Personal Finance Banking Checking Account

Best Business Checking Accounts

A person sits on the steps outside of a building, smiling. They are working on their laptop.
The best business checking accounts offer no or low monthly service fees and plenty of free transactions. ABRAHAM GONZALEZ FERNANDEZ/Getty Images
Updated
Read in app

The best checking account for your business will keep your personal and professional transactions separate.

To help you narrow down the best option, we highlighted why each of our top picks may be appealing. For example, we have a top pick for people who prefer an in-person banking experience, earning interest on checking balances, or easily accessible ATM access.

We've listed our top picks for business checking accounts offered by banks and credit unions. All, with the exception of Chase Business Complete Banking® have no monthly service fees, but keep in mind that Chase offers many ways to waive the fee.

Best Best Business Checking Accounts


Axos Bank Business Checking

Best Well-Rounded Option
Axos Bank Basic Business Checking Account
Start banking
On Axos Bank's website
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.5/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Earn up to $400 welcome bonus when you maintain a minimum average daily balance of $50,000 and use promo code NEW400 (offer expires September 30, 2025)

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

None

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Bonus

up to $400

Pros

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum opening deposit
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Unlimited transactions
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Unlimited refunds on domestic out-of-network ATM fees
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You may qualify for an intro bonus
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Compatible with QuickBooks
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 2 free domestic wire transfers per month

Cons

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No physical branches
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $50 international outgoing wire transfer fee
Insider’s Take

Axos is a good bank for businesses overall. The Axos Bank Basic Business Checking Account is probably its strongest product, with unlimited monthly transactions and unlimited ATM fee refunds. It's one of the best free business checking accounts out there right now.

Axos Bank Basic Business Checking Account review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
  • Business owners get up to $400 welcome bonus!*
  • Open a business checking account by September 30 and get up to $400 when you use promo code NEW400 on your application.*
  • No initial deposit requirement
  • No minimum balance requirement
  • No monthly maintenance fees
  • Free domestic incoming wires. Two (2) outgoing domestic wire fees reimbursed per month.
  • Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
  • Unlimited item processing (debits, credits, and deposited items)
  • Cash deposits via MoneyPass and AllPoint networks

The Axos Bank Basic Business Checking Account is a well-rounded option. It has a large ATM network, and if you use an out-of-network machine, Axos refunds all fees charged by an ATM provider. You may also be eligible for a cash bonus of up to $400 if you meet certain requirements.

Keep in mind there's a $50 international wire transfer fee. However, most banks charge a similar international wire transfer fee.

Max. monthly transactions: Unlimited

Minimum opening deposit: $0


Bluevine Business Checking

Best for Earning Interest
Bluevine Business Checking Account
Start banking
On Bluevine's website
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.25/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Earn a $500 bonus when you open a new Bluevine Business Checking Account before 1/31/2026 using the referral code CA500 and complete qualifying activities.

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

1.30%

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Bonus

$500

Pros

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum opening balance
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Unlimited monthly transactions
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earn competitive interest rate on balances up to $250,000
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No non-sufficient funds fees
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No in-network ATM fees
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No incoming domestic wire transfer fees
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Ability to deposit cash

Cons

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No physical branches
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't reimburse any fees charged by out-of-network ATMs
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $4.95 fee for cash deposits at Green Dot locations
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $15 outgoing wire transfer fee
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $2.50 out-of-network ATM fee
Insider’s Take

The Bluevine Business Checking Account is on Personal Finance Insider's list of the best free business checking accounts. It pays a solid interest rate if you meet certain requirements and offers unlimited free transactions. You also have the ability to deposit cash, which sets it apart from other online business accounts.

Bluevine Business Checking Account review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
  • To get your $500 bonus, apply for a Bluevine Business Checking account anytime between now and 6/30/2025 using referral code CA500.
  • After opening your account, deposit a total of $5,000 within the first 30 days. After 30 days, maintain a minimum daily balance of $2,000 while also completing at least one of the following eligibility requirements every 30 days for 90 days:
  • -Deposit at least $5,000 from eligible merchant services to your Bluevine account
  • -Make at least $5,000 of outbound payroll payments from your Bluevine account using eligible payroll providers
  • -Spend at least $2,000 on eligible transactions with your Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard® and/or Bluevine Business Cashback Mastercard®
  • Earn 1.30% APY on balances up to $250,000 if you meet one of the following requirements: Spend $500 using your Bluevine debit card per month OR receive customer payments of $2,500 or more per month
  • Earn a higher APY when you join Bluevine Premier for a $95 monthly fee or avoid the monthly fee by maintaining an average daily balance of at least $100,000 in your Bluevine Business Checking account and/or sub-account(s) and spending at least $5,000 with your Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard®
  • Deposits are FDIC insured through Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC

The Bluevine Business Checking Account lets you open an account with $0. You'll earn 1.30% APY on up to $250,000 when you meet one of the monthly eligibility requirements. This sets the account apart from the others on our list, which don't pay interest at all. It is also one of the few online business checking accounts that give you a way to deposit cash.

You won't be able to earn interest on balances over $250,000 unless you join the Premier plan which has a $95 monthly fee with options to waive. You'll earn 3.00% APY on balances up to $3 million with the Bluevine Business Checking Premier Account.

Bluevine is also offering a $500 bonus when you open a new Bluevine Business Checking Account before 1/31/2026 using the referral code CA500 and complete qualifying activities. To get the bonus, customers must add $2,000 within 30 days. You'll need to maintain your $2,000 minimum daily balance while also meeting at least one of the following eligibility requirements every 30 days for the next 90 days from account funding:

  • Deposit $5,000 or more from eligible merchant services to your Bluevine account
  • Make $5,000 or more of outbound payroll payments from your Bluevine account using eligible payroll providers
  • Spend at least $2,000 with your Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard and/or Bluevine Business Cashback Mastercard®

Bluevine also doesn't have physical locations, so you might not have easy access to your account.

Max. monthly transactions: Unlimited

Minimum opening deposit:$0


U.S. Bank Business Checking

The U.S. Bank Business Essentials® is a business checking account with no monthly service fee. Usually, brick-and-mortar banks charge a monthly maintenance fee for standard business checking accounts, which makes U.S. Bank stand out.

You might like opening a business checking account if you're interested in banking in-person. U.S. Bank has over 2,000 branches in 26 states. Locations are available in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

U.S. Bank is also a great option if you're interested in primarily banking with one financial institution for your business. For business banking, you can also get a business savings account, business money market account, and business CDs. It also offers one of the best small business credit cards.

New customers may qualify for a Earn a $400 bonus when you open a U.S. Bank Business Essentials Account online with promo code Q3AFL26 and complete qualifying activities. Subject to certain terms and limitations. Offer valid through September 27, 2026. Member FDIC..

Max. monthly transactions: Unlimited digital transactions, 25 free teller and paper transactions per month

Minimum opening deposit: $100


NBKC Business Checking

Best for an online-only banking experience
NBKC Business Checking Account
Start banking
On NBKC Bank's site. NBKC Bank, FDIC Insured.
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4.25/5
Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

None

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Pros

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum opening deposit
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Unlimited free monthly transactions
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No overdraft or nonsufficient funds fees
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No incoming domestic wire transfer fees
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Refunds up to $12 per month in fees charged by out-of-network ATMs
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Deposit cash at ATMs

Cons

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Only physical branch locations are in Kansas City, MO
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $5 outgoing wire transfer fee
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $45 incoming international wire transfer fee
Product Details
  • Online bank with branches in Kansas City, MO
  • 37,000+ free ATMs in the MoneyPass network
  • No out-of-network ATM fees; if an ATM provider charges you, NBKC reimburses up to $12 per month
  • FDIC insured

The NBKC Business Checking Account account gives you a lot of freedom. There's a $0 minimum opening deposit, no monthly service fee, and no overdraft fees. NBKC is a great option for avoiding domestic wire transfer fees. You won't get charged for incoming domestic wire transfers, and there's a low fee for outgoing domestic wire transfers.

If you use a non-MoneyPass ATM and the ATM provider charges a fee, NBKC reimburses you up to $12 per month.

This is primarily an online account, but there are branches in Kansas City, Missouri. NBKC also only gives business loans to people in the Kansas City area.

Max. monthly transactions: Unlimited

Minimum opening deposit: $0


American Express Business Checking

American Express® Business Checking stands out because you can make fee-free withdrawals at AllPoint and MoneyPass ATMs. These are two large ATM networks, so you'll have access to over 70,000 ATMs nationwide.

This business checking account is also a good option because there are no fees for incoming domestic and international wire transfers, non-sufficient funds, or stop payments. You can earn 1.30% APY on balances up to $500,000, too.

Max. monthly transactions: Unlimited

Minimum opening deposit: $0


Climate First Bank Business Checking

The Climate First Bank NetZero Business Checking account is a low-fee business checking account offered by an eco-friendly bank. Climate First Bank is a Florida-based bank with online banking features, and its business checking account has no monthly service fee and unlimited monthly transactions. The bank is a Certified B Corporation, a member of 1% For The Planet, is a GABV member, and is fossil-free certified.

The bank has a sizeable minimum opening deposit of $50. Also, all of its branches are based in Florida — if you want to bank in-person, but don't live in Florida, one of our other picks might be a better choice for you.

Max. monthly transactions: Unlimited

Minimum opening deposit: $50


Chase Business Checking

Best for 24/7 customer service
Chase Business Complete Banking®
Start banking
On Chase's site. JPMorgan Chase Bank, FDIC Insured
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
4/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Earn up to $500 bonus after completing qualifying activities including total deposits of at least $2,000 (offer expires 10/16/2025)

Fees

$15 monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

None

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Bonus

up to $500

Pros

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum opening deposit
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Unlimited monthly debit card transactions
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 20 free transactions made with checks or a bank teller each month
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Possible to waive the monthly service fee
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Large free ATM network

Cons

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $15 monthly service fee
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. After the 20-transaction limit, you'll pay $0.40 per transaction with a bank teller and for checks
Insider’s Take

Chase Bank business checking accounts could be worthwhile if you're a small business owner who wants to open an account with one of the best national banks. Chase Business Complete Checking, in particular, is a solid option if you're a new customer who qualifies for a cash bonus.

Chase Business Complete Checking review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
  • Multiple ways to connect with Chase. Get personal attention paired with a large-scale presence, including more than 4,900 local branches and 15,400 ATMs. Plus, bank on your phone with the Chase Mobile® app.
  • Chase for Business guidance you can count on. Access business insights and tools to help you grow. Meet with our team of bankers or go to our online Resource Center to find helpful information.
  • Chase Business Complete Checking does more for your business. Featuring multiple ways to pay and get paid, like built-in invoicing and card acceptance, Zelle®, and Tap to Pay on iPhone, to help improve your cash flow.
  • Waivable service fee. Multiple ways to waive the $15 Monthly Service Fee, like keeping a $2,000 minimum daily balance or making at least $2,000 in purchases per month with your Chase Ink® Business credit card.

The Chase Business Complete Banking® account is a good option if you're looking for 24/7 customer service. It also has a strong minimum opening deposit of $0, and you can earn up to $500 bonus for opening the account after completing qualifying activities.

It does come with a $15 monthly service fee. You can waive it several ways, such as by keeping a $2,000 minimum daily balance, meeting military banking requirements, or through various linked accounts. You can make unlimited debit card purchases and ATM transactions with this account, but you're limited to 20 free deposits and withdrawals using a teller or check each month, along with $5,000 in cash deposits each month. Going over 20 deposits and withdrawals in this manner each month will cost you $0.40 each.

Max. Monthly Transactions: Unlimited for debit card, 20 for deposits and withdrawals using tellers and checks, $5,000 in cash deposits

Minimum opening deposit: $0


DFCU Business Checking

Digital Federal Credit Union is one of our top picks for the best banks and credit unions in Massachussetts. The Digital Federal Credit Union Free Business Checking account has no monthly service fee and a $0 minimum opening deposit, making it a low-fee business checking account. In addition, you can earn interest on balances above $0.01 of 0.10% APY and have enhanced FDIC protection up to $2,750,000 through the Business Earn More program, although you can only have one business checking account with those features per customer.

For the most part, you get unlimited transactions; however, you're limited to 20 free deposits a day. You'll pay $0.10 for each daily deposit over 20. Also, while Digital Federal Credit Union is a credit union anyone can join, if you don't live in Massachusetts, you'll probably have to pay a fee to join.

People who live, work, worship, or go to school in certain parts of Massachusetts, people with family members who are part of the credit union already, or people who work for one of the credit union's Select Employer Groups won't have to pay a fee to join. If you don't meet those requirements, you can join one of Digital Federal Credit Union's eight affiliated organizations to be eligible. Costs to join these organizations range from $10 to $120.

Max. monthly transactions: Unlimited, except for deposits, which are 20/day

Minimum opening deposit: $0


Rho Business Checking

Best Business Checking Account Bonus
Rho Business Checking
Start banking
On Rho's website
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
3.5/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks

Make Rho your primary bank account, maintain at least $100K in checking for 90 days and earn $1,500 in statement credits.

Fees

no monthly service fee

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

None

Minimum Opening Deposit

$0

Pros

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum opening deposit
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No monthly service fees
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Unlimited free ACH and wire transfers
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Enhanced FDIC coverage

Cons

con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Does not come with a debit card
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No ATM usage
Product Details
  • Savings Account deposits are FDIC-insured up to $75 million through American Deposit Management Co. and its partner banks.
  • $0 ACH and wire transfer transaction fees plus reliable support.

Rho Business Checking offers the best checking account bonus you can get for a business checking account right now. You can earn $1,500 in statement credits as a new customer if you make this account the primary bank account for your business and maintain an average daily balance of at least $100,000 for the first 90 days after your account is opened.

To make Rho Business Checking your primary account, you'll need to:

  • Use it for your payroll
  • Deposit your revenue
  • Deposit at least 40% of your company's assets

You might need to provide supporting documents to prove you've met these requirements.

While this is a hefty bonus, keep in mind that this account comes with a sizeable drawback: it doesn't come with a debit card at all. You won't be able to access ATMs or make debit card purchases with this account. That being said, you do get unlimited free ACH payments and wire transfers.

Max. monthly transactions: Unlimited, except you can't use a debit card at all

Minimum opening deposit: $0


Business Bank Trustworthiness and BBB Ratings

We review the ethics of each company so you can see if a specific financial institution aligns with your values.

We also include the settlement history of the last three years, so you're aware of any recent public controversies involving the bank.

The Better Business Bureau grades companies based on responses to customer complaints, advertising, and transparency about business practices. Here are the BBB scores for our top picks:

InstitutionBBB grade
Axos BankA+
BlueVineA+
U.S. BankA-
NBKC BankA+
American ExpressF
Climate First BankA+
JPMorgan Chase & Co.A-
Digital Federal Credit UnionA+
RhoN/A (B- rating for partner bank, Webster Bank)

U.S. Bank has a A- rating from the Better Business Bureau due to government action against the business.

The BBB gave American Express an F rating because it has failed to respond to some complaints filed against the company and has unresolved customer complaints.

Chase has an A- rating because it failed to respond to a few complaints.

Rho does not have a rating from the BBB. Its partner bank, Webster Bank, has a B- rating because of the number of complaints filed against the business, with one complaint that hasn't been resolved.

Some of these companies have recent public controversies.

In 2025, American Express agreed to pay $108.7 million in a settlement with the United States Department of Justice. The lawsuit says that American Express marketed credit card and wire transfer products deceptively and failed to follow regulations.

In 2023, JP Morgan Chase was required to pay $75 million in a settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands that accused the financial institution of failing to report suspicious activity regarding Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation.

In 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau required U.S. Bank to pay $21 million, saying it kept people from accessing unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency fined U.S. Bank $15 million for the same reason.

If these recent scandals worry you, you may decide to bank with one of our other top picks.

Criteria for a Great Business Checking Account

Below, you'll find our top picks for business checking accounts. To determine the best checking accounts for small businesses, we reviewed each account to ensure they did not charge high monthly service fees and had minimal fees for other common bank charges. We narrowed our options further by assessing opening requirements and how many free transactions you can make monthly with an account. We also ensured that each account was either FDIC-insured or NCUA-insured, depending on whether it was a bank or a credit union. Some of our choices even offer enhanced FDIC insurance through insured cash sweeps.

We reviewed over a dozen financial institutions to find the best business checking accounts with no or low monthly bank maintenance fees

Business Checking Account Features to Consider

Transaction Limits and Fees on Business Checking Accounts

Banks can limit how many monthly transactions you can make on a business checking account. You'll be charged a fee for each transaction that surpasses the limit.

Monthly transaction limits on business checking accounts are more likely to occur at brick-and-mortar banks than online banks. If you want to avoid transaction fees, there are some banks that allow unlimited monthly transactions, some of which are in our top picks.

ATM Network and Fees on Business Checking Accounts

Banks can charge you for using an ATM that isn't in their network. If you frequently travel for your business and utilize ATMs, look for a bank that has a national ATM network or offers reimbursements for ATM fees.

Additional Banking Services on Business Checking Accounts

The type of bank you choose can also impact your access to additional banking services. For example, brick-and-mortar banks tend to offer a greater variety of business loans or business credit cards than online banks and banking platforms. If you're interested in opening a business savings account or business CD, you can also check to see if those types of bank accounts are available at a specific financial institution.

Bookkeeping, Payment Processing, and Invoicing Tools and Integration on Business Checking Accounts

Some financial institutions offer recordkeeping, payment processing, and invoicing tools, either built-in to your mobile banking app or integrated using other software. If you want an all-in-one banking software that allows you to draft and send invoices, keep track of all of your finances, make and receive payments, and manage your money in one place, a business checking account with those features can come in handy.

Check what tools come with your account, or see if your account integrates easily with accounting software like QuickBooks or software that offers merchant services. If this is something you're interested in, you can also check out small business tax software to help you file taxes for your business.

How to Open a Business Checking Account

If you're interested in opening a business checking account, here is the documentation you'll need to apply:

  • Social Security number (if you have a sole proprietorship) or employee identification number (if you have a partnership or corporation)
  • Personal identification, like a driver's license or passport
  • Business license (It varies depending on the type of business you have. You may need both federal and state licenses.)
  • Basic business documentation (You should have a document that explains the formation of your business and what it does. If there are several owners, there should be an ownership agreement.)

The top banks for immigrants and non-U.S. citizens allow you to provide a foreign passport or Matricula Consular as personal identification if you don't have a U.S. ID to open a bank account. 

Keep in mind that opening a business bank account online may require additional authorization forms. For example, if there are multiple business owners, you might need to fill out an authorization form since you're not verifying your identity in person.

Credit Unions and Business Checking Accounts

Choosing to open a business checking account with a credit union instead of a bank can help both you and your community. Credit unions are member-owned, which means any profits credit unions make go back to you in the form of lower monthly service fees, better handling of cash deposits, and more permissive transaction limits.

Because credit unions limit who can join, they can more easily help specific communities through better loans, interest rates, and programs. Many credit unions are community development financial institutions or minority depository institutions, like Black-owned credit unions; both CDFIs and MDIs help underserved communities have access to banking services that might otherwise be unavailable to them.

That being said, credit unions aren't right for everyone. The best banks could potentially offer a greater range of services than a local credit union. Additionally, many credit unions require you to open a savings account with them and keep a small amount of money in it as part of membership, which could be frustrating if you're only interested in opening one account with a credit union. Credit unions might also offer limited customer service hours and locations compared to big brick-and-mortar banks.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Business Checking Accounts

To learn more about what makes a good account and how to choose the best fit, four experts weighed in.

PFI Banking Expert Panel (updated Mar 2024); (from left to right) Tania Brown; Roger Ma; Sophia Acevedo; Mykail James
BI

Our experts focused on what will make a business checking account the most useful, including low fees, transaction limits, branch locations, and more. Here's what they had to say about finding an account. (Some text may be lightly edited for clarity.)

How can someone choose the business checking account that's right for them?

Tania Brown, CFP® professional and vice president of coaching strategy at OfColor:

"Consider how you will use the bank account, and what features the account needs to have for you to run your business with ease. Here are a few examples of questions to think about:

"How much is your average account balance? If you are new and broke, you may not see the benefits of a business checking account with free services for balances over $100k.

"What types of transactions do you do the most? Do you write a lot of checks or do a lot of wire transfers? Whatever transactions you do the most, you want to make sure you choose a bank that will charge the least (preferably nothing) for these services.

"Do you want to be able to integrate your accounting software with your bank? If you, check your accounting software program to see how easily the program integrates with your potential bank."

Roger Ma, CFP® professional and author of "Work Your Money, Not Your Life":

"Someone may want to consider whether they value having a physical branch nearby. If so, they may prefer to use a brick-and-mortar bank instead of an online bank. In addition, someone should also consider their business's other financial needs. Down the road, would they want to be able to work with the same bank to open a business credit card, open a line of credit, or get a business loan?"

What should someone look for in a brick-and-mortar bank?

Mykail James, MBA, certified financial education instructor, BoujieBudgets.com:

"How accessible it is. Where are the branches? And if I am to go out of town or something, how accessible is my money to me?"

Sophia Acevedo, banking editor, Business Insider

"If you're more comfortable with a traditional bank experience, I would compare several nearby banks and see which accounts allow you to waive most fees. For example, with a business checking account, I would pay attention to monthly service fees, out-of-network ATM fees, and wire transfer fees."

What should someone look for in an online bank?

Tania Brown, CFP® professional:

"With an online bank, absolutely online customer service, because you do not have the advantage of walking inside and talking to a human being. How often are you able to get them? What are their hours?"

Mykail James, CFEI:

"What type of securities do they provide? Do they have two-factor identification? If it's an online bank, they should definitely have — at the bare minimum — two-factor authentication in how easy it is to change your passwords and things like that, because you want to be a little more hypersensitive about the cyber security for a strictly online bank."

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Best Business Checking Accounts

Business Insider's personal finance team reviewed over two dozen financial institutions before selecting our top picks for business checking accounts. We prioritized business checking accounts with no or low monthly service fees.

Then, we looked at the minimum amount you need to open the account. We looked at how many free transactions you can make each month with an account. All our top choices let you make at least 125 monthly transactions, and many offer unlimited transactions.

To get a rating for our top business checking accounts, we rate each product with a score from zero to five across several categories. For business checking accounts, those categories are minimum opening deposit requirements, monthly service fees, transaction limits, ATM networks and fees, customer support availability, mobile app ratings, ethics, security, miscellaneous features, and overdraft protection. Once each category has a score, we calculate the weight average to get the product's final star rating, which can land anywhere from one to five stars.

See our bank account rating methodology to learn more about how we rate bank accounts.

FAQs

Can I open a business bank account with an EIN only?

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Sole proprietors may use their Social Security number instead of an EIN. You'll need an EIN to open a business account if you aren't the only person in charge of your business.

Which bank is best for a business checking account?

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

We picked Axos Bank, Climate First Bank, and NBKC Bank as some of the best banks for opening a business checking account.

Can I use a personal bank account as a business account?

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Yes, you can use a personal checking account for your business — but doing so comes with complications. Your personal name rather than your business name will appear on checks, and you may find it difficult to separate personal and business spending. It could also be tricky when tax season rolls around and you need to prove business-related purchases. If you are starting your own business, the IRS recommends getting a separate checking account specifically for managing business finances.

Can I deposit cash with an online-based free business checking account?

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Some online-based free business checking accounts allow you to make cash deposits at select retailers or ATMs. You may have to pay a fee (up to $4.95) for each deposit, though.

How do free business checking accounts differ from traditional business checking accounts?

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

A free business checking account differs from a traditional business checking account because it doesn't charge any monthly service fees.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Checking, please click here.

American Express® Business Checking Disclosures: 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.

APY to be earned on account balances ≤ $500,000. No interest is earned on account balances over $500,000. Effective October 12th, 2022

Deposit a total of $5,000 or more in eligible deposits within 30 days of opening your first account, AND (2) Maintain an average account balance of $5,000 for the next 60 days, AND (3) Make 5 or more qualifying transactions within 60 days of opening your account. Eligible deposits are any deposits except deposits using our Redeem for Deposits feature, deposits from interest payments, and deposits from any other American Express Business Checking accounts. Qualifying transactions are mobile deposits, check deposits by mail, and electronic/online transactions including ACH, Wire, and Bill Payments. Business Debit Card transactions and deposits using our Redeem for Deposits feature are not qualifying transactions.

$10 USD fee applies. Same Day ACH transactions submitted between 12 AM and 2:45PM ET on a business day will arrive on the same day by 6 PM ET. The availability of your funds may vary depending on your payee's financial institution. Please note that the same day ACH option is not available for recurring or international transactions.

U.S. Bank Business Essentials® Disclosure

Disclosure: Promo code Q3AFL26 MUST be used when opening a U.S. Bank Business Essentials® or Platinum Business Checking account. Limit of one bonus per business. A $25 minimum deposit is required to open one of the referenced accounts. 

To earn a business checking bonus, open a qualifying U.S. Bank business checking account between 7/01/2026 and 9/27/2026. Make the required deposit(s) in new money within 30 days of account opening, maintain the same required daily balance through the 60 th  day, and complete 6 qualifying transactions based on posted date within 60 days of account opening.  Business Essentials: $400 bonus with $5,000 deposits and daily balance  Platinum Business Checking: $1,200 bonus with $25,000 deposits and daily balance 

Qualifying transactions include debit card purchases, ACH and wire credits or debits, Zelle credits or debits, U.S. Bank mobile check deposit, electronic or paper check debits, U.S. Bank bill pay for business (excluding payments made by credit card), and payment received via U.S. Bank Payment Solutions. Other transactions, such as person-to-person payments, credit card transfers (including bill payments to U.S. Bank credit cards), or transfers between U.S. Bank accounts, are not eligible.  

New money is defined as funds from outside U.S. Bank and cannot be transferred from another U.S. Bank product or a U.S. Bank Affiliate. For accounts opened on non-business days, weekends or federal holidays, the open date is considered the next business day. Account fees may reduce the required daily balance during the qualifying period.  

Bonus will be deposited into your new eligible U.S. Bank business checking account within 30 days after the month-end in which all offer requirements are met, provided the account remains open with a positive available balance.

Offer may not be combined with other business checking bonus offers. Existing businesses with a business checking account or had one closed within the past 12 months, do not qualify.  

All regular account-opening procedures apply. For full checking account pricing, terms and policies, refer to your Business Pricing Information, Business Essentials Pricing Information, and YDAA disclosure. These documents are available at any U.S. Bank branch or by calling 800.872.2657.  

Bonus will be reported as interest earned on IRS Form 1099-INT and recipient is responsible for any applicable taxes. Current U.S. Bank employees are not eligible. U.S. Bank reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time without notice.

Read next

Kit Pulliam (they/them) was a banking expert who specialized in certificates of deposit, savings accounts, and checking accounts. They’ve been reporting, editing, and fact-checking personal finance stories for more than four years. ExperienceIn college, Kit worked as an undergraduate research assistant in a psychology lab. While there, they found that they were passionate about writing and helping others write about topics that matter.Before Business Insider, Kit was an editorial specialist for Tax Analysts, diving into the tax code to help readers get the best information about a confusing but necessary subject.They find banking similar to taxes in that way: There are some things everyone needs to know because just about everyone needs to work with a bank — and you don’t want to end up with an account that doesn’t serve your needs.As interest rates changed, they enjoyed the fast pace of reviewing rates for products like CDs and high-yield savings, which can change daily and have a direct impact on readers’ money.Their work has been featured in Business Insider and MSN. They were part of the My Financial Life and Milestone Moments series with Business Insider.ExpertiseTheir expertise includes:
  • Certificates of deposit
  • Savings accounts
  • Checking accounts
  • CD rates
  • Bank reviews
EducationKit is an alumnus of Vanderbilt University, where they studied English and psychology and received the Jum C. Nunnally Honors Research Award for their senior thesis.Outside personal finance, Kit enjoys reading, film, video games, and cross-stitching. They are based in the DC area.
Evelyn He is a compliance and operations associate for Business Insider’s Personal Finance team. Evelyn ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers get the most up-to-date and objective financial advice, enabling them to make informed financial decisions.ExperienceAs part of the compliance team, Evelyn helps fact check Personal Finance stories and works to make sure that the language is clear, precise, and compliant with government regulations and partner guidelines. Previously, Evelyn worked as a compliance specialist for Apellis Pharmaceuticals and a legal assistant at the law firm Morrison Mahoney.ExpertiseEvelyn is an expert in the following areas:
  • Compliance
  • Quality assurance
  • Affiliate marketing
  • Search engine optimization (SEO)
  • Content strategy
EducationEvelyn earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UMass Amherst and a master’s in marketing from Boston University. Evelyn has two dogs, Money and Tibber.