PenFed does not offer business checking accounts. The credit union does have so-called “organizational accounts,” which include both checking and savings options. However, these are only available to certain nongovernmental organizations and clubs — not businesses.
If your company is interested in working with a credit union, you will have to shop around for a different small-business bank. The following list of PenFed alternatives includes some of those financial institutions plus top options from our list of the best business checking accounts.
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small-business and personal finance.
Objective comprehensive business bank accounts rubric (Methodology).
NerdWallet's business banking content — including our ratings, reviews and recommendations — is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in small-business finances. Their journalism has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.
Does PenFed Offer Business Bank Accounts?
| Best for | NerdWallet rating▼ | Monthly fee▼ | APY▼ | Bonus▼ | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Military families Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking | 4.2/5 | $0 | 0.01% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | |
Easy-to-join credit union Digital Federal Credit Union Free Business Checking | 4.6/5 | $0 | 0.10% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | |
Online bank with ATM access Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC | 4.7/5 | $0 | N/A | $400 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC |
Cashless businesses American Express® Business Checking Learn more at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC | 5.0/5 | $0 | 1.30% With $0 min. balance for APY | 30,000 points Requirements to qualify | Learn more at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC |
Earning interest Bluevine Business Checking Learn more at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 5.0/5 | $0 | 1.50% With $0 min. balance for APY | $300 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
National business bank Chase Business Complete Banking® Learn more at Chase, Member FDIC | 4.6/5 | $15.00 Waived with $2,000 minimum balance | N/A | $500 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Chase, Member FDIC |
Credit union account with unlimited transactions First Tech Federal Credit Union Simple Business Checking | 4.7/5 | $6.00 Waived with $1,000 minimum balance | N/A | N/A | |
Early access to payments Lili Basic Business Checking Learn more at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.1/5 | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
| Best for | NerdWallet rating▼ | Monthly fee▼ | APY▼ | Bonus▼ | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Military families Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking | 4.2/5 | $0 | 0.01% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | |
Easy-to-join credit union Digital Federal Credit Union Free Business Checking | 4.6/5 | $0 | 0.10% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | |
Online bank with ATM access Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC | 4.7/5 | $0 | N/A | $400 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC |
Cashless businesses American Express® Business Checking Learn more at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC | 5.0/5 | $0 | 1.30% With $0 min. balance for APY | 30,000 points Requirements to qualify | Learn more at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC |
Earning interest Bluevine Business Checking Learn more at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 5.0/5 | $0 | 1.50% With $0 min. balance for APY | $300 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
National business bank Chase Business Complete Banking® Learn more at Chase, Member FDIC | 4.6/5 | $15.00 Waived with $2,000 minimum balance | N/A | $500 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Chase, Member FDIC |
Credit union account with unlimited transactions First Tech Federal Credit Union Simple Business Checking | 4.7/5 | $6.00 Waived with $1,000 minimum balance | N/A | N/A | |
Early access to payments Lili Basic Business Checking Learn more at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.1/5 | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
I'M INTERESTED IN:
Our pick for
Military families
Our pick for
Easy-to-join credit union
Digital Federal Credit Union Free Business Checking
4.6
NerdWallet rating APY
0.10%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Monthly fee
$0
Min. opening deposit
$0
Free cash deposits
No
20 deposits free per day, 10¢ per item processing charge above 20
Overdraft fees
$15
Bonus
N/A
Digital Federal Credit Union offers a free interest-bearing checking account. Users get up to four business debit cards and unlimited checks.
Membership is based on your employer or where you live, but you can also become a DCU member by donating to certain participating nonprofits. DCU has branches in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. But if you don’t live in those areas, DCU still makes it easy to access your cash by offering the use of more than 80,000 ATMs nationwide via the Allpoint, SUM and Co-op networks.
Pros
- Access to more than 80,000 ATMs nationwide via the Allpoint, SUM and Co-op networks and 5,000 branches via the Co-op network.
- No monthly fee or minimum opening deposit.
- APY of up to 0.10%.
- Anyone can join by donating to a participating nonprofit.
Cons
- No customer support on Sundays.
- Can’t open an account online.
Our pick for
Online bank with ATM access
Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking
Read Review
Learn more
at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Min. opening deposit
$0
Free cash deposits
Yes
Unlimited
Overdraft fees
$25
Bonus
$400
Requirements to qualify
If you don’t need to bank in person, Axos is an online bank that stands out for its generous approach to ATM access: You can use any ATM in the U.S. without incurring a fee from Axos, plus Axos will automatically refund any fees charged by the banks and ATM operators. Customers can make cash deposits at compatible AllPoint and MoneyPass ATMs. This makes it a good choice for business owners who regularly deposit cash but want an online banking experience.
Axos’s free business checking account offers unlimited transactions.
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions and free incoming wires.
- Automatic refunds of all ATM fees (domestic).
- Cash deposits via Allpoint ATMs.
- Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
Cons
- $25 fee for insufficient funds/uncollected funds returned.
- No third-party app integrations.
- Relatively low mobile app ratings.
Our pick for
Cashless businesses
American Express® Business Checking
Read Review
Learn more
at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC
APY
1.30%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Monthly fee
$0
Min. opening deposit
$0
Free cash deposits
No
No cash deposits.
Overdraft fees
N/A
Bonus
30,000 points
Requirements to qualify
American Express business checking has no monthly service fee and offers a competitive APY. The account has no minimum opening deposit, monthly service fee or overdraft fees. Customers pay no ATM fees at more than 70,000 MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs, and AmEx promises 24/7 customer support.
AmEx doesn’t currently support cash deposits, which may be a dealbreaker for businesses dealing with cash regularly. You also won’t have access to branches.
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- No excess transaction fees and no charge for domestic incoming wires.
- Earn 1.30% APY on balances up to $500,000.
- 24/7 customer support.
- No fees on withdrawals at more than 70,000 MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
Cons
- Can’t deposit cash.
- No outgoing international wire transfers.
- Does not offer jointly owned accounts.
- Only one debit card per account.
Our pick for
Earning interest
Bluevine Business Checking
Read Review
Learn more
at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured
APY
1.50%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Monthly fee
$0
Min. opening deposit
$0
Free cash deposits
No
Fees vary by location.
Overdraft fees
$0
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
Bluevine’s free business checking account pays an industry-leading interest rate. Like most online business bank accounts, it charges no monthly fees and has no minimum opening deposit, monthly transaction limits or minimum balance requirements. Users can withdraw cash for free at ATMs across the MoneyPass network and deposit it (albeit not for free) at Green Dot locations and Allpoint+ ATMs.
Bluevine is a financial technology company, not a bank itself, and there are no branches. Customer funds are held on deposit with Coastal Community Bank, which provides up to $3 million in FDIC insurance coverage through an insured cash sweep network.
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions; no overdraft fees.
- Earn 1.50% interest on account balances up to and including $250,000. Terms apply.
- Access up to $3 million in FDIC insurance with Insured Cash Sweep.
- No fees at MoneyPass ATMs.
- Account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.
Cons
- No fee-free cash deposits.
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- Does not offer jointly-owned accounts.
Our pick for
National business bank
Chase Business Complete Banking®
Read Review
Learn more
at Chase, Member FDIC
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$15.00
Waived with $2,000 minimum balance
Min. opening deposit
$0
Free cash deposits
Yes
Up to $5,000 per month.
Overdraft fees
$34
Bonus
$500
Requirements to qualify
Chase is our top-rated national brick-and-mortar bank for business checking accounts. It’s a reliable choice for customers seeking in-person banking support — Chase has one of largest branch networks in the U.S. and has committed to opening 140 new branches in the greater Washington, D.C., area between 2018 and 2025. Chase also offers sophisticated digital tools, including integrated payment processing.
The account’s $15 monthly fee can be waived if you maintain a certain average balance. Chase currently offers a welcome bonus to qualifying new customers who create and fund an account (terms apply).
Pros
- No minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free electronic and debit card transactions.
- Integrated credit card processing.
- No overdraft fee unless account is overdrawn by more than $50; 24-hour grace period applies to overdrafts beyond that amount.
- 24/7 customer support.
- No fees at 16,000 Chase ATMs and access to around 4,700 branches.
- Supports Zelle for Business.
Cons
- $15 monthly fee.
- Monthly limit on fee-free cash deposits ($5,000) and physical transactions (20).
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
Our pick for
Credit union account with unlimited transactions
First Tech Federal Credit Union Simple Business Checking
4.7
NerdWallet rating APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$6.00
Waived with $1,000 minimum balance
Min. opening deposit
$0
Free cash deposits
Yes
Unlimited
Overdraft fees
$33
Bonus
N/A
First Tech Federal Credit Union’s two business checking accounts offer unlimited transactions, which is unusual among brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions. Both accounts charge monthly fees (which can be waived) and require a minimum opening deposit of $100.
In addition to locations in eight states, First Tech members have access to more than 5,000 partner branches nationwide via the Co-op shared branch network. You can join via participating employers or by joining certain associations.
Pros
- Access to more than 30,000 ATMs and 5,000 branches nationwide via the Co-op network.
- 24/7 phone support.
- No limits on transactions or cash deposits.
- Anyone can join by joining a participating association.
Cons
- $33 overdraft fee with a grace window of just $5. Up to 5 overdrafts can be charged per day.
- Must make an appointment to open an account, though the appointment can be virtual.
Our pick for
Early access to payments
Lili Basic Business Checking
Read Review
Learn more
at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Min. opening deposit
$0
Free cash deposits
No
Fee of up to $4.95 per cash deposit.
Overdraft fees
$0
Bonus
N/A
If you appreciate that PenFed makes direct deposit payments available to you up to two days early, consider Lili, which offers a similar service to businesses. When Lili customers receive ACH transfers, their funds can be available up to two days early.
Like Bluevine, Lili is a financial technology company, not a bank. Customer funds are held by Sunrise Banks N.A., an FDIC-insured bank. Lili doesn’t offer branch access; fee-free ATM access is available via the MoneyPass network and users can make cash deposits (for a fee) at Green Dot locations.
Pros
- No monthly fees, transaction fees or incoming wire fees.
- No fees at MoneyPass ATMs.
- Cash deposits via Green Dot network (fees and limits apply).
- Early payment feature allows you to receive funds up to two days sooner than with a traditional bank account.
- Direct integrations with Square, Shopify, Etsy and eBay.
Cons
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- No fee-free cash deposits.
- Low monthly limits for cash deposits, incoming ACH transfers.
- Bill pay not included; must upgrade to Lili Smart or higher.
- Not available to nonprofit organizations.
- No spend controls on employee debit cards.
How to choose a PenFed alternative business account
PenFed was founded to serve government staffers, but membership is now open to anyone. If you want to do your business banking with a credit union, explore your local options as well as those on our list of the best credit unions for business accounts.
Beyond that, if you were interested in a PenFed business account, isolating the features you liked most about that credit union can help guide your search:
- Do you want access to a branch? If so, avoid online-only options like American Express, Bluevine and Axos. Focus instead on national banks, like Chase and Bank of America, as well as regional banks and credit unions.
- Do you prefer a longstanding institution? Traditional banks (online and brick-and-mortar) rarely make sudden changes to their business bank accounts. The same can't be said for neobanks — financial technology companies like Lili and Bluevine that offer banking services via an FDIC-insured bank. Neobanks often pride themselves on innovation and tend to make more frequent changes to their product lineups, fee schedules and software tools.
- Do you value credit union customer service? Many credit unions are well-loved for their relationship banking. If getting help in person or over the phone is important to you, stick to credit unions and banks that offer branch access. Neobanks vary widely in their customer service offerings — some boast 24/7 or highly rated customer support, but with others, support may be provided mostly via live chat or email.
- How many fees can you tolerate? One drawback of brick-and-mortar banks is that they tend to charge monthly fees (though these can usually be waived if you maintain a certain average balance). You’re also more likely to encounter fees for overdrafts, ATM usage, wire transfers, and excess transactions or cash deposits at a traditional bank versus. Online banks and neobanks are more likely to offer free business checking accounts with few additional fees.
- How often do you deal with cash? Online business checking accounts may charge fees for cash deposits or have low limits on how much you can deposit at one time, although they generally have no monthly limits. Brick-and-mortar banks generally cap free cash deposits around $5,000 per month, though you can deposit more for a fee.
- What benefits are most important to you? If you take advantage of PenFed’s member discounts, sticking with a credit union may be your best bet. Brick-and-mortar banks may be more likely to offer sign-up bonuses, which offer cash to new users who meet certain deposit or transaction requirements within a few months. Online banks are more likely to pay high interest rates, and they also tend to have more sophisticated software tools to support tasks like tax planning and invoicing.
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.
Last updated on April 3, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet evaluates more than 30 business bank accounts from national, regional and online banks. Collectively, these accounts represent the largest banks by assets, internet search traffic and other factors, along with notable or emerging players in the industry.
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 2025, we introduced bonus points for notable built-in software features, like the ability to accept tap-to-pay payments from customers using a mobile app.
Final star ratings are presented on a scale of one to five stars, where 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.
