Best Business Checking Accounts of October 2026

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How we choose the best business checking accounts

Who should get a business checking account?

How to find the right account for your business

Other great business checking accounts

The following accounts are not available through NerdWallet. Our editorial team still recommends them if they fit your business's needs.

Anyone who donates to a qualifying organization can join First Tech Federal Credit Union. You can open an account during a virtual appointment. The institution's Business Dividend Checking account includes unlimited electronic transactions. Its $15 fee can be waived with a minimum balance of $5,000.

Note: First Tech merged with Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) on Jan. 1, 2026. Each made our list of the best credit unions for business accounts. The institutions now share a name (First Technology Federal Credit Union) and some services. For instance, they combined branch networks to 54 locations overall.

The institutions say account numbers and banking relationships will remain the same until later in 2026 at the earliest. But change will likely come eventually. Keep that in mind if you opt for an account from either credit union.

Navy Federal is one of the largest credit unions in the U.S. Its business checking account has no monthly fee, unlimited fee-free electronic transactions and no limit on cash deposits. Read our review.

🧾 Important product updates

August 2026: We removed North One Standard Business Checking from this page. We previously listed it among our "other great" picks. But this account appears to no longer be available, with the North One website now redirecting to Relay.

How we choose the best business checking accounts

NerdWallet has a full-time team of small-business writers and editors. We review and rate business checking accounts using more than 25 pieces of data. These include:

Monthly fees.
Fees for other services, like wire transfers and cash deposits.
Customer service.
Software features.
Benefits, like interest on your balances and sign-up bonuses.

Accounts generally need to earn at least 4.4 stars to make our list. But if an account offers a unique feature that makes it exceptional compared to the competition, we might include it.

Here’s our full business bank accounts rating methodology.

Business accounts that earn 5 stars are exceptional. These are best-in-class accounts that deliver the most value for the greatest number of business owners.

Business accounts that earn 4.5 to 4.0 stars are excellent. They deliver terrific value and might be the best choice for your businesses depending on your needs.

Business accounts that earn 4.0 to 4.5 stars are good, and potentially great for business owners with relatively specific needs. But other accounts may offer fewer fees, more features or a better customer experience.

Business checking accounts that earn below 4 stars are lacking important features, have many high fees or both. You can likely find a better option.

Which business checking accounts did we consider?

There are 4,000+ FDIC-insured banks in the U.S. On top of that, lots of financial technology companies offer business banking tools. We can’t review them all.

Instead, our writers and editors focus on business accounts available to the largest number of business owners. We’ve rated more than 50 business checking accounts for 2026. The list includes:

The largest banks in the U.S. by assets, according to the Federal Reserve.
The largest credit unions by membership, according to the National Credit Union Administration.
Online banks and fintech companies with growing market share or notable features.

Our team has covered the following business checking accounts in 2025:

America First Credit Union Basic Business Checking. American Express® Business Checking. Axos Bank Basic Business Checking. Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking. Bank of the West Any Deposit Checking for Business. Blue Federal Credit Union Basic Business Checking. Bluevine Business Checking. BMO Simple Business Checking. Boeing Employees Credit Union Business Basic Checking. Brex Business Account. Capital One Business Basic Checking®. Chase Business Complete Banking®. CitiBusiness® Streamlined Checking. Citizens Bank Clearly Better Business Checking. City National Bank Small Business Checking Account. Comercia Bank Basic Business Checking. Consumers Credit Union Freedom Business Checking. DCU Free Business Checking. Fifth Third Business Checking Account. First Citizens Bank Business Banking. First Horizon Bank BizEssentials Checking Account. First Internet Bank Do More Business Checking. First Tech Business Dividend Checking. Flagstar Bank Standard Business Checking. Found Small Business Banking. Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account. Holdings High-Yield Cash Account. Huntington Bank Business Checking 100. KeyBank Basic Business Checking. Lili Core Business Checking. Live Oak Bank Business Essential Checking. M&T Bank Business Essential Checking. Mercury Business Account. Mountain America Credit Union Business Essential Checking. Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking. nbkc Business Account. Northern Bank Business Express Checking. North One Standard Business Checking. Novo Business Checking. PNC Business Checking. QuickBooks Money. Regions LifeGreen Business Simple Checking. Relay Business Checking. Rho Business Checking. Santander Business Checking. Self-Help Credit Union Business Checking. Shopify Balance. Square Checking. TD Business Simple Checking℠. Truist Simple Business Checking. Truist Simple Business Checking. U.S. Bank Business Essentials. Wells Fargo Initiate Business Checking℠ Account. Western Alliance Bank Business Checking. Zions Bank Business Inspire Checking.

Many institutions have several business checking accounts. We only rate the account with the lowest monthly fee. It's easier for comparison purposes. We also think most business owners can get what they need without paying more.

But there are exceptions. In exchange for a higher monthly maintenance fee, you often get other benefits — like cheaper wire transfers, more fee-free transactions or a higher APY. Every dollar matters for a business. You might end up ahead.

What about local banks?

We typically don't rate and review local banks because of their limited availability. But they're important options to consider.

The pros: A local bank or credit union can be a great choice if you value a face-to-face relationship with your banker. That personal connection can be especially useful when it’s time to apply for a business loan, for instance.

The cons: Smaller institutions tend to have clunkier software tools. If you want features like built-in invoicing or a cash flow dashboard, national and online banks are probably better options.

🤓

Nerdy Tip

Some accounts on our list come from financial technology companies or "neobanks." Neobanks typically partner with FDIC-insured banks. Those banks hold customer funds, while the fintech provides the banking experience. If a neobank fails, you should be able to recover your funds. But you may have to deal with frozen accounts, failed transactions or other headaches along the way.

How we keep our picks up to date

NerdWallet’s small-business writers and editors continually:

Update our methodology. The business banking industry is always changing. Every year, we tweak our methodology based on which factors we believe are getting more or less important to business owners.
Review information for all accounts. Core checking account features don't change often. We do a full audit every year anyway. We pay closer attention to updated APYs and welcome offers. Our dedicated data quality and compliance team helps with this.
Survey banks. We ask for information that matters to business owners, but may not be publicly available. For instance, our most recent questionnaire collected details on after-hours support and average call wait times.
Keep an eye on user sentiment. We lurk on Reddit and other social channels to see what people say about their business checking accounts. Our team collects reader feedback in a centralized doc to spot trends. We also frequently interview business owners.
Roll up our sleeves. We can't open and use every account. But we still call help lines, talk to banking experts and watch product demos. We also track industry news and trends to help keep readers informed.

Who should get a business checking account?

Anyone who owns a business should have a business checking account. That includes sole proprietors and freelancers.

Why? It helps keep your business and personal finances separate. That can help shield your personal assets if your company is sued (especially important for LLCs). It may also make it easier to file taxes and find the financial statements you'll need to apply for loans.

Select your business type to see a more specific list of our top accounts:

» MORE: How to open a business checking account

How to find the right account for your business

As you compare your top choices, pay close attention to the following:

Some business checking accounts charge monthly maintenance fees of around $15. Most offer to waive this fee if you maintain a certain average balance, make a certain number of transactions each month or both.

Here’s NerdWallet’s list of free business checking accounts, which have no monthly fee.

Account	Excess Transaction Fee	ATM Fees	Wire Fees	Complete Rates and Fees
American Express® Business Checking	None (unlimited transactions).	Fee-free ATMs: MoneyPass and Allpoint networks.* Out-of-network fees: None. Third-party ATM fee refunds: None.	Incoming: Free. Outgoing domestic: $25. Outgoing international: Not supported.	Visit AmEx
Axos Basic Business Checking	None (unlimited transactions).	Fee-free ATMs: Due to fee refunds, every ATM is essentially fee-free. Out-of-network fees: None. Third-party ATM fee refunds: Unlimited domestic.	Incoming: Free. Outgoing domestic: $35. Outgoing international: $45.	Visit Axos
Bank of America Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking	Unlimited electronic. 20 non-electronic, then 45 cents each.	Fee-free ATMs: Bank of America. Out-of-network fees: $2.50 U.S.; $5 international. Third-party ATM fee refunds: None.	Incoming: $15. Outgoing domestic: $30. Outgoing international: $45.	Visit BOA
Bluevine Business Checking	None (unlimited transactions).	Fee-free ATMs: MoneyPass network. Out-of-network fees: $2.50. Third-party ATM fee refunds: None.	Incoming: Free. Outgoing domestic: $10. Outgoing international; $25.	Visit Bluevine
Chase Business Complete Banking®	Unlimited electronic transactions. 20 non-electronic transactions, then 40 cents each.	Fee-free ATMs: Chase network. Out-of-network fees: $3 domestic, $5 international. Third-party ATM fee refunds: None.	Incoming: Free from other Chase accounts. Otherwise, $15. Outgoing domestic: $25, or $35 if sent from a Chase branch location. Outgoing international: $40.	Visit Chase
Found Small Business Banking*	None (unlimited transactions).	Fee-free ATMs: None. Found is not part of a fee-free ATM network. Out-of-network fees: None. Third-party ATM fee refunds: None.	Incoming domestic: Free. Outgoing domestic: $15. All international wires: Not supported.	Visit Found
Grasshopper Business Checking Account	None (unlimited transactions).	Fee-free ATMs: MoneyPass and SUM networks. Out-of-network fees: Not disclosed. Third-party ATM fee refunds: None.	Incoming domestic: Free. Incoming international: $5. Outgoing domestic: $10. Outgoing international: $25.	Visit Grasshopper
nbkc Business Account	None (unlimited transactions).	Fee-free ATMs: MoneyPass, Allpoint and NBKC networks. Out-of-network fees: None. Third-party ATM fee refunds: Up to $12 monthly.	Incoming domestic: $0. Incoming international: $45. Outgoing domestic: $5. Outgoing international: $45.	Visit NBKC
QuickBooks Checking	None (unlimited transactions).	Fee-free ATMs: Four free withdrawals per month at AllPoint network. $3 each after that. Out-of-network fees: $3. Third-party ATM fee refunds: None.	Incoming: Not disclosed. Outgoing domestic: Not disclosed. Outgoing international: Not disclosed.	Visit Intuit
Relay Business Checking	None (unlimited transactions).	Fee-free ATMs: Allpoint network. Out-of-network fees: None. Third-party ATM fee refunds: None.	Incoming: None. Outgoing domestic: $5. Outgoing international: $10.	Visit Relay
Rho Business Checking	None (unlimited transactions).	Fee-free ATMs: None. Rho is not part of a fee-free ATM network. Out-of-network fees: None. Third-party ATM fee refunds: None.	Incoming: None. Outgoing domestic: Free. Outgoing international: Free.	Visit Rho
U.S. Bank Business Essentials	Unlimited digital transactions and 25 free teller and paper transactions. 50 cents each after that.	Fee-free ATMs: U.S. Bank ATMs. Out-of-network fees: None. Third-party ATM fee refunds: None.	Incoming domestic: $14 or $16. Incoming international: $16. Outgoing domestic: $30 or $40 if sent from a branch. Outgoing international: $75.	Visit U.S. Bank

Traditional brick-and-mortar banks make it easiest to access your cash and write checks. Capital One, for instance, offers unlimited cash deposits at ATMs around the country.

Neobanks almost always offer fee-free access to an ATM network. But you might not get a checkbook. Instead, the institution might send checks on your behalf.

North One is the market leader here, at 2.5% APY on all balances. Several other online accounts have annual percentage yields of 1% or higher.

Grasshopper pays 1% cash back on debit card purchases. That’s a nice perk — but if a business credit card is an option for your business, you’ll probably get a higher rewards rate. Plus, credit card charges are easier to reverse in case of fraud.

Some financial institutions also offer business bank account promotions to new customers. You'll need to meet specific requirements to qualify, like maintaining a certain balance for several months after opening the account.

🤓

Nerdy Tip

Want to earn more in interest? Consider a business savings account or business money market account for longer-term savings. Some business savings accounts earn more than 4% APY.

Some online accounts offer built-in invoicing, including Bluevine and Relay. Found stands out for tax planning tools.

Another great feature: built-in payment processing. Chase lets you accept tap-to-pay payments from customers using your mobile app.

Most banks have some kind of fee-free ATM access. Big-name brick-and-mortars typically have their own machines. Online providers tap into shared ATM networks.

It can cost you if there’s no in-network machine nearby and you need cash, though.

Some small-business banks charge $2 to $3 if you use an ATM outside of their network. You’ll almost always have to pay an additional $2 or $3 to whatever company owns that ATM as well.

If you use an out-of-network ATM and get hit with those fees, Axos automatically refunds them. That essentially makes all ATM withdrawals free.

Dipping into the red on your business checking account can cost anywhere from $10 to $39 in overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees, sometimes multiple times per day. Chase and Huntington, offer a grace period on overdrafts (up to $50 or 24 hours) to give small businesses some wiggle room.

Most neobanks don't allow overdrafts. If you try to spend more money than you have, the transaction simply won't go through — but at least you won't owe overdraft fees.

Wire transfer fees are common; most customers should expect to pay up to $15 to receive a transfer and up to $40 to send one.

If your business relies on wire transfers, consider an account with Mercury or Brex, both of which charge no fees to receive or send wires.

ACH transfers are usually free, but they take one or two business days to complete. Expect to pay a fee for same-day ACH.

Online business checking accounts usually include unlimited fee-free transactions. That means you can swipe your debit card, send and receive transfers or make withdrawals as often as you want. But they usually limit how much cash you can deposit or withdraw at a time.

Most brick-and-mortar business checking accounts offer 100 to 500 free transactions per month and charge a fee (less than 50 cents) after that. And you’re usually capped at $5,000 per month in free cash deposits with a bank teller. Deposits at ATMs may be free, though.

» MORE: What you need to open a business bank account

Note on American Express® Business Checking: At Allpoint® and MoneyPass® locations in the U.S., you can withdraw cash and get balance information with no fee. Access to ATMs outside of the Allpoint® and MoneyPass® networks are subject to fees by the ATM owner and/or network. ATM withdrawal limits apply. American Express applies foreign exchange fees to withdrawals in foreign currencies. American Express does not accept ATM cash deposits into your Business Checking account at this time. Visit americanexpress.com/atm-locator to find participating ATMs in the U.S.

The information about the Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ account has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.

Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. The Relay Visa Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa cards are accepted.

Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.

Notes on Found: Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. The funds in your account are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor for each account ownership category. FDIC insurance only covers the failure of an FDIC-insured depository institution.

*Found's core features are free. Optional subscriptions to Found Plus for $35/month or $315/year or Found Pro for $80/month or $720/year. There are no monthly account maintenance fees, but other fees such as transactional fees for wires, instant transfers, and ATM apply. Read Found Fee Schedule.

¹Customers who have signed up for an account after Nov. 1, 2025 will earn a bonus equal to 2.00% Annual Percentage Yield on the portion of their account balance up to $20,000 for a given month only if they spend $5,000 in qualifying debit card transactions during the month and satisfy other eligibility requirements as described in the Card Spend Bonus Terms. No bonus will be earned on the portion of account balances over $20,000.

²Welcome offer: Earn $125 when you deposit $5,000 within the first 30 days of account creation and maintain it for another 30 days. Offer valid until 12/31/26. Terms Apply.

To view rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash® Card, see this page.

To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, see this page.

Last updated on April 10, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a business checking account?

A business checking account is a secure place to store your company's cash. You can access the money in your business checking account immediately by withdrawing cash, using a debit card, writing checks or sending ACH or wire transfers.

Can I use a personal bank account for my small business?

Technically, if your bank allows it, you can use a personal bank account for business purposes. But opening a business bank account in your company's name is almost always a better choice. Having separate accounts — and separate record-keeping — makes it easier to identify business expenses for tax deductions and pull financial records for business grants and loans. A dedicated business account can help protect your personal assets if legal action is taken against your company. And business bank accounts may come with software tools that help you run your business, like built-in invoicing.

Should I use a credit union for my business checking account?

If your credit union offers business checking accounts, then it can be a great option. Credit union business accounts typically have low or no monthly fees and higher cash deposit limits than big brick-and-mortar banks, making them a good choice for restaurants and other businesses that deal mostly in cash. Some credit unions are also community development financial institutions, which focus on lending to businesses in low-income and underserved communities — so you may be able to work with yours to get a business loan in the future. See our picks for best credit union business accounts.

What do you need to open a business checking account?

To open a business checking account, you'll need to provide personal information, such as a government-issued ID and Social Security number, and details like your address and phone number. You'll also need legal business documentation, like your articles of organization or incorporation, and information like your business address and employer identification number (EIN). Here's a list of what you need to open a business bank account.

Do you need an EIN to open a business checking account?

You don't need an EIN to open a business bank account if you operate a sole proprietorship or single-member LLC. Businesses organized as a partnership, multimember LLC or corporation, however, do need an EIN to open a business checking account. Here are some business accounts available to businesses without EINs.

How do you qualify for a business checking account?

You may get denied for a business bank account if you have negative marks on your ChexSystems report. A ChexSystems report lists occurrences like bounced checks, overdraft fees and forced closed accounts. Banks generally do not check your credit, however, and it's unlikely you'll be denied for a business bank account based on your credit history. Here's how you can open a business bank account despite a negative ChexSystems history.

Are business checking accounts secure?

Business checking accounts are typically insured by the FDIC up to the standard $250,000 per depositor, per institution. That means, if the bank holding your funds fails, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. would cover up to $250,000 in lost cash. Credit unions are similarly insured through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Some accounts may offer greater protection via Insured Cash Sweep programs. Do not use a checking account that isn't FDIC or NCUA insured.

Methodology

NerdWallet’s writers and editors evaluate more than 60 business bank accounts from national, regional and online banks. Collectively, these accounts represent the largest banks by assets and the largest credit unions by membership, along with notable and emerging fintech companies and online banks.

We consider more than 20 data points for each account, including services, fees, features and rewards. We gather this information from rates and fees documents, deposit account agreements, financial institution websites and company representatives.

Our editorial team regularly reviews and updates our data to ensure consistency and accuracy. We also update our scoring on an ongoing basis to reflect changing industry norms and business owner needs. For instance, in 2026, we adjusted our expectations for APYs due to falling interest rates.

Final ratings range from one to five stars. A five-star score represents the best available product for the largest number of business owners. Learn more about how we rate business checking accounts.

Meet the editorial team

Kelsey Sheehy

Senior writer | Small business, personal finance

Kelsey Sheehy is a senior writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She started at NerdWallet in 2015 and spent six years as a personal finance writer and spokesperson before switching gears to cover the financial decisions and challenges faced by small-business owners. Kelsey’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nasdaq and MarketWatch, among other publications. Kelsey has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC’s "World News Tonight" and has been quoted by the Los Angeles Times, CNBC, American Banker, NPR and Vice, among other publications. Prior to joining NerdWallet, Kelsey covered college (and how to pay for it) for U.S. News & World Report. She is based in Washington, D.C.

Best Business Checking Accounts of October 2026

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Bluevine Business Checking

Best for Online banking

American Express® Business Checking

Best for 24/7 customer support

U.S. Bank Business Essentials

Best for Free account at a brick-and-mortar bank

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Branch access

Relay Business Checking

Best for Expense management tools

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Best for Earning interest and cash back

Mercury Business Account

Best for Free wire transfers

Capital One Business Basic Checking®

Best for Cash deposits and withdrawals

nbkc Business Account

Best for Low-fee online banking

Found Small Business Banking

Best for Paying contractors and saving for taxes

Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

Best for Perks on other business services

Bluevine Business Checking

Best for Online banking

American Express® Business Checking

Best for 24/7 customer support

U.S. Bank Business Essentials

Best for Free account at a brick-and-mortar bank

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Branch access

Relay Business Checking

Best for Expense management tools

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Best for Earning interest and cash back

Mercury Business Account

Best for Free wire transfers

Capital One Business Basic Checking®

Best for Cash deposits and withdrawals

nbkc Business Account

Best for Low-fee online banking

Found Small Business Banking

Best for Paying contractors and saving for taxes

Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

Best for Perks on other business services

Other great business checking accounts

How we choose the best business checking accounts

Which business checking accounts did we consider?

What about local banks?

How we keep our picks up to date

Who should get a business checking account?

How to find the right account for your business

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology

Features

Account perks

NerdWallet ratings

Bonus

Monthly fee

APY

Fee-free transactions