Best business bank accounts of 2026

Key takeaways

• Nearly 80% of business leaders expect revenue or profit growth in 2026, according to the Chase 2026 Business Leaders Outlook survey.¹

• In a 2023 NFIB survey, 62% of small business owners rated low banking fees as very important when choosing a bank.² Traditional banks charge up to US$95 a month for high-tier business checking, and wire fees and FX markups add to that cost.

• Airwallex is the top pick for a digital-first business account, while Chase offers a branch network for businesses that need in-person banking.

A business account is essential for managing operations and supporting growth, from a founder’s first hire to a mature company’s expansion. In the US, businesses choose between traditional banks for in-person services, neobanks focused on solopreneurs, and fintech platforms such as Airwallex, which publish transparent pricing and support global payments. This guide compares six business accounts and bank accounts on fees, features, and onboarding speed.

Best business accounts and bank accounts at a glance

Best business accounts and business banks in the US

The right provider depends on a business’s operational needs, from local cash handling to international expansion.

Best for cross-border business: Airwallex

Airwallex is a digital-first platform offering Airwallex Multi-Currency Accounts and integrated expense management. It is a standout choice for companies expanding internationally that want to avoid high cross-border fees.

Ideal for

Airwallex is ideal for small-to-medium-sized businesses and startups that are preparing for growth, want to save on monthly maintenance costs, and need to move money across borders. Digital-first businesses choose the Airwallex Business Account for an online setup that integrates with their accounting software and global payment rails.

Our take

Airwallex is built for businesses that operate globally and need payments to move in real time. Airwallex helps businesses move foreign currencies without the red tape or high fees common at traditional institutions. It is particularly effective for businesses that pay vendors in multiple regions or accept payments from international customers like a local.

Pros

• No monthly fees or minimum deposits

• FX at 0.5% above interbank rates for major currencies

• Unlimited virtual and physical multi-currency cards

• Airwallex Yield offers up to 3.69% returns on USD balances, with indicative net returns of 3.42% on Explore and 3.57% on Grow

Cons

• Fully digital account that opens and runs without branch visits

• Corporate cards spend from the account balance, with a card credit line coming soon

Best bank with physical branches: Chase

JPMorgan Chase offers business checking and savings accounts through more than 5,000 branches and 14,000 ATMs, along with business credit products.

Ideal for

Businesses that require in-person banking, physical check deposits, business credit cards, and loans often choose Chase. Businesses with international needs and no in-person banking requirements choose Airwallex for FX at 0.5% above interbank rates and local transfers to 120+ countries.

Our take

Chase offers relationship banking and established credit facilities for businesses that need them. Its Ink suite of business credit cards earns rewards on business spend.

Pros

• Access to physical branches and ATMs

• Strong business credit card ecosystem

• Comprehensive lending and merchant services

Cons

• Higher FX markups on international transfers

• Monthly fees apply if balance requirements are not met

• More rigorous documentation requirements for setup

Chase vs Airwallex

Chase focuses on domestic, relationship-based banking and credit card rewards, while Airwallex is built for cross-border business. Chase provides physical branches for cash-heavy businesses, but its wire fees and FX markups raise the cost of international operations.

Airwallex reduces these costs with FX at 0.5% above interbank rates for major currencies and local transfers to 120+ countries. Chase serves local retail and businesses that need established lending facilities, while Airwallex lowers transfer and FX costs for digital-first companies expanding internationally.

Best for business lines of credit: Bluevine

Bluevine is a fintech that pays interest on checking balances and offers business lines of credit. Its Standard plan carries no monthly fee and earns 1.3% APY on balances up to US$250,000 when the business meets a monthly activity requirement.

Ideal for

Bluevine is ideal for US-based businesses seeking interest on checking balances and domestic credit options.

Our take

Bluevine is a domestic checking account that pays interest on everyday balances. Its three tiers are Standard at 1.3% APY with no monthly fee, Plus at 1.75% APY for US$30 a month, and Premier at 3.0% APY for US$95 a month, with the Plus and Premier fees waivable. Bluevine charges US$25 for an outgoing USD international wire and adds a 1.5% fee to payments sent in foreign currencies.

Pros

• Competitive APY on checking balances

• Access to domestic lines of credit

• No monthly fees or minimum deposits

Cons

• Charges fees for international wires

• 1.5% fee on payments sent in foreign currencies

• Lacks native multi-currency holding capabilities

Bluevine vs Airwallex

Bluevine works as a domestic interest-earning account, while the Airwallex Business Account is built for global expansion. When comparing Bluevine vs Airwallex, Bluevine pays interest on balances but charges wire fees and FX fees on international payments. Airwallex lowers those costs by letting businesses hold 20+ currencies and send local transfers to 120+ countries. For businesses that pay internationally, Airwallex’s lower transfer and FX costs can outweigh Bluevine’s interest.

Best for profit first: Relay

Relay is a digital platform built for Profit First accounting. It lets LLC owners open multiple checking accounts to set aside money for taxes, payroll, and profit.

Ideal for

Relay is ideal for businesses which prioritize profit-first accounting and need multiple sub-accounts to automate complex domestic bookkeeping.

Our take

Relay supports organized domestic bookkeeping, and its Starter plan costs nothing and earns 1.19% APY on savings accounts. Grow costs US$30 a month and earns 1.87% APY, and Scale costs US$90 a month at a limited-time discount from US$120 and earns 3.21% APY, both with no minimum balance. Relay helps with USD budgeting, but its lack of multi-currency support and its international wire fees limit its reach for global businesses.

Pros

• Up to 20 checking accounts on Starter and Grow, or up to 50 on Scale

• Deep integration with Xero and QuickBooks

• Automated domestic bookkeeping features

Cons

• No native multi-currency support

• Fees on international wire transfers

• Primarily focused on USD-only operations

Relay vs Airwallex

Relay is a USD budgeting tool, while Airwallex is built for global expansion. Relay organizes a business’s money, but its lack of multi-currency support and its international wire fees limit its reach.

Airwallex lets businesses hold 20+ currencies and avoid SWIFT wire fees by sending local transfers to 120+ countries. Relay helps businesses categorize their cash, while Airwallex helps them keep more of it as they expand globally.

Best for budgeting reserves: Novo

Novo is an online business checking platform with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. Its Reserves feature lets owners set aside money for taxes, payroll, and other goals without moving funds to another bank.

Ideal for

Novo is ideal for freelancers and solopreneurs who want a free checking account with built-in budgeting reserves.

Our take

Novo charges no monthly maintenance fee, requires no minimum balance, and offers free standard ACH transfers and free incoming domestic and international wires. Novo charges no ATM fees of its own and reimburses up to US$7 a month in third-party ATM fees. Outgoing wires carry a fee that Novo shows before each transfer.

Pros

• No monthly fee or minimum balance

• Free standard ACH transfers and incoming wires

• Reserves for setting aside funds

Cons

• Fee on outgoing wires

• ATM fee reimbursement capped at US$7 a month

Novo vs Airwallex

Novo offers free domestic banking with built-in reserves, while Airwallex is built for businesses that move money across borders. Novo receives international wires for free, while Airwallex lets businesses hold 20+ currencies and send local transfers to 120+ countries. Businesses with overseas suppliers or customers keep more of each payment with Airwallex’s FX at 0.5% above interbank rates for major currencies.

Best for automated tax filing: Found

Found is an all-in-one financial platform specifically designed for the self-employed, integrating banking, tax tracking, and bookkeeping into a single mobile app. It helps freelancers manage their business finances without the need for complex, enterprise-level software.

Ideal for

Found is ideal for US-based freelancers and sole proprietors who want an automated way to track business expenses and estimate their quarterly tax payments.

Our take

Domestic solopreneurs focused on automated tax filing often choose Found. The free plan covers core bookkeeping and tax tracking. The Plus plan costs US$35 a month and earns 1.5% APY on balances up to US$20,000, and the Pro plan costs US$80 a month, earns 2.5% APY on all balances, and adds 1% cashback on card purchases.

That said, Found is primarily built for USD transactions and lacks the ability to hold and manage multiple currencies natively, which may be a drawback for those with a global client base.

Pros

• Automated tax tracking and high-level bookkeeping

• Built-in tools for estimated quarterly tax payments

• Mobile-first design tailored for freelancers

Cons

• Cannot hold or manage multiple currencies natively

• US$15 fee per outgoing domestic wire on the free plan

• Lacks enterprise-level scaling features

Found vs Airwallex

Found serves domestic solopreneurs focused on automated tax filing, whereas Airwallex is built for businesses with a global client base. Found is built for USD transactions and local expense tracking, and it does not let businesses hold multiple currencies.

Airwallex lets businesses receive and hold 20+ currencies like a local, avoiding conversion fees when they work with clients in the UK, EU, or Australia.

Best business accounts for specific needs

Business account for scaling and growing business

Growing businesses need a provider that handles more than domestic transfers. The strongest platforms combine Corporate Cards and Expense Management in one dashboard.

Scaling businesses often choose Airwallex, which provides local bank details in 70+ countries, letting businesses receive funds in foreign markets like a local.

Business account with low fees and unlimited transactions

For high-volume businesses, per-transaction fees can eat into profits. Digital-first accounts typically offer unlimited electronic deposits and transfers via local rails, helping businesses maintain margins as they scale.

Chase Business offers more than 5,000 branches for businesses that handle physical cash. Businesses seeking low-fee, unlimited transactions choose Airwallex for local transfers to 120+ countries, which avoid the international wire fees Chase charges.

Business account with high yield

Digital businesses benefit from accounts that offer cashback on card spend or returns on idle cash. Airwallex offers 2% cashback on card spend and up to 3.69% returns on USD balances through Airwallex Yield, a money market fund.

Methodology for ranking the best business bank accounts

Airwallex ranked these providers on four criteria: fee structures, software integrations with tools such as Xero, QuickBooks, and NetSuite, customer support availability, and ease of online application. Airwallex publishes this article and scored the Airwallex Business Account against the same criteria as every other account here. This review lists the Airwallex Business Account’s trade-offs alongside those of its competitors.

How to choose a business account?

The first step in choosing a business bank account is identifying the primary need, whether that is cash access or global reach. Local retailers need a traditional bank with nearby branches. Online businesses selling to customers in the UK, Europe, or Australia save more over time with a digital platform that charges low FX markups, such as Airwallex.

How to open a business account?

Most modern providers let businesses open a business account online:

• Prepare documents: Applicants generally need a Certificate of Incorporation, an EIN, and government-issued ID for all beneficial owners.

• Apply online: The applicant completes the application on the provider's website.

• Verification: The provider will conduct a compliance review, which often takes 1–2 business days.

• Fund the account: Once the provider approves the account, the business transfers funds via ACH or wire to begin operations.

Explore different types of business bank accounts

Finding the best business bank account is about more than avoiding fees. It also means choosing a financial platform that automates the back office and frees time for growth. The guides below cover business bank accounts for specific needs:

• Business accounts for LLCs

• Business accounts for eCommerce

• Business accounts for international businesses

• Online business accounts

• Business accounts with no fees

• Business accounts for small businesses

• Business multi-currency accounts

• Business savings accounts

• High-yield savings business accounts

• Business bank accounts for sole proprietors

Frequently asked questions about business accounts

Can I use my personal account for my business?

No, business owners should not use a personal account for business, although some sole proprietors do. Mixing finances makes bookkeeping difficult and can jeopardize the legal protections afforded to LLCs and corporations.

Do I need an EIN to open a business account?

Yes, most US providers require an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to open a business account, using it to verify the business entity for tax and compliance reasons.

The guide to opening a business bank account with an EIN only covers the requirements in more detail.

Which bank is best for a small business with no revenue yet?

The best option for a small business with no revenue yet is a provider with no monthly fees and no minimum deposit requirements. Fintech platforms such as Airwallex suit pre-revenue startups because they charge no fees for a low starting balance.

Sources:

1. https://www.chase.com/business/knowledge-center/manage/blo-2026

2. https://www.nfib.com/news/press-release/new-nfib-survey-small-businesses-rank-banking-operations-and-confidence-in-banking-system/