Many US-based businesses partner with global suppliers, so finding the best bank for international business is important. It should let you send payments overseas to numerous countries in multiple currencies for a reasonable fee and support your business when making international purchases or traveling abroad.
Some of the best banks for international businesses will also allow you to send currencies in as little as one business day, while others will open foreign accounts in local currencies to save you time and money when conducting international business. Access to digital and electronic banking options is also a critical factor for businesses expanding globally.
Here are the nine best banks for international business, with links directly to the provider websites:
- Bluevine: Best business checking account for earning interest with no monthly fees
- Novo: Best digital-only bank for international ATM fee refunds and rapid access to funds
- Relay: Best for businesses needing multiple accounts and debit cards
- Chase: Best for small business banking tools and premium checking
- Mercury Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Deposits in checking and savings accounts are held by our banking services partners, Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust®; Members FDIC. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through insurance to apply. : Best free international wires in US dollars
- Wise: Best low-cost international transfers via local accounts
- Rho: Best flat-rate pricing for foreign exchange transfers
- Revolut: Best for spending funds in multiple currencies
- Bank of America: Best overall for overseas payments and international currency orders
Best Banks for International Business at a Glance
Monthly Fee | Free Monthly Transactions | Number of Countries to Send Money | Number of Currencies | New Account Promotions | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bluevine Standard | None | Unlimited | 32 | 15 | |
Business Checking | None | Unlimited | 50 | N/A | |
Relay Standard | None | Unlimited | Undisclosed | 32 | N/A |
Business Complete Banking | 20 | 90-plus | 40-plus | ||
Mercury Business Checking | None | Unlimited | 160-plus | 30-plus | N/A |
Business Checking | None | Unlimited | 160-plus | 40-plus | N/A |
Business Checking | None | Unlimited | 200-plus | 32 | N/A |
Basic Business Checking | None | 160-plus | 33-plus | N/A | |
Business Advantage Fundamentals Banking | 20 | 200-plus | 140 | ||
Bluevine: Best Business Checking Account for Earning Interest With No Monthly Fees
What We Like
- Offers $300 sign-up bonus for new business checking account holders (use referral code: FSM300) How to earn the bonus: To earn the $300 bonus, customers must apply for a Bluevine Business Checking account anytime between now and 3/31/2025 using the referral code above. After opening the account, customers must add funds within 30 days, then meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements every 30 days for the next 90 days from account funding: 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, or Spend at least $2,000 with your Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard® and/or Bluevine Business Cashback Mastercard®
- Offers interest-earning checking on balances up to $250,000
- Can send payments to 32 countries in 15 currencies
- Has an excellent line of credit product
- Has unlimited 1.5% cash back on business Mastercard
Drawbacks
- Lacks savings, money market, and CD accounts
- Lacks physical branch locations
- Charges a fee for depositing cash
Features
- No monthly maintenance fee
- No minimum balance requirement
- Free debit card and two free checkbook orders per year
- Integration with QuickBooks, Wave, and Xero
- Ability to connect with business payment solutions, including Wise, Venmo, Expensify, Cash App, and Square
- Up to five subaccounts and shared account access
- Reduced standard payment fees for premium plans
- Live customer support from dedicated professionals
- Line of credit and credit card product offered
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | Unlimited |
ACH Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees |
|
International Wire Transfer Fees |
|
ATM Fees | None at MoneyPass locations nationally; $2.50 plus operator fees for nonnetwork ATM use |
Cash Deposited |
|
APY | 1.5% on qualifying balances up to $250,000 |
Bluevine is a business fintech platform backed by FDIC-insured Coastal Community Bank. |
Country | Currency |
---|---|
United Kingdom | GBP - British pound; USD |
China | CNY - Chinese Yuan, USD |
Mexico | MXN - Mexican peso; USD |
Canada | CAD - Canadian dollar; USD |
India | INR - Indian rupee; USD |
Israel | ILS - Israel new shekel; USD |
Japan | JPY - Yen; USD |
Switzerland | CHF - Swiss franc; USD |
Philippines | PHP - Philippine peso; USD |
Australia | AUD - Australian dollar; USD |
Denmark | DKK - Danish krone; USD |
Thailand | THB - Thai baht; USD |
Sweden | SEK - Swedish krona; USD |
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain | EUR - euro; USD |
When to Choose Bluevine
- You want an online interest-earning business checking account with international payment support: With interest-bearing checking and the ability for customers to send international payments, Bluevine is a great choice for international business customers. You can earn 1.5% APY with Bluevine Standard checking on qualifying deposits. In addition, Bluevine allows you to directly send international business payments to 32 countries in 15 currencies from your Bluevine dashboard.
- You need those international payments received in as little as 24 hours: Payments are sent out between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time and can be received in as fast as 24 hours. Payments sent in USD cost between $20 and $25 per payment depending on business account type, while payments sent in other currencies cost $25 plus 1.5% of the payment amount.
- You want the option of a premium account with higher interest earning: The Bluevine Premier checking account offers a 3.70% APY on balances up to $3 million. Its monthly fee of $95 can be waived by having a minimum balance of $100,000 and spending $5,000 via your Bluevine debit card or credit card. Premier account status also provides reduced fees for same-day ACH and domestic and international wire transfers.
Novo: Best Digital-only Bank for International ATM Fee Refunds & Rapid Access to Funds
What We Like
- Has zero maintenance fees
- Refunds up to $7 in ATM fees monthly, both domestic and international
- Allows faster access to your funds via Novo Boost and Express ACH
- Has unlimited 1.5% cash back on business Mastercard
Drawbacks
- Cannot deposit cash directly
- Doesn’t earn interest through the checking account
- Has conflicting information about how many countries and currencies are available for international payments
Features
- Integration with other business tools, such as QuickBooks, Slack, Xero, Stripe, Square, PayPal, and Wise
- Ability to set aside funds for taxes and other large business expenses with Novo Reserves
- Ability to deposit checks directly through the mobile app
- Online banking that includes unlimited invoicing and bill pay
- Faster access to funds via Novo Boost in coordination with Stripe
- Ability to accept or receive same-day ACH payments through Express ACH
- Virtual debit card available immediately, one free physical debit card per user
- Ability to send paper checks straight from the app
- Live customer support from dedicated professionals
- Merchant cash advance through Novo Funding
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | Unlimited |
ACH Fees | $0 for regular ACH; 1.5% of the transaction amount for Express ACH |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | $0 to receive; cannot send wires domestically but can send fee-free ACH transfers |
International Wire Transfer Fees | $0 to receive; Novo partners with Wise to send international wires for a “low” fee |
ATM Fees | None; refunds third-party ATM surcharges up to $7 monthly |
Cash Deposited | None; money orders can be purchased and deposited through the app |
APY | N/A |
Novo is a business fintech platform backed by FDIC-insured Middlesex Federal Savings. |
Novo partnered with Wise for international wire transfers. See our section on Wise for details.
In addition, Novo refunds up to $7 in ATM fees each month, including international ATM fees.
When to Choose Novo
- You withdraw funds from ATMs frequently, including internationally: While Novo’s biggest selling point is the ability to send and receive payments faster than most providers, a bonus of the digital-only neobank is ATM fee reimbursement. It refunds up to $7 monthly, including international ATM fees. This helps you save when you withdraw funds abroad. It is one of the reasons why Novo is in our roundup of the best business bank accounts for sole proprietors.
- You need to send international payments: For businesses sending international wires, Novo partners with Wise for low-fee transfers overseas. You can read more about Wise in its section, which comes later in this buyer’s guide. Novo claims that you can send money to over 150 countries in 50 currencies. However, Wise allows its customers to send payments to 80 countries, so this may be the same for Novo.
- You want to send and receive funds faster than with other providers: Novo is part of our list of the best online business banks for its two outstanding services that help you get paid and make payments faster. Novo Boost lets you accept payments from popular online payment processors and receive payments faster than other fintechs on this list, while Novo’s Express ACH enables you to accept or send same-day ACH payments.
Relay: Best for Businesses Needing Multiple Accounts & Debit Cards
What We Like
- Has no minimum balance or opening deposit required
- Offers very inexpensive wire transfers that are free with Relay Pro
- Has no ATM fees charged by Relay, although third-party fees may apply out of network
Drawbacks
- Lacks physical locations
- Lacks interest-bearing checking
- Lacks lending products
Features
- Fee-free online banking and money management platform
- Ability to open up to 20 individual business checking accounts
- Ability to issue up to 50 Visa debit cards
- Savings accounts with APY of 1% to 3%
- Cash deposits free at Allpoint+ ATMs
- Deposit cash at over 90,000 Green Dot retail locations (fee applies)
- Ability to send and receive ACH transfers, checks, and wires
- Ability to collect payments from PayPal, Stripe, Square, and more
- Accounting software integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, and Plaid
- Ability to send checks on users’ behalf for free; third-party checks unavailable
- Relay Pro account available, which offers same-day ACH delivery, free wire transfers, and accounts payable support
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | Unlimited |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees |
|
International Wire Transfer Fees |
|
ATM Fees | None at Allpoint ATMs; Relay doesn’t charge out-of-network ATM fees, although third-party fees will apply |
Cash Deposited | $0 through Allpoint+ ATMs and $4.95 per deposit at Green Dot retail locations |
APY | N/A |
Relay is a business fintech platform backed by FDIC-insured Thread Bank. |
When to Choose Relay
- You need to send international wires and seek transparency about what countries are available: Relay offers you the ability to receive funds in 32 currencies from more than 188 countries overseas. It also keeps an updated list of countries where you cannot send wires, which is linked in our rubric box above.
- You want to upgrade to a premium service for free international wires: Relay Pro starts at $30 a month. However, if you often send international wires, it may be worth it. Relay normally charges $10 per outgoing international wires, but those are free with Relay Pro. In addition, it provides faster ACH transfers, autoimported bills from QuickBooks Online or Xero, and other advanced payment dashboard features.
- You seek free checking with multiple accounts and debit cards: Thanks to no monthly account fees, up to 20 checking accounts, and 50 Mastercard debit cards, Relay is a great choice for companies looking to categorize their funds in multiple accounts and track company spending easily. Relay Standard is free with no minimum balance, opening deposit, and overdraft or bounced check fees.
Chase: Best for Small Business Banking Tools & Premium Checking
What We Like
Drawbacks
- Has limited number of free transactions
- Does not reimburse ATM fees
- Charges much higher fees for some wires; may not have favorable exchange rate on free wires
Features
- Ability to manage debit, deposit, and ATM card settings for individual employees
- Ability to deposit checks, view account balances, pay bills, and make transfers through the mobile app
- Integration with QuickBooks and other leading accounting software
- Built-in card acceptance with QuickAcceptSM via the Chase Mobile® app
- Free debit card, mailed within 10 business days of application approval
- Chase Payment Solutions
- Live customer support online or in branch during business hours
- Other products such as business savings, CDs, lending products, credit cards, merchant services, and collection services
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | 20, then 40 cents per transaction |
ACH Fees | $2.50 per item for first 10 payments and 15 cents for succeeding payments 1% of transaction for same-day ACH or $25 per transaction, whichever is less. |
Monthly Fees | $15; waivable if conditions are met |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees |
|
International Wire Transfer Fees |
|
ATM Fees | $3 at non-Chase ATMs, plus ATM operator fees |
Cash Deposited | $5,000 free per month, then $2.50 per $1,000 |
APY | N/A |
Chase, through JP Morgan, allows you to send payments to more than 90 countries in over 40 currencies. For complete details on sending funds, see JP Morgan’s Global Payments Guide, and search for the country where you plan to send money.
- Online wires sent to a bank outside the US in foreign currency have no Chase wire fee for amounts of $5,000 USD or more, only a $5 Chase wire fee for amounts below $5,000 USD.
- Wire funds on the go using the Chase Mobile® app or chase.com.
- Send from your Chase checking account.
- Access up to 13 months of outgoing wire transfer history.
- Save details of frequent payees for future transfers.
- Send transfer requests anytime.
- Transfer requests that are initiated by 4 p.m. Eastern time for Personal accounts and 5 p.m. ET for Business accounts begin processing the same business day.
When to Choose Chase
- You need to send international payments to more than 90 countries: Chase is another great option for international business thanks to the ability to send money to over 90 countries in more than 40 currencies. Chase offers slightly fewer options than Bank of America, which is why Bank of America edges Chase for international businesses.
- You want free online wires for transactions over $5,000: Chase online wires sent to a bank outside the US in a foreign currency have no Chase wire fees for amounts of $5,000 or more. If the amount of the wire is less than $5,000, a $5 Chase fee applies. Traditional wires are more expensive, so consider an online wire when sending money overseas.
- You want three great business checking options: The bank has three excellent business checking products, all with a waivable monthly fee if specific criteria are met: Business Complete Banking, Performance Business Checking, and Platinum Business Checking. You can read our comparison of Chase’s business checking accounts to see which best suits your needs.
Mercury: Best Free International Wires in US Dollars
What We Like
- Has no monthly maintenance fee on introductory account
- Has no fees for domestic and international wire
- Offers outstanding yield on balances over $500,000 for its treasury product
Drawbacks
- Is unavailable to sole proprietorships and trusts
- Lacks paper check-writing abilities
- Has limited lending options and no cash deposits
Features
- Offers 14 subaccounts
- 1.5% auto cash back rewards from corporate card
- Customized user account access
- Set customer user permissions for your team members
- Create autotransfer rules for your accounts
- Virtual debit cards available right away, with physical debit cards arriving in the mail in a few days
- Email customer service available
- Savings account provided when you open checking account
- Other products include Mercury Treasury, capital and venture debt, and corporate credit card
- 1% flat fee on currency exchange
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | Unlimited |
ACH Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | None |
International Wire Transfer Fees |
|
ATM Fees | None for out-of-network ATMs, although operator fees apply; free access to Allpoint ATM network |
Cash Deposited | Cash deposits not accepted |
APY | N/A |
Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Deposits in checking and savings accounts are held by our banking services partners, Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust®; Members FDIC. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through insurance to apply.
Mercury supports outgoing payments to, incoming payments from, and card swipes and ATM withdrawals within the following countries and regions:
- Aland Islands
- Albania*
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina*
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi*
- Cambodia*
- Cameroon*
- Canada
- Caribbean Netherlands
- Cayman Islands
- Chad
- Channel Islands
- Chile
- China
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Colombia
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Crimea
- Croatia*
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- French Southern Territories
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Great Britain
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Holy See (Vatican)
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jersey
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan)
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon*
- Lesotho
- Liechtenstein
- Libya*
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua*
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Niger
- Nigeria*
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Oman
- Pacific Islands
- Pakistan*
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines*
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Reunion
- Romania
- Rwanda
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Helena
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sevastopol
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Sint Maarten
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia*
- South Africa
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan*
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turks and Caicos
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine (nonsanctioned regions)
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- Wallis and Futuna
- Western Sahara
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Note: For the 14 countries and regions marked with an asterisk (*), you are required to provide the payment reason, indicate whether you plan to pay this recipient in the future, and upload supporting documentation when sending a payment.
The following countries are not supported for outgoing payments, incoming payments, or ATM withdrawals within them:
- Afghanistan
- Belarus
- Central African Republic
- Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)
- Congo (the)
- Cuba
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran (Islamic Republic of)
- Iraq
- North Korea (DPRK – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Palestine (State of)
- Russia
- South Sudan
- Syria (Syrian Arab Republic)
- Ukraine (sanctioned regions)
- Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
- Yemen
Wise: Best Low-cost International Transfers Via Local Accounts
What We Like
- Can hold and convert money in over 40 different currencies
- Can send money to over 160 countries
- Has interest-earning account for US-based businesses
- Has 18 different languages for translation
Drawbacks
- Requires $31 to open an account
- Doesn’t accept cash deposits
- Has no lending options
Features
- Integrations with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreshBooks, Oracle NetSuite, and more
- Ability to use Bespoke to set access and permissions to account
- Ability to send money to more than 160 countries
- Ability to hold and convert money in over 40 different currencies
- Interest-earning account available with solid APY for US-based businesses
Required Opening Deposit | $31 |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | Unlimited |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | $6.11 for incoming |
International Wire Transfer Fees | Incoming in USD: $6.11 Outgoing: Fees vary depending on exchange rate |
Cash Deposited | Cash deposits not accepted |
4.18% in USD balances (optional) | |
Wise is a Money Service Business registered with FinCen. It is authorized to operate in most states. In other states, the program is sponsored by Community Federal Savings Bank, to which we’re a service provider. |
When to Choose Wise
- You need to send, receive, and hold international payments: Wise uses the real exchange rate when you either send or receive international payments, which is why it is an excellent choice for businesses wanting to send international payments. It also supports other online-only banks, like Novo, with their overseas transactions and allows you to access funds in over 160 countries in more than 40 local currencies with no foreign transaction fees.
- You want to add money to your account in multiple currencies: You can add money to your Wise account in multiple currencies, although some of those currencies are limited to foreign-organized businesses. By setting up local account details in any one of nine currencies, overseas customers can pay you as if your account was held in a bank local to them. You can receive nonwire money for free in those nine currencies.
- You want to earn interest from your account: You can opt to earn interest from your USD, balances, which will be held by Wise’s partner bank, JP Morgan Chase Bank.
Rho: Best Flat-rate Pricing for Foreign Exchange Transfers
What We Like
- Has no monthly fee and FX transfers at a flat 1% for 32 currencies
- Offers fee-free domestic and international SWIFT wires, ACH, and bill pay
- Offers up to 1.25% cash back on corporate cards
Drawbacks
- Lacks APY for checking product
- Lacks business debit card
- Lacks direct cash deposits
Features
- Customizable account permissions
- Integration with Oracle NetSuite, QuickBooks, and Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Campfire, and Puzzle
- Streamlined accounts payable
- Cost-saving global payments
- Discounts on business software, such as Google Cloud, QuickBooks, Slack, and Stripe
- Free and unlimited virtual and physical corporate cards for employees
- Business account open to all US incorporated businesses, except sole proprietors
- Business savings accounts with up to $75M in FDIC insurance
- High-yield Treasury account
- Daily customer service through chat and phone support
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | Unlimited |
ACH Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | None |
International Wire Transfer Fees | |
ATM Fees | Unavailable; no debit card issued |
Cash Deposited | Cash deposits not accepted |
APY | N/A |
Checking account and card services provided by Webster Bank, N.A., member FDIC; savings account services provided by American Deposit Management Co. and its partner banks. International and foreign currency payments services provided by Wise US Inc. Rho is a fintech company, not a bank. |
When to Choose Rho
- You seek flat rates on international payments: You can send unlimited SWIFT wires to over 200 countries with a flat FX rate of just 1% across 32 currencies, the best rate in this buyer’s guide. While Rho doesn’t charge for international wires, there may be fees involved with using the SWIFT network in addition to intermediary and receiving bank fees—but those fees will be consistent with any international provider you use.
- Your business is incorporated in the US: Rho is a great option for international business, save for sole proprietorships and unincorporated businesses. Small companies, startups, middle-market companies, and enterprises across industries can open an account.
- You want free domestic wires and ACH payments: For companies that can meet Rho’s requirements, you get the benefit of free domestic wires and ACH payments.
Revolut: Best for Spending Funds in Multiple Currencies
What We Like
- Can hold and exchange over 33 currencies
- Can send in over 160 local currencies
- Has multiple tiers to fit your business needs
Drawbacks
- May not insure funds held outside of US-based account
- Only offers some features in paid plans
- Only offers customer support through online chat
Features
- Up to three physical and 20 virtual cards; first plastic card ships free; delivery fees for each additional card apply
- Four different company accounts and three freelancer accounts
- Local accounts opened up in USD, EUR, and GBP
- Ability to create multiple accounts in over 33 currencies to hold, exchange, and transfer money
- Integration with Xero and QuickBooks
- Business online and mobile banking app
- 24/7 live in-app chat support
- Perks for paid plans include metal cards and better exchange rates
- Cash deposits accepted at Green Dot retail locations
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | Unlimited transfers between Revolut accounts |
Transfer Fees |
|
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | $10 for incoming and outgoing |
Monthly Domestic ACH Transfers Allowance | Free if sent to the US in USD |
ATM Fees | 2% of the amount withdrawn, plus third-party ATM fees |
Cash Deposited | $4.95 per transaction, available through Green Dot retail locations |
APY | N/A |
Revolut Technologies Inc. (Revolut) is a technology services provider and program manager of the card program. Funds in your Revolut Prepaid Card Account will be held or transferred to Lead Bank, an FDIC-insured institution. While there, your funds are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC. FDIC insurance does not protect your funds in the event of Revolut’s failure or from the risk of theft or fraud. Savings Vault services provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and funds there are insured up to $250,000 in the event Sutton Bank fails. Securities products and services provided by Revolut Securities Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Securities products are not insured by the FDIC or any federal government agency, are not bank deposits, are not obligations of or guaranteed by any bank and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested. |
When to Choose Revolut
- You need multiple currency accounts: Revolut is a very solid choice for businesses needing to send payments internationally in multiple currencies. When you open an account, you receive three local accounts: USD, GBP, and EUR. Those allow you to send payments locally in those currencies. In addition, you can exchange over 33 currencies with Revolut and spend 160-plus currencies locally out of your accounts.
- You seek multiple account options: There are seven different accounts with Revolut, including four business accounts (Basic, Grow, Scale, and Enterprise) and three freelancer accounts (Basic, Pro, and Ultimate). The free business account has no opening deposit or minimum balance requirements, but some of the high fee-free allowances and best features are only available in the paid business accounts.
- You want to use free transfers to keep funds insured: One major potential drawback of Revolut is that funds held overseas may not be insured if the local accounts fail. Since transfers between Revolut accounts are free, it’s best to keep funds in your US-based account, which is backed by FDIC-insured banks.
Bank of America: Best for Overseas Payments & International Currency Orders
What We Like
- Sends payments to 200-plus countries in 140 currencies
- Can ship foreign currencies ordered by 5 p.m. local on the same day
- Allows 20 free transactions per month
Drawbacks
- Charges cash deposit fees per $100 over monthly allowance
- Doesn’t offer ATM fee reimbursements
- Requires a $100 opening deposit
Features
- Ability to deposit checks, view accounts, make transfers, and pay bills with the mobile app
- Cash Flow Monitor®, a cash management tool, that lets you connect accounting, analytics, and payroll apps to help you make business decisions
- Option for you to check your business credit score through a partnership with Dun & Bradstreet (see our guide on the Dun & Bradstreet Credit Report to learn more)
- Integrations with QuickBooks, TurboTax, and Zelle
- Customer service during business hours in branch and via phone or social media messages
- Other products such as business savings, merchant services, CDs, lending products, and financial analysis through Merrill financial adviser
Required Opening Deposit | $100 |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | 20, then 45 cents per item |
Monthly Fees | $16; waivable if conditions are met |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees |
|
International Wire Transfer Fees |
|
ATM Fees | None at over 15,000 ATMs nationwide; $2.50 per transaction on out-of-network ATMs |
Cash Deposited | Up to $5,000 per month free, then 30 cents per $100 per statement cycle |
APY | N/A |
Bank of America allows you to send payments to 233 countries in 150 currencies. For complete details on sending funds, see Bank of America’s International Wire Information, and search for the country where you plan to send money.
In addition, you can order foreign currency directly from the bank. If the order is placed by 2 p.m. local time, it will ship the same day. Fees and details are as follows:
- Standard delivery (one to three business days Allow 2 to 3 additional business days for orders shipped to Alaska or Hawaii. ): $7.50 (standard delivery is free for orders $1,000 and up)
- Because it does not stock inventories of foreign currency at financial centers, delivery charges apply to orders picked up at a financial center as well as to orders—under $1,000 United States dollars (USD)—sent to your account address.
Your order must be picked up at a financial center for the following cases:
- It is more than $1,000 USD.
- You are a new customer (less than 30 days).
- Your address changed in the last 30 days.
When to Choose Bank of America
- You need to send payments around the world in multiple currencies: With the ability to send payments to more than 200 countries in 150 currencies, Bank of America is our choice for the best bank for international businesses. If you order foreign currency from the bank before 2 p.m. local time, it will ship the same day. Standard delivery is $7.50 with currency delivered in one to three business days.
- You want a business bank account with outstanding ongoing rewards: With its Preferred PRewards for Business program, you can earn 25% to 75% bonus rewards on credit cards and get up to 20% rate boosts on business savings accounts. Bank of America also offers sign-up bonuses ranging from $100 to $500 if qualifications are met. For specific qualifications, see our guide to the best business bank account promos.
- For businesses that might need to access funds via an ATM during overseas travel: Bank of America’s partner banks will allow you to avoid the $5 out-of-network international ATM fee. It’s one of the reasons why Bank of America is one of our best small business checking accounts.
How I Evaluated the Best International Business Bank Accounts
I considered hundreds of domestic and international bank and neobank products when compiling this buyer’s guide. When I evaluated the best international business bank accounts, I considered the following:
- Number of countries and currencies funds that could be sent in a wire or transfer
- Fees for international wires and transfers
- Fees for currency exchange and purchase
- International in-network ATM availability and fees
- International acceptance for a domestic bank account
- Multicurrency options
- Which accounts had no monthly fees or easily waivable monthly fees
- Required opening deposit and balance minimums
- Transaction limits before fees
- Cash deposit fees and availability
- Interest yield, if applicable
- Other checking account perks
- Software integrations
- Other business services provided
- Lending products provided
- Customer service
- Customer reviews
What to Know About Doing Business Internationally
In addition to finding the right bank account for international business, there are some other things you may want to consider if you plan on having customers overseas. Here are some guides compiled by other experts here at Fit Small Business that can help your company thrive in business abroad.
- Payroll: Check out our article on how to pay international employees for a complete guide on how to set up your overseas payroll. And check out our buyer’s guide to the best international payroll services to choose the right provider.
- Contractors: If you plan to have contractors working for you abroad, see our guide on how to pay international contractors to avoid any potential issues.
- Merchant Services: When doing business overseas, it’s important to have a provider that can help you sell your products and services to an international audience. See our list of the leading international merchant accounts.
- Hiring: It’s essential to hire the right people when conducting business overseas. See our guides on how to hire international employees and how to hire international contractors for assistance.
- Shipping: Once you’ve sold your product overseas, you must ship it to the customer. That can present its own challenges. See our article on international fulfillment and cross-border shipping for assistance.
- Credit Cards: Besides a great bank account for international business, it helps to have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. See our top-recommended no foreign transaction fee credit cards.
What You Need to Open a Business Bank Account
Though each provider on this list may require different documents to open a business bank account, here is a general list of what you will need the following:
- EIN or Social Security number if you’re a sole proprietor
- Fictitious business name certificate or doing-business-as (DBA) certificate
- Business formation documents
- Organization documents, including your ownership agreements
- Business licenses
- Government-issued photo ID, such as a passport or driver’s license
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Novo and Mercury, two online fintech financial institutions, are tied as the best bank for international banking. Both offer unlimited transactions and do not charge a monthly maintenance fee. Novo has the ability to send funds in 50 currencies and to over 150 countries. Mercury can send funds in over 30 currencies to over 160 countries. These factors make both a good choice for business owners with international banking needs.
If your company plans to do business overseas, your bank must be able to support you by letting you send and receive payments from international customers, contractors, and employees.
Most large, traditional banks offer international accounts, including Bank of America and Chase from our list. In addition, many fintechs, like Wise and Revolut, provide international accounts. Others may let you conduct business abroad from traditional business bank accounts without explicitly calling them international accounts.
Yes, an LLC is capable of operating outside of the US; however, certain conditions must be met. The company must have a US location and an official US-based registered agent acting as a contact person. Other factors to consider would include checking the laws and regulations of the country where you will be conducting business.
Bottom Line
If your business is global, your business bank account must be able to support the demands of international banking. The providers on this list offer international transfers to and from customers, clients, and employees outside the US. Each offers different lists of countries and currencies, different products and services, and varying fees for those services. Compare each provider and choose the one that best aligns with the international business needs of your company.