Mr. Wang, a business owner in Shenzhen, runs an Amazon US store with an annual turnover of $2 million. In August, he wanted to use a U.S. bank account to receive payments and discovered that the process of ”remotely opening a U.S. bank account from mainland China” in 2026 is much easier than it was three years ago—but there are also more pitfalls: some banks only accept ”in-person interviews in the U.S.,” some banks require a three-month wait for ”witnessing in mainland China,” and at others, ”remote account opening” actually involves opening an account through one of their subsidiary banks.

This article compares three U.S. banks (Huamei, Guotai, and Digital Bank) that mainland residents can open accounts with remotely by 2026. It breaks down the information across four categories—account opening requirements, account types, fees, and intended uses—so that after reading it, you’ll be able to decide which one is right for you.

01

Why Do Cross-Border Business Owners Need a U.S. Bank Account?

Let's get one thing straight—Not all cross-border e-commerce businesses need a U.S. bank account.. However, if you fall into one of the following three categories, we recommend opening one:

Category 1,Sellers on Amazon U.S.. The payment cycle on Amazon U.S. is 14 days, but the funds are deposited into the U.S. bank account linked to your Amazon seller account (via ACH transfer). If you don’t have a U.S. bank account, the funds can only be transferred to a bank account in China, which incurs a 1–31 TP3T processing fee and takes 5–7 days per withdrawal.

The second category,U.S. stock investors. If you open a U.S. stock brokerage account (such as IB or Firstrade), linking a U.S. bank account for ACH deposits is the cheapest option (some brokers waive ACH fees). Using a wire transfer from a domestic bank incurs a fee of 200–500 yuan per transaction and takes 5–10 days to process.

The third category,U.S. Real Estate Investors. If you buy a property in the U.S., make mortgage payments, or collect rent, you'll need a U.S. bank account to handle these transactions.

In addition, U.S. bank accounts are alsoApplying for a U.S. Credit Card, Incorporating a U.S. Company, Applying for an ITINa useful tool. In many situations, a U.S. bank account is required as part of the ”identity verification” process.

02

East West Bank

East West BankIt is a California-based bank specializing in cross-border banking between China and the U.S. Founded in 1989, it is one of the few banks in the U.S. that ”specializes in China-U.S. business.” For residents of mainland China, Huamei is one of the most familiar options for ”opening a U.S. bank account.”

Hua Mei Bank Account Opening Requirements for 2026:

First.account opening threshold. The minimum deposit is $2,500 (approximately 18,000 RMB). You must maintain a minimum balance of $2,500 in your account during the first month after opening it; otherwise, a monthly fee of $25 will be charged.

Second.proof of identity. You’ll need a passport + a U.S. visa (B1/B2/F1/H1B, etc.) + an ITIN or SSN. Starting in 2026, Huamei has tightened its account opening requirements for mainland residents ”without a U.S. visa”; you must have a valid U.S. visa to open an account.

Third.Account Opening Methods. You must travel to the U.S. for an in-person visa interview (at a Huamei branch in California, New York, or Texas); remote video witnessing alone is not accepted. In 2026, remote video witnessing was added for three cities—Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing—but you must first obtain ”witness certification” from China CITIC Bank in mainland China (CITIC Bank will collect the required documents on your behalf).

Huamei's Advantages:Numerous physical branches (over 80 branches in the U.S.), Chinese-language services (Chinese-speaking account managers), and partnerships with China CITIC Bank and China Merchants Bank in mainland China (making it convenient to transfer funds back to China).

Huamei's Weaknesses:To open an account, you must either travel to the U.S. or participate in a video verification session; the monthly fee is $25, and ATM withdrawal fees are $3 per transaction.

03

Cathay Bank

Cathay BankFounded in 1962 by a Chinese-American, this long-established bank primarily serves the Chinese community. Starting in 2026, Cathay Bank will offer the most open access to remote account opening for residents of mainland China.

Cathay Bank Account Opening Requirements for 2026:

First.account opening threshold. The minimum deposit is $5,000 (approximately 36,000 RMB); if the account balance falls below $5,000, a monthly fee of $15 is charged (cheaper than Huamei).

Second.proof of identity. You will need a passport + an ITIN (highly recommended) + proof of a U.S. address (this can be a friend’s or relative’s address, or a virtual mailing address such as Earth Class Mail).Cathay Accepts ”No U.S. Visa” Applications for Purely Remote Account Opening... This is the biggest advantage in 2026.

Third.Account Opening Methods. Three options are available: ① In-person interview in the U.S. (most reliable); ② Video verification in China (available in four cities—Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing—with verification conducted by Cathay Pacific’s partner law firms in mainland China); ③ Fully online account opening (requires an SSN or ITIN, a U.S. address, and a U.S. cell phone number).

Cathay's Advantages:Fully remote account opening (no U.S. visa required), many Chinese-speaking account managers, low fees for cross-border transfers, and partnerships with multiple banks in mainland China.

Cathay's Weaknesses:It has fewer physical branches than Hua Mei (which has over 60 branches in the U.S.), the account opening process takes longer (video verification requires 6–8 weeks), and its ATM network is not as extensive as that of major banks.

04

Digital Banks (Mercury/Relay/Wise)

this isThe Most Popular Ways to Open a U.S. Credit Card Account in 2026...and is particularly well-suited for cross-border e-commerce businesses and startups.

Mercury: A California-based tech bank specializing in startups and cross-border e-commerce. No monthly fees, free ACH transfers, $15 per wire transfer, and support for multi-currency accounts. Requirements for opening an account: a U.S. company (can be a C-Corp or LLC), an EIN, a director’s passport, and a business description. Mainland Chinese residents must first register a U.S. company before opening a Mercury account.

Relay: Similar to Mercury, but with a lower barrier to entry. The minimum deposit is $100, there are no monthly fees, and ACH transfers are free. It’s suitable for small cross-border e-commerce sellers just starting out. A U.S. company and an EIN are also required.

Wise (formerly TransferWise): A UK-based company, but with accounts insured by the FDIC in the U.S. Its biggest advantage isSupports individual account openings for mainland residents, No U.S. company required, no ITIN required. Provides a U.S. dollar account (with a U.S. routing number and account number) that accepts ACH and wire transfers. Drawback: It is not a genuine U.S. bank (the account is held under the name of Wive US LLC), so some U.S. platforms do not recognize it.

Advantages of Digital Banking:Fully online account opening (as fast as 1–3 days), transparent and low fees, API integration (can be connected to e-commerce platforms), suitable for users ”without U.S. residency.”

Disadvantages of Digital Banking:No physical branches (all operations are conducted online), slow customer service response times, not accepted by all platforms, and strict compliance requirements (cumbersome verification of funds' sources).

05

A Comparative Chart: How to Choose

Practical Recommendations (by Use Case):

Scene 1,Top Sellers on Amazon U.S. (Annual Sales > $1 Million). We recommend the Huamei-Meitai + Mercury combination—Huamei handles primary receipts (Amazon ACH deposits), while Mercury serves as a backup and handles payments (vendor payments, ad spending). Transfers between the two accounts are fee-free.

Scene 2,Small and medium-sized sellers (annual revenue < $1 million). We recommend the Cathay + Relay combination—Cathay handles payments (free ACH deposits), and Relay serves as the advertising account. It has low setup costs, low monthly fees, and is more than sufficient for most needs.

Scene 3,Individual Investors (U.S. Stocks/U.S. Real Estate). We recommend a Cathay Personal Account + Wise Personal Account—use Cathay as the primary account (for ACH deposits to a brokerage account) and Wise as a backup (for receiving wire transfers).

Scene 4,Residents of mainland China who do not have a U.S. visa or U.S. residency status. You can only open an account with a digital bank (Wise/Mercury) or Mercury, which has a U.S. entity. If you have an ITIN and a U.S. address, Cathay is the preferred option.

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