Best for startups

Best Business Bank Accounts for Startups

Fees, deposit insurance, yield and who can open each account, read from each provider's own pages, plus every business account we track by region.

55business accounts tracked
10accounts compared term by term

Account terms read on each provider's own pages, all checked on or after . Terms, and yields especially, change: confirm them with the provider before opening an account.

For a US startup, the business accounts to compare first are Mercury (best all-round startup account), Relay (best free account for small teams), Brex (best for corporate cards and spend management), and Bluevine (best for earning interest on checking). Each term below links to the provider's page that states it, and all 55 business accounts we track are listed by region.

Many US startups open their first business account with a fintech such as Mercury, Relay, Brex or Bluevine, or with the startup banking team of a bank such as Silicon Valley Bank or J.P. Morgan. A fintech is not a bank: your deposits are held at its partner banks, and FDIC insurance applies at those banks. Standard FDIC insurance covers $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category; several startup accounts raise that limit by spreading deposits across a network of partner banks.

Choose on the terms that affect your company: whether the account accepts your legal entity and country, what it charges, how much of your balance is insured, whether idle cash earns a yield, and how cards and payments work for your team. A partner-perks marketplace is a bonus, not a reason to bank somewhere: its total adds up other companies' offers, each with its own eligibility.

Our picks are editorial: the accounts startups most often compare, each with the terms we read on the provider's own pages and the date we read them. Below them, every business account we track is listed by the region it serves, followed by corporate cards and the rest of the startup fintech we track.

Our picks

Startup business accounts to compare first

Editorial picks for US startups. Each term links to the provider's page that states it.

  1. 1

    Mercury

    Best all-round startup account

    No monthly fee on the base plan, up to $5M of FDIC insurance through its partner banks' sweep networks, a 1.5% cashback card with no personal guarantee, and it opens for US companies whose founders live abroad.

    Monthly fee
    $0 (Mercury plan); Plus $35/mo, Pro $350/mo (source: mercury.com)
    Deposit insurance
    Up to $5M FDIC through partner banks' sweep networks (source: mercury.com)
    Yield
    Treasury (not FDIC insured) from a $250K balance (source: mercury.com)
    Card rewards
    1.5% cashback on the IO card, no personal guarantee (source: mercury.com)
    Perks
    Discounts on hundreds of tools, including AWS (source: mercury.com)
    Who can open
    US-registered companies; founders can live anywhere (source: support.mercury.com)
    Bank or fintech
    Fintech; banking by Choice Financial Group and Column N.A. (source: mercury.com)
    Open an account at MercuryTerms read on mercury.com on Mercury: eligibility, perks and how to apply All 274 Mercury Perks, compared
  2. 2

    Relay

    Best free account for small teams

    The free Starter plan includes 20 checking accounts, savings that earn interest and up to $3M of FDIC insurance through Thread Bank's sweep program, and it opens for sole proprietors as well as companies. Its credit card, offered by invitation, pays 1% cash back.

    Monthly fee
    $0 (Starter); Grow $30/mo (source: relayfi.com)
    Deposit insurance
    Up to $3M FDIC via Thread Bank's sweep program (source: relayfi.com)
    Yield
    1.19% APY on savings (Starter plan, variable) (source: relayfi.com)
    Card rewards
    1% cash back on its credit card (Starter) (source: relayfi.com)
    Who can open
    US corporations, LLCs, partnerships and sole props (source: relayfi.com)
    Bank or fintech
    Fintech; banking by Thread Bank (source: relayfi.com)
    Open an account at RelayTerms read on relayfi.com on Relay: eligibility, perks and how to apply
  3. 3

    Brex

    Best for corporate cards and spend management

    A free business account paired with corporate cards that need no personal guarantee, FDIC insurance up to $6M for funds held in Vault, a treasury option in a government money market fund, and more than $350,000 in partner discounts.

    Monthly fee
    $0 for the account; Premium plan $12/user/mo (source: brex.com)
    Deposit insurance
    Up to $6M in Vault sweep; $250K in checking (source: brex.com)
    Yield
    Treasury money market fund, up to 3.92% (source: brex.com)
    Card rewards
    Corporate card, no personal guarantee; up to 7x points (source: brex.com)
    Perks
    $350,000+ in partner discounts (source: brex.com)
    Who can open
    US-registered business with an EIN (source: brex.com)
    Bank or fintech
    Fintech; checking at partner bank Column N.A. (source: brex.com)
    Open an account at BrexTerms read on brex.com on Brex: eligibility, perks and how to apply
  4. 4

    Bluevine

    Best for earning interest on checking

    The free Standard plan pays 1.3% APY on checking balances up to $250,000 in months you meet an activity goal, with FDIC insurance up to $3M through Coastal Community Bank and its program banks.

    Monthly fee
    $0 (Standard); Plus $30/mo, Premier $95/mo (source: bluevine.com)
    Deposit insurance
    Up to $3M via Coastal Community Bank and program banks (source: bluevine.com)
    Yield
    1.3% APY on up to $250K with a monthly activity goal (source: bluevine.com)
    Card rewards
    Debit rebates up to 4% at participating merchants (source: bluevine.com)
    Perks
    Xero free for 3 months on the Standard plan (source: bluevine.com)
    Who can open
    US-registered businesses; owners in select countries (source: bluevine.com)
    Bank or fintech
    Fintech; banking by Coastal Community Bank (source: bluevine.com)
    Open an account at BluevineTerms read on bluevine.com on Bluevine: eligibility, perks and how to apply
  5. 5

    Rho

    Best for large cash balances

    Checking with no plan tiers or per-user fees, a savings account that spreads deposits across a network of 400+ banks for up to $75M of FDIC insurance, and a Treasury service that starts at $50,000.

    Monthly fee
    $0 monthly, per-user and minimum-balance fees (source: rho.co)
    Deposit insurance
    $250K in checking; up to $75M in savings (400+ banks) (source: rho.co)
    Yield
    Savings up to 1.00% APY ($25K average balance) (source: rho.co)
    Card rewards
    Up to 2% cashback with Rho Platinum (source: rho.co)
    Perks
    $1M+ in partner rewards (source: rho.co)
    Who can open
    US companies with a US address or a US-based owner (source: rho.co)
    Bank or fintech
    Fintech; checking by Webster Bank (source: rho.co)
    Open an account at RhoTerms read on rho.co on Rho: eligibility, perks and how to apply
  6. 6

    Lili

    Best for sole proprietors and freelancers

    A free Core account that sole proprietors can open, with up to $3M of FDIC insurance through sweep banks and a savings account, available on every plan, that pays 2.25% APY on the first $500,000.

    Monthly fee
    $0 (Core); Pro $15/mo, Smart $35/mo, Premium $55/mo (source: lili.co)
    Deposit insurance
    Up to $3M through a network of sweep banks (source: lili.co)
    Yield
    Savings 2.25% APY on balances up to $500K (source: lili.co)
    Who can open
    Sole proprietors, LLCs and corporations in the US (source: lili.co)
    Bank or fintech
    Fintech; banking by Sunrise Banks, N.A. (source: lili.co)
    Open an account at LiliTerms read on lili.co on Lili: eligibility, perks and how to apply
  7. 7

    Grasshopper

    Best for a digital bank instead of a fintech

    A chartered digital bank rather than a fintech: Accelerator Checking has no monthly fee, pays up to 1.35% APY, returns 1% debit cash back with a $10,000 average balance, and offers sweep coverage up to $125M.

    Monthly fee
    $0 ($100 minimum opening deposit) (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Deposit insurance
    $250K standard; up to $125M with its ICS sweep (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Yield
    Checking up to 1.35% APY ($25K to $250K balances) (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Card rewards
    1% debit cash back with a $10K average balance (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Perks
    Partner marketplace offers for clients (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Who can open
    Startups; applicant a US citizen or permanent resident (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Bank or fintech
    A federally chartered bank (Grasshopper Bank, N.A.) (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Open an account at Grasshopper BankTerms read on grasshopper.bank on Grasshopper: eligibility, perks and how to apply
  8. 8

    Grasshopper Innovator

    Best for a bank account without venture funding

    Grasshopper's checking for businesses without venture funding, from the same chartered bank: no monthly fee, up to 1.35% APY (3.25% on savings balances of $25,000 and up), unlimited 1% debit cash back and sweep coverage up to $125M.

    Monthly fee
    $0 ($100 minimum opening deposit) (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Deposit insurance
    $250K standard; up to $125M with its ICS sweep (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Yield
    Checking up to 1.35% APY; savings 3.25% APY from $25K (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Card rewards
    1% debit cash back with a $10K average monthly balance (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Sign-up offer
    $300 for bundling Savings and Checking (code Bundle300) (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Who can open
    US businesses; applicant a US citizen or permanent resident (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Bank or fintech
    A federally chartered bank (Grasshopper Bank, N.A.) (source: grasshopper.bank)
    Open an account at Grasshopper BankTerms read on grasshopper.bank on Grasshopper Innovator: eligibility, perks and how to apply
  9. 9

    Silicon Valley Bank

    Best traditional bank for tech and life science startups

    A bank with a startup banking team for technology and life science companies, now named First Citizens Innovation Banking: its Startup Money Market Account pays up to 3.56% APY on balances over $1M, and its Insured Cash Sweep extends FDIC coverage beyond $250,000.

    Monthly fee
    No monthly fee with qualifying balances (source: svb.com)
    Deposit insurance
    $250K standard; multimillion via Insured Cash Sweep (source: svb.com)
    Yield
    Money market up to 3.56% APY on balances over $1M (source: svb.com)
    Card rewards
    1.5x points on Innovator Card spend (source: svb.com)
    Sign-up offer
    250,000 card points for $60K spend in 90 days (source: svb.com)
    Who can open
    Technology and life science startups, by application (source: svb.com)
    Bank or fintech
    A bank: now First Citizens Innovation Banking (source: svb.com)
    Open an account at Silicon Valley BankTerms read on svb.com on Silicon Valley Bank: eligibility, perks and how to apply
  10. 10

    J.P. Morgan

    Best big-bank option for pre-seed and seed startups

    No fees for up to three years on included services, a startup banking team dedicated to pre-seed and seed companies, and a marketplace of partner deals for its clients.

    Monthly fee
    No fees for up to 3 years on included services (source: jpmorgan.com)
    Perks
    Startup Offers marketplace of partner deals (source: jpmorgan.com)
    Who can open
    Startups of all stages; a pre-seed and seed team (source: jpmorgan.com)
    Bank or fintech
    A bank: J.P. Morgan Innovation Economy Banking (source: jpmorgan.com)
    Open an account at J.P. MorganTerms read on jpmorgan.com on J.P. Morgan: eligibility, perks and how to apply
By region

Every business account we track, by where it serves

Listed alphabetically by provider, each with its tracked startup benefit in the provider's own words, its source and when it was checked.

More US business accounts5

All perks for this region

Global and multi-currency4

United Kingdom13

All perks for this region

Europe12

All perks for this region

Canada1

All perks for this region

India1

All perks for this region

Australia & NZ1

All perks for this region

Southeast Asia3

All perks for this region

Middle East5

All perks for this region

Africa8

All perks for this region

Latin America2

All perks for this region
Cards

Corporate cards and spend management

Cards and spend tools that sit alongside a business account rather than replace it.

Corporate cards and spend management21

Also tracked

Payments, treasury and other startup fintech

Payments and collections

Treasury and cash management

Financing

Incorporation bundles

Financial infrastructure for developers

Referral offers

Also useful for banking and incorporation

Shown only because they fit what this page is about, and ordered by that fit (70%) and what a referral is expected to earn us (30%). We may earn a commission if you sign up through one of these, at no cost to you. They never change the ranking of this page.

DeelGlobal payroll, contractor payments and EOR hiring in 150+ countriesFreeReferral linkNavanBusiness travel booking and expense management platformFreeReferral linkPapermarkOpen-source data room: share your deck and see who read itFree planReferral link
Head to head

Compare the top options

Brex vs RampBrex vs MercuryMercury vs RampBrex vs Ramp vs Mercury
Methodology

How this comparison is built

The picks are our editorial choice of the accounts US startups most often compare, and the "best for" notes are our reading of their terms. The regional lists include every business account in our catalog, alphabetically by provider, with each program's tracked startup benefit, its source and when it was checked. Every term comes from the provider's own page on the date shown, never from a review site; follow each link for the full conditions and disclosures. No provider pays for a placement on this page, and it is not financial or legal advice. Deposit insurance figures cite each provider; the standard FDIC limit and what FDIC insurance does not cover are from the FDIC.

Read the full methodology
Questions

Common questions

What is the best bank account for a startup?

There is no single best account. For a US startup, Mercury, Relay, Brex and Bluevine are common starting points with no monthly fee on their standard accounts, and startups backed by venture investors also bank with the startup teams at Silicon Valley Bank, J.P. Morgan and HSBC Innovation Banking. Decide from where your company is incorporated, how much cash you will hold, and whether you need cards, international payments or a yield on idle cash.

Are startup accounts like Mercury, Relay and Brex FDIC insured?

They are financial technology companies, not banks. Deposits are held at their partner banks, and FDIC insurance applies at those banks up to the standard $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. Several of them offer higher coverage by sweeping balances across a network of partner banks. The comparison above shows each provider's stated limit; its disclosures set the conditions.

Can a founder outside the US open a US business bank account?

Usually the company needs to be a US entity first. Several startup accounts, Mercury among them, accept founders who live abroad once their company is incorporated in the US, while others, such as Novo and Grasshopper, require the applicant to live in the US or to be a US citizen or permanent resident. Check each provider's own eligibility requirements before incorporating around one account. Our guide to US business bank accounts for non-residents compares the accounts that do, with the ID, US address and countries each one accepts.

What do I need to open a business bank account for a startup?

Expect to provide the company's formation documents, its tax ID (an EIN for a US company), and identity details for its owners and the people who control it, because a bank must verify who owns and runs a business account. Some providers also ask about the company's expected activity and funding.

Should I choose a bank for its startup perks?

Choose the account first. A partner-perks total adds up other companies' offers, each with its own eligibility, and the same software credits are often available directly from the provider or through several banks. Treat perks as a tiebreaker after fees, deposit insurance and features.

How can a startup earn interest on idle cash?

Some accounts pay interest on balances, and several startup banks offer treasury products that invest cash in money market funds or US Treasury bills. Those investments are not bank deposits and are not covered by FDIC insurance, and their yields change with interest rates, so read each product's disclosures and the date of the rate it shows.

Keep going

More best-of guides

Best Cloud Credits for StartupsUS Business Bank Accounts for Non-ResidentsFree LLM APIs and AI API CreditsFree Web Scraping and SERP APIsFree Email APIs and SMTP ServicesGPU Credits for StartupsBest AI Credits for StartupsBest Developer Tools for StartupsBest CRM & Marketing Tools for StartupsBest Accounting and Finance Tools for StartupsBest Database & Data Credits for StartupsBest SaaS Deals & Software Discounts for StartupsBest Security, Legal & HR Tools for Startups

New startup perks, in your inbox

Get an email when a new credit, discount, or deal for founders is added. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

StartupPerks is an independent comparison tool and is not endorsed by the programs it lists. It is a referral partner of some providers, and those links are labeled where they appear. Values and eligibility are aggregated from each provider's public pages and can change or be incomplete. Always confirm the current terms and your eligibility on the provider's own page before applying.