itself. It wants to understand what you sell, who buys it, where the goods come from, which countries money will arrive from and go to, and roughly how much. An application that answers these questions clearly and consistently is reviewed faster than one that leaves the reviewer guessing.
Atiko’s role is preparation and guidance. We identify with you which types of account are open to a company like yours, including accounts that can be opened remotely, assemble the company documents, review your business description and store, and walk you through the application. When the institution comes back with questions, we help you answer them accurately.
You are always the applicant and the account holder. You submit the application, complete the identity checks yourself and control the account once it is open. Atiko is not a bank, never holds client funds and has no access to your money. The institution alone decides whether to open the account, on what terms and how quickly.
Why it matters
What a proper business account makes possible
Payouts from payment providers
Stripe and Shopify Payments pay out to a bank account that belongs to the company. Without an account in the right name and country, sales cannot be settled.
Supplier and advertising payments
Manufacturers, freight forwarders and advertising platforms are paid from the company account, which creates a clean record of business spending. That record is what the accountant works from at year end.
Separation of company and personal money
Running business income through a personal account blurs the line between you and the company and complicates the accounts. A dedicated account keeps every transaction attributable to the business.
Several currencies
Many business accounts can hold or receive more than one currency. This helps a store that buys in one currency and sells in others, although the features differ from one provider to the next.
Credibility with counterparties
Suppliers, marketplaces and lenders ask for company bank details and sometimes for statements. An account in the company’s name is the expected answer.
Before you apply
What you need to have ready
Requirements differ between institutions, and they change. These are the items requested in most applications.
The process
From company documents to open account
Review of your situation
We look at the company, your country of residence, your business model and the currencies you need. From this we identify the types of account that are realistically open to you.
Document preparation
We assemble the company documents and tell you which personal documents are needed and in what form. Missing or unclear documents are fixed before you apply.
Business profile and store check
We review your business description and your store against what institutions typically ask. The goal is one consistent account of the business across every document.
Application
You submit the application as the applicant, with our guidance on each section. You complete the identity verification yourself.
Institution review
The institution reviews the file and may ask follow-up questions. We help you answer them promptly and accurately.
Account activation
When the account is approved, you receive the account details and set up your own access and security. Atiko has no access to it.
Comparison
Banking in the three jurisdictions
| United States | United Kingdom | Hong Kong | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company documents | Formation documents, operating agreement or bylaws | Certificate of incorporation, articles | Certificate of Incorporation, Business Registration Certificate |
| Tax identifier | EIN needed before applying | Company number, tax reference when issued | Business registration number |
| Remote opening | Available with some account providers | Available with some account providers | Available with some, others ask for an interview |
| Main currency | US dollars | Pounds sterling | Hong Kong dollars, often several currencies |
| Typical review time | Typically within a week of applying | Varies by institution | Varies, often longer |
| Focus of questions | Owners, business model, expected activity | Owners, UK link, business model | Suppliers, customers and flow of funds |
Each institution sets its own requirements and may change them at any time.
After opening
Keeping the account in good standing
Approval is the start of the relationship. Banks and account providers monitor activity for as long as the account exists and compare it with what you declared at opening. They also run periodic reviews in which they ask you to confirm company details, ownership and the nature of the business, and sometimes to explain particular transactions. These reviews are routine and apply to every customer.
The accounts that stay healthy are the ones where activity matches the stated business. If you add a product line, start selling in new countries or expect volumes to rise sharply, telling the institution beforehand avoids surprises on its side. Answer review requests quickly and keep invoices and supplier contracts where you can find them, because a request for supporting documents usually comes with a deadline.
Company changes need to reach the bank as well. A new director, a change of ownership or a new address should be filed with the registry and then reported to the institution, so that both records agree. Atiko helps you keep the company record current and prepare the documents a review asks for. The institution decides the outcome of its own reviews.
Avoid these
Common mistakes in account applications
Applying before the company file is complete
An application sent without the tax number or with unsigned company documents is usually paused or declined. It is quicker to wait a few days and apply once.
Describing the business vaguely
Terms such as general trading or online sales tell a reviewer very little. A specific description of products, suppliers and customers answers the questions before they are asked.
Inconsistent information
A name, address or ownership percentage that differs between the application, the registry and the store raises doubts. Check every document against the company record before you submit.
Ignoring review requests
An unanswered request for information can lead to a restricted or closed account. Treat every message from the institution as time-sensitive.
Atiko is not a bank
Atiko does not open accounts, hold client funds or have any say in a bank’s decision. We prepare and guide the application, and you are the applicant and the account holder. No approval, timeline or account feature can be guaranteed, because the institution decides each of them.
Questions about business bank accounts
Can I open a business account without traveling?
In many cases, yes. There are US business accounts that can be opened remotely, and comparable options exist for UK and Hong Kong companies. Some institutions still ask for an interview or a visit, and we tell you which situation applies before you choose where to apply.
How long does it take?
US accounts typically open within a week of applying when the file is complete. For UK and Hong Kong companies the timing varies more between institutions. In every case the institution controls the timeline and may ask for more information.
Does Atiko apply on my behalf?
No. You are the applicant and you complete the identity checks yourself. Atiko prepares the file with you, guides you through each section and helps you respond to follow-up questions.
Does Atiko have access to my account or funds?
No. Atiko never holds client funds and has no access to your account. You set your own credentials and you alone authorize payments.
Which bank will I use?
That is your choice. We explain the types of account available to a company in your position and what each typically requires. We do not publish a list of named institutions, because their acceptance criteria change.
What if my application is declined?
Institutions do not always give a reason, and a refusal from one does not prevent an application to another. We review the file with you, correct anything that may have contributed and help you prepare a new application elsewhere. We cannot reverse an institution’s decision.
Do I need a tax number before applying?
For a US company, the EIN is needed before a bank application. UK and Hong Kong companies are identified mainly by their registration details. We confirm what the chosen institution currently asks for.
Can the account be in a different country from the company?
Sometimes. Certain providers offer accounts to foreign companies, with their own conditions. Payment providers generally expect a payout account that matches the company and country of the payments account, so we check this point with you first.
Related pages
This page is general information, last reviewed in October 2026. It is not legal or tax advice and may not reflect the latest rules in every state. Atiko is not a law firm or an accounting firm. Please consult a licensed attorney or tax adviser about your own situation.
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