The 6 Best Business Checking Accounts of 2025
· 8 min read
Picking a business checking account in 2025 isn’t about finding a single “winner.” It’s about matching how you move money—ACH vs. wires, cash deposits, international payouts, multi-user access, interest on idle cash—to what each provider actually does well (and at what cost). Below are six excellent options, each “best” for a specific use case, followed by a quick comparison and a practical buying framework.
At a glance — best by use case
- Bluevine — best for earning APY on checking and modern payables automation.
- Mercury — best for startups that want builder‑friendly banking and free USD wires.
- Relay — best for multi‑account cash management (up to 20 checking accounts) and cash deposits via Allpoint+.
- Novo — best for Stripe‑centric solo and small teams; fast Stripe payouts with Boost; domestic wires rolling out to eligible accounts.
- Axos Basic Business Checking — best for unlimited ATM reimbursements and free incoming wires.
- Chase Business Complete Banking — best for branch access, built‑in card acceptance, and regular cash deposits.
Quick comparison (key signals to check)
| Account | Standout strengths | Typical gotchas to check |
|---|---|---|
| Bluevine Business Checking | Standard plan is 3M via sweep; robust ACH/bill pay. | Outgoing wires are 25 + 1.5%; cash deposits via Green Dot/Allpoint+ have limits/fees. |
| Mercury | Free ACH, checks, domestic wires, and USD international wires; 1% FX for non‑USD; up to $5M pass‑through FDIC via partner bank sweep; strong API & controls. | No cash deposits; confirm partner‑bank changes if you care where funds sit. |
| Relay | Up to 20 checking accounts + 50 cards; cash deposits at Allpoint+; FDIC coverage up to $3M; Pro tier adds same‑day ACH and free outgoing wires. | Starter plan charges for outgoing wires (e.g., $8 domestic); deposit limits at ATMs apply. |
| Novo | No monthly fees; ATM refunds up to $7/mo; native Stripe integration and Novo Boost (faster Stripe payouts); domestic wires now available to eligible accounts; international via Wise. | No direct cash deposits (use money orders + mobile check deposit); wire eligibility/fees can vary. |
| Axos Basic Business Checking | $0/month; unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements; free incoming (domestic & international) wires; two domestic outgoing wires reimbursed each month; no minimum opening deposit. | Standard outgoing wires beyond the included reimbursements may incur fees—check Axos’ current schedule. |
| Chase Business Complete Banking | 5,000+ branches / 15,000+ ATMs; built‑in card acceptance with QuickAccept and same‑day deposits; multiple ways to waive the 5,000 cash deposit allowance per cycle. | Wire transfers have typical big‑bank fees; fee‑waiver rules require activity or balances. |
Rates, fees, and coverage change—always confirm on the provider’s site before you apply. Data points above reflect public pages as of September 3, 2025.
The picks, explained
Bluevine — online checking that actually pays
- Why it’s great Bluevine’s tiered plans let you trade a higher monthly plan (waivable) for higher yield: 1.5% APY on Standard (with qualifying activity) up to 2.7% (Plus) and 3.7% (Premier)—with FDIC coverage up to $3M via a sweep network. Daily operations feel modern: unlimited transactions, free standard ACH, and integrated bill pay.
- Costs to watch Outgoing domestic wires are 10; mailed checks are 4.95 per deposit) and Allpoint+ ATMs with stated per‑deposit limits.
- Good fit if you want yield on operating cash without giving up modern payables.
Mercury — startup‑grade banking with free USD wires
- Why it’s great Mercury keeps fees simple: free ACH, checks, domestic wires, and USD international wires. If you send non‑USD, there’s a 1% FX fee. Deposits are held at partner banks with sweep coverage offering up to $5M in FDIC insurance. In March 2025, Mercury announced it’s transitioning away from Evolve to other partners (such as Choice Financial Group, Column N.A. and Patriot Bank).
- Costs to watch No cash deposits—period. If your business is cash‑heavy, consider Relay or Chase.
- Good fit if you’re a software‑first company wiring vendors globally, want API access, and don’t handle cash.
Relay — cash‑flow control with sub‑accounts and ATM cash deposits
- Why it’s great Relay is built for envelope‑style budgeting: open up to 20 checking accounts under one entity, issue up to 50 cards, set rules/roles, and keep funds organized. Cash deposits are supported at Allpoint+ ATMs, and funds can be covered by FDIC up to $3M through its partner bank program.
- Costs to watch On the free Starter plan, outgoing domestic wires cost 5; 1,000 per deposit, $2,000/day).
- Good fit if you want clean segregation of funds (e.g., Profit First), team controls, and the ability to deposit cash without visiting a branch.
Novo — the Stripe‑friendly account for solos and creators
- Why it’s great Novo integrates tightly with Stripe; flip on Novo Boost to get Stripe payouts up to two days faster (at no added Novo fee). Novo refunds ATM fees up to $7/month and now supports domestic wires for eligible accounts; international wires are sent via Wise.
- Costs to watch No direct cash deposits. If you take cash, you’ll buy a money order and mobile‑deposit it. Wire availability/fees may depend on eligibility and Wise’s schedule for international transfers.
- Good fit if you’re online‑first (e.g., e‑commerce or services), rely on Stripe, and want simple, low‑friction banking.
Axos Bank — $0/month with unlimited ATM rebates
- Why it’s great Basic Business Checking has no monthly maintenance fee, unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements, free incoming wires (domestic & international), two reimbursed domestic outgoing wires/month, and no minimum opening deposit—rare for a full‑service bank.
- Costs to watch Additional outgoing wires beyond the included reimbursements may incur fees; check Axos’ current schedule before heavy wire usage.
- Good fit if you value a traditional bank’s stability with online convenience and nationwide ATM flexibility.
Chase Business Complete Banking — branch muscle + built‑in payments
- Why it’s great Chase pairs a massive branch/ATM footprint with built‑in card acceptance via QuickAccept (with same‑day deposits) and multiple ways to **waive the 2,000 minimum daily ending balance, eligible deposits from Chase Payment Solutions, or Ink card spend). In‑branch, you get $5,000 of cash deposits per cycle at no extra charge.
- Costs to watch Wire fees are typical of big banks (e.g., $25 outgoing domestic online). If you prefer zero‑fee wires, consider Mercury; if you need cash deposits without branch visits, see Relay.
- Good fit if you accept card payments in person, regularly deposit cash, or want walk‑in service.
How to choose (in 10 minutes)
- Map your money motion
- Heavy cash? Favor Chase (branch) or Relay (Allpoint+ cash deposit).
- Frequent wires? For low cost, Mercury (free USD wires) or Relay Pro (free outgoing wires) stand out.
- Need yield on checking? Bluevine offers plan‑based APY up to 3.7%.
- Decide on operating style
- Want envelope budgeting and multi‑entity clarity? Relay (up to 20 accounts) is built for it.
- Stripe‑heavy revenue? Novo + Boost is tailor‑made.
- Check true cost vs. your transactions
- Compare outgoing wire fees, same‑day ACH, and cash deposit fees against your monthly volumes. Bluevine and Relay publish clear per‑transaction fees; Mercury keeps most domestic/US‑dollar transfers at $0.
- Confirm coverage & partners
- If extended FDIC matters, note Bluevine and Relay advertise up to 5M, via sweep networks across partner banks.
Methodology (what we prioritized)
- Fees you’ll actually pay (outgoing wires, same‑day ACH, cash deposit fees) over teaser bonuses.
- Availability and access (cash deposits, branches/ATMs, multi‑user controls).
- Safety (FDIC pass‑through coverage and partner banks).
- Operational leverage (APY on checking, Stripe payout acceleration, multi‑account cash management).
We relied on official product pages, help-center articles, and reputable finance publications; all terms are subject to change—verify current details on the provider’s site before opening.
Want a short, personalized pick?
Tell me how you bank each month (cash deposits, wires, ACH volume, international needs, average balance), and I’ll match you to the best fit from this list with a 60‑second rationale.
