Note: The star ratings on this list are specific to the bank's entry-level business checking account, not the overall institution. The exception is Live Oak Bank, which we've highlighted for its standout business savings account.

Best banks for business in California

Live Oak

Our pick for: High-yield business savings

NerdWallet star rating: 4.5

One way to make your money work harder is to stash your savings in a high-yield account. And Live Oak’s free business savings account is one of the best on the market with a 2.75% APY. Live Oak also has a 12-month business CD that earns 4.30% APY, as of this writing. Beyond its high-yield options, this online bank also offers multiple business checking and lending products.

Three business checking options.
Business Essential Checking has a $10 monthly fee (waived with $1,000 average daily balance) and no monthly transaction limits.
Live Oak does not support cash deposits; accounts can be funded via ACH, wire transfer or check.
No weekend customer support.
Fee-free access to more than 55,000 Allpoint ATMs (savings accounts don’t have ATM access).

Additional services:

High-yield savings account that earns 2.75% APY with a balance of at least $0.01.
A cash sweep account that provides FDIC insurance for up to $10 million in deposits.
Business CDs that earn upwards of 3.50% APY.
Issued more SBA 7(a) loans by dollar amount than any other lender in fiscal year 2023 and the second-most in 2024.

» Read our full Live Oak Bank business accounts review

American Express

Our pick for: Online banking with 24/7 customer support

NerdWallet star rating: 4.8

American Express business checking account has no monthly fee and earns up to 1.00% APY. American Express business banking customers also enjoy 24/7 access to live customer support.

Online business checking account with no monthly fees. Earn 1.00% APY on balances up to $500,000.
No limit on transactions and no charges for incoming wire transfers or stop payments.
24/7 customer support online, by phone or via the app.
Cannot deposit cash.

Additional services

Top-rated business credit cards, including branded hotel and airline business cards for Hilton, Marriott, Delta and Amazon.
High-yield business savings account available.

» Read our full American Express business checking review

Bluevine

Our pick for: Non-bank option for small businesses

NerdWallet star rating: 5

Bluevine partners with an FDIC-insured bank to offer business checking and lending products. The bank’s free business checking account earns 1.30% APY (terms apply). Businesses with substantial cash flow, and those who send a lot of wires or same-day ACH transfers, can also consider Bluevine Premier, which has a hefty monthly fee but offers discounted payments and a much higher APY.

Bluevine Standard: No monthly fee, minimum deposit, overdraft fees or transaction limits. Earn 1.30% interest on account balances up to and including $250,000. Terms apply.
Bluevine Premier: Earn 3% APY on balances up to $3 million (terms apply). Monthly fee of $95 is waived if you meet daily balance and spending requirements. Premier customers receive discounted wire and same-day ACH transfers.
One-time and recurring bill payments via ACH, wire transfer or check.
No ATM fees at more than 37,000 MoneyPass ATMs.
Cash deposits available via Green Dot and compatible Allpoint+ ATMs. Fees and limits apply.

Additional services:

Business lines of credit up to $250,000.
Cash-back business credit card available for eligible Bluevine business checking customers (by invitation only).

» Read our full Bluevine business checking review

Chase

Our pick for: Branch access

NerdWallet star rating: 4.7

Chase has hundreds of branch locations across California, making it easier for business owners to get facetime with their business banker. And Chase backs up its physical presence with some top-notch digital tools. Chase’s mobile app has built-in payment processing via Chase QuickPay, a feature that’s included in Chase Business Complete Banking℠.

Chase Business Complete Checking℠ is $15 per month, but there are multiple ways to avoid the fee.
Unlimited electronic deposits. In-person and paper transactions are limited to 20 per month for Chase Business Complete and 250 per month for Chase Performance Business Checking®.
Payment processing through the Chase mobile app with QuickAccept℠, no additional point-of-sale equipment needed.
Live customer service available by phone 24/7.

Additional services:

A full suite of Chase Ink business rewards credit cards, which offer generous sign-up bonuses, as well as other Chase business credit cards.
A variety of small-business loans, including lines of credit, equipment financing and SBA loans.
Chase offers payment services for e-commerce and retail businesses, including Chase QuickAccept, which lets business owners accept credit card payments from the mobile app.

» Read our full Chase business checking review

Bank of America

Our pick for: Loyalty rewards

NerdWallet star rating: 4.5

Those who qualify for Bank of America's loyalty program (Preferred Rewards for Business) earn a number of perks, including discounted rates on certain business loans, a higher APY on select business savings products and a better rewards rate on Bank of America business credit cards.

Two account options with respective fees of $16 and $29.95 per month, though both can be avoided if you meet average monthly balance requirements. Both require a minimum opening deposit of $100.
Bank of America Business Advantage Fundamentals Banking includes unlimited electronic transactions, up to 20 non-electronic transactions (checks paid, other debits, deposited items) and up to $5,000 in cash deposits per statement cycle.
Opportunity to earn a welcome bonus. Terms apply.

Additional services:

Suite of business credit cards including a secured business card for business owners with poor or limited personal credit history.
Multiple business savings accounts, including a high-yield business CD.
Bank of America business loans include secured and unsecured loans and lines of credit, SBA loans and franchise financing.

» Read our full Bank of America business checking review

Navy Federal Credit Union

Our pick for: Military member, veterans and their families

NerdWallet star rating: 4.3

Navy Federal Credit Union specializes in veteran-owned businesses, as well as those run by military members and their families. You’ll find business checking, savings and lending services with competitive terms, along with insurance and payroll processing. All listed owners of the business must be Navy Federal members to qualify. Membership is available to military members (active duty, veteran and retired), Department of Defense employees and their families.

Free, interest-bearing business checking account.
Unlimited fee-free electronic transactions.
No dollar limit on cash deposits.
High opening deposit requirement — $250 for sole proprietors and $255 for other entity types.
Fee-free access to more than 30,000 ATMs, including Navy Federal ATMs and the CO-OP network.

Additional services:

357 branches worldwide.
24/7 general customer support.
Money market accounts and business certificates of deposit.
Business credit card with no annual fee.
Business loans and lines of credit.

» Read our full Navy Federal Credit Union business checking review

U.S. Bank

Our pick for: Free business checking + SBA loans

NerdWallet star rating:

U.S. Bank checks a lot of boxes for business owners. Free business checking? Check. Generous welcome offer? Check. Top-rated customer support? Check. In fact, U.S. Bank ranked second in J.D. Power’s most recent Small Business Banking Satisfaction study. It is also one of the most active SBA 7(a) lenders in California.

Multiple account options, including a Nonprofit Checking account. Monthly fees range from $0 to $30 per month. All require an opening deposit of at least $25.
U.S. Bank Business Essentials Checking ($0) includes unlimited electronic deposits and withdrawals, up to 25 free in-person and/or paper transactions, and up to $2,500 in fee-free cash deposits per month.
More than 2,000 branches across 26 states. Account holders do not incur fees at U.S. Bank and MoneyPass ATMs.

Additional services:

Three business credit cards, including the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card, which has a $750 welcome bonus (terms apply), no annual fee and earns 1%-5% cash back.
Full suite of small-business loans, including lines of credit, SBA loans, equipment financing, term loans and commercial real estate financing.
Business savings, CDs and money market accounts.
Payment processing services range from online credit card processing to in-store payment terminals.

» Read our full U.S. Bank business checking review

Other California-based business banks to consider

Beneficial State Bank: This bank offers free business checking, along with business lending, savings and cash management tools. It’s also a certified B Corporation and community development financial institution (CDFI), so the bank actively works to protect the environment and support low-income communities.

California Bank & Trust: California Bank & Trust has more than 85 branch locations across the state and offers a suite of business banking services, including multiple business checking and savings options. The bank has business CD terms that earn more than 3.15% APY (as of this writing).

Self-Help Federal Credit Union: Self-Help Federal Credit Union has more than 20 branch locations scattered across the state, including offices in the Bay Area, Central Valley, Los Angeles and San Diego. This mission-driven credit union, which is dedicated to providing banking services and economic opportunity to underserved communities, offers business banking, lending and savings products.

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.

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 March 4, 2026

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 Banks for Small Business in California of October 2026

Bluevine Business Checking

Best for Non-bank option for small business

Bluevine Business Checking

Best for Non-bank option for small business

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Branch access + business credit cards

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Branch access + business credit cards

American Express® Business Checking

Best for Online banking with 24/7 customer support

American Express® Business Checking

Best for Online banking with 24/7 customer support

Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

Best for Loyalty perks

Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

Best for Loyalty perks

U.S. Bank Business Essentials

Best for Free business checking + SBA loans

U.S. Bank Business Essentials

Best for Free business checking + SBA loans

Live Oak Bank Business Savings

Best for High-yield business savings

Live Oak Bank Business Savings

Best for High-yield business savings

Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking

Best for Military members, veterans and their families

Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking

Best for Military members, veterans and their families

Best banks for business in California

Live Oak

American Express

Bluevine

Chase

Bank of America

Navy Federal Credit Union

U.S. Bank

Other California-based business banks to consider

Methodology