California Bank & Trust (CB&T) is a good option for California-based organizations needing business bank accounts. It’s suitable for small businesses with low and moderate transaction volumes and those looking to customize their bank accounts to earn premium rates for eligible savings and money market accounts.
It offers four small business checking accounts and specialized checking accounts for nonprofits and attorneys. They come with waivable fees, high free cash deposits, a free debit card, and business online and mobile banking access.
Why you can trust Fit Small Business
How I Evaluated California Bank & Trust Business Checking
The California Bank & Trust business checking review was conducted through careful research by looking at the following criteria:
- Product features
- Monthly fee
- Opening balance
- Required balances
- Account opening requirements
- ATM fees
- Cash deposit fees
- Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
- Monthly transaction limits
- Cash deposit allowances
- Branch accessibility
- Other business banking product
Terms & Features
| Special Offer | None |
|---|---|
| Opening Deposit Requirement | $50 |
| Monthly Maintenance Fee |
|
| APY | 0.01% to 0.02% |
| ATM Fees | $2.50 per transaction at non-CB&T ATMs and non-Zions ATMs |
| Other Standout Features |
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Use Cases
- You make large amounts of cash deposits each month: CB&T provides up to $15,000 free monthly cash deposits for its midtier business checking accounts, Business Growth Checking, Business Interest Checking, and Business Connect Checking.
- You want to earn premium interest rates on your eligible savings and money market accounts: Business Interest Checking and Business Connect Checking account holders can link their accounts to business savings and business money market accounts to access premium interest rates.
- You want to waive the monthly service fees of your business savings and money market accounts: Linking these accounts with a Business Connect Checking or Business Interest Checking product allows you to save on service fees each month.
- California Bank & Trust Alternatives & Comparison
- California Bank & Trust Business Checking Terms & Features
- California Bank & Trust Business Checking Requirements
- California Bank & Trust Business Checking Features
- Other California Bank & Trust Business Products
- California Bank & Trust Business Checking Reviews From Users
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Bottom Line
California Bank & Trust Alternatives & Comparison
| Account Name | Monthly Service Fee | APY | Free Monthly Transactions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Business Inspire Checking | $10; waivable | None | 50, then 45 cents per item |
| Visit California Bank & Trust | ||||
 | Business Essentials Checking | None | None | Unlimited digital transactions, 25 free teller transactions |
| Visit U.S. Bank | ||||
 | Standard | None | 1.3% | Unlimited |
| Visit Bluevine | ||||
 | Business Checking | None | None | Unlimited |
| Visit Novo | ||||
Best For | Learn More | |
|---|---|---|
| You want a free business checking account from a traditional provider: Although California Bank and Trust has accounts with waivable monthly fees, you need to meet a fixed account balance monthly. U.S. Bank offers Business Essentials Checking with no monthly fees and waiver conditions. | Read our U.S. Bank business checking review |
| You want both fee-free transactions and interest earnings: CB&T’s business checking accounts have fixed transaction limits and low interest (Business Interest Checking). Consider Bluevine Standard, which offers free unlimited transactions and a 1.3% APY on qualifying balances up to $250,000. | Read our Bluevine business checking review |
| You want an account without an initial deposit and provides ATM fee refunds: CB&T requires an opening deposit of $50 and charges $2.50 when withdrawing at nonnetwork ATMs. Novo has no opening deposit and refunds ATM fees up to $7 monthly. | Read our Novo business checking review |
Our guide to the best small business checking accounts features additional recommendations.
California Bank & Trust Business Checking Terms & Features
| Business Inspire Checking | Business Growth Checking | Business Interest Checking | Business Connect Checking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required Opening Deposit | $50 | |||
| Monthly Fees | $10; waivable | $15; waivable | $20; waivable | $25; waivable |
| APY | None | None | 0.01% or 0.02% | None |
| Transaction Limit Before Fees | 50 | 250 | 250 | 400 |
| Excess Transaction Fee Per Item | 45 cents | 45 cents | 45 cents | 45 cents |
| Domestic Wire Transfer Fees | Incoming: $15 Outgoing: $35 | |||
| International Wire Transfer Fees | Incoming (USD): $15; Incoming (non-USD): $14 Outgoing (USD): $50; Outgoing (non-USD): $40 | |||
| ATM Fees | $2.50 per transaction at non-CB&T ATMs and non-Zions ATMs | |||
| Monthly Cash Deposit Allowance | $3,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Excess Cash Deposit Fee | 20 cents per $100 | 20 cents per $100 | 20 cents per $100 | 20 cents per $100 |
| Debit Card | Visa Business debit card |
|---|---|
| Physical Checkbooks | Cost varies with style, Save $150 on your first order of Deluxe Checks |
| Software Integrations | QuickBooks, Zelle, and Clover |
| Customer Service | Phone: (800) 400-6080 or (877) 650-0095 Mondays to Saturdays, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time |
| Other Products | Business savings, money market, certificates of deposit (CDs), lending, and credit cards |
California Bank & Trust Business Checking Requirements
You can visit a branch to open a business checking account. CB&T will ask you to provide information about your business and the identity of all direct owners and certain beneficial owners of the account.
Additional California Bank & Trust business checking requirements include documentation to establish good standing, ownership, and entity authorization for individuals who will be authorized signers, principals, and beneficial owners. All accounts will also require a federal taxpayer identification number.
For a checklist of documents banks typically require, see our guide on how to open a business bank account.
California Bank & Trust Business Checking Features
| Check Discounts for New Business Checking Accounts | Up to $150 on your first order of Deluxe business checks if you order through a CB&T branch, the CB&T website, or the customer contact center |
|---|---|
| Business Online and Mobile Banking |
|
| Business Bill Pay Service | 1 to 20 bill payments: $0 20+ bill payments: 50 cents |
| Digital Invoicing and Payment Acceptance |
|
| Treasury Management Services | Remote deposit capture, lockbox, zero balanced accounts, treasury internet banking, positive pay, and check block |
Other California Bank & Trust Business Products
- Community Checking
- Attorney Client Checking
- Commercial Analyzed Checking
- Business Savings
- Business Money Market
- Business Money Market Sweep
- Business CDs
- Credit cards
- Lines of credit
- Term loans
- Equipment financing and leasing
- SBA loans
- Acquisition financing
- Asset-based financing
- Real estate financing
- Specialty financing
California Bank & Trust Business Checking Reviews From Users
| Users Like | Users Dislike |
|---|---|
| Low monthly fees | Account frozen without notice |
| Fee transparency | No branch is open on weekends |
| Professional customer service | |
Few California Bank & Trust business checking reviews are available on third-party sites. On WalletHub[1], CB&T has a rating of 2.8 from over 30 reviews. Meanwhile, on Yelp[2], it received a rating of 2.9 from about 240 reviews. Some customers appreciated the low monthly fees of checking accounts, while others praised the bank’s transparent fees.
Many users also shared positive reviews of their interactions with branch personnel. They stated that the bank staff was professional and knowledgeable. However, there were complaints about frozen accounts without notification due to fraud detection, which led to business issues. The lack of branch operations on the weekend also made it difficult for them to access customer support.
The California Bank and Trust’s mobile app has great ratings, receiving 4.8 from around 7,300 reviews on the App Store[3] and 4.7 from about 1,000 reviews on Google Play[4]. Customers like the convenience of transferring funds, paying bills, and depositing checks on the app, and many find it simple to use. However, a few reviewers complained about loading issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is California Bank and Trust a local bank?
California Bank and Trust is a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation, N.A., and is a full-service bank with over 80 branches across California, specifically in the Bay Area, Central Valley, Sacramento, Greater Los Angeles, Greater San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange County, and San Diego.
What is the difference between business checking and commercial checking?
The difference between the two is the market they serve. Business checking is designed for individuals and small businesses, while commercial checking suits large businesses and corporations.
How much should I keep in my business checking account?
Given that your business checking account is where you’ll be taking out your operation expenses, you should ideally have one to two months’ worth of expense funds to cover your expected costs. You should also aim to open a fee-free checking account for more savings. See our guide to the top free business checking accounts.
Bottom Line
With high free cash deposits, California Bank & Trust’s higher-tier business accounts are ideal for cash-reliant organizations. You also get more value with Business Interest Checking and Business Connect Checking since linking these accounts to business savings products gives you access to preferred interest rates.
User review resources:
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