Best Banks for Startups 2026

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Best banks for startups

Bluevine: Best for high-yield checking, access to credit.
Brex: Best for venture-backed startups, spend management.
Chase: Best for brick-and-mortar startups.
Found: Best for solo founders, freelancers.
Grasshopper: Best for bootstrapped startups.
Live Oak Bank: Best for SBA loans, high-yield savings.
Mercury: Best for seed-stage startups.
Relay: Best for startups with complex cash flow.
Rho: Best for cash management and yield.
Silicon Valley Bank: Best for high-growth startups, venture debt.

Bank/institution Bank/institution	Best for Best for	NerdWallet rating NerdWallet rating	Monthly fee Monthly fee	APY APY	Bonus Bonus	Learn more Learn more
Bluevine Business Checking	2026 BEST Online Business Checking Account	5.0 /5	$0	1.30% With $0 min. balance for APY	$500 Requirements to qualify	Learn more at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros No required 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.

Chase Business Complete Banking®	2026 BEST Brick-and-mortar Business Checking Account	4.5 /5	$15.00 Waived with $2,000 minimum balance	N/A	Earn up to $500 Requirements to qualify	Learn more 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 thousands of 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	Startups with complex cash flow	4.8 /5	$0	N/A	N/A	Learn more 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.

Mercury Business Account	Seed-stage startups	4.5 /5	$0	N/A	$300 Requirements to qualify	Learn more at Mercury, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros Free domestic and international U.S. dollar wire transfers. Unlimited refunds on all domestic ATM fees. No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction fee on U.S. dollar transactions or overdraft fees. Users can apply for the rewards-earning Mercury IO Card, a corporate credit card with numerous expense control tools. Cons Can’t deposit cash. Choice Financial Group, one of Mercury’s banking partners, is currently under a federal consent order.

Found Small Business Banking	Solo founders, freelancers	4.5 /5	$0 None Required*	2.00% Terms Apply¹	$125 Bonus Terms Apply²	Learn more at Lead Bank, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros No required monthly fee*, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees. Built-in invoicing, bookkeeping and tax-planning features. Built-in payroll features for contractors. Can manage up to 5 businesses from a single login. Cons No weekend or after-hours phone support. Subscription required to earn interest.

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account	Bootstrapped startups	5.0 /5	$0	1.35% With $25,000 min. balance for APY	$300 Requirements to qualify	Learn more 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.

Rho Business Checking	Cash management and yield	4.3 /5	$0	N/A	$350 Requirements to qualify	Learn more at Rho, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee. Free same-day ACH transfers. Users can apply for the rewards-earning Rho Card, a corporate credit card with numerous expense control tools. Cons No cash deposits or ATM access. Not available to sole proprietors.

Live Oak Bank Business Savings	SBA loans, high-yield savings	4.5 /5	$0	2.85% With $0.01 min. balance for APY	N/A	Learn more at Live Oak Bank, Member FDIC
Pros High APY. Earn interest on balances of $0.01 and higher. No monthly maintenance fee or minimum deposit. Cons No ATM or debit card access for Business Savings account. No weekend customer support.

Brex Business Account	Venture-backed startups, spend management	4.5 /5	$0	N/A	N/A	Learn more at Brex, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee. Ability to put cash in a money market fund to earn yield. Includes rewards-earning Brex corporate credit card. Free domestic and international wire transfers. Cons Can't deposit or withdraw cash. Only available to venture-backed startups and mid-market companies. Not available to sole proprietors or other unincorporated businesses.

Nerdwallet best-of awards

2026 BEST Online Business Checking Account

Bluevine Business Checking

Best for High-yield checking, access to credit

5.0

Read expert review

APY

1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee

Bonus

$500

Requirements to qualify

Learn more

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

No required 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.

Nerdwallet best-of awards

2026 BEST Brick-and-mortar Business Checking Account

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Brick-and-mortar startups

4.5

Read expert review

APY

N/A

Monthly fee

$15.00

Waived with $2,000 minimum balance

Bonus

Earn up to $500

Requirements to qualify

Learn more

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 thousands of 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 Startups with complex cash flow

4.8

Read expert review

APY

N/A

Monthly fee

Bonus

N/A

Learn more

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.

Mercury Business Account

Best for Seed-stage startups

4.5

Read expert review

APY

N/A

Monthly fee

Bonus

$300

Requirements to qualify

Learn more

at Mercury, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

Free domestic and international U.S. dollar wire transfers.
Unlimited refunds on all domestic ATM fees.
No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction fee on U.S. dollar transactions or overdraft fees.
Users can apply for the rewards-earning Mercury IO Card, a corporate credit card with numerous expense control tools.

Cons

Can’t deposit cash.
Choice Financial Group, one of Mercury’s banking partners, is currently under a federal consent order.

Found Small Business Banking

Best for Solo founders, freelancers

4.5

Read expert review

APY

2.00%

Terms Apply¹

Monthly fee

None Required*

Bonus

$125

Bonus Terms Apply²

Learn more

at Lead Bank, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

No required monthly fee*, minimum opening deposit, excess transaction or overdraft fees.
Built-in invoicing, bookkeeping and tax-planning features.
Built-in payroll features for contractors.
Can manage up to 5 businesses from a single login.

Cons

No weekend or after-hours phone support.
Subscription required to earn interest.

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Best for Bootstrapped startups

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

5.0

Read expert review

APY

1.35%

With $25,000 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee

Bonus

$300

Requirements to qualify

Learn more

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.

Rho Business Checking

Best for Cash management and yield

4.3

Read expert review

APY

N/A

Monthly fee

Bonus

$350

Requirements to qualify

Learn more

at Rho, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee.
Free same-day ACH transfers.
Users can apply for the rewards-earning Rho Card, a corporate credit card with numerous expense control tools.

Cons

No cash deposits or ATM access.
Not available to sole proprietors.

Live Oak Bank Business Savings

Best for SBA loans, high-yield savings

4.5

Read expert review

APY

2.85%

With $0.01 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee

Bonus

N/A

Learn more

at Live Oak Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

High APY.
Earn interest on balances of $0.01 and higher.
No monthly maintenance fee or minimum deposit.

Cons

No ATM or debit card access for Business Savings account.
No weekend customer support.

Brex Business Account

Best for Venture-backed startups, spend management

4.5

Read expert review

APY

N/A

Monthly fee

Bonus

N/A

Learn more

at Brex, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

No monthly fee, minimum opening deposit or excess transaction fee.
Ability to put cash in a money market fund to earn yield.
Includes rewards-earning Brex corporate credit card.
Free domestic and international wire transfers.

Cons

Can't deposit or withdraw cash.
Only available to venture-backed startups and mid-market companies.
Not available to sole proprietors or other unincorporated businesses.

Jump to

Other good banks for startups

How we chose the best banks for startups

Compare best startup banks by cost

How to choose a business bank for your startup

Does your startup need multiple business accounts?

Table of contents

╳

Other good banks for startups
How we chose the best banks for startups
Compare best startup banks by cost
How to choose a business bank for your startup
Does your startup need multiple business accounts?

Other good banks for startups

The following banks are also popular with startups. Their accounts are not available through NerdWallet, but our editorial team still recommends them for certain businesses.

Silicon Valley Bank is still a go-to bank for startups, despite its collapse in March 2023. The bank now operates as a division of First Citizens Bank. It’s best for high-growth startups in the technology, life sciences and healthcare sectors. SVB offers venture debt and equity financing, something traditional banks rarely provide.

How we chose the best banks for startups

Our editorial team looked at more than 60 national, regional and online financial institutions to select the best options for startups. We started by evaluating the entry-level business checking account at each, since that’s what businesses typically use most.

We only included accounts that earned at least 4.5 stars and/or provide exceptional services for startups at various stages. Each business account on this list has something that adds value for founders, like:

Built-in invoicing.
Easy ways to take customer payments.
Low-cost wire transfers.
Seamless accounting integrations.
Insured Cash Sweep accounts for high deposits.

We also considered a bank’s additional services. Startups mature over time — ideally, quickly. The best banks support that growth with products like business loans, high-yield savings and Treasury accounts.

Local institutions like credit unions are great for relationship building as well. These smaller options often lack the tools and infrastructure of bigger-name banks. We’d still recommend giving them a look based on your startup’s stage and trajectory.

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 business 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.

Compare best startup banks by cost

Most of the financial institutions listed below offer multiple accounts. To keep things consistent, we compared pricing for their entry-level account. Monthly fees will increase if you upgrade to a higher plan.

On the flip side, wire transfers may be less expensive on premium plans. You may also get more included features. See our feature comparison below.

Bank	Monthly fees	Wire transfer fees
Bluevine	No monthly fee.	Incoming: $0 domestic, $15 international. Outgoing: $15 domestic, $25 international.
Brex	No monthly fee.	No wire transfer fees.
Chase	Starts at $15; can be waived.	Incoming: $15 domestic or international.** Outgoing: $25 domestic, $40 international.
Found	No required monthly fee*.	Incoming: $0. Outgoing: $15. No international wires.
Grasshopper	No monthly fee.	Incoming: $0 domestic, $5 international. Outgoing: $10 domestic, $25 international.
Live Oak Bank	Starts at $10; can be waived.	Incoming: $10 domestic or international. Outgoing: $19 domestic, $40 international.
Mercury	No monthly fee.	No wire transfer fees.
Relay	No monthly fee.	Incoming wires: $0 domestic or international. Outgoing: $8 domestic, $25 international.
Rho	No monthly fee.	No wire transfer fees.
Silicon Valley Bank	Fees vary by client.	Incoming: $10 domestic or international. Outgoing: $12 domestic, $25 international.
**No charge if incoming wire sent from another Chase account (branch, online or in-app).

How to choose a business bank for your startup

Banking needs for startups vary by stage. But a few things remain true for bootstrapped businesses to venture-funded companies: You need an account with low fees, easy access to funds and reliable, responsive customer support.

From there, tailor your search based on your business type and startup stage.

Business type/stage	What to look for
Brick-and-mortar businesses	Branch access and easy cash deposits. Your local credit union is a good place to start.
E-commerce startups	Seamless integrations with payment processors like Stripe or Shopify.
Solo founders/freelancers	Built-in tax tracking and invoicing tools to save time, reduce accounting headaches.
Seed-stage startups	High wire limits, sub-accounts and cash sweep features to help manage investor funds.
Venture-backed startups	Strong expense management tools, corporate cards and access to credit or venture debt.
Series A and beyond	Treasury services, higher FDIC coverage and structured cash management tools — often with dedicated support.

Bank	Built-in tools	High-yield savings	Treasury account	Insured Cash Sweep	Business loans
Bluevine	Invoicing with payment links, tap-to-pay card acceptance. Accounts payable with approval workflows, automatic receipt capture. Bookkeeping integrations.	✅	❌	✅	✅
Brex	Bill pay with approval workflows, automatic receipt capture. Expense management with corporate cards, reimbursements. Bookkeeping integrations with automation. Corporate travel management.	✅	✅	✅	✅
Chase	Invoicing, tap-to-pay card acceptance. Bill pay. Bookkeeping integrations.	❌	❌	❌	✅
Found	Invoicing, tap-to-pay card acceptance. Accounts payable with automatic receipt capture. Contractor payment management. Tax planning and automatic saving.	✅	❌	❌	❌
Grasshopper	Bill pay. Invoicing and bookkeeping via Autobooks.	✅	❌	✅	✅
Live Oak Bank	Bill pay. Bookkeeping integrations.	✅	❌	✅	✅
Mercury	Invoicing. Bill pay with approval workflows, automatic receipt capture. Expense management with corporate cards, reimbursements. Bookkeeping integrations with automation.	✅	✅	✅	✅
Relay	Invoicing with payment links. Bill pay with automatic receipt capture. Bookkeeping integrations.	✅	❌	✅	❌
Rho	Invoicing. Bill pay with approval workflows, automatic receipt capture. Expense management with corporate cards, reimbursements. Bookkeeping integrations with automation.	✅	✅	✅	❌
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)	Invoicing. Bill pay and expense management. International banking. Bookkeeping integrations.	✅	✅	✅	✅

Does your startup need multiple business accounts?

A single business checking account is fine for microbusinesses and early-stage startups. But it's smart to open additional accounts as your business grows.

Using multiple business accounts insulates your business from account freezes and fraud. It also allows you to save for taxes and long-term goals, and separate different business functions.

At a minimum, keep an emergency fund with a month’s worth of operating expenses in a business savings account at a separate bank from your business checking account. This can help insulate you from a bank failure, as well as other unforeseen expenses or interruptions in your business.

Want to take it a step further: Keep your payroll account at one bank, your personal account at another and your main business bank account at yet another bank.

🤓

Nerdy Tip

Putting all your business funds in one bank can be risky. Many startups learned this the hard way when Silicon Valley Bank collapsed in 2023. While businesses only lost access to funds for a few days, the lesson was clear. Startups need multiple accounts, with multiple banks.

Notes from providers

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 3, 2025

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

Rosalie Murphy

Lead Writer & Content Strategist | Small business, business banking, business credit cards

Rosalie Murphy has covered small-business banking, credit cards, insurance and lending at NerdWallet since 2021. She writes and edits the Starting Small newsletter, and her reporting has appeared in publications like the Associated Press, MarketWatch and Nasdaq. Rosalie is an MBA candidate at Kent State University and has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California.

Best Banks for Startups in 2026

Best banks for startups

Bluevine Business Checking

Best for High-yield checking, access to credit

Bluevine Business Checking

Best for High-yield checking, access to credit

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Brick-and-mortar startups

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Brick-and-mortar startups

Relay Business Checking

Best for Startups with complex cash flow

Relay Business Checking

Best for Startups with complex cash flow

Mercury Business Account

Best for Seed-stage startups

Mercury Business Account

Best for Seed-stage startups

Found Small Business Banking

Best for Solo founders, freelancers

Found Small Business Banking

Best for Solo founders, freelancers

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Best for Bootstrapped startups

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Best for Bootstrapped startups

Rho Business Checking

Best for Cash management and yield

Rho Business Checking

Best for Cash management and yield

Live Oak Bank Business Savings

Best for SBA loans, high-yield savings

Live Oak Bank Business Savings

Best for SBA loans, high-yield savings

Brex Business Account

Best for Venture-backed startups, spend management

Brex Business Account

Best for Venture-backed startups, spend management

Other good banks for startups

How we chose the best banks for startups

Compare best startup banks by cost

How to choose a business bank for your startup

Does your startup need multiple business accounts?

Notes from providers

Methodology