pass through account, pass by account
recent use of payable through accounts as an account service being offered by U.S. banking entities to foreign banks involves the U.S. banking entity opening a checking account for the foreign bank. The foreign bank then solicits customers that reside outside of the United States who, for a fee, are provided with the means to conduct banking transactions in the United States through the foreign bank's account at the U.S. banking entity. Typically, the foreign bank will provide its customers, commonly referred to as "sub-account holders," with checks that enable the sub-account holder to draw on the foreign bank's account at the U.S. banking entity. The group of sub-account holders, which may number several hundred for one payable through account, all become signatories on the foreign bank's account at the U.S. banking entity.