Sponsored partner picks for
Best Free Business Checking Accounts
Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating▼ | Monthly fee▼ | APY▼ | Bonus▼ | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bluevine Business Checking Learn more at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.7/5 Best for Earning interest | $0 | 2.00% With $0 min. balance for APY | $300 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
American Express® Business Checking Learn more at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC | 5.0/5 Best for 24/7 customer support | $0 | 1.30% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Learn more at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC |
Grasshopper Business Checking Account Learn more at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC | 4.5/5 Best for 1% cash back on debit card purchases | $0 | 2.25% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Learn more at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC |
U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking Learn more at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC | 4.0/5 Best for Welcome bonus + branch access | $0 | N/A | $800 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC |
Relay Business Checking Learn more at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.7/5 Best for Multiple business checking accounts (up to 20) | $0 | N/A | $100 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
nbkc Business Account Learn more at nbkc bank, Member FDIC | 4.9/5 Best for Unlimited fee-free cash deposits via MoneyPass ATMs | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at nbkc bank, Member FDIC |
Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC | 5.0/5 Best for Unlimited ATM fee refunds | $0 | N/A | $400 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC |
Mercury Business Bank Account Learn more at Mercury, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.1/5 Best for Free domestic and international wire transfers | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at Mercury, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
Novo Business Checking Learn more at Novo, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.4/5 Best for Cashless businesses | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at Novo, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
Found Small Business Banking Learn more at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.4/5 Best for Freelancers and side hustlers | $0 | N/A | $20 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
Lili Basic Business Checking Learn more at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.3/5 Best for Early access to payments | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking | 4.2/5 Best for Military families | $0 | 0.01% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | |
Huntington Business Checking 100 | 3.9/5 Best for Overdraft grace period | $0 | N/A | N/A | |
Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating▼ | Monthly fee▼ | APY▼ | Bonus▼ | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bluevine Business Checking Learn more at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.7/5 Best for Earning interest | $0 | 2.00% With $0 min. balance for APY | $300 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
American Express® Business Checking Learn more at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC | 5.0/5 Best for 24/7 customer support | $0 | 1.30% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Learn more at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC |
Grasshopper Business Checking Account Learn more at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC | 4.5/5 Best for 1% cash back on debit card purchases | $0 | 2.25% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | Learn more at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC |
U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking Learn more at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC | 4.0/5 Best for Welcome bonus + branch access | $0 | N/A | $800 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC |
Relay Business Checking Learn more at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.7/5 Best for Multiple business checking accounts (up to 20) | $0 | N/A | $100 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
nbkc Business Account Learn more at nbkc bank, Member FDIC | 4.9/5 Best for Unlimited fee-free cash deposits via MoneyPass ATMs | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at nbkc bank, Member FDIC |
Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC | 5.0/5 Best for Unlimited ATM fee refunds | $0 | N/A | $400 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC |
Mercury Business Bank Account Learn more at Mercury, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.1/5 Best for Free domestic and international wire transfers | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at Mercury, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
Novo Business Checking Learn more at Novo, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.4/5 Best for Cashless businesses | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at Novo, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
Found Small Business Banking Learn more at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.4/5 Best for Freelancers and side hustlers | $0 | N/A | $20 Requirements to qualify | Learn more at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
Lili Basic Business Checking Learn more at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured | 4.3/5 Best for Early access to payments | $0 | N/A | N/A | Learn more at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured |
Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking | 4.2/5 Best for Military families | $0 | 0.01% With $0 min. balance for APY | N/A | |
Huntington Business Checking 100 | 3.9/5 Best for Overdraft grace period | $0 | N/A | N/A |
Access real-time financial insights and recommendations
Get insights into your cash flow trends, track revenue and expenses, and receive personalized recommendations to make smarter financial decisions.
Accounts
Insights
Data sources:
I'M INTERESTED IN:
Our pick for
Earning interest
Bluevine Business Checking
at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured
With $0 min. balance for APY
Fees vary by location.
Requirements to qualify
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions; no overdraft fees.
- Earn 2.00% interest on account balances up to and including $250,000. Terms apply.
- Access up to $3 million in FDIC insurance with Insured Cash Sweep.
- No fees at MoneyPass ATMs.
- Free incoming wires and low outgoing wire transfer fees.
Cons
- Fee for cash deposits.
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- No joint accounts.
Our pick for
24/7 customer support
American Express® Business Checking
at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC
With $0 min. balance for APY
No cash deposits.
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- No excess transaction fees and no charge for incoming wires.
- Earn 1.30% APY on balances up to $500,000.
- 24/7 customer support.
- No fees at more than 70,000 MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
Cons
- Can’t deposit cash.
- No outgoing international wire transfers.
Our pick for
1% cash back on debit card purchases
Grasshopper Business Checking Account
at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC
With $0 min. balance for APY
No cash deposits.
Pros
- Unlimited 1% cash back on qualified debit card purchases.
- Earn up to 2.25% APY.
- No monthly fees or overdraft charges.
- Free, built-in bookkeeping software.
Cons
- Can’t deposit cash.
- $100 minimum opening deposit.
- No weekend support.
Our pick for
Welcome bonus + branch access
U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking
at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC
Up to $2,500 per month.
Requirements to qualify
Pros
- No monthly service fee for Silver Business Checking account.
- Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
- No fees at 4,700 U.S. Bank ATMs and access to 2,900 branches.
- No fees if account is overdrawn by $50 or less.
Cons
- Low cash deposit limits.
- Terms and fees are not easily accessible via the bank’s website.
- Limit of 125 fee-free transactions per month.
- $1 fee for outgoing domestic ACH transfers.
Our pick for
Multiple business checking accounts (up to 20)
Relay Business Checking
at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Unlimited
Requirements to qualify
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions; no overdraft fees.
- Cash deposits via compatible AllPoint ATMs.
- Automatic transfers to high-yield business savings earning up to 3.00% APY.
- No foreign transaction fees when you use your Relay Visa® Debit abroad.
- Free incoming wires and low outgoing wire transfer fees.
Cons
- Phone support only available during business hours.
- Deposited checks are held for up to 6-7 business days.
- No bill pay feature in the free plan.
Our pick for
Unlimited fee-free cash deposits via MoneyPass ATMs
nbkc Business Account
at nbkc bank, Member FDIC
Unlimited
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions, no overdraft fees and free incoming domestic wires.
- Up to $12 in monthly refunds for ATM fees charged by other banks worldwide.
- Unlimited cash deposits via MoneyPass ATMs.
- Accept contactless payments via the NBKC app (iOS only). Fees apply.
Cons
- High fee ($45) for international wire transfers.
- Phone support only available during business hours.
- No third-party app integrations.
Our pick for
Unlimited ATM fee refunds
Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking
at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC
Unlimited
Requirements to qualify
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions and free incoming wires.
- Automatic refunds of all ATM fees (domestic).
- Cash deposits via MoneyPass and AllPoint ATMs.
- 24/7 customer support.
- Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
Cons
- $25 fee for insufficient funds/uncollected funds returned.
- No third-party app integrations.
Our pick for
Free domestic and international wire transfers
Mercury Business Bank Account
at Mercury, Deposits are FDIC Insured
No cash deposits.
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions; no overdraft fees.
- Free domestic and international wire transfers.
- Advanced digital tools including API access to automate and customize your banking.
Cons
- Can’t deposit cash.
- Mercury is not part of a fee-free ATM network.
Our pick for
Cashless businesses
Novo Business Checking
at Novo, Deposits are FDIC Insured
No cash deposits.
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions and free incoming wires.
- Refunds on all ATM fees worldwide.
- Integrates with top business tools, including Xero, Stripe and Shopify.
Cons
- Can’t deposit cash.
- Can’t send domestic or international wires.
- No recurring payments available with bill pay.
- No customer support by phone.
- No bill pay feature.
Our pick for
Freelancers and side hustlers
Found Small Business Banking
at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured
$2 fee per deposit
Requirements to qualify
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions, no overdraft fees and free incoming domestic wires.
- Free, built-in invoicing, bookkeeping and tax-planning features.
- Integrates with popular business apps, including Stripe, Etsy and PayPal.
Cons
- Phone support only available during business hours.
- Have to open account in your name, not business name, and use your SSN to apply. (Business EIN can be added later.)
- No outgoing wires. Can’t pay by check.
- Cash deposits limited to $2,000 per week; $4,000 per month. A $2 service fee applies.
- No bill pay feature.
Our pick for
Early access to payments
Lili Basic Business Checking
at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Fee of up to $4.95 per cash deposit.
Pros
- No monthly fees, transaction fees or incoming wire fees.
- No fees at MoneyPass ATMs.
- Cash deposits via Green Dot network (fees and limits apply).
- Early payment feature allows you to receive funds up to two days sooner than with a traditional bank account.
Cons
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- Cash deposits limited to $1,000 per day, $9,000 per month. Service fee of up to $4.95 per deposit.
- No checkbooks; can’t send wire transfers.
- Limits of $2,000 per day or $5,000 per month on incoming ACH transfers. No outgoing wire transfers.
- No bill pay feature in the free plan.
Our pick for
Military families
Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking
With $0 min. balance for APY
Unlimited
Our pick for
Overdraft grace period
Huntington Business Checking 100
Up to $2,500 per month.
Pros
- No monthly service fee for Business Checking 100 account.
- No overdraft fee unless account is overdrawn by more than $50; 24-hour grace period applies to overdrafts beyond that amount.
- Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
- No fees at 1,600 Huntington ATMs and access to 1,000 branches.
Cons
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- Accounts only available in 11 states.
- Limit of $2,500 in free cash deposits per month.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Want to earn more interest on your company’s cash? Consider a business savings account in addition to your business checking account. These accounts are also often free and can pay APYs as high as 4% or more. You can easily open one online, too.How to compare free business checking accounts
- Understand your business's needs. Every business operates differently. Some make regular cash deposits, while others deal solely with electronic transactions. Some need built-in bookkeeping and invoicing, while others need their bank account to integrate with the tools they already use. The unique needs of your small business will determine your priority features in a business checking account.
- Look at upfront costs. You can open most free business accounts with no deposit, but a handful require at least $100 up front to open your account.
- Consider cash deposits. There's a lot of overlap between free and online business checking accounts. Online-only banks often have strict limits on how much cash you can deposit at once or charge fees for doing so. Some don't support cash deposits at all. If your business deals with cash, make sure to choose an account without those restrictions.
- Be aware of incidental fees and transaction limits. Pay close attention to the fine print. Some free business checking accounts charge for out-of-network ATM use, cash deposits, wire transfers and overdrafts. Some also limit the number of transactions you can make each month for free. See NerdWallet's picks for the best business bank accounts to compare cash deposits, branch access and other features, and see below for more details about these fees.
- Factor in additional perks and features. Some business checking accounts earn interest or offer cash back when you use your business debit card. A few offer both. And many offer additional features, like bookkeeping software, tax-planning tools and free invoicing. Weigh these perks and benefits when choosing an account.
- Decide how you want to open an account. Convenience is key when choosing a business account, including how easy it is to open. You can open a business checking account online in minutes with digital banks and even most brick-and-mortar banks. But some still require you to open a business account in person or to talk to a staff member over the phone.
💬 From our Nerds: Why so many of these accounts are from online banks
How much do banks charge for a business account?
Free business checking accounts by state
Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
- U.S. Bank: Silver Business Checking Package.
- Huntington Bank: Business Checking 100.
- Truist: Simple Business Checking.
- Citizens Bank: Clearly Better Business Checking.
- First Citizens Bank: Business Banking.