&gt;  Is it that hard to incorporate and set up a bank account in the US?<p>Yes. Yes it is.<p>Let me put it this way: Setting up a corporation is trivial.<p>Setting up a bank account can be a literally insurmountable hurdle for a business that is not based in the US.<p>Banks can choose to let individuals and businesses open new accounts purely within their discretion, and as often as not they want the business owners to be physically present with their identification in order to open accounts.<p>This is a constant pain in the neck.