To prepare for an LLC business bank account, gather your EIN, business formation documents, ownership agreement and any applicable business license. These are common categories on the SBA’s preparation list, but individual banks may require more. A business license is not required for every LLC.
Start with the chosen bank’s current requirements for the specific account or service. This checklist helps you organize the application; it does not establish eligibility or guarantee approval.
Confirm the bank’s requirements first
Identify what you are applying for: business checking and merchant services are distinct services on the SBA’s business banking guidance. Confirm that the requirements you find apply to your intended application.
As practical preparation, ask the bank:
- What identification must each owner and authorized signer provide?
- What residency and address requirements apply?
- Can you complete the application online, or is an in-person visit necessary?
- If an owner lives outside the United States, is the LLC eligible, and what additional documentation is requested?
- Which formation records and forms of EIN proof does the bank accept?
Treat these as questions to resolve, not a universal passport, ITIN or address-document checklist. For broader background, see our non-resident business guide; confirm the bank’s own eligibility rules before applying.
LLC bank account document checklist
Use the bank’s answer to assemble the following:
- [ ] Entity details: Have the LLC’s legal name and entity number available to identify its records.
- [ ] Formation documents: Gather the formation records the bank requests. Ask whether ordinary copies are sufficient or certified copies are needed.
- [ ] Ownership agreement: Locate the ownership or operating agreement requested by the bank. Our operating agreement guide provides background on that document.
- [ ] EIN proof: Obtain the form of IRS confirmation the bank accepts.
- [ ] Applicable business license: Include a license if applicable to your business and requested for the application.
- [ ] Owner and signer documents: Obtain the bank’s specific list, then gather the requested identification, residency and address evidence.
The formation, ownership, EIN and applicable-license categories come from the SBA’s common document list. The bank’s requirements determine what you need to submit.
Get each record from the correct source
Identify the LLC’s formation jurisdiction and the custodian of each missing record before ordering documents.
California illustrates why this matters: its Secretary of State provides certified copies of filed business documents, but operating agreements are kept by the entity and are not filed with that office. The office also does not issue EINs. These are California-specific records distinctions, not a statement about every state’s procedures.
If the bank requests a certified copy or a certificate of good standing, clarify exactly which document it wants before ordering. See our explanation of certificates of good standing versus certified copies. Neither should be assumed necessary for every application.
For EIN evidence, the IRS describes a CP575 notice available through eligible Business Tax Accounts as a substitute for an original CP575A–J notice or a 147C letter. The original notice cannot be recreated. Check the IRS CP575 guidance, ask the bank which evidence it accepts, and use our EIN-proof recovery guide for recovery details.
Check and submit the application
Compare your gathered records with the bank’s current list. Resolve missing documents, eligibility questions and submission instructions before sending sensitive information. Use the bank’s designated secure submission method.
Forming an LLC, obtaining an EIN or purchasing services does not guarantee account approval.
FAQ
Does every LLC need a business license to open an account?
No. The SBA’s checklist includes an applicable business license; it does not establish that every LLC needs one. Confirm what applies to your business and what the bank requests.
Does California’s Secretary of State hold operating agreements or issue EINs?
No. California operating agreements are retained by the entity, and EINs are not issued by that office. See its business records guidance.
Is the original EIN letter the only acceptable proof?
Do not assume it is. The IRS describes substitute CP575 evidence, but you must ask the bank which form it accepts.
Can a foreign owner apply online?
Confirm foreign-owner eligibility and online versus in-person application requirements directly with the chosen bank. This general checklist does not establish either.
Sources checked November 6, 2026