10 Best Online Business Banks for 2023
This article is part of a larger series on Business Banking.
The best online business banks should provide you with outstanding business checking options while also supporting your company with other products and services. While some of these providers have limited product offerings, others offer the same services you would receive from a traditional brick-and-mortar bank.
These providers are backed directly by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) or have an FDIC-insured backing bank. This gives you the confidence that your company’s finances will be insured to at least $250,000 per depositor, per bank.
Here are the 10 best online business banks for small businesses, with links directly to the providers:
- Bluevine*: Best overall for interest-earning checking and international payments
- Novo*: Best digital-only bank for rapid access to funds and faster payments
- Mercury*: Best for tech companies, startups, and businesses needing additional FDIC insurance
- Found*: Best digital-only provider for self-employed professionals
- Relay*: Best for businesses needing multiple accounts and debit cards
- Grasshopper: Best digital-only bank for integrated free payment software
- Lili*: Best for digital tax preparation assistance
- Live Oak Bank: Best for high-yield savings account
- NBKC Bank: Best full-service online bank
- Oxygen*: Best digital-only provider for cash back on debit card purchases
*Providers are financial technology (fintech) platforms backed by and FDIC-insured through a supporting bank partnership (Coastal Community Bank for Bluevine, Middlesex Federal Savings for Novo, Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust for Mercury, Piermont Bank for Found, Evolve Bank & Trust for Relay, Choice Financial Group, Inc. for Lili, and The Bancorp Bank for Oxygen).
Best Online Business Banks Basic Checking Accounts at a Glance
Monthly Fee | Transaction Fee | Annual Percentage Yield (APY) | Cash Deposit Fee | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Business Checking | None | None | 2% on qualifying balances $250,000 or less | $4.95 per deposit (Green Dot locations) | |
Business Checking | None | None | N/A | None; cash is deposited through money orders | |
Business Checking | None | None | N/A | Cash deposits not accepted | |
Business Checking | None | None | N/A | Cash deposits not accepted | |
Relay Standard | None | None | N/A | Accepted at Allpoint ATMs | |
Innovator Business Checking | None | None | Up to 2.25% | Cash deposits not accepted | |
Business Checking Basic | None | None | None | $4.95 per deposit (Green Dot locations) | |
Business Checking | None | None | N/A | Cash deposits not accepted | |
Business Checking | None | None | N/A | Free at NBKC and MoneyPass ATMs | |
Business Checking | None | None | N/A | $4.95 per deposit (Green Dot locations); also through Plaid | |
Bluevine: Best Overall for Interest-earning Checking & International Payments
What We Like
- Interest-earning checking on balances of $250,000 or less
- Integrates with QuickBooks
- Excellent line of credit product
Drawbacks
- No savings, money market, and certificate of deposit (CD) accounts
- No physical branch locations
- Only one debit card is issued per account
Features
- No monthly maintenance fee
- No minimum balance requirement
- Free debit card and two free checkbook orders per year
- Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero
- Connects with business payment solutions, including Stripe, PayPal, and Expensify
- Has live customer support from dedicated professionals
- Offers line of credit
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | No limit |
Automated Clearing House (ACH) Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | $15 for outgoing, none for incoming |
International Wire Transfer Fees | $15 for outgoing, none for incoming |
ATM Fees | Free at MoneyPass locations nationally; $2.50 plus operator fees for nonnetwork ATM use |
Cash Deposited | $4.95 fee per transaction, available through Green Dot retail locations |
APY | 2.0% on balances of $250,000 or less, once qualifications are met |
*Bluevine is a business fintech platform backed by FDIC-insured Coastal Community Bank. |
When To Choose Bluevine
With the highest interest-earning business checking account on the market and the best business line of credit, Bluevine is our best overall online business bank. With its business checking account, you can earn 2% APY on qualifying balances of $250,000 or less as long as you either spend $500 a month with the debit card or receive $2,500 in customer payments in a month. While Grasshopper’s top interest rate is now 2.25%, Bluevine’s higher rate at lower balances gives it a slight edge over Grasshopper.
Bluevine is also one of our top recommendations for those looking for the top small business checking accounts and the leading banks for small business loans. In addition, it has great integrations and no monthly fees, transaction fees, minimum opening deposit requirements, and minimum balance requirements. It also provides two free checkbook orders per year.
For businesses sending payments internationally, you can now do so from the Bluevine dashboard to 26 countries in eight currencies. 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 United States dollars (USD) cost $25 per payment while payments sent in other currencies cost $25 plus 1.5% of the payment amount. View Bluevine’s list of countries available for international payments.
Its biggest drawbacks are its cash deposit and out-of-network ATM fees. Cash deposits will cost you $4.95 per transaction and can only be done at a Green Dot retail location while out-of-network ATM withdrawals cost $2.50, in addition to third-party fees.
If you want to earn on higher balances, you will need to choose a different provider, such as Grasshopper, which doesn’t cap its interest earnings on its business checking account.
Novo: Best Digital-only Bank for Rapid Access to Funds & Faster Payments
What We Like
- Zero maintenance fees
- Refunds all ATM fees
- Novo Boost and Express ACH allow faster access to your funds
Drawbacks
- Unable to deposit cash directly
- Lack of savings accounts and lending products
- Noninterest drawing account
Features
- Integrates with other business tools, such as QuickBooks, Slack, Xero, Stripe, Square, PayPal, Wise, and Shopify
- Set aside funds for taxes and other large business expenses with Novo Reserves
- Deposit checks directly through the mobile app
- Online banking includes unlimited invoicing and bill pay
- Novo Boost in coordination with Stripe allows you to access funds faster
- Express ACH lets you accept or receive same-day ACH payments
- Virtual debit card available immediately, one free physical debit card per user
- Paper checks can be sent straight from the app
- Live customer support from dedicated professionals
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | No limit |
ACH Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | None to receive; cannot send wires domestically but can send fee-free ACH transfers |
International Wire Transfer Fees | Novo partners with Wise to send international wires for a “low” fee |
ATM Fees | All fees refunded at the end of the month |
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. |
When To Choose Novo
Novo offers a great business checking product and outstanding software integrations. However, what stands out is its Novo Boost and Express ACH products. Using those products, Novo allows you to receive and make payments faster than with other online banks, which is why it is one of our best banks for small businesses. Novo Boost enables you to receive payments from your Stripe account more quickly than other providers while Express ACH allows you to accept or send same-day ACH payments.
To further expedite the payment process, users can now connect to Stripe, Square, or PayPal and get paid via card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, or Venmo. Novo now allows you to apply for an account even if you don’t have an employee identification number (EIN) or limited liability company (LLC).
Novo is especially beneficial for those who regularly make ATM withdrawals as it refunds all ATM fees at the end of each month. In addition, it has no monthly fees, transaction limits, minimum opening deposit requirements, and minimum balance requirements. One of its biggest perks is its digital integrations, with unlimited free invoicing and excellent accounting and payment software integrations.
While you cannot order checks with Novo, you can send paper checks from the app. It doesn’t charge for cash deposits, but you must purchase a money order and deposit it through the app. Money orders can be bought from various locations, including US Postal Service (USPS) locations, for up to $2.40 for money orders of up to $1,000.
This institution doesn’t offer any lending or savings products, so business owners looking for those products from their checking provider will need to choose another, such as Grasshopper or NBKC Bank.
Mercury: Best for Tech Companies, Startups & Businesses That Need Additional FDIC Insurance
What We Like
- No minimum deposit to open an account
- Physical and virtual debit cards
- Treasury product offers outstanding yield on balances over $250,000
Drawbacks
- Accounts unavailable to sole proprietorships and trusts
- Lacks paper check-writing abilities
- Limited lending options and no cash deposits
Features
- Earn interest with Mercury Treasury product if you have more than $250,000 in Mercury accounts and request Treasury
- Set customer user permissions for your team members
- Create auto-transfer rules for your accounts
- Integrate accounts with QuickBooks and Xero accounting software
- Virtual debit cards available right away, with physical debit cards arriving in the mail in a few days
- Physical checks unavailable
- Business payment integrations with Shopify, Stripe, Zapier, Amazon, and PayPal
- Email customer service available
- Savings account provided when you open checking account
- Other products include Mercury Treasury, capital, and venture debt and credit card
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | No limit |
ACH Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | None |
International Wire Transfer Fees | None as long as it is sent through Mercury’s structure |
ATM Fees | No charge for out-of-network ATMs, although operator fees apply; free access to Allpoint ATM network (55,000 locations worldwide) |
Cash Deposited | Cash deposits not accepted |
APY | N/A |
*Mercury is a business fintech platform backed by FDIC-insured Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust. |
When To Choose Mercury
Mercury is great for tech companies and startups looking for a business bank, thanks to free business checking and savings accounts, along with potential interest earning with Mercury Treasury and a sign-up bonus for new accounts. If you spend $2,000 within the first 90 days on your debit card, you will receive $300 in cash back. However, sole proprietorships and trusts aren’t eligible for an account.
The provider has top-notch software integrations, ideal for both tech companies and startups, and its perks page allows you to advertise deals for your business on the Mercury website. What’s more, it offers Mercury Vault, its newest perk, which uses sweep accounts and partner banks to increase your FDIC insurance to $5 million.
You can access the interest-bearing Treasury account by request once you have at least $250,000 in funds in your Mercury accounts. Currently, it is earning up to 4.92% APY, with that rate changing weekly.
Mercury has a credit card product that offers 1.5% cash back and unlimited virtual cards. However, its lending products are limited to its credit card and capital and venture debt products. Nevertheless, Mercury is a great choice for a digital-only bank with great software integrations and interest-earning account products.
Found: Best Digital-only Provider for Self-employed Professionals
What We Like
- No monthly fees, minimum balances, account fees, and sign-up fees
- Excellent expense tracking on both its desktop and mobile apps
- Helps you track tax write-offs and gives you real-time tax estimates
Drawbacks
- Cannot currently deposit checks made out in your business’ name
- Doesn’t accept cash deposits
- Cannot purchase checks or issue them from the app
Features
- Provides a business debit Mastercard, which allows you to track expenses and receive purchase alerts
- Debit cards can be frozen in the Found app
- Desktop and mobile apps
- Connect to accounting software and payment apps, such as Cash App, PayPal, Square, Venmo, and eBay
- Integrated bookkeeping allows you to categorize expenses, customize invoices, capture receipts, and set custom rules
- Track tax write-offs in the app
- View your tax estimate update in real-time
- Pay your taxes directly from the app
- Send your Schedule C directly from the app
- Customer service via email, online form, and support guides on the website
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | None |
ACH Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | Free incoming wires; outgoing wires unavailable |
International Wire Fees | Wire transfers unavailable |
ATM Fees | Found doesn’t charge for ATM usage; third-party ATM fees will likely apply |
Cash Deposited | Cash deposits not accepted |
APY | N/A |
*Found is a business fintech platform backed by FDIC-insured Piermont Bank. |
When To Choose Found
If you’re looking for a business checking account with robust built-in bookkeeping software and excellent tax tracking and preparation, Found is a great option. The integrated bookkeeping solution allows you to categorize expenses, capture receipts, and set custom rules within the Found app. Found also allows you to complete and send your Schedule C directly from the app and pay your tax bill directly.
Geared toward freelancers and self-employed small business owners, it has no monthly maintenance or transaction fees and no minimum opening deposit requirements. It even provides unlimited free invoicing, which can be customized with your company’s logo and colors. Payments for those invoices can be accepted through payment apps.
Found doesn’t charge for any ATM withdrawals, although out-of-network ATM withdrawals would be subject to third-party fees. However, the provider doesn’t list its ATM network on its website. Additionally, it does not allow you to make cash deposits and deposit checks in the app.
If you need to deposit a check, you can use the Ingo Money app. Checks deposited through it can be accessed in your account immediately for a fee or in 10 days for free (see Ingo Money’s fees). The major drawback is that the check must be made out in your name and not your business name for Ingo Money to accept it.
Relay: Best for Businesses That Need Multiple Accounts & Debit Cards
What We Like
- No minimum balance or opening deposit required
- Wire transfers are very inexpensive and are free with Relay Pro
- No ATM fees charged by Relay, although third-party fees may apply out of network
Drawbacks
- No physical locations
- No interest-bearing checking
- No lending products
Features
- Fee-free online banking and money management platform
- Open up to 20 individual business checking accounts
- Issue up to 50 Visa debit cards
- Send and receive ACH transfers, checks, and wires
- Collect payments from PayPal, Stripe, Square, and more
- Relay Pro account available, which offers same-day ACH delivery, free wire transfers, and accounts payable support
- Customer service via email, mail, and web contact form, and the app
- Checks can be sent on users’ behalf for free; third-party checks unavailable
- Accounting software integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, and Plaid
- No lending product
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | Free for incoming; $5 for outgoing |
International Wire Transfer Fees | Free for incoming, $10 for outgoing |
ATM Fees | None at Allpoint ATMs; Relay doesn’t charge out-of-network ATM fees, although third-party fees will apply |
Cash Deposited | Accepted at Allpoint ATMs |
APY | N/A |
*Relay is a business fintech platform backed by FDIC-insured Evolve Bank & Trust. |
When To Choose Relay
For businesses that need multiple accounts to separate business finances, Relay is an excellent choice for a business bank. You can get up to 20 checking accounts, which allows you to use accounts to set aside reserves for different expenses.
In addition, Relay has great financial tracking within its app. You can also order up to 50 Mastercard debit cards, giving you additional tracking power for individual business expenses.
If your business needs to send wire transfers frequently, it is an excellent choice. The most you will pay for wire transfers is $10 with Relay’s basic business checking level, Relay Standard. If you upgrade to Relay Pro, they are entirely free.
Relay recently added the ability to deposit cash at any of 55,000 Allpoint ATMs nationwide. You are limited to $1,000 per transaction, but this fee-free option to deposit cash gives Relay a considerable advantage over other fintechs on this list.
This bank is another provider offering fee-free checking with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements—and it has great software integrations as well. Its biggest drawback is that it has no lending products.
While Relay Pro’s monthly fee of $30 is not waivable (unlike many premium accounts of other providers), the account comes with some great features. You get accounts payable support, including auto-imports from QuickBooks Online and Xero. It also includes multi-step approval rules for bill payments, batch payments for bills, one-click reconciliation of bills, and same-day ACH delivery.
Grasshopper: Best Digital-only Bank for Integrated Free Payment Software
What We Like
- Cash back on debit card purchases
- Interest-bearing account
- No monthly fees or transaction fees
Drawbacks
- No physical location
- Minimum deposit required to open
- Cash deposits not accepted
Features
- 1% cash back on all online and in-store debit card purchases
- Autobooks software purchased by Grasshopper for all small business banking customers for digital invoicing and online payments
- No monthly fees or transaction fees; no minimum balance required
- 24/7 online and mobile banking
- Unlimited free ACH and incoming wires
- Physical and virtual debit card available
- Integration with QuickBooks
- Customer support via phone, live chat, email, secure message, and text message; also available through the app
- Other products include application programming interface (API) banking, treasury management, startup banking services, lending
Required Opening Deposit | $100 |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | No limit |
ACH Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | No incoming wire fees; $10 for outgoing |
International Wire Transfer Fees | $5 for incoming; $25 for outgoing |
ATM Fees | Free at 45,000 Money Pass & Sum network ATMs |
Cash Deposited | Cash deposits not accepted |
APY |
|
When To Choose Grasshopper
Grasshopper is another digital-only bank with a full range of banking products. Now offering the highest APY of the providers listed in this guide, as well as the highest uncapped APY, it is a great choice for an online business bank. Its interest yield is tiered depending on your balance.
Here is the tier structure for interest earnings:
- Balances up to $24,999.99: 1.51% APY
- $25,000 to $249,999.99: 2.25% APY
- $250,000 or greater: 1.51% APY
While there is no minimum or cap on balances that earn APY, customers must maintain a minimum average balance of $10,000 with no nonsufficient funds (NSF) items during the preceding 12 calendar months.
In addition to earning up to 2.25% APY, Grasshopper’s biggest perk is the inclusion of Autobooks for free with each account. This gives each user free integrated payment and invoicing software.
Where it really shines is in its offer of both traditional and non-traditional business financing, including Small Business Administration (SBA) lending, commercial real estate lending, yacht lending, and venture capital and private equity lending. In addition, it has cash back rewards on debit card purchases and an interest-bearing checking account.
For businesses that transfer money regularly, Grasshopper provides unlimited free transfers, including free wire transfers, both domestic and international. There are no monthly fees and no transaction limits.
However, it has two drawbacks—it does not allow cash deposits and requires a $100 minimum opening balance.
Lili: Best for Digital Tax Preparation Assistance
What We Like
- No monthly fees for basic tier
- Lili Pro plan includes an automatic savings account that earns 2.0% APY
- Tax Optimizer helps with tax preparation for small businesses
Drawbacks
- No physical locations
- Some of the best features are in higher-tier Lili Pro account
- No wire transfers
Features
- Free Visa business debit card
- Mobile banking
- Invoice software: Unlimited invoice creation
- Tax Optimizer: Tracks tax write-offs
- Balance Up: Fee-free overdraft coverage feature
- Physical checks unavailable
- Integrations with QuickBooks, Venmo, PayPal, and CashApp, among others
- Toll-free phone support Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time, and by email
- Lili Pro available for $9 per month
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | Unavailable |
International Wire Fees | Unavailable |
ATM Fees | None at 38,000 MoneyPass ATMs (third-party ATM fees may apply); $2.50 for out-of-network |
Cash Deposited | $4.95 fee per transaction, available through Green Dot retail locations |
APY | None |
Open an Account | |
*Lili is a business fintech platform backed by FDIC-insured Choice Financial Group, Inc. |
When To Choose Lili
Lili is another online business bank with no monthly fees, transaction limits, minimum balance, and deposit requirements on its basic checking account. The institution offers two checking options: Lili Basic, which is free, and Lili Pro, which is $9 a month. Both provide you with a debit card, the option to get paid faster with direct deposit two days early, built-in expense tracking, and no hidden fees.
The highlights of Lili Pro include 1% cash back rewards on all purchases, fee-free overdrafts up to $200, a savings account with a 1.5% APY, and the ability to create and send unlimited invoices.
Lili Pro’s biggest perk is its Tax Optimizer. It lets you track potential tax write-offs, set aside money in a tax bucket, scan receipts, complete your Schedule C automatically, and produce quarterly and annual expense reports. Considering that it’s built into your banking product, it’s a powerful tool, especially for small businesses without huge financial departments.
You can now access your Lili account via browser login in addition to the Lili app. Another recent change is Lili allows multimember limited liability companies (LLCs), S corporations (S-corps), general partnerships, and limited liability partnerships to sign up for an account. This is in addition to sole proprietors (with or without a DBA) and single-member LLCs, which were already eligible for an account. However, the account is unavailable to B corporations (B-corps), C corporations (C-corps), and nonprofit organizations.
Unfortunately, Lili doesn’t allow you to send or receive wire transfers, and you cannot order checks or send them from the app. Like Bluevine, you can deposit cash but it must be done through Green Dot retail locations for $4.95 a transaction.
Live Oak Bank: Best for High-yield Savings Account
What We Like
- No minimum balance requirements
- No monthly maintenance fees
- More than 55,000 free in-network ATMs (checking account only)
Drawbacks
- No cash deposits
- No free outgoing wires
- ATM withdrawal unavailable for savings account
Features
- High-yield CDs
- Small Business Administration (SBA) and other loans available
- Free online and mobile banking
- Customer service available by phone or fax weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET or through its support page
- Other products include high-yield savings, SBA loans, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans, commercial lending
- No charge for debit card replacement, although one can be expedited for $25
Required Opening Deposit | $100 |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | None |
ACH Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | Free for incoming; $19 for outgoing |
International Wire Transfer Fees | Free for incoming, $19 for outgoing |
ATM Fees | No charge for out-of-network ATMs, although operator fees apply; free access to Allpoint ATM network (55,000 locations worldwide) |
Cash Deposited | Cash deposits not accepted |
APY | N/A |
Open an Account |
When To Choose Live Oak Bank
For businesses that want to earn maximum returns off of company reserves, Live Oak Bank is a great choice. In addition to its outstanding business checking product, its business savings earns 4.0% APY and business CDs earn as much as 5.00% APY. The company gears its product offerings toward self-employed business owners—specifically startups, entrepreneurs, gig workers, freelancers, and side hustlers.
Its business checking has no monthly or transaction fees, no minimum deposit required, and no ATM fees at more than 55,000 Allpoint ATMs. It also won’t charge if you go out of network, but you will likely pay third-party ATM fees. ATM usage is only available with the checking account.
You can open an account directly on Live Oak’s website. Once your account is open, you can deposit checks, pay bills, and initiate transfers entirely online. Live Oak Bank’s accounts are available to businesses nationwide. There is a $100 minimum opening deposit requirement.
Drawbacks include no cash deposits accepted, although you can deposit checks through the mobile app or by mail, or transfer funds via ACH. Sending wire transfers will cost you $19 each, although incoming wires are free.
NBKC Bank: Best Full-service Online Bank
What We Like
- No monthly fees, minimum balance, and initial deposit required
- No fees for incoming domestic wires
- ATM fee reimbursements of up to $12 per month
Drawbacks
- Limited branches (only in Kansas and Missouri)
- No interest-earning checking
- Steep international wire transfer fees
Features
- Free Business Debit Mastercard
- Business account add-ons, such as business fraud tools and desktop deposits
- Deposit checks and pay bills via the NBKC app on mobile, tablet, or desktop
- Autobooks software integration
- Integration with QuickBooks and Quicken
- Customer service available by phone from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday, and by email
- Other products include money market, CDs, credit cards, lines of credit, commercial real estate lending, equipment loans, and SBA loans
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | No limit |
Monthly Fee | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | Incoming: None Outgoing: $5 |
International Wire Transfer Fees | Incoming: $45 Outgoing: $45 |
ATM Fees | None at NBKC and MoneyPass ATMs; refunds up to $12 per month |
Cash Deposited | Free at NBKC and MoneyPass ATMs |
APY | N/A |
When To Choose NBKC Bank
For a small business owner looking for a full-service online bank, NBKC Bank is a great option. In addition to business checking products, it offers business money market, CDs, commercial lending, business solutions, and credit card products.
Its business checking is a fee-free account with no monthly fees or minimum opening deposit requirements. Transactions are free with no limit, and you can deposit cash for free at both NBKC and MoneyPass ATMs. In addition, NBKC refunds up to $12 in ATM fees each month.
While it operates as an online bank, you can visit a branch if your business operates in two Missouri cities (Kansas City and Liberty) or two Kansas cities (Overland Park or Leawood). Customer service by phone is limited to business hours, although you can also reach out via email.
Even though NBKC’s business checking doesn’t draw interest, the bank offers CDs that earn up to 3.25% APY and a business savings money market account that earns 2.0% APY. You can read our review of NBKC Bank’s business savings account for more details.
Oxygen: Best Digital-only Provider for Cash Back on Debit Card Purchases
What We Like
- Rare fintech that offers both personal and business banking
- No monthly fees or transaction fees
- Single-use virtual cards available for online shopping provide extra security
Drawbacks
- No free cash deposits
- Only one authorized user allowed per account
- No physical locations
Features
- Nationwide LLC creation available through the Oxygen App
- 5% cash back rewards on everyday purchases with your debit card
- Ability to create single-use virtual cards to keep your business bank account secure
- Business savings product available with 1% APY on balances up to $20,000
- Multiple personal checking accounts available
- Free Oxygen Visa Business Debit Card and an unlimited amount of virtual cards
- Integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, Plaid, and Gusto
- Customer service via a toll-free phone number, email, social media support, and online help articles
Required Opening Deposit | None |
Required Balance Minimum | None |
Transaction Limit Before Fees | None |
ACH Fees | None |
Monthly Fees | None |
Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | No fees incoming; outgoing unavailable |
International Wire Transfer Fees | N/A |
ATM Fees | None at Allpoint ATMs; $3 out-of-network domestically; $5 out-of-network internationally |
Cash Deposited | $4.95 fee per transaction, available through Green Dot retail locations; can also deposit through link to external bank via Plaid |
APY | N/A |
*Oxygen is a business fintech platform backed by FDIC-insured The Bancorp Bank. |
When To Choose Oxygen
Oxygen is a digital-only bank geared toward freelancers and creatives, among other small businesses. It is one of the few fintechs that provides personal and business banking options. For businesses that use a debit card frequently, it is a great option for a business bank account since it offers 5% cash back rewards on all debit card purchases.
For businesses considering becoming LLCs, Oxygen offers nationwide LLC creation in the Oxygen app powered by CorpNet, Inc. There are fees involved, which is one of the few services with a fee.
Oxygen was awarded the 2021 Best Overall FinTech Mobile App by the FinTech Breakthrough Awards, beating several other fintechs on this list.
It also has a business bank account with no monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, and transaction limits. Deposits can be made through Green Dot locations for $4.95 per transaction and by in-app mobile check capture, via ACH or Plaid, from an outside account.
You can even open a business savings account, which earns 1% APY on balances up to $20,000. However, it has no outgoing and international wire transfers, and you cannot set up multiple users in the app. It is only open to a single sign-on (SSO) per account, which puts it behind many other fintechs in this guide.
How We Evaluated the Best Online Banks for Small Businesses
When we evaluated the best online banks for small businesses, we considered:
- Monthly fees, if any, and how easily they are waived
- Required opening deposit and balance minimums
- Transaction limits before fees
- ACH and wire transfer fees
- ATM fees and availability
- Cash deposit fees and availability
- Interest yield, if applicable
- Other checking account perks
- Software integrations
- Other business services provided
- Lending products provided
- Customer service and customer reviews
What to Consider When Choosing an Online Business Bank
While we used our own criteria to select the best online banks for small businesses for this list, here are some things you should review before making a selection.
1. Ensure Your Account is Covered by FDIC Insurance
After the recent bank failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank, business owners were reminded of how vital FDIC insurance is to a company’s financial security. Given, the idea of an online-only bank can be a little scary to some, especially in the wake of recent bank failures; however, every bank on this list is either directly insured by the FDIC or backed by an insured bank.
If your business needs extra FDIC insurance, Mercury is a great choice, thanks to its Vault product. Mercury uses a sweep network and partner banks to extend your FDIC insurance to $5 million.
2. Determine if the Online Bank Has the Products & Services You Need
While all the online banks listed above offer great business checking products, the quantity of additional business banking products varies. NBKC Bank, for example, offers the same type of full-service banking products and services you would expect from a traditional, brick-and-mortar bank. Meanwhile, Bluevine only offers business checking and a line of credit product. However, if you need a bank that offers more than just a couple of products and services, you should consider another option.
3. Consider How Often Your Business Handles Cash
While several online banks in this guide accept cash deposits—either through Green Dot retail locations, ATM deposits, or money orders—these can get pricey. In addition, if your business handles cash regularly, it may not be the most convenient way to deposit cash. You should consider a traditional bank instead. There are several great traditional banks in our roundup of the best small business checking accounts.
4. Determine if the Online Bank Has Strong Security Protocols
While all of the online banks on this list have a strong reputation for online security, this may not be true of every online bank you might find on the internet. Before you move your business funds into an online account, check out the security reputation of the online bank in question. Reading customer reviews can also help, as any online bank with a past security breach would be easy to find out about.
5. Read Customer Reviews
While reviews might not tell the whole story, it is good to see what other business customers have said about an online bank. Each individual bank review on Fit Small Business includes a customer review section.
Reviews often include both business and personal accounts, so some might not apply to your potential business account. However, it should alert you of any potential red flags to avoid before choosing a new online bank.
For more information, see our guide on how to choose a bank for your small business.
What You Need to Open a Business Bank Account
Each provider on this list may require different documents to open a business bank account. Generally, you will need:
- Employer identification number (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
Our guide on how to open a business bank account will walk you through the process. It includes a downloadable checklist of documents that banks typically require when opening an account.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The best online bank for small business is Bluevine, thanks to its 2.0% APY on all balances of $100,000 or less and the best small business line of credit on the market. It is also one of the leading banks for small business loans.
Chase is the best bank for startup businesses, with full-service banking products that can scale with your growing business. If you are looking for an online-only bank for your startup, Mercury provides free business checking and savings accounts and excellent software integrations.
As long as the online bank you’re using is directly backed by either the FDIC or an FDIC-insured bank, your money is as safe in it as it would be in a traditional bank. However, it is essential to research online banks to ensure you choose a bank with FDIC protection. Bluevine, Novo, and Mercury are our top three choices for online business banks.
It ultimately depends on the type of banking your business will conduct. If your business handles cash regularly, you should choose a bank with a physical location. An online bank would be a great choice if most of your transactions are digital. Online banks, as long as they are FDIC-insured or backed by an FDIC-insured bank, are as safe as traditional banks.
Bottom Line
For businesses that don’t need physical access to a branch bank, online business banks can provide your company with all the products and services you need, with the convenience of 24/7 account access from anywhere. Each provider offers great business checking products combined with other products and services. Decide what your company needs from its business bank and choose the provider that best aligns with your business needs.