USD business account in Jordan
A Jordanian company can hold US dollars in a USD current account at a Jordanian bank, in USD account details with a US routing number from a provider that accepts Jordanian companies, or through a US company of its own. The dinar has had a fixed exchange rate against the dollar since 1995 and Jordan's foreign exchange law is liberal, so the choice turns on how your buyers pay, cost and whose name the account is in. This guide covers the options, the rules, documents and the Virtual Assets Law that took effect in September 2025.
- Jordan has kept a fixed dinar to US dollar exchange rate since 1995, which the Central Bank of Jordan's governor has called the most appropriate policy for the economy.
- Jordan's liberal foreign exchange law entitles foreign investors to remit capital, returns, profits and liquidation proceeds abroad in a fully convertible currency.
- Jordanian banks such as Safwa Islamic Bank open corporate current accounts in Jordanian dinars, US dollars and other major currencies.
- Wise does not list Jordan among the countries where customers can hold money, and Airwallex does not list Jordan as a supported registration location.
- Law No. 14 of 2025 Regulating Dealings in Virtual Assets took effect on 14 September 2025 and requires licensing by the Jordan Securities Commission.
- Under that law the Central Bank of Jordan keeps exclusive authority over virtual assets for payment purposes, and virtual asset providers cannot facilitate payments without its instructions.
USD business accounts in Jordan: the short answer
A company in Jordan has three main ways to hold and receive US dollars: a USD current account at a Jordanian bank, USD account details from a provider that accepts Jordanian companies, or an account held by a US company the owners set up. Most companies start with the first, because Jordanian banks open corporate accounts in US dollars beside the dinar (JOD) account.
A Jordanian bank account is identified by an IBAN, the International Bank Account Number, a standard format that identifies an account across borders. Buyers abroad pay it by SWIFT, the international network banks use to send cross-border payments, identified by an 8 or 11 character bank code. What it does not have is a US routing number, the 9 digit code that identifies a bank in the United States. Without one, a US buyer cannot pay by ACH, the low-cost US domestic bank transfer system most US companies use for supplier payments, or by Fedwire, the Federal Reserve's same-day system for large dollar payments.
That gap matters for Jordan's software houses, outsourcing firms, garment and pharmaceutical exporters and agencies with US clients. This guide covers the currency rules, which banks and providers accept Jordanian companies according to their own pages, the US company route, documents, the 2025 Virtual Assets Law, and how a Helm account fits.
Jordan's currency rules: the fixed rate and a liberal exchange law
Two facts shape any USD account in Jordan. First, the currency: the dinar has a fixed exchange rate against the US dollar that has been in place since 1995. In February 2023 the governor of the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) described it as the best and most appropriate policy for the Jordanian economy and a cornerstone of macroeconomic stability. Second, capital movement: the US government's Country Commercial Guide for Jordan, last published on 26 February 2026, describes Jordan's foreign exchange law as liberal.
| Area | What applies in Jordan | What it means for a USD account |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | Fixed dinar to US dollar exchange rate, in place since 1995 | Holding USD carries little currency risk against JOD costs |
| Foreign investors | Entitled to remit abroad, in a fully convertible currency, capital invested, returns, profits and liquidation proceeds | Profits can be paid out to foreign shareholders |
| Foreign staff | Non-Jordanian administrative and technical employees may transfer salaries and compensation abroad | Payroll for foreign staff can be paid out |
| Preferred payment method | Letters of credit; wire transfer is possible but not recommended unless the parties have a very solid relationship | Expect buyers and sellers in Jordan to use banks for trade payments |
| Virtual assets for payment | Exclusive authority of the CBJ; no authorizing instructions issued yet | Settle invoices through bank accounts |
Sources: International Trade Administration, Jordan Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing (last published 26 February 2026); Jordan News, CBJ governor says dinar-to-dollar peg best policy for national economy (8 February 2023); Al Tamimi & Company, Eyes on 2026. As published on 29 October 2026.
The fixed rate is the reference, not the rate a bank gives you. When you convert dollars to dinars, compare quotes from more than one bank to see the margin you pay. Jordanian banks also apply their own due diligence: they ask who the payer is, what the payment is for, and for documents on new or large flows.
A letter of credit is a bank's promise to pay the seller once the shipping documents match the terms. Because it is paid between banks, a USD account at a Jordanian bank remains the natural home for letter of credit proceeds. The Country Commercial Guide also notes that Jordan has signed a Framework Guarantee Agreement with the US Export-Import Bank, which simplifies Ex-Im insurance and loan guarantees for Jordanian purchases of US goods.
Option 1: a USD current account at a Jordanian bank
Jordanian banks open corporate current accounts in several currencies. Safwa Islamic Bank, for example, publishes the following for its corporate current account.
| Feature | Safwa Islamic Bank corporate current account, as published |
|---|---|
| Currencies | Jordanian dinar, US dollar and other major currencies |
| Type | On-demand deposit account for deposits and withdrawals |
| Checkbook | Available |
| Related services | Cash management system and cash deposit service |
| Fees | Listed on the bank's fees and commissions page; subject to bank terms and conditions |
Source: Safwa Islamic Bank, Corporate Current Account, as published on 29 October 2026. The page does not publish minimum balances; ask the bank for its current tariff.
A Jordanian bank USD account is paid from abroad by SWIFT through the bank's correspondent in the United States. A correspondent bank is a bank that holds an account for another bank and settles payments in its currency. The intermediary banks in the chain can deduct their own fees. OUR, SHA and BEN are SWIFT charge codes: OUR means the sender pays all fees, SHA means fees are shared so intermediaries can deduct theirs from the amount, and BEN means the receiver pays them all. For large invoices, agree OUR terms with the buyer in the contract.
Give buyers the IBAN of the USD account, not the dinar account. A dollar payment sent to a dinar account may be converted on arrival at the bank's rate.
Option 2: providers that give US account details
Some Jordanian companies want US account details, a routing and account number, so US buyers can pay by ACH or Fedwire as they would pay a domestic supplier. Eligibility is set by each provider, and Jordan is not covered by every international platform.
| Provider | What its own pages state for Jordan | What it means for a Jordanian company |
|---|---|---|
| Airwallex | Jordan is not on its list of supported business registration locations; it states it cannot process applications from locations not listed | Not available to Jordan-registered companies at present |
| Wise | Jordan is not on its list of countries where customers can hold money | A Jordanian company cannot hold balances with Wise at present |
| Mercury | Accepts only companies formed and registered in the United States or a US territory; Jordan is not on its prohibited countries list | Available only through a US company owned from Jordan |
Sources: Airwallex, eligible countries and territories; Wise, where can I open a Wise balance; Mercury, eligibility. As published on 29 October 2026. Eligibility lists change; check each provider's page before applying.
Before you apply to any provider, check three points. First, whether the US details are in your company's own name or belong to a pooled account in the provider's name, because the buyer's accounts payable team and your auditors will compare the name on the account with the name on the invoice. Second, which rails the details accept: ACH only, or also Fedwire and SWIFT. Third, how dollars move back to your Jordanian bank when you need them there, and what that costs. For the buyer's side of the difference between the rails, see our guide to SWIFT, ACH and Fedwire.
Option 3: a US company with its own account
Some Jordanian founders, especially in software, form a US company, usually a limited liability company (LLC) or a Delaware corporation, and open a US account in its name. Mercury, for example, requires the company to be formed and registered in the United States or a US territory, and states that founders do not need to be US citizens or residents.
The US company needs an Employer Identification Number (EIN), the US federal tax number for a business. The IRS instructions for Form SS-4 state that applicants with no principal place of business in the United States may call 267-941-1099, from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, and that only international applicants can receive an EIN by telephone.
The cost is a second company: state filings, a registered agent, separate accounts and US tax returns. Money paid to the US company belongs to the US company. If your contracts and invoices are in the Jordanian company's name, a buyer paying the US company creates a mismatch your bank, auditors and tax advisers will ask about. Take Jordanian and US tax advice before choosing this route.
The options compared
The table compares types of account, not providers, and is not a ranking. Many Jordanian companies use two: a Jordanian bank for dinar payroll, rent, taxes and local suppliers, and a USD account for receipts from buyers abroad and payments to suppliers abroad.
| Jordanian bank USD account | Provider with US details | Account of a US company | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account holder | Jordanian company | Jordanian company, if the provider accepts Jordanian registrations | US company |
| Account details | Jordanian IBAN and SWIFT code | US routing and account number | US routing and account number |
| How a US buyer pays | International wire (SWIFT) | ACH or wire, depending on the provider | ACH or wire |
| Main costs | Bank tariff, intermediary fees, conversion margin | Provider pricing | Second company, US filings, account fees |
| Fits best | Letters of credit, regional trade, buyers paying by SWIFT | Companies with US buyers who pay by ACH | Groups that also operate in the United States |
Source: Helm Editorial Team, drawing on the bank and provider pages cited in this guide, as published on 29 October 2026.
How to choose: start from where the dollars come from. A manufacturer exporting to the Gulf and Iraq by letter of credit is well served by a Jordanian bank USD account. A software or outsourcing firm invoicing US clients gains most from US account details, because the client's finance team can pay by ACH as it does every other vendor.
Documents you need
Jordanian banks publish their own lists, and the list depends on the company's legal form. Safwa Islamic Bank lists the following for its corporate current account.
| Document | Safwa Islamic Bank corporate current account |
|---|---|
| Certificate identifying the persons authorized to sign on the account | Yes |
| Company policy and memorandum of association | Yes |
| Recent certificate of registration at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply | Yes |
| Valid professional license | Yes |
Source: Safwa Islamic Bank, Corporate Current Account, as published on 29 October 2026. Ask the bank for the list that applies to your company.
The registration certificate is the record of the company at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply. The professional license is the license to carry on the company's activity. Banks also identify the company's shareholders and beneficial owners, the people who ultimately own or control it, and the signatories.
Providers that give US account details ask for a similar file, often with more evidence of trade: contracts or purchase orders with main buyers and suppliers, sample invoices, an ownership chart down to every person holding 25% or more, and a short description of the business and its expected monthly volumes in each currency. Keep the same company name on every document.
Stablecoins and the Virtual Assets Law
Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to hold a steady value against a currency such as the US dollar. USDC and USDT are the two most widely used dollar stablecoins. Jordan now has a dedicated law for virtual assets, summarized by the law firm Al Tamimi & Company in its Eyes on 2026 review.
| Question | What the review states |
|---|---|
| Which law applies? | Law No. 14 of 2025, the Law Regulating Dealings in Virtual Assets, published in the Official Gazette on 16 June 2025 |
| When did it take effect? | 14 September 2025 |
| Who licenses providers? | The Jordan Securities Commission (JSC); applicants need JSC preliminary approval before company registration |
| Can virtual assets be used for payments? | The CBJ retains exclusive authority over virtual assets for payment purposes; providers cannot facilitate payments unless the CBJ issues authorizing instructions, which had yet to occur |
| Can banks offer virtual asset services? | Banks supervised by the CBJ may offer virtual asset exchange and custody with prior CBJ approval |
| What are the penalties for unlicensed activity? | One to three years' imprisonment and fines of JOD 50,000 to JOD 100,000, with closure of premises and confiscation of equipment |
Source: Al Tamimi & Company, Cryptocurrency comes to Jordan: how Law No. 14 positions the Kingdom in the global digital economy (Eyes on 2026). As published on 29 October 2026.
For a Jordanian company, the practical reading is that holding or exchanging virtual assets runs through JSC-licensed providers, but using them to pay or be paid for goods and services awaits CBJ instructions. Take legal advice before accepting USDC or USDT for invoices. For the position in other countries, see our guide on where stablecoin payments are legal.
Where a Helm USD account fits
Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. Helm's US dollar account services are provided by Bridge Building, Inc. (NMLS ID 2450917), a licensed money transmitter, with customer funds held at Lead Bank.
Helm provides USD account details in the company's own name, with a US routing and account number that receives ACH, Fedwire and SWIFT, alongside EUR details (IBAN, SEPA and SWIFT) and GBP details (sort code, Faster Payments and SWIFT). SEPA is the euro bank transfer system across Europe and Faster Payments is the UK's near-instant transfer system.
For a Jordanian company, it sits beside the Jordanian bank account, not instead of it:
- Software, outsourcing and service firms can give US clients domestic US payment details, so the client pays by ACH or Fedwire as it would pay a US vendor.
- Importers and manufacturers can hold dollars and send international payments to suppliers by SWIFT or by local rails in the supplier's currency where available, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before sending, and convert between balances.
- Stablecoins: Helm accounts support USDC and USDT only where local law allows. Until the CBJ issues instructions on virtual assets for payments, a Jordanian company should take legal advice before using that feature.
- Trade finance: supplier finance, receivables finance and working capital, arranged case by case.
Each account has a named account manager, and review questions are answered in writing within one business day. Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
Can a Jordanian company open a USD account?
Yes. Jordanian banks open corporate current accounts in US dollars. Safwa Islamic Bank, for example, opens its corporate current account in Jordanian dinars, US dollars and other major currencies.
Is the Jordanian dinar pegged to the dollar?
Yes. Jordan has kept a fixed dinar to US dollar exchange rate since 1995, and in February 2023 the Central Bank of Jordan's governor called it the most appropriate policy for the economy. Banks quote their own buying and selling rates.
Does Jordan have exchange controls?
The US Country Commercial Guide describes Jordan's foreign exchange law as liberal. It entitles foreign investors to remit capital, returns, profits and liquidation proceeds abroad in a fully convertible currency.
Does a Jordanian bank account have a US routing number?
No. A Jordanian bank account is identified by an IBAN and SWIFT code and is paid from abroad by SWIFT. To let US buyers pay by ACH, a company needs USD account details with a US routing number.
Can a Jordanian company use Wise or Airwallex?
Wise does not list Jordan among the countries where customers can hold money, and Airwallex does not list Jordan as a supported registration location. Check both lists directly, because providers update them.
What documents do Jordanian banks ask for to open a company account?
Safwa Islamic Bank lists a certificate of authorized signatories, the company policy and memorandum of association, a recent registration certificate from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, and a valid professional license.
Is crypto legal in Jordan?
Law No. 14 of 2025 regulates dealings in virtual assets and took effect on 14 September 2025, with licensing by the Jordan Securities Commission. Using virtual assets for payments remains under the Central Bank of Jordan, which had not issued authorizing instructions according to a law firm review.
What is the penalty for unlicensed crypto activity in Jordan?
Under Law No. 14 of 2025, unlicensed activity carries one to three years' imprisonment and fines of JOD 50,000 to JOD 100,000, along with closure of premises and confiscation of equipment.
Can a Jordanian founder get a US EIN?
Yes, for a US company. The IRS instructions for Form SS-4 let international applicants call 267-941-1099 and state that only international applicants can receive an EIN by telephone.
References
- International Trade Administration: Jordan Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing
- Jordan News: CBJ governor says dinar-to-dollar peg best policy for national economy (8 February 2023)
- Al Tamimi & Company: Cryptocurrency comes to Jordan, how Law No. 14 positions the Kingdom in the global digital economy
- Safwa Islamic Bank: Corporate Current Account
- Wise: Where can I open a Wise balance?
- Airwallex: Eligible countries and territories
- Internal Revenue Service: Instructions for Form SS-4
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.