11 Best Free Business Checking Accounts 2023

We dug into dozens of online and traditional banks to find the free checking accounts that pack the most punch.
Best overall free checking
BlueVine
Bluevine
$0 monthly fee
  • pro
    $0 minimum opening deposit
  • pro
    Interest-bearing checking
Learn Moreon Bluevine's website
Best integrations
Novo
Novo
$0 monthly fee
  • pro
    Checking accounts
  • pro
    $0 minimum opening deposit
Best for freelancers
found-logo
Found
$0 monthly fee
  • pro
    $0 minimum opening deposit
  • pro
    Banking, taxes, bookkeeping and invoices included
Learn Moreon Found's website
Best for solopreneurs
Lili logo
Lili
$0 monthly fee
  • pro
    $0 minimum opening deposit
  • pro
    Basic and interest-bearing checking
Learn Moreon Lili's website
Best for established businesses
Axos
Axos Bank
$0 monthly fee
  • pro
    $0 minimum opening deposit
  • pro
    Basic, interest-bearing, & analyzed checking
Learn Moreon Axos Bank's website

Data effective 2/23/23. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure.

What’s better than a business checking account? A free business checking account, of course!

Lucky for you, we’ve done the research and found the best free small business checking account options out there. For most businesses, that means Bluevine―since it earns interest and has other handy features. You’ll find more about Bluevine and our other top picks below, along with some answers to frequently asked questions about business checking accounts.

Now, let’s find your new account!

Money
How free is free?

All of our recommended banks offer at least one business checking account that don't have any monthly service fee―but you still might have to pay fees for things like transactions, deposits, and overdrafts.


Banking built for small businesses: Bluevine

Set your business up for success with a checking account that has no monthly or overdraft fees and earns you up to $5,000 in interest each year.


More Ways to Get a Free Checking Account

The checking accounts above don’t charge any kind of monthly maintenance fee. But if you have your heart set on another bank (perhaps one offering more than just online banking) that does charge monthly service fees, don't fret. There’s a good chance you can get those fees waived.

Pretty much all business banks will waive the monthly fee on your checking account when you meet certain conditions, like meeting a minimum balance requirement. Here are some examples:

  • PNC will waive the $10 fee on its basic checking account if you spend at least $500 on your business credit card each month.
  • KeyBank waives the $5 fee on its cheapest checking account when you keep an average balance of $1,000 in your checking account.
  • Bank of America waives the $14 fee on its basic checking when you join its Preferred Rewards for Business program.

And those are just a few of your options. So if you have a bank you like, go ahead and ask about how you can waive monthly fees and get a free checking account.

Just keep in mind that you won’t be able to waive other fees (like transaction fees or cash deposit fees). Fortunately, most bank accounts give you a number of free transactions and cash deposits each month, so you might be able to avoid those fees.

Company
Type
Minimum opening deposit
Free transactions per month
Get a Bank Account
Online$0Unlimited
Online$0Unlimited
Online$0Unlimited

Online

$0

Unlimited

Online

$0

Unlimited

Data effective 2/23/23. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Bluevine: Best Free Business Checking Account Overall

Bluevine
BlueVine
Bluevine
Starts at
$0 monthly fee for checking

$0 monthly fee for checking

  • Online banking only
  • Online applications accepted

Data effective 12/19/22. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Bluevine offers a well-rounded interest-bearing checking account that happens to be free―making it our favorite free business checking account.

One of the best features? Bluevine offers a 2.0% interest rate on account balances up to $250,000. 

And interest aside, Bluevine’s checking is everything a free checking account should be. You don’t have to pay a monthly fee, transaction fees, ATM fees, or non-sufficient fund fees. You don’t have to make a minimum opening deposit to get an account. In other words, it’s really, really free.

As an additional perk, Bluevine gives you a couple of free checkbooks when you open your new account (while banks like Kabbage charges you at least $20 per checkbook). Oh, and don’t forget that Bluevine has excellent customer reviews too. Sounds like the whole enchilada, right? Put simply, Bluevine offers an all-around great checking account for businesses ― and it’s almost entirely free.

So for most businesses, we recommend getting your new business checking account from Bluevine.

Pros
pro Interest-bearing checking
pro Easy cash deposits
pro Availability in 50 states
Cons
con Outgoing wire and card replacement fees
con No interest on balances over $250,000

Novo: Best Integrations

Novo
Novo
Novo

$0 monthly fee for checking

  • Integrates with other apps
  • Online applications accepted

Data effective 12/19/22. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Novo distinguishes itself in the realm of business banking by offering fee-free business checking, coupled with a range of practical features.

With over 15 integrations, including popular accounting software and widely-used wallet apps like Google Pay and Apple Pay, Novo provides a streamlined approach to managing your business operations. Beyond these integrations, users can benefit from exclusive discounts on various business services.

For instance, integrating with Stripe can result in a significant $500 cash savings, while a 30% discount on the first 6 months is available for any QuickBooks Online package. Additionally, Novo offers a feature called Novo Reserves, allowing up to 10 free Reserves per account for efficient expense allocation, aiding in budgeting for taxes, savings, and payroll.

Pros
pro No-fee online checking
pro Integrations with other apps
pro Discounts for other products
Cons
con No cash deposits or outgoing wires
con Average customer reviews

Lili: Best for Solopreneurs

Lili
Lili logo
Lili
Starts at
$0 monthly fee for checking

$0 monthly fee for checking

  • Online and mobile banking
  • Online applications accepted

Data effective 12/19/22. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Lili has great options for sole proprietors and single-member LLCs—including tax, invoicing, and expense management tools. These tools will take a huge burden off of the typical self-employment stress. Plus, the fact that they're available online and on mobile makes things super convenient. 

In addition to having a free business checking account, Lili has a high-yield savings account with a 1.5% interest rate. This, however, is only offered alongside their Pro account—which has a $9.00 monthly maintenance fee. If that isn't a huge deal to you though, the savings you earn over time might be worth it. 

They also have over 38,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, but they do have some spending limits. They aren't too bad, though. You can spend up to $3,000 and withdraw up to $500 a day. Monthly, you can spend $15,000 and withdraw up to $3,000. 

Spending limits aside, if you're a solopreneur looking for a checking account with lots of financial management tools, Lili is a fantastic option. 

Pros
pro Self-employment tools
pro Positive customer reviews
pro Availability in 50 states
Cons
con Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs only
con Spending limits

Axos Bank: Best for Established Businesses

Axos Bank
Axos
Axos Bank
Starts at
$0 monthly fee for checking

$0 monthly fee for checking

  • Online banking only
  • Online applications accepted

Data effective 12/19/22. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Axos Bank works best for businesses that are established enough to have some cash on hand.

We’ll cut to the chase: Axos Bank doesn’t charge a maintenance fee on its business checking account, but it’s not as cheap an option as other accounts on this list. The minimum deposit to open a business interest checking account is $100, but its basic checking account is free. So if you want a free account because you don’t have much cash on hand, you should go with its basic checking account, or another bank. But if you have an established business—then Axos Bank deserves your attention.

Besides having no monthly fee, Axos Bank also offers unlimited transactions and reimbursement on ATM fees. Axos will even give you 50 free checks when you open an account. Plus, if you ever feel the need to upgrade to a more robust deposit account, Axos offers lots of options for small and large businesses alike.

So if you can afford that opening deposit for their business interest checking account, Axos might be just what your established business needs.

Pros
pro Free checks with new checking account
pro Availability in 50 states
Cons
con High minimum opening deposit for business interest checking account

Found: Best for Freelancers

Found
found-logo
Found
Starts at
$0 monthly fee for checking

$0 monthly fee for checking

  • Online banking only
  • Online applications accepted

Data effective 2/23/23. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Found is built to simplify all things financial for freelancers and the self-employed. Found offers banking, bookkeeping, taxes and invoices all in one easy-to-use platform. 

We know freelancers are not always getting paid via check or cash. Often freelancers are accepting payment through Venmo or PayPal and other apps. With Found, you can link your checking account to all of these apps and have your money transferred for free within two days. 

Applying to open a Found account takes only a couple of minutes online and does not require a credit check. They get that this account is there to help you take care of your finances in one slick and easy-to-use platform.

Pros
pro No monthly maintenance fees
pro Free bookkeeping and tax tools included
Cons
con No mobile check deposits
con No phone support
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Honorable Mentions

If you haven’t seen the right checking account yet, don’t worry―we’ve still got a few more great options for you to check out.

Compare the Honorable Mention Free Small-Business Checking Accounts

Bank
Type
Min. opening deposit
Free transactions per month
Get a Bank Account
Online$0Unlimited

Traditional

$1

200

Online

$0

Unlimited

Traditional

$0

100

Traditional$25125

Data effective 12/19/22. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Novo: Best Integrations and Discounts

Novo Bank
Novo bank logo
Novo Bank
Starts at
$0 monthly fee for checking

$0 monthly fee for checking

  • Online banking only
  • Online applications accepted

Data effective 12/19/22. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Novo offers a free checking account that comes with a number of integrations and discounts for your business. That means that you can set up your Novo bank account to seamlessly work with the other business apps you use (like Xero, Square, and Apple Pay)―and it means you can get great deals on business apps you’ve been thinking of trying with your company (from GoDaddy to QuickBooks).

In other words, Novo’s free checking account plays nice with all your other business software and gives you bonus deals―just the kind of team player we like to see. 

Citizens: Best Customer Service

Citizens
Citizens
Citizens
Starts at
$0 monthly fee for checking

Starting at $0 monthly fee for checking

  • Traditional & online banking
  • In-branch applications only

Data effective 12/19/22. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Maybe you’re the kind of person that keeps customer service on speed dial. In that case, consider Citizens. This bank has the best customer service options of any bank on this list. That means 24/7 customer support, yes, but it also means that you can contact customer support through phone, online chat, email, or even social media. (Sorry, no homing pigeons.)

So if you want a free checking account plus ultra-accessible customer service, give Citizens a go.

Small Business Bank: Fastest Account Approval

Small Business Bank
Small Business Bank
Small Business Bank
Starts at
$0 monthly fee for checking

$0 monthly fee for checking

  • Online banking only
  • High-yield savings account

Data effective 12/19/22. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Free checking accounts can often take several days to successfully open―but not at Small Business Bank, which offers same-day approval on its bank accounts.

Now, it’s not a guarantee―it could take longer―but Small Business Bank tries to get you up and running fast. In most cases, you just submit an application, a copy of your driver’s license, your EIN (employer identification number), and maybe a proof of address. Then Small Business Bank will review your application and approve it within one business day.

So if you need a business bank account and you need it fast, Small Business Bank will be your best bet. Also, if you're looking for a savings account, they offer high-yield interest rates—ranging between 0.2-1.0%.

Huntington Bank: Best One-Stop Shop

Huntington Bank
Huntington
Huntington Bank
Starts at
$0 monthly fee for checking

Starting at $0 monthly fee for checking

  • Traditional & online banking
  • Online applications accepted

Data effective 12/19/22. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Let’s be real: a free checking account is just the beginning. As your business grows, you’ll need more finance products, like business loans, credit cards, savings accounts, merchant services, and more. Huntington Bank has all that and then some. In addition to the usual financial products, you’ll even find things like insurance and cybersecurity products—useful complements to your free checking account.

Put simply, Huntington Bank offers a good free checking account―and plenty more besides.

US Bank: Best for Nonprofits

U.S. Bank
US Bank
U.S. Bank
Starts at
$0 monthly fee for checking

$0 monthly fee for checking

  • Traditional & online banking
  • Online applications accepted

Data effective 12/19/22. At publishing time, rates, fees, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Got a nonprofit? US Bank offers a free checking account for small businesses, sure, but it’s got a free nonprofit checking account too. US Bank’s nonprofit checking has (of course) no monthly maintenance fee, and you get 1,800 free transactions and 300 free cash deposits per year. Plus, your free US Bank nonprofit checking account can earn interest (though the rates aren’t exactly stellar—currently .005%).

While other banks offer nonprofit checking, US Bank stands out by making its account free. If you’ve got a nonprofit, US Bank is the obvious free choice.

Megaphone
Your local credit union

There’s a good chance your local credit union belongs on this list. You might find that your credit union offers free (or heavily discounted) checking account options for smaller businesses. But we can’t review all the credit unions in the nation (sorry!), so you’ll have to find out for yourself.

Want More Options? Fund your Business With a Loan Instead

The Takeaway

Bluevine is our pick for the best free business checking account, thanks to the lack of the fees, the interest you can earn, and other good perks―but it’s hardly your only option.

Kabbage offers a great alternative interest-bearing option, with its interest rate being only 0.4% less. And for people who want to keep business and personal accounts together, NBKC has great options for both. For single-member businesses, Lili has the best tools. Or, if you have a larger, more established business—with more advanced banking needs—Axos Bank has great options for you.

So go ahead and get your new checking account—and enjoy your free business banking.

Now that you have chosen a business checking account, brush up on the small-business bookkeeping basics to keep your accounts in order.

Free Business Checking Account FAQ

None of the checking accounts reviewed here charge any monthly maintenance fee, so they’re free to use.

That said, many banks do require you to make a minimum opening deposit (often between $5 and $100), so you should plan for that initial expense.

Also, many banks charge transaction fees, deposit fees, and overdraft fees. And if you use your debit card to withdraw cash from ATMs, you might also end up with ATM fees. Depending on how you use your account, you might also have to pay fees for incoming and outgoing wire transfers.

If you don’t want to pay common banking fees, simply choose a bank that doesn’t charge them. Most online banks, for example, don’t charge transaction fees. Some (like Bluevine) don’t even charge overdraft fees or NSF (non-sufficient funds) fees.

But even if you go with a traditional brick-and-mortar bank, many banking fees are pretty avoidable. Pretty much all banks give you a certain number of free transactions or let you deposit a certain amount of cash for free.

If you’re concerned about overdraft fees (we’ve been there), you can always sign up for overdraft protection by linking your small-business checking account to another account, like a savings account or a personal checking account.

As for ATM fees, many banks have “in-network” ATMs that let you withdraw cash without paying a fee. And if that’s not an option, some banks will refund you a certain amount of ATM fees each month.

Yep, all the banks we recommend offer free mobile banking apps for customers. Most also give you the option of using their website if you prefer slightly older-school online banking.

Yes, Bluevine and all the other online banking companies featured here are legitimate. They all have plenty of positive customer reviews, and in most cases, we’ve personally communicated with their customer service departments.

And if you think it will make you feel better, you can always look up a bank’s Better Business Bureau profile to verify that it's real and legit.

Since Azlo has shuttered, we’ve been looking around for good Azlo alternatives.

Bluevine, Small Business Bank, NBKC, and Novo work a lot like Azlo, in that they’re online banks that offer free business checking accounts with few fees. So if you mostly want an ultra-affordable basic business checking account, those all offer good options.

If you liked Azlo for features like invoicing, you’ll probably prefer NBKC or Novo. Both banks offer some invoicing features (though NBKC’s invoicing costs you extra each month and Novo only lets you invoice via the website).

Methodology

We analyzed over 30 business banks―including both online and traditional bank options―to get our rankings of the best free business checking accounts. We limited our list to banks that offered checking with no monthly fee, and then we scored banks based on other account fees, customer reviews, and more.


Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Chloe Goodshore
Written by
Chloe Goodshore
Chloe covers business financing and loans for Business.org. She has worked with many small businesses over the past 10 years, from video game stores to law firms. Those years watching frustrated business owners try to sift through their many options gave her a passion for breaking down complex business topics. She wants to help business owners spend less time agonizing over their businesses so they can spend more time running them.
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