The 9 best business bank accounts in 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 Businesses should weigh monthly fees, cash deposit access, branch access, FDIC coverage, and international transfer costs when choosing a business checking account.

• The best business accounts are the Airwallex Business Account, Chase, Bluevine, Relay, U.S. Bank, Found, American Express, Grasshopper, and Capital One.

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 nine 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.

Our take

Airwallex serves businesses that pay vendors in multiple regions and accept payments from international customers. It also suits businesses that want to avoid the wire fees and FX markups common at traditional institutions. Airwallex offers free local transfers to 120+ countries and SWIFT transfers to 200+ countries for US$15 to US$25 each. It converts major currencies at just 0.5% above interbank rates and all others at 1%.³

The account opens online with no monthly fee on the Explore plan and integrates with accounting software. Airwallex is a fintech company, not a bank. Airwallex holds US customer funds with FDIC-insured partner banks, including Evolve Bank & Trust, where they are eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance of up to US$250,000 per qualified customer account and banking institution.

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 3.72% returns on USD balances, with indicative net returns of 3.45% on Explore and 3.6% on Grow

Cons

• No physical branches or in-person banking

• No cash deposits

Best for branch access: Chase

JPMorgan Chase offers business checking and savings accounts through more than 5,000 branches and 14,000 ATMs, along with business credit products.⁴

Our take

Chase serves businesses that need in-person banking, physical check deposits, business credit cards, and loans. Chase Business Complete Banking costs US$15 a month. Chase waives the fee for businesses that meet one of its requirements, such as a US$2,000 minimum daily ending balance.

Chase’s Ink business credit cards earn rewards on business spend. An outgoing international wire sent online in USD costs US$40. The same wire in a foreign currency costs US$5 and Chase waives that fee on foreign currency wires of US$5,000 or more.

Pros

• Access to physical branches and ATMs

• Strong business credit card ecosystem

• Comprehensive lending and merchant services

Cons

• Outgoing international wires cost US$40 in USD online or US$50 at a branch

• Monthly fees apply if balance requirements are not met

• More rigorous documentation requirements for setup

Best for unlimited transactions: Bluevine

Bluevine is a fintech that offers business checking with unlimited transactions on every plan. 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.⁵

Our take

Bluevine serves US businesses that want to avoid per-transaction fees on everyday checking activity. Bluevine’s Standard plan pays 1.3% APY with no monthly fee. The Plus plan pays 1.75% APY for US$30 a month and the Premier plan pays 3.3% APY for US$95 a month. Bluevine waives the Plus and Premier fees for qualifying accounts.

Bluevine charges US$25 for outgoing international payments. It adds 1.5% to payments sent in non-USD currencies. Learn more about Bluevine vs Airwallex.

Pros

• Competitive APY on checking balances

• Unlimited transactions on every plan

• No monthly fee or minimum deposit on the Standard plan

Cons

• Charges fees for international wires

• 1.5% fee on payments sent in foreign currencies

• Lacks native multi-currency holding capabilities

Best for sub-accounts: Relay

Relay is a digital banking platform built around multiple checking accounts. It lets business owners open up to 50 checking accounts to set aside money for taxes, payroll, and profit.

Our take

Relay serves businesses that need multiple accounts to organize domestic bookkeeping. Relay’s Starter plan costs nothing and earns 1.19% APY on savings and the Grow plan costs US$30 a month for 1.87% APY. The Scale plan earns 3.21% APY and costs US$90 a month, a limited-time discount from US$120.⁶ Relay accounts hold USD only and each SWIFT international wire costs US$20 to US$25, depending on the plan.

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

Best free brick-and-mortar account: U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank offers Business Essentials checking with a US$0 monthly maintenance fee and a US$25 minimum opening deposit.⁷ The account includes unlimited digital transactions, such as debit card purchases, electronic deposits, and ACH transfers.

Our take

U.S. Bank serves businesses that want branch access without a monthly fee. Business Essentials includes 25 free teller and paper transactions per statement cycle and charges US$0.50 for each one after that.

Outgoing international wires sent digitally in USD cost US$45 and international wires involving FX cost US$75. Outgoing domestic wires sent digitally cost US$30, and debit card purchases abroad carry a 3% international processing fee.

Pros

• No monthly maintenance fee

• Unlimited digital transactions

• Branch access for in-person banking

Cons

• US$45 to US$75 per outgoing international wire

• US$0.50 per teller or paper transaction after 25 a cycle

• 3% international processing fee on debit card purchases abroad

Best for tax tracking: 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.

Our take

Found serves domestic solopreneurs focused on automated tax tracking. Found’s 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. The Pro plan costs US$80 a month, earns 2.5% APY on all balances, and adds 1% cashback on card purchases.⁸

Found can only send wires within the US. It can receive wires from other countries but only in US dollars.

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

Best for 24/7 customer support: American Express

American Express offers Amex Business Checking through American Express National Bank, an online account with no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement. The account earns 1% APY on balances up to US$500,000.⁹

Our take

American Express serves businesses that want 24/7 support from a fee-free online account. Amex Business Checking earns one Membership Rewards point for every US$2 spent on eligible Business Debit Card purchases. The account connects to QuickBooks Online and Xero. American Express does not accept ATM cash deposits into the account.

Outgoing domestic wires cost US$25 and same-day ACH transfers cost US$10. The Amex fee table lists free incoming international ACH and no outgoing international wires.

Pros

• No monthly fee or minimum balance requirement

• 1 Membership Rewards point per US$2 on eligible debit card purchases

• 24/7 support

Cons

• No ATM cash deposits

• US$25 per outgoing domestic wire

• 2.7% foreign transaction fee on debit card purchases abroad

Best for enhanced FDIC coverage: Grasshopper

Grasshopper Bank is a digital bank that offers Innovator Business Checking with no monthly maintenance fee. The account earns 1% APY on balances up to US$24,999.99 and 1.35% APY on balances from US$25,000 to US$250,000, and it costs US$100 to open.¹⁰

Our take

Grasshopper serves businesses that hold large balances and want deposit coverage beyond the standard US$250,000. Grasshopper extends FDIC coverage up to US$125 million by sweeping funds across a network of partner banks. Its free Visa debit card earns 1% cash back on signature-based purchases for accounts with an average monthly balance of US$10,000 or more. Outgoing domestic wires cost US$5 and outgoing international wires cost US$25.

Pros

• No monthly maintenance fee

• Up to US$125 million in FDIC coverage through ICS Deposit

• 1% cash back on signature-based debit purchases

Cons

• US$100 minimum to open

• US$25 per outgoing international wire

• 1% cash back requires a US$10,000 average monthly balance

Best for cash deposits: Capital One

Capital One offers Business Basic Checking with a US$15 monthly service fee that Capital One waives when the 30-day or 90-day average balance is US$2,000 or more.¹¹ The account includes unlimited free digital transactions, such as mobile deposits and ACH payments.

Our take

Capital One serves businesses that handle cash and want both branch and ATM deposit options. Business Basic Checking accepts up to US$5,000 in teller cash deposits each statement cycle at no fee and charges US$1 per US$1,000 after that. Cash deposits at Capital One ATMs and select Allpoint ATMs carry no fee.

Incoming domestic and international wires cost US$15 each. Outgoing domestic wires cost US$25 and outgoing international wires cost US$40.

Pros

• Up to US$5,000 in free teller cash deposits each cycle

• Free cash deposits at Capital One and select Allpoint ATMs

• Unlimited free digital transactions

Cons

• US$15 monthly fee without a US$2,000 average balance

• US$40 per outgoing international wire

• US$1 per US$1,000 in teller cash deposits above US$5,000

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 account details in 70+ countries for receiving funds in foreign markets.

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 free local transfers to 120+ countries, which avoid the international wire fees Chase charges. SWIFT transfers to 200+ countries cost US$15 to US$25.

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 3.72% returns on USD balances through Airwallex Yield, a money market fund.

Methodology for ranking the best business bank accounts

This ranking compared each provider's pricing page, fee schedule, and deposit insurance disclosures. Each account was scored on the criteria below. Airwallex publishes this article and scored the Airwallex Business Account against the same criteria as every other account here.

• Account costs: monthly fees, minimum deposits, minimum balances, and ACH and wire fees

• International costs: international wire fees and FX fees

• Deposit insurance: whether coverage comes from an FDIC-insured bank or a fintech's partner banks, and the coverage cap

• Integrations: accounting tools such as Xero, QuickBooks, and NetSuite

• Onboarding: application requirements and whether the account opens online or in a branch

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 to 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:

• Best business bank accounts for LLCs

• Business accounts for eCommerce

• Business accounts for international businesses

• Online business accounts

• Business accounts with no fees

• Best banks for small business

• 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://nfib.com/content/analysis/banking-bank-accounts/relationship-between-banks-and-small-businesses-assessed-in-new-survey

3. https://www.airwallex.com/en-us/pricing

4. https://www.chase.com/business/banking/checking

5. https://www.bluevine.com/business-checking/plans-and-pricing

6. https://relayfi.com/pricing

7. https://www.usbank.com/dam/en/documents/pdfs/disclosures/business-essentials-pricing-information.pdf

8. https://found.com/pricing

9. https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/banking/business/deposit-account/agreement/checking-account/rates-and-fees/

10. https://www.grasshopper.bank/banking-solutions/small-business-checking/

11. https://www.capitalone.com/small-business/bank/products/checking/