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The best business checking accounts of 2024 allow you to manage day-to-day funds and transactions, while keeping expenses separate from your personal accounts. The best options have low fees and come with useful features, such as unlimited transactions, online banking and access for employees.

Account details and annual percentage yields (APYs) are accurate as of June 6, 2024.

Best business checking accounts

INSTITUTIONBEST FORAPYMINIMUM DEPOSIT
Bluevine logoHigh-yield business checking2.00% $0None
Navy Federal Credit UnionDigital businesses0.01%$250None
RelayBookkeeping 0% $0None
Lili Financial Technology logoLow fees0%$0None
nbkc Bank logoSmall businesses0% $0None

Why trust our banking experts

We base our decision on which banks and products to include in our lists solely on an independent methodology, which you can read more about below. No financial institution or advertiser affects our selections. Moreover, our banking team consists of Taylor Tepper and Jenn Jones, who have won multiple journalism awards and have more than two decades of combined experience in the personal finance industry. These editors are accompanied by a team of analysts who help us accumulate data and ensure its accuracy. Ultimately, we evaluated hundreds of products and analyzed thousands of data points to help you find some of the best business checking accounts today.

  • 200+ accounts from 80+ financial institutions reviewed.
  • 4 levels of fact checking.
  • 70+ data points analyzed.

Methodology

We looked at more than 200 business checking accounts offered by 80 financial institutions, including TD Bank, Wells Fargo and Citibank, PNC Bank and LendingClub.

We evaluated them to create a star rating for each. A perfect score of 100 would get five stars; a score of 80 would get four stars and so on. Here are the categories we analyzed and how we weighted each.

Fees: 35%

The first rule of a checking account, whether for yourself or your business, is to do no harm. Therefore we gave the biggest weight to those accounts that charged the least amount in fees, especially for maintenance fees, insufficient fund fees (NSF) and ATM fees.

Customer and digital experience: 25%

Banking should be a no-drama experience, therefore we surveyed reviews, and key features, to see how well businesses fared using different financial institutions. To help determine a score, we factored in a bank’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot scores, and we also rewarded banks that offer live chat online. Each criteria was worth 5%.

Relatedly, we want banks that provide a good digital experience when managing funds for your business, especially as so much of banking has moved online. We gave a 10% weight to digital experience, with equal consideration to whether a bank offered online bill pay and had a robust online banking platform, in addition to how well its app rated on the App and Play stores.

Features and limits: 20%

Ideally, you’d be able to spend however much you wanted, and pocket as much cash as you desired. Therefore, we gave a 5% weight to both limits, with points scored for offering your business maximal freedom.

We also rewarded accounts that included features that made it easier for your business to function, with a 5% weight on both merchant services and an integration with accounting and payroll.

APY and minimum opening deposit: 10%

Rewards checking is a nice perk, but it isn’t fundamental to the purpose of a business checking account. Therefore, we gave it a 5% weight. We gave the same weight to minimum opening deposit requirements, with the goal of rewarding accounts that offer a lower barrier to entry.

Access: 10%

While online banking is prevalent, there’s still a demand for a physical presence. Therefore we gave a 5% weight to a bank’s ATM network, as well as the number of branch locations. In a perfect world, you’d be able to handle sticky problems in person, when needed.

Why some banks didn’t make the cut

Some banks didn’t make the cut because of factors such as high fees, poor customer and digital experience, and limits on transaction and cash deposits all of which can impact your business operations.

The business checking providers we track:

These are the 80 institutions with business checking accounts that we monitor:

American Express, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank OZK, BB&T (merged with SunTrust to form Truist), BBVA (acquired by PNC Bank), BlueVine, Brex, Capital One, Chase, Comerica, First Internet Bank, Huntington Bank, IBERIABANK (merged with and into First Horizon Bank), Lili, Navy Federal Credit Union, nbkc Bank, Novo, Radius Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, EverBank, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Consumers Credit Union, Credit Union of Denver, LendingClub, Mercury, PNC Bank, Relay, BMO Harris, Affinity Federal Credit Union, AIM Credit Union, Amalgamated Bank, Apple Federal Credit Union, BancorpSouth Bank, Truist, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Blue Federal Credit Union, CFG Community Bank, First Foundation Bank, Financial Partners Credit Union, Financial Resources Federal Credit Union, CIBC Bank, Citibank, Rockland Trust, First Horizon Bank, First National Bank of America, Georgia’s Own Credit Union, Greenwood Credit Union, Heritage Bank, Ideal Credit Union, Incredible Bank, KeyBank, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Live Oak Bank, MainStreet Bank, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, NASA Federal Credit Union, Northpointe Bank, Nuvision Federal Credit Union, Pacific National Bank, Pen Air Federal Credit Union, Presidential Bank FSB, Regions Bank, Santander, State Bank of Texas, Superior Choice Credit Union, Webster Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Citizens Bank, Ascend Federal Credit Union, M&T Bank, Golden1 Credit Union, MAC Federal Credit Union, State Farm Bank, Cadence Bank and First National Bank.

Best for high-yield checking

Bluevine Business Checking

BLUEPRINT RATING
Our ratings are calculated based on fees, rates, rewards and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Learn More
On Bluevine’s website
Annual percentage yield
2.00%
(with requirements)
Minimum deposit requirement
$0
Monthly maintenance fee
None
What should you know
Bluevine Business Checking offers a 2.00% interest on balances up to and including $250,000 if one of the following monthly activity goals are met: Spend $500 per month on the Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard® or receive $2,500 per month in customer payments to a Bluevine checking account or sub-accounts. High-yield checking accounts have mostly gone the way of the dodo bird, so this is a quality perk for your small business. There is no minimum deposit requirement for opening this account and Bluevine gives you unlimited transactions. It also don’t charge any overdraft or incoming wire fees like some of the other accounts. Plus, Bluevine has 37,000 plus ATM MoneyPass locations to choose from. While there are plenty of free services, you’ll also have to work to avoid a few fees. There are no standard ACH fees, but if you wanted to make a same-day ACH payment, you would have to pay $10 that is due by 1:15 p.m. ET to get it the same day. Incoming international payments will be charged a $25 fee. If you use the Bluevine Bill Pay you will be charged $1.50 per check sent and Bill Pay with a credit card will be charged 2.9% of the transaction amount. Any cash deposit you make will have a $4.95 fee, which makes it less useful if your business is dependent on greenbacks.
Pros and cons
Pros
  • High yield.
  • Unlimited number of transactions.
  • No overdraft or domestic incoming wire fees.
Cons
  • $4.95 fee with every cash deposit.
  • High credit card transaction fee of 2.9% using Bill pay.

Best for bookkeeping

Relay Standard Business Checking

Relay Standard Business Checking
BLUEPRINT RATING
Our ratings are calculated based on fees, rates, rewards and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Learn More
Via Relay’s Website
Annual percentage yield
0%
Minimum deposit requirement
$0
Monthly maintenance fee
None
What should you know
Relay’s claim to fame is simplified bookkeeping. It integrates with tools like Gusto, Quickbooks, Xero, Venmo and Plaid to cut the time you spend on accounting. Transactions are automatically categorized and it’s easy to see which employee made the purchase. You’re able to issue cards to 50 employees, each with individual spending limits, and you can open up to 20 individual checking accounts. Such customization makes sense for some small businesses, especially those with a roaming workforce. There is no minimum deposit needed for this account, and you get an unlimited amount of direct deposits. Domestic wire transfers are $5 and outgoing-international wires are $10. Cash can be deposited into the account via an Allpoint ATM, but you are limited to $1,000 per transaction and $2,000 per day in cash deposits. Deposits made before 3:00 pm ET will be available that day, and those made after will be available the next business day. Checks can only be deposited via the mobile app and won’t be available for up to seven business days.
Pros and cons
Pros
  • No account fees.
  • No minimum balance fees.
  • Debit cards for you and your employees.
Cons
  • Cash deposit limits may not be high enough for a business that deals with cash.
  • Mobile check deposits take six to seven business days to become available.
  • Cash doesn’t earn interest.

Best for low fees

Lili Basic Business Banking

Lili Basic Business Banking
BLUEPRINT RATING
Our ratings are calculated based on fees, rates, rewards and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Learn More
Via Lili Banking’s Website
Annual percentage yield
0%
Minimum deposit requirement
$0
Monthly maintenance fee
None
What should you know
Lili Basic Business Banking is a business checking account that has no overdraft fees, no minimum balance or deposit requirements and no foreign transaction fees. You also get unlimited transactions, which can be hard to find in a business checking account. You can use the debit card at 38,000 plus ATMs fee-free at MoneyPass locations. In-network ATMs are free of charge, but there is a $2.50 fee for domestic out-of-network ATMs. There are no fees for incoming domestic wire transfers but keep in mind that Lili does not accept foreign wire transfers. So if you have an overseas client you’ll need another way to get paid. Cash can be deposited at GreenDot locations. Lili also offers a service called “BalanceUp”, which will temporarily deposit up to $200 into your account in the event of an overdraft. You must meet the requirements to qualify. For businesses with multiple owners, Lili offers a joint account and debit cards for each owner. Owners must be registered and hold at least 25% of the business. This only applies to U.S. citizens. Lili is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC.
Pros and cons
Pros
  • No overdraft fees or minimum balance fees.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • 38,000 plus MoneyPass ATMs.
Cons
  • Fees for out-of-network ATMs.
  • No checkbook feature.
  • Doesn’t earn interest.

Best for small businesses

nbkc Business Checking Account

nbkc Business Checking Account
BLUEPRINT RATING
Our ratings are calculated based on fees, rates, rewards and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Annual percentage yield
0%
Minimum deposit requirement
$0
Monthly maintenance fee
None
What should you know
If avoiding fees is your main concern, consider nbkc. You won’t face monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, stop payment fees, insufficient funds fees or returned item fees. Moreover, you needn’t maintain a particular minimum balance and you won’t be charged for depositing checks, ATM transactions or executing a certain number of transactions. Although nbkc holds back from charging you for various things, they do put limits on the amount you can withdraw or purchase per day. You can withdraw up to $1,010 from the ATM per calendar day and spend up to $2,500 on your debit card per calendar day, which can be a big hurdle for some businesses. You can withdraw from 32,000 plus MoneyPass ATMs and nbkc will reimburse your ATM fees for up to $12 if you used ATMs other than MoneyPass at the end of the month. Incoming domestic wire transfers are free, but you’ll be charged $5 for outgoing domestic wires and $45 for any international wires. There is a foreign transaction fee of 1% of the total transaction amount, so just use the card for domestic purchases.
Pros and cons
Pros
  • Will reimburse up to $12 a month for fees with ATMs not by nbkc.
  • No charge for replacing a card.
  • Free support from nbkc bankers through phone, email or in person.
Cons
  • Foreign transaction fees.
  • High fees for international wire transfers.
  • Doesn’t earn interest.

What is a business checking account?

A business checking account is a bank account similar to your personal checking account, but it’s owned by your business. All your transactions, deposits and expenses go through this account making bookkeeping much simpler.

If your business is an LLC or other corporation, having your business finances separate from your personal finances can give you protection from lawsuits.

When opening a business checking account it’s important to look at monthly fees and minimum balance requirements, as they tend to be higher with stricter terms compared to personal checking accounts. Also, make note of any transaction limits. Some business checking accounts have limits as low as 100 transactions per month and a lot of businesses will exceed this limit.

Quick tip. Not all business checking accounts offer the same benefits and features. Read the fine print so you can pick the best option for you.

Pros and cons of a business checking account for your business

PROSCONS
Protection: A business checking account allows you to separate your personal finances from your business finances. If you have an LLC this helps in keeping your personal finances protected from issues in your business.
Minimum balance and opening deposit: There’s a chance that a business checking account will come with a minimum balance or deposit, so consider the costs when comparing accounts.
Easily track cash flow: When you are opening an account solely for business funds, it will be much easier to keep track of your business cash flow. You can see how your business is doing financially and what your cash flow will look like in the future.
Overdraft fees: Accounts with overdraft fees could rack up over time, putting you at risk of your account closing. It’s important to know what banks charge for overdraft fees and how to avoid them.
Tax preparation: Having a business checking account can make it easier to calculate your estimated tax. If you use the same account for your personal and business expenses, your personal transactions could be carefully examined.
Transaction limits: It makes sense that a business might make transactions more than someone with a personal account. While some banks charge fees, others set a limit, typically around 200.

Keep your business finances from your personal finances

If your LLC or corporation encounters any legal problems in the future, a business checking account can offer liability protection.

“From a legal standpoint, keeping personal and business expenses separate is important to reduce or eliminate liability from the business owner’s personal finances in the event the owner encounters business debts or legal problems,” said Adrienne Davis, a certified financial planner and advisor at Zenith Wealth Partners, a financial planning firm. “Having a business bank account can also be helpful to build a banking relationship with a bank, in the event a business owner wants to take out a business loan.”

Quick tip. Keep your business and personal expenses separate. You’ll be better able to track your spending, while also reducing a headache when you go to file your taxes.

Typical business checking account terms and fees

Account terms and fees vary by financial institution, but there are common terms and fees for business checking accounts, including:

Maintenance fees

Maintenance fees, also known as service or monthly fees, are what you owe to keep an account open. Larger banks tend to have higher fees, especially for their premium business checking accounts. Usually there are ways to have monthly fees waived, often by meeting minimum balance requirements.

Wire transfer fees

Wire transfers electronically transfer funds from one account to another. Banks typically charge wire transfer fees which tend to run anywhere between $10 and $50.

Read more: How to open a bank account

Overdraft fees

When you have insufficient funds in your account and can’t cover the cost of a transaction the bank may let you go into the negative. When this happens you may receive an overdraft fee, which typically is about $35. If your account continues to be overdrawn, you could be subject to continuous or daily overdraft fees, which could quickly add up.

Insufficient funds fee (NSF)

When you don’t have enough in your account to cover a transaction, you could end up with an insufficient funds fee (NSF). An NSF fee is typically about $34 and can quickly add up just like overdraft fees.

How to choose the right business checking account

Once you know what to look for, you shouldn’t have a hard time choosing the account that best suits your business and financial needs.

No fees or minimums

You want to use your money to grow your business, or to take home as profits. You don’t want to pay the bank fees you don’t have to. Look for checking accounts that fit your natural habits, for example if they charge low balance fees and you don’t regularly keep a lot of money in your account then you’ll want to keep looking.

However, if you don’t do wire transfers it doesn’t matter how much the bank charges for them.

Access

Online banking is helpful for businesses and makes it easier to take care of payments.

“I know it seems logical, but I would think about what is most important to you and your business,” said Thomas A. Lane III, a certified financial planner and partner at Lane Hipple Wealth Management Group. “Some banks offer technology that integrates seamlessly with the accounting or payroll software you’re currently using, which can create efficiencies for you and increase productivity.”

Paying too much to bank? How to avoid checking account fees

Customer and digital experience

A good digital experience can help you manage your funds and allows you to track your business’s day-to-day spending. Online banking is supposed to make your life easier, so the better the digital experience, the better fit the account could be for you.

Reviews on the App store and online can help you decide whether you want to open a business checking account from a specific bank.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

If you are receiving payments to your business name then your business will need a checking account. You can’t deposit a check made out to a business into your personal accounts. 

But beyond that it’s a good idea to keep your business and personal expenses separate. It allows for cleaner bookkeeping and makes things much easier at tax time. Run all of your business transactions — both income and expenses — through your business checking account. You’ll be able to see exactly how much your business is earning and spending. 

“Keeping business expenses separate not only is crucial for proper and accurate tax deduction purposes but it also makes financial reports easier and more accurate,” said Lauren Prince, a certified financial planner and owner of Prince Financial Advisory. “This helps to keep track of business success defined as profits and to determine productivity and cost efficiencies.”

You’ll want to keep enough in your business checking account to allow you to cover any upcoming expenses and avoid overdrafts. 

“The checking account balance should cover expenses so you would need to have a good feel about cash flow with money coming and money going out,” said Prince. “Having a fudge factor for contingencies helps to keep the books straight.”

Absolutely. All the accounts on this list have no monthly fees and offer lots of free perks. As you do your research you’ll want to keep your own situation in mind. For example, if you send and receive a lot of international wire transfers you’ll want a bank that can affordably accommodate that.

Or, if you have a lot of individual transactions then you’ll want to make sure that your bank doesn’t charge you for excess transactions.

Yes, most banks allow you to open a business checking account online. Consider your needs here as well. If you want to be able to go into a bank sometimes you’ll want to choose a bank that also has local branches. However, if online banking will satisfy all your needs then a bank that operates entirely online might be a perfect fit.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Maddie Panzer

BLUEPRINT

Maddie Panzer is the Updates Editor on the USA TODAY Blueprint team. Prior to joining the team, she studied journalism at the University of Florida. During her studies, she worked as a reporter for the New York Post, WUFT News and News 4 Jacksonville. She was also editor-in-chief of her school’s magazine, Orange and Blue. Maddie holds a B.S. in Journalism.

Taylor Tepper

BLUEPRINT

Taylor Tepper is the lead banking editor for USA TODAY Blueprint. Prior to that he was a senior writer at Forbes Advisor, Wirecutter, Bankrate and Money Magazine. He has also been published in the New York Times, NPR, Bloomberg and the Tampa Bay Times. His work has been recognized by his peers, winning a Loeb, Deadline Club and SABEW award. He has completed the education requirement from the University of Texas to qualify for a Certified Financial Planner certification, and earned a M.A. from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York where he focused on business reporting and was awarded the Frederic Wiegold Prize for Business Journalism. He earned his undergraduate degree from New York University, and married his college sweetheart with whom he raises three kids in Dripping Springs, TX.

Ashley Barnett has been writing and editing personal finance articles for the internet since 2008. Before editing for USA TODAY Blueprint, she was the Content Director for an international media company leading the content on their suite of personal finance sites. She lives in Phoenix, AZ where you can find her rereading Harry Potter for the 100th time.