Best Business Checking Accounts

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Every small business needs a business checking account. Like consumer checking accounts, these bank accounts allow you to manage your business’s everyday finances by making deposits, paying bills, budgeting and more.
In addition, a business checking account gives you the ability to separate your business and personal expenses, prepare for taxes and legitimately establish your business’s financial presence.
The best business checking accounts have low or no fees, ATM accessibility and online or mobile banking tools. Interest-earning accounts and accounts with integrated business tools are also a plus.
NerdWallet looked at some of the largest banks in the country, along with a few big online banks and notable regional banks, and compared their business checking accounts. Here are our top checking accounts for small businesses.
Bank/institution Best for NerdWallet rating Monthly fee APY Bonus Learn more
American Express® Business Checking

American Express® Business Checking

4.8 /5
$0

1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

30,000 Points

Requirements to qualify

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee.
  • 24/7 customer support.
  • No fees on withdrawals at more than 70,000 MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
  • Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every $2 spent with your debit card.

Cons

  • Can’t deposit cash.
  • No outgoing international wire transfers.
  • Does not offer jointly owned accounts.
Bluevine Business Checking

Bluevine Business Checking

NerdWallet mini logo

2026 BEST Online Business Checking Account

5.0 /5
$0

1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

$500

Requirements to qualify

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No requited monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • Earn 1.30% 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.
  • Bill pay tools and invoicing with built-in payment links, plus tap-to-pay card acceptance.

Cons

  • No fee-free cash deposits.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • Does not offer jointly-owned accounts.
Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

5.0 /5
$0

1.35%

With $25,000 min. balance for APY

N/A

Clock icon Cash back on debit

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • Unlimited 1% cash back on qualified debit card purchases.
  • Earn up to 1.35% APY.
  • No monthly fees, transaction fees or overdraft charges.
  • Free, built-in bookkeeping and invoicing software.
  • Low fees on wire transfers.
  • All account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.
U.S. Bank Business Essentials

U.S. Bank Business Essentials

4.5 /5
$0

N/A

$400

Requirements to qualify

Clock icon Best free account

at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly service fee.
  • Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
  • Unlimited fee-free electronic and debit card transactions.
  • Receive and send payments via Zelle.
  • Accept payments with free mobile card reader, no monthly software fee. Processing fees apply.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • High overdraft, wire transfer fees.
  • $1 fee for outgoing domestic ACH transfers.
Chase Business Complete Banking®

Chase Business Complete Banking®

NerdWallet mini logo

2026 BEST Brick-and-mortar Business Checking Account

4.5 /5
$15.00

Waived with $2,000 minimum balance

N/A

$500

Requirements to qualify

at Chase, Member FDIC

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.
  • No fees at 14,000 Chase ATMs and access to around 5,000 branches.
  • Receive and send payments via Zelle.

Cons

  • $15 monthly fee.
  • Monthly limit on physical transactions (20).
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking

Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking

4.4 /5
$0

N/A

$200

Requirements to qualify

Clock icon Unlimited transactions

at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee.
  • Cash deposits via Allpoint ATMs.
  • 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.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

4.5 /5
$16.00

$0 for the first 12 statement cycles.

N/A

N/A

at Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee for the first 12 statement cycles.
  • Welcome offer for new accountholders.
  • Loyalty perks via Preferred Rewards for Business program.
  • Relatively low overdraft fees ($10 per item, limited to two per day)
  • Bill pay includes invoicing for new users.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • $16 monthly fee after introductory period ends.
nbkc Business Account

nbkc Business Account

4.8 /5
$0

N/A

N/A

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • Up to $12 in monthly refunds for ATM fees charged by other banks worldwide.
  • Unlimited cash deposits via MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs.
  • Accept contactless payments via the NBKC app (iOS only). Fees apply.
  • Unlimited debit cards.

Cons

  • Must pay a fee to use built-in software features via Autobooks.
Relay Business Checking

Relay Business Checking

Excellent for Multiple business checking accounts (up to 20)

4.9 /5
$0

N/A

N/A

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No required monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • No foreign transaction fees when you use your Relay Visa® Debit abroad.
  • Free incoming wires and low outgoing wire transfer fees.
  • Up to 50 debit cards.

Cons

  • No bill pay feature in the free plan.
  • Thread Bank, Relay’s banking partner, is currently under an FDIC consent order.
Bank/institution
Bank/institution
Best for
Best for
NerdWallet rating
NerdWallet rating
Monthly fee
Monthly fee
APY
APY
Bonus
Bonus
Learn more
Learn more
American Express® Business Checking

American Express® Business Checking

4.8 /5
$0

1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

30,000 Points

Requirements to qualify

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

Bluevine Business Checking

Bluevine Business Checking

NerdWallet mini logo

2026 BEST Online Business Checking Account

5.0 /5
$0

1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

$500

Requirements to qualify

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

5.0 /5
$0

1.35%

With $25,000 min. balance for APY

N/A

Clock icon Cash back on debit

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

U.S. Bank Business Essentials

U.S. Bank Business Essentials

4.5 /5
$0

N/A

$400

Requirements to qualify

Clock icon Best free account

at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Chase Business Complete Banking®

NerdWallet mini logo

2026 BEST Brick-and-mortar Business Checking Account

4.5 /5
$15.00

Waived with $2,000 minimum balance

N/A

$500

Requirements to qualify

at Chase, Member FDIC

Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking

Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking

4.4 /5
$0

N/A

$200

Requirements to qualify

Clock icon Unlimited transactions

at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC

Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

4.5 /5
$16.00

$0 for the first 12 statement cycles.

N/A

N/A

at Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC

nbkc Business Account

nbkc Business Account

4.8 /5
$0

N/A

N/A

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

Relay Business Checking

Relay Business Checking

Excellent for Multiple business checking accounts (up to 20)

4.9 /5
$0

N/A

N/A

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

American Express® Business Checking

Close
APY
1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
30,000 Points

Requirements to qualify

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee.
  • 24/7 customer support.
  • No fees on withdrawals at more than 70,000 MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
  • Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every $2 spent with your debit card.

Cons

  • Can’t deposit cash.
  • No outgoing international wire transfers.
  • Does not offer jointly owned accounts.
Best of awards Nerdwallet's badge Nerdwallet best-of awards
2026 BEST Online Business Checking Account

Bluevine Business Checking

Close
APY
1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$500

Requirements to qualify

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No requited monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • Earn 1.30% 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.
  • Bill pay tools and invoicing with built-in payment links, plus tap-to-pay card acceptance.

Cons

  • No fee-free cash deposits.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • Does not offer jointly-owned accounts.

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Close
APY
1.35%

With $25,000 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

Clock icon Cash back on debit

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • Unlimited 1% cash back on qualified debit card purchases.
  • Earn up to 1.35% APY.
  • No monthly fees, transaction fees or overdraft charges.
  • Free, built-in bookkeeping and invoicing software.
  • Low fees on wire transfers.
  • All account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.

U.S. Bank Business Essentials

Close
APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$400

Requirements to qualify

Clock icon Best free account

at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly service fee.
  • Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
  • Unlimited fee-free electronic and debit card transactions.
  • Receive and send payments via Zelle.
  • Accept payments with free mobile card reader, no monthly software fee. Processing fees apply.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • High overdraft, wire transfer fees.
  • $1 fee for outgoing domestic ACH transfers.
Best of awards Nerdwallet's badge Nerdwallet best-of awards
2026 BEST Brick-and-mortar Business Checking Account

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Excellent for Full-service business banking

Close
APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$15.00

Waived with $2,000 minimum balance

Bonus
$500

Requirements to qualify

at Chase, Member FDIC

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.
  • No fees at 14,000 Chase ATMs and access to around 5,000 branches.
  • Receive and send payments via Zelle.

Cons

  • $15 monthly fee.
  • Monthly limit on physical transactions (20).
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.

Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking

Close
APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$200

Requirements to qualify

Clock icon Unlimited transactions

at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee.
  • Cash deposits via Allpoint ATMs.
  • 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.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

Close
APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$16.00

$0 for the first 12 statement cycles.

Bonus
N/A

at Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee for the first 12 statement cycles.
  • Welcome offer for new accountholders.
  • Loyalty perks via Preferred Rewards for Business program.
  • Relatively low overdraft fees ($10 per item, limited to two per day)
  • Bill pay includes invoicing for new users.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • $16 monthly fee after introductory period ends.

nbkc Business Account

Close
APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • Up to $12 in monthly refunds for ATM fees charged by other banks worldwide.
  • Unlimited cash deposits via MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs.
  • Accept contactless payments via the NBKC app (iOS only). Fees apply.
  • Unlimited debit cards.

Cons

  • Must pay a fee to use built-in software features via Autobooks.

Relay Business Checking

Best for Excellent for Multiple business checking accounts (up to 20)

Close
APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No required monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • No foreign transaction fees when you use your Relay Visa® Debit abroad.
  • Free incoming wires and low outgoing wire transfer fees.
  • Up to 50 debit cards.

Cons

  • No bill pay feature in the free plan.
  • Thread Bank, Relay’s banking partner, is currently under an FDIC consent order.
Sort by:

American Express® Business Checking

APY
1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
30,000 Points

Requirements to qualify

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee.
  • 24/7 customer support.
  • No fees on withdrawals at more than 70,000 MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
  • Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every $2 spent with your debit card.

Cons

  • Can’t deposit cash.
  • No outgoing international wire transfers.
  • Does not offer jointly owned accounts.

American Express® Business Checking

APY
1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
30,000 Points

Requirements to qualify

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee.
  • 24/7 customer support.
  • No fees on withdrawals at more than 70,000 MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
  • Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every $2 spent with your debit card.

Cons

  • Can’t deposit cash.
  • No outgoing international wire transfers.
  • Does not offer jointly owned accounts.
Best of awards Nerdwallet's badge Nerdwallet best-of awards
2026 BEST Online Business Checking Account

Bluevine Business Checking

APY
1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$500

Requirements to qualify

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No requited monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • Earn 1.30% 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.
  • Bill pay tools and invoicing with built-in payment links, plus tap-to-pay card acceptance.

Cons

  • No fee-free cash deposits.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • Does not offer jointly-owned accounts.
Best of awards Nerdwallet's badge Nerdwallet best-of awards
2026 BEST Online Business Checking Account

Bluevine Business Checking

APY
1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$500

Requirements to qualify

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No requited monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • Earn 1.30% 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.
  • Bill pay tools and invoicing with built-in payment links, plus tap-to-pay card acceptance.

Cons

  • No fee-free cash deposits.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • Does not offer jointly-owned accounts.

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

APY
1.35%

With $25,000 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

Clock icon Cash back on debit

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • Unlimited 1% cash back on qualified debit card purchases.
  • Earn up to 1.35% APY.
  • No monthly fees, transaction fees or overdraft charges.
  • Free, built-in bookkeeping and invoicing software.
  • Low fees on wire transfers.
  • All account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

APY
1.35%

With $25,000 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

Clock icon Cash back on debit

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • Unlimited 1% cash back on qualified debit card purchases.
  • Earn up to 1.35% APY.
  • No monthly fees, transaction fees or overdraft charges.
  • Free, built-in bookkeeping and invoicing software.
  • Low fees on wire transfers.
  • All account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.

U.S. Bank Business Essentials

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$400

Requirements to qualify

Clock icon Best free account

at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly service fee.
  • Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
  • Unlimited fee-free electronic and debit card transactions.
  • Receive and send payments via Zelle.
  • Accept payments with free mobile card reader, no monthly software fee. Processing fees apply.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • High overdraft, wire transfer fees.
  • $1 fee for outgoing domestic ACH transfers.

U.S. Bank Business Essentials

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$400

Requirements to qualify

Clock icon Best free account

at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly service fee.
  • Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
  • Unlimited fee-free electronic and debit card transactions.
  • Receive and send payments via Zelle.
  • Accept payments with free mobile card reader, no monthly software fee. Processing fees apply.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • High overdraft, wire transfer fees.
  • $1 fee for outgoing domestic ACH transfers.

Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$200

Requirements to qualify

Clock icon Unlimited transactions

at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee.
  • Cash deposits via Allpoint ATMs.
  • 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.

Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$200

Requirements to qualify

Clock icon Unlimited transactions

at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee.
  • Cash deposits via Allpoint ATMs.
  • 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.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$16.00

$0 for the first 12 statement cycles.

Bonus
N/A

at Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee for the first 12 statement cycles.
  • Welcome offer for new accountholders.
  • Loyalty perks via Preferred Rewards for Business program.
  • Relatively low overdraft fees ($10 per item, limited to two per day)
  • Bill pay includes invoicing for new users.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • $16 monthly fee after introductory period ends.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$16.00

$0 for the first 12 statement cycles.

Bonus
N/A

at Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee for the first 12 statement cycles.
  • Welcome offer for new accountholders.
  • Loyalty perks via Preferred Rewards for Business program.
  • Relatively low overdraft fees ($10 per item, limited to two per day)
  • Bill pay includes invoicing for new users.

Cons

  • $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • $16 monthly fee after introductory period ends.

nbkc Business Account

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • Up to $12 in monthly refunds for ATM fees charged by other banks worldwide.
  • Unlimited cash deposits via MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs.
  • Accept contactless payments via the NBKC app (iOS only). Fees apply.
  • Unlimited debit cards.

Cons

  • Must pay a fee to use built-in software features via Autobooks.

nbkc Business Account

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • Up to $12 in monthly refunds for ATM fees charged by other banks worldwide.
  • Unlimited cash deposits via MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs.
  • Accept contactless payments via the NBKC app (iOS only). Fees apply.
  • Unlimited debit cards.

Cons

  • Must pay a fee to use built-in software features via Autobooks.
Best of awards Nerdwallet's badge Nerdwallet best-of awards
2026 BEST Brick-and-mortar Business Checking Account

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Full-service business banking

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$15.00

Waived with $2,000 minimum balance

Bonus
$500

Requirements to qualify

at Chase, Member FDIC

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.
  • No fees at 14,000 Chase ATMs and access to around 5,000 branches.
  • Receive and send payments via Zelle.

Cons

  • $15 monthly fee.
  • Monthly limit on physical transactions (20).
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
Best of awards Nerdwallet's badge Nerdwallet best-of awards
2026 BEST Brick-and-mortar Business Checking Account

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Full-service business banking

Best for Full-service business banking

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$15.00

Waived with $2,000 minimum balance

Bonus
$500

Requirements to qualify

at Chase, Member FDIC

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.
  • No fees at 14,000 Chase ATMs and access to around 5,000 branches.
  • Receive and send payments via Zelle.

Cons

  • $15 monthly fee.
  • Monthly limit on physical transactions (20).
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.

Relay Business Checking

Best for Multiple business checking accounts (up to 20)

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No required monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • No foreign transaction fees when you use your Relay Visa® Debit abroad.
  • Free incoming wires and low outgoing wire transfer fees.
  • Up to 50 debit cards.

Cons

  • No bill pay feature in the free plan.
  • Thread Bank, Relay’s banking partner, is currently under an FDIC consent order.

Relay Business Checking

Best for Multiple business checking accounts (up to 20)

Best for Multiple business checking accounts (up to 20)

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No required monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
  • No foreign transaction fees when you use your Relay Visa® Debit abroad.
  • Free incoming wires and low outgoing wire transfer fees.
  • Up to 50 debit cards.

Cons

  • No bill pay feature in the free plan.
  • Thread Bank, Relay’s banking partner, is currently under an FDIC consent order.

Logo iconJump to

What factors should I look at when comparing business checking accounts?

Depending on your small business’s needs, you may want to consider the following features when choosing a business checking account:
  • Minimum opening deposit: The amount that you’re required to deposit when you open your business checking account. These amounts can vary, and not all accounts require that you meet a specific minimum.
  • Monthly fees: The fee the bank charges to maintain your account. The best business checking accounts have low or no monthly fees. Some banks charge a monthly fee but offer ways that you can qualify to waive them. In this case, make sure you can meet those qualifications on a continual basis to avoid incurring fees later.
  • Transaction limits: Banks often place limits on the number of transactions a business can make with its account, including electronic transactions and checks. If you exceed your allotted number of monthly transactions, you typically face a small fee for each transaction you make. You’ll want to choose an account that can accommodate your average transaction volume.
  • Cash deposit limit: This is the amount of cash you’re allowed to deposit into your account for free each billing period. Again, after you reach the allotted threshold, you’ll face a small fee for each cash deposit you make.
  • ATM access: Where can you use your business debit card? Are there fees associated with using your card out of the bank’s ATM network? Does the business checking account offer any ATM fee reimbursements? Does your ATM access include both cash withdrawals and deposits? These are all relevant questions to consider.
  • Additional fees: What other fees does the bank charge for using your business checking account? Fees to look out for include nonsufficient funds fees, overdraft fees, wire fees, stop payment fees and returned items fees.
  • Included tools: What tools are offered with your business checking account? Many accounts offer free online and mobile banking, including mobile check deposit and online bill pay. Some accounts also offer other options for customizing your business banking, such as invoicing, online payments, third-party integrations and more.
  • Interest: Some business checking accounts offer interest. With interest-earning accounts, make sure you can meet any minimum balance requirements and that the earning potential isn’t canceled out by fees. Conversely, if you’re looking to save on a longer-term basis and don’t need daily access to your funds, you might consider a business savings account as the best option for earning interest.
  • Type of bank: Is the business checking account from a national, regional or local bank? Is it from an online bank, or maybe a credit union? There's a range of qualities typically associated with these different types of financial institutions that might make a difference to your business. An online-only bank, for example, may offer a free account that can be opened quickly and easily online but does not include access to a physical branch location. A local brick-and-mortar bank, on the other hand, may offer a more personalized customer experience but require that you apply for an account in person and only work with businesses within their county.
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s highly recommended that you open a separate bank account for your business.
With a business bank account, you'll deposit checks made out to your company in your business checking, not your personal checking account. Likewise, you'll pay business expenses out of the business account.
Having separate accounts and separate record-keeping makes it easier to deduct business expenses for taxes. It also better protects you if legal action is taken against your company. Having commingled accounts may put your personal assets at risk in a lawsuit.
Credit unions typically have low or no monthly fees for their business bank accounts, and they’re known for good customer service. In addition, credit unions can have high cash deposit limits, making them a good choice for restaurants and other businesses that deal mostly in cash.
Keep in mind that credit unions might have just a few locations and ATMs, compared with major bank chains, which can have national reach.
If you qualify for membership, however, they’re worth considering. Compare some strong options in our roundup of NerdWallet’s Best Credit Unions.
Your personal bank can be a good first stop when shopping for a business checking account. In fact, 79% of business owners surveyed in 2019 by BAI, a research and training nonprofit for business owners, reported using the same provider for personal and business financial services relationships.
However, you should compare multiple accounts to make sure you’ll be paying the fewest fees and getting the most benefit out of your business checking account. You may find another bank can offer a higher level of customer service, fewer transaction limits or greater ATM access.
Start your search with our roundup of the best banks for small business.
To open a business checking account, you’ll be required to provide basic information about yourself and your business. You’ll also need to provide personal identification, such as a government-issued ID and Social Security number, as well as legal business documentation.
Learn more about the process in our comprehensive guide.
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