LLC bank resolution (2026)

An LLC bank resolution (banking resolution, corporate resolution for banking, or certificate of authority to open accounts) is the written authorization that names who may open or maintain accounts, sign, wire, set ACH, and bind the LLC with the bank. It usually rides on the operating agreement plus written consent or minutes — then the bank’s own resolution / signature-card packet. It is not a Secretary of State filing, not an EIN form, and not the same desk as merely opening checking. Formation Lane invents no bank templates, fees, or tracking IDs.

Neighbor desks: First business checking account · Open a business credit card after LLC · Close an LLC business bank account · LLC meeting minutes and written consents · Operating agreement basics · Appoint an LLC manager · Remove or replace an LLC manager · Manager-managed vs member-managed LLC · LLC voting rights · Get an EIN · Change EIN responsible party · After you form an LLC.

Short version for 2026: confirm who may authorize banking under the OA → record consent or minutes → complete the bank’s resolution / signature card naming signers and powers → deliver articles, EIN, OA, and IDs the bank lists → keep signed PDFs and refresh when signers change. A stamped SOS acceptance alone does not rewrite the signature card.

What is an LLC bank resolution?

A banking resolution (sometimes labeled corporate resolution, LLC resolution, or certificate of authority to open accounts) is a written authorization naming who may open or maintain accounts, sign checks, initiate wires or ACH, and bind the LLC with the bank. It usually sits on top of the operating agreement and a member/manager consent — not an SOS public filing.

Five desk steps to prepare an LLC bank resolution:

1. Confirm who may authorize banking. Read the operating agreement and membership / manager schedules. Member-managed vs manager-managed changes who may bind the LLC. Neighbor desks: operating agreement basics; manager-managed vs member-managed LLC; LLC voting rights.
2. Record written consent or minutes. Authorize opening or maintaining accounts and name the people and powers (sign, wire, ACH, online banking) in a written consent in lieu of a meeting or in minutes — LLC meeting minutes desk. Do not invent a national bank-resolution statute form.
3. Complete the bank’s resolution / signature-card packet. Many banks supply their own resolution or certificate-of-authority form; others accept a company-letterhead resolution plus the bank’s signature card. Match legal name, EIN, and signers to the articles and OA. First-account hygiene: First business checking account.
4. Deliver KYC docs the bank lists. Typical ask: stamped articles or certificate, EIN confirmation letter, government ID for controlling persons / beneficial owners, and the current operating agreement. Confirm the live bank checklist — Formation Lane invents no fee schedule or guaranteed turnaround.
5. Keep signed copies and refresh when signers change. Store the signed resolution, consent/minutes, and bank acceptance with company records. When managers, members, or signers change, update the bank packet — and any SOS public listing or EIN responsible-party desk that actually changed — as separate desks.

Desks for the steps: operating agreement · manager-managed vs member-managed · voting rights · meeting minutes / written consent · business checking · Get an EIN · appoint manager (governance, not the signature card by itself).

When do banks ask for an LLC banking resolution?

Common asks: opening the first LLC business checking account, adding or removing signers, changing who may wire or set ACH, switching banks, refreshing KYC after ownership or manager changes, or when a lender wants proof of who may bind the company. Bring the bank’s own resolution form or company-letterhead wording — then match the signature card.

• First LLC checking — many banks want a resolution or certificate of authority with the opening file: First business checking account.
• Signer or power changes — add/remove signers, wire/ACH authority, or online-banking admin after the account is open.
• Bank switch or lender diligence — a new bank or a lender may want a fresh authorization naming who may bind the LLC.
• Ownership / manager refresh — after member or manager changes that affect who controls the account; governance desks stay separate: appoint manager · manager removal.
• Optional card readiness — card underwriting is a different desk, but the same authority trail often sits behind KYC: Open a business credit card after LLC.

Refresh the OA / consent packet and the bank forms together — do not assume last year’s PDF still matches the signature card. If the entity is ending, account closure and dissolve are still separate: Close an LLC business bank account · Dissolve or cancel an LLC.

Who signs an LLC banking resolution?

Whoever the operating agreement and formation-state LLC act say may authorize the action — often members under a member-managed LLC, or managers under a manager-managed LLC, at the consent threshold the OA sets. Record that authority in minutes or written consent, then complete the bank’s resolution / signature-card packet. Attorney for disputes; Formation Lane invents no national “Form Bank Resolution.”

What the packet usually names: the LLC’s legal name and EIN, the people authorized to open or maintain accounts, and the powers granted (sign checks, initiate wires or ACH, administer online banking). Many banks supply their own resolution or certificate-of-authority form; others accept company-letterhead language plus the bank signature card. If yours wants it signed before a notary, you can do that online through Business Anywhere. Match names to the articles and OA. Citeable consent peers include California Corp. Code § 17704.07(n) and Delaware 6 Del. C. §§ 18-302(d) / 18-404(d) — confirm your OA and enacted statute; do not invent a national “Form Bank Resolution.”

Appointing a manager is still a different governance desk from naming bank signers: Appoint an LLC manager. A stamped SOS manager listing does not rewrite the bank’s authorized-signer list by itself.

Is a bank resolution the same as the operating agreement or articles?

No. Articles create the LLC on the SOS record. The operating agreement is the members’ private contract on who may bind the company. A bank resolution is the bank-file authorization naming signers and powers for that account. Banks often want the OA plus a resolution or signature card — three desks, not one SOS stamp.

Completing one desk does not finish the others. Banking resolutions live in the company binder and the bank’s file — not on the SOS portal. Annual reports, articles amendments, and registered-agent changes are separate public desks: LLC annual report · Amend LLC articles · Change registered agent. The EIN is a federal taxpayer ID desk — Get an EIN · Change EIN responsible party.

Does a single-member LLC need a different bank resolution than a multi-member LLC?

Usually the same bank packet, different consent trail. A single-member LLC often has the sole member authorize and sign. A multi-member LLC must follow the OA consent threshold and name who may sign, wire, or administer online banking. Member-managed vs manager-managed still decides who may authorize — not member count alone. Confirm the bank’s live checklist.

Member count and management structure are different axes. A multi-member, member-managed LLC usually needs member consent at the OA threshold before anyone is named on the signature card. A manager-managed LLC usually has managers authorize banking under the OA — even if there is only one member. Map the structure first: single-member vs multi-member · manager-managed vs member-managed · voting rights.

When members, managers, or signers change, update the bank packet — and separately map SOS public listings, EIN responsible-party facts, or account closure when those desks actually apply: manager removal · Change EIN responsible party · Close an LLC business bank account · Amend an LLC operating agreement.

LLC bank resolution FAQ

What is an LLC bank resolution?

A banking resolution (sometimes labeled corporate resolution, LLC resolution, or certificate of authority to open accounts) is a written authorization naming who may open or maintain accounts, sign checks, initiate wires or ACH, and bind the LLC with the bank. It usually sits on top of the operating agreement and a member/manager consent — not an SOS public filing.

When do banks ask for an LLC banking resolution?

Common asks: opening the first LLC business checking account, adding or removing signers, changing who may wire or set ACH, switching banks, refreshing KYC after ownership or manager changes, or when a lender wants proof of who may bind the company. Bring the bank’s own resolution form or company-letterhead wording — then match the signature card.

Who signs an LLC banking resolution?

Whoever the operating agreement and formation-state LLC act say may authorize the action — often members under a member-managed LLC, or managers under a manager-managed LLC, at the consent threshold the OA sets. Record that authority in minutes or written consent, then complete the bank’s resolution / signature-card packet. Attorney for disputes; Formation Lane invents no national “Form Bank Resolution.”

Is a bank resolution the same as the operating agreement or articles?

No. Articles create the LLC on the SOS record. The operating agreement is the members’ private contract on who may bind the company. A bank resolution is the bank-file authorization naming signers and powers for that account. Banks often want the OA plus a resolution or signature card — three desks, not one SOS stamp.

Does a single-member LLC need a different bank resolution than a multi-member LLC?

Usually the same bank packet, different consent trail. A single-member LLC often has the sole member authorize and sign. A multi-member LLC must follow the OA consent threshold and name who may sign, wire, or administer online banking. Member-managed vs manager-managed still decides who may authorize — not member count alone. Confirm the bank’s live checklist.

Is a bank resolution the same as opening business checking?

Related, not identical. Opening LLC checking is the bank KYC / account-opening desk — First business checking account. The resolution is the authority document many banks ask for (bank form or company-letterhead) so the signature card matches who may act. Closing checking later is still separate: Close an LLC business bank account.

Do I file a bank resolution with the Secretary of State?

Usually no. Banking resolutions and written consents that authorize signers are private company / bank-file records. The SOS path is for public instruments (articles, amendments, annual reports / Statements of Information). Do not expect the SOS portal to store your bank resolution.

Is appointing a manager the same as naming a bank signer?

No. Appointing a manager is a governance / day-to-day authority change — Appoint an LLC manager. Bank signers are a KYC / signature-card desk. A stamped SOS manager listing does not rewrite the bank’s authorized-signer list by itself. Removal path: Remove or replace an LLC manager.

When do we need a new banking resolution?

Common triggers: opening the first LLC account, adding or removing signers, changing who may wire or set ACH, switching banks, or after ownership / manager changes that affect who controls the account. Refresh the OA / consent packet and the bank forms together — do not assume last year’s PDF still matches the signature card. Pair with any OA amendment: Amend an LLC operating agreement.

Does Formation Lane draft bank resolutions or open accounts?

No. Formation Lane is a publisher. We map desks (OA authority → written consent / minutes → bank resolution / signature card → keep records). We do not draft resolutions, invent bank templates or fees, or call your bank.

What this page does not cover

• Invented bank templates, fee schedules, affiliate statuses, tracking IDs, or guaranteed KYC turnaround times.
• Opening LLC checking end-to-end — First business checking account.
• Business-card readiness after checking — Open a business credit card after LLC.
• Closing LLC checking — Close an LLC business bank account.
• General meeting-minutes / written-consent mechanics beyond the banking-authority use case — LLC meeting minutes.
• Appointing or removing a manager as a governance desk — Appoint an LLC manager · manager removal.
• SOS annual reports, Statements of Information, or articles amendments — LLC annual report · Amend LLC articles.
• EIN issuance, responsible-party changes, or EIN deactivation — Get an EIN · Change EIN responsible party · Cancel or deactivate an EIN.
• Drafting resolutions or calling your bank for you. Formation Lane is a publisher only.