Aspire banking, handled for you
Aspire is a Singapore-headquartered fintech (MAS major payment institution licence); its US accounts are provided by Column N.A., an FDIC-member bank. No US address needed, passport instead of SSN, and companies incorporated in China / Hong Kong / Taiwan are on the supported list — but it requires an activated EIN plus proof of a real US business connection (US Nexus). Many cross-border sellers already hold qualifying evidence (Stripe or Amazon US settlement records) without realising; if you genuinely have none, Aspire isn't your bank. The free check tells you which camp you're in.
Why founders get stuck applying to Aspire
US Nexus: unclear how to prove it
Four evidence routes are accepted: a US business location, a US director/employee, US customers or revenue, or US investment/suppliers — each with hard format and quantity requirements (e.g. at least 2 US customer contracts or 3 invoices). Pick the wrong route or fall short and the review fails.
The $25,000 pre-nexus trap
You can open before proving nexus, but outgoing transfers (cards included) are capped at $25,000 total; evidence is due within 60 days, and the account closes at day 90 if you still don't qualify. Plenty of founders wire in serious money before learning this.
Applying before the EIN is active
A US company must present an activated EIN. Submit right after getting the number and it can still be inactive — the timing has to be right.
Incorporation country not on the list
Aspire only accepts companies incorporated in 16 countries/regions (mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore included). Outside the list, no amount of paperwork helps.
What we do for you
Pre-check & nexus route selection
We confirm your incorporation country and entity qualify, then pick the nexus evidence route your real business can satisfy most easily.
Organize the evidence you already have
We inventory what your business already holds — US customer contracts, invoices, Stripe/Amazon settlement reports with matching deposits, US supplier payment records — and assemble it to the official format and quantity requirements. Evidence can only come from real business; we never fabricate documents.
Sequence it right, then apply
EIN activation confirmed, application timed, the 60-day evidence window planned — we sequence it and guide or complete each field.
Recover from a rejection
Rejected before? We diagnose why, adjust the strategy, and help you reapply or switch to a better-fit bank.
How it works
Tell us your situation
A short form: incorporation country, company and EIN status, business and US ties, any past rejection. Free.
We assess & advise
We review it, get back to you, and tell you how solid Aspire is and which nexus route to take.
Prepare & submit
EIN, proof of address and nexus evidence ready — then a correct submission to Aspire.
Follow through to approval
If there are follow-ups, we stay with you until the account is live and nexus review clears.
Why us
- We've verified all four nexus routes against the official spec — one look at your business and we know the easiest path
- We know the $25k cap and the 60/90-day clock — your money won't get stranded mid-way
- We also handle Mercury, Airwallex and more — one stop, no trying each bank yourself
- If it won't work, we'll tell you straight — no charging you for nothing
Service tiers & pricing
Priced by depth of service, not by which bank you pick.
Have a US company and just want one bank done right? We handle the one you pick — most choose Mercury, but Relay, Lili or Slash work too.
- Eligibility pre-check
- We apply to 1 bank (your pick — usually Mercury)
- Document audit & prep
- We handle the bank's follow-ups
- You provide your own company website & domain email
- No approval, no fee
Website, documents, bank follow-ups — everything handled for you.
- Eligibility pre-check
- We apply to 1 bank (your pick — usually Mercury)
- Company website + domain + email, built for you (boosts approval)
- Document audit & preparation
- We handle the bank's follow-up questions
- Daily progress updates
- 30 days of post-approval support
- No approval, no fee
No US company yet? Wyoming LLC, EIN, and two banks (primary + backup) — all handled.
- Wyoming LLC formation (no state income tax, privacy)
- EIN registration
- Company website + domain + email, built for you
- Apply to 2 banks (primary + backup)
- Full document preparation
- Extended post-approval support
- No approval, no fee (on the banking step)
- We handle: pre-check, documents, website, and replies to the bank's follow-ups
- You complete: identity verification (KYC) and the final submission — the bank requires the owner in person
- Any service promising you'll "never have to show up" is impersonating your KYC — gambling with your identity
FAQ
What is US Nexus, and how do I prove it?+
Aspire requires proof of a real, verifiable US business connection — any one of four routes: (1) a US business location (utility bill / lease / US bank statement within 60 days, showing company name and US address); (2) a US director, officer or employee (payroll service agreement or signed employment contract); (3) US customers or revenue (at least 2 customer contracts, or 3 invoices, or processor settlement reports with matching deposits); (4) US investment or suppliers (investment or supplier agreements with payment records).
What if I genuinely have no US-connection evidence?+
Then Aspire isn't your bank. Nexus evidence must come from real business — fabricating a statement or contract is document fraud that gets an identity permanently blacklisted; we won't do it, and you should walk away from anyone who will. The right path: use Mercury, Airwallex or another bank that doesn't require nexus, or come back once you genuinely have US customers and settlement records.
Can I open before I have US Nexus?+
Yes, but know the terms: outgoing transfers (cards included) are capped at $25,000 total, evidence is due within 60 days, and the account closes at day 90 without it. Don't wire in serious money early — we plan the sequence at the pre-check.
Can a China-incorporated company open an account?+
Yes. Aspire's incorporation whitelist covers 16 countries/regions including mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore; foreign-owned US LLCs / C-Corps are supported too — with an activated EIN.
Do I need an SSN or US address?+
No SSN — a passport or driver's licence (colour scan) works instead; no US operating address required either. If your ID shows no address, a third-party proof of address (utility/phone bill, statement, lease) covers it.
Is my money safe — is Aspire a bank?+
Aspire itself is not a bank — it's a fintech licensed by MAS as a major payment institution; its US checking accounts are provided by Column N.A., an FDIC-member bank.
What does it cost?+
The eligibility check is free. Pricing depends on your situation and is quoted clearly after the check.
Two minutes to see if Aspire fits
Free check, or just tell us your situation.