Author: Noah Zelvis

Bluevine Business Checking Review

Bluevine’s Business Checking account isn’t like most others, offering 2.0% APY on funds up to $100,000. The account itself is pretty self-sufficient, so Bluevine doesn’t provide any savings account to complement it. There’s no minimum deposit required to start your account and no monthly service fees to watch out for. If you happen to deal with cash, beware high costs for cash deposits.

Why we chose it: Bluevine’s lack of monthly fees and high interest rate on a checking account make it our top business bank account for online sellers.

High interest rates
Very few fees
No minimum deposit required

No business savings account
No ATM reimbursement
Fee for cash deposits

Fees

There’s never a monthly fee with Bluevine’s Business Checking account whether your balance is low or high. As an online seller, chances are you won’t have to worry much about the $4.95 charge for depositing cash into your account. When withdrawing funds, use one of Bluevine’s affiliated ATMs lest you incur a $2.50 fee for out-of-network machines.

Minimum Balance

You don’t have to meet any initial deposit requirement when starting your membership, nor do you have to keep a certain amount to avoid fees. The 2.0% APY is good on funds up to $100,000, so anything over this balance does not accrue any interest.

Access to Mobile Banking

All of Bluevine’s features spill over into its mobile app. You can seamlessly switch between your computer and mobile device on the fly and not miss a beat. This includes viewing your account, money transfers, and fast bill pay options. Going one step further, the app also lets you deposit any checks you may receive straight from your phone.

Extra Features

Few checking accounts are interest-bearing, but the Bluevine Business Checking account breaks the mold with its 2.0% APY. Users can also make and track online payments coming in and going out to your vendors. Through subaccounts, it’s easy to set aside funds for a rainy day or a big purchase.

Axos Bank Basic Business Checking: Best Business Bank Account for Online Sellers for Online Banking

Monthly Fees: $0

★★★★★

4.6

Axos Bank Basic Business Checking Review

You can do all your online banking with Axos completely for free, thanks to minimal fees and reimbursement options for those that do exist. New business owners can even add $200 to their account just for signing up. Perks extend to cash deposits at any MoneyPass or AllPoint ATM nationwide. Be sure not to overstress your account, as returned check fees are quite high.

Why we chose it: Axos is online banking at its best, allowing unlimited item processing, no minimum balance requirements, and reimbursements on ATMs and wire transfers.

Free online banking
Cash deposits allowed via MoneyPass and AllPoint ATMs
Minimal monthly fees

Limited integrations
Below average CD rates
Significant returned check fee

Fees

Banking with Axos is all but fee-free. There’s no monthly service fee, unlimited domestic ATM reimbursements, and the bank will even cover two domestic wire fees per month. Outgoing wires are $35 otherwise, but returned item fees can be as high as $75 per day if you’re not careful.

Minimum Balance

Axos Bank has no minimum deposit requirement when signing up, nor a monthly balance to fight back a monthly service fee. You will need an average monthly balance of $2,500 for the first 60 days to qualify for the $200 cash bonus.

Access to Mobile Banking

All the tools on Axos’s mobile app are fast, secure, and completely free. At a glance, you can see the status of your Basic Business Checking account or any savings account you’ve opened along the way. Through your mobile device, you can also track your spending patterns to identify areas to shore up funds.

Extra Features

If you prefer to pay by check, your first 50 are free with Axos bank. All its software is QuickBooks compatible for tax and money management, and you have unlimited item processing. Reimbursements for wires and ATMs are a vital way to save money, and Axos’s ATM network is extensive.

Novo Business Checking: Best Business Bank Account for Online Sellers for E-commerce

Monthly Fees: $0

★★★★★

4.5

Novo Business Checking Review

Novo has you covered whether you use Shopify, Etsy, or some other e-commerce site to do your online selling. The banking platform has dozens of native integrations to help your business grow. Many of these apps offer exclusive perks to Novo users as well. Setting up a business bank account for your LLC or sole proprietorship takes mere minutes, and reserves allow you to drop funds into buckets for payroll, taxes, and the like.

Why we chose it: Novo’s Business Checking account marries well with popular e-commerce tools for a comprehensive online experience.

Works with a long list of e-commerce apps
Reserve accounts for fund management
Great mobile app

Fee for overdrawn accounts
Branches are primarily in the Miami area
No savings options

Fees

Novo flashes a ton of zeros across its fee schedule. There are no penalties for low monthly balances, and even incoming and outgoing wire transfers are free. You’ll get hit with a $27 fine each time you have insufficient funds for a transaction, however.

Minimum Balance

Although Novo recommends starting with at least $50, you don’t need a minimum deposit to enroll. Thanks to the lack of service fees, there’s no amount of money you need to keep in your account at any time. Always make sure you have enough for transactions, so you don’t have to deal with overdraft fees.

Access to Mobile Banking

You can use Novo’s small business checking app to connect with your favorite business tools. This allows you to receive payouts from the major e-commerce platforms you already use. From your phone, it’s also possible to use Novo reserves to separate funds for upcoming expenses.

Extra Features

It’s rare to find a bank account with free incoming and outgoing wire transfers, but Novo rises to the challenge. The banking platform has built-in invoice tracking tools and reserve accounts to juggle funds.

Capital One Basic Checking: Best Business Bank Account for Online Sellers for Digital Transfers

Monthly Fees: $15 (waivable)

★★★★★

4.5

Capital One Basic Checking Review

Online sellers rely on digital transfers, and Capital One Basic Checking doesn’t limit how many you can do per month. You’ll never have to worry about penalties for receiving funds from your ever-growing number of e-commerce buyers or making payments to vendors for additional supplies. There are no overdraft fees even if you pull too much from your account, and a large network of ATMs gives access to money as you need it.

Why we chose it: Capital One’s unlimited free digital transfers allow you to send and receive funds as often as you need to.

Unlimited digital transfers
Does not charge overdraft fees
Large ATM network

Limited physical locations
Monthly account fee
Out-of-network ATM fees

Fees

Capital One’s Basic Checking does have a $15 monthly fee, but you can waive this with a bit of planning. Try to avoid incoming and outgoing wire transfers as much as possible, since these cost $15 and $25 per transaction. It’s free to deposit up to $5,000 in cash each month if your business happens to receive any.

Minimum Balance

If you want to remove the maintenance fee on your Basic Checking account, you’ll need to keep an average balance of $2,000 over the previous 30 or 90 days. Otherwise, your balance has no bearing on your account.

Access to Mobile Banking

Through the mobile app, you can deposit checks, pay your bills, or make digital payments with the help of Zelle. It also makes account management easier, whether you only have a checking account or opt for a savings plan as well. The CreditWise feature lets you see your credit score and offers tips to keep it as high as possible.

Extra Features

It’s hard to top unlimited digital transfers on your Capital One Basic Checking account. Overdraft protection is also a huge win, especially if you don’t have a ton of funds to work with every month. You can set up an account quickly with little more than an EIN and be up and running in a matter of hours.

U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking: Best Business Bank Account for Online Sellers for Lending Options

Monthly Fees: $0

★★★★★

4.3

U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking Review

You may not have a brick-and-mortar location, but having lending options at your fingertips can help take your business to the next level. Lines of credit and loans are both available for small and large purchases with repayment rates to match your available funds. U.S. Bank also has business services for payroll, fraud protection, and more to maximize your assets. While online-friendly, the bank also has over 2,400 branch locations for in-person visits.

Why we chose it: With a mix of minimal fees, specialized services, and a long list of lending options, U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking really speaks to online sellers.

Lending to fit your needs
Specialized business services for online sellers
2,400 branch locations

Charges for overdrafts
Low free cash deposit amount
Only locations in 28 states

Fees

U.S. Bank’s Silver Business Checking doesn’t charge a monthly fee for use, although many of the bank’s savings accounts do. There are fees for transactions after your first 125, and you’ll want to use U.S. Bank ATMs as much as possible to steer clear of out-of-network charges.

Minimum Balance

There are no balance requirements to dodge monthly service fees with Silver Business Checking. It’s free to open and use, no matter your balance when you open an account.

Access to Mobile Banking

Manage and pay all your bills from your phone with the U.S. Bank mobile app. You can also link up a digital wallet to pay when out and about or lock your credit card should it go missing. There’s even an option to deposit checks or send and receive money with Zelle.

Extra Features

The biggest perks for the U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking account are add-on business services for your account. These include fraud protection, payroll services, and tools for cash management. You can also benefit from $2,500 in free cash deposits and 125 free transactions each billing cycle.

Lili Business Banking: Best Business Bank Account for Online Sellers for Startups

Monthly Fees: $0

★★★★★

4.3

Lili Business Banking Review

With Lili Business Banking, you can have an account up and running within minutes. Nonexistent account and overdraft fees only sweeten the pot, and you can bank from 38,000 ATMs across the country for free. If that wasn’t enough, the fintech company offers tools for accounting, tax optimization, and custom invoices to take the guesswork out of juggling your finances.

Why we chose it: Lili’s fast sign-up process, transparent fees, and tax optimization software are just what any startup needs to succeed.

Tax optimization software
No minimum balance or monthly fees
Quick enrollment

Requires Pro account to earn interest
No wire transfers
Low monthly transfer and deposit limits

Fees

Lili Business Banking doesn’t have monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, or charges for ACH bank transfers. Out-of-network ATMs will set you back $2.50 domestically and $5.00 if you’re overseas.

Minimum Balance

With Lili, there’s no need to worry about minimum balances. You can open an account with as little as $1 and start taking advantage of all the cool perks right away.

Access to Mobile Banking

Everything Lili brings to its desktop app is also available on mobile devices. You can create and send invoices while on the go and even make online payments straight from your phone. It’s also possible to drop funds in tax buckets so you’re ready when tax season rolls around.

Extra Features

Taxes can be confusing for established businesses, let alone new ones. Lili’s tax optimization software teaches you how to set aside appropriate amounts for federal and state as needed and offers tips on how to maximize what stays with you. One of the best things about Lili is its account setup process, where you can be up and running in a matter of minutes.

Chase Business Complete Banking: Best Business Bank Account for Online Sellers for Business Services

Monthly Fees: $15 (waivable)

★★★★★

4.2

Chase Business Complete Banking Review

Chase’s business services are the star of the show, designed to protect what’s yours and ensure you get paid on time. As an added incentive, new business checking customers can earn $300 in sign-up bonuses should they qualify. Certain transaction types have fees, and there is a monthly charge to maintain your account. Fortunately, you can work around these fairly easily.

Why we chose it: Chase Business Complete Banking has you covered with excellent payment and transfer services, fraud lookouts, payment-collection solutions, and more.

Several available business services
Multiple ways to waive the monthly maintenance fee
$300 sign-on bonus

Monthly maintenance fee
Only 20 free paper transactions per month
Fees for out-of-network ATMs

Fees

The Chase Business Complete Banking account has a $15 monthly fee, waivable with any of the following:

$2,000 minimum daily balance
$2,000 in net purchases on your Chase Ink Business Card(s)
$2,000 in deposits from Chase QuickAccept or other eligible Chase Payment Solutions transactions

Other fees appear with paper transactions and wire transfers, somewhat limiting your business to digital transactions only.

Minimum Balance

Having at least $2,000 in your account at all times negates the monthly maintenance fee. If you want the $300 sign-on bonus, you’ll need to get $2,000 into your account within the first 30 days. From there, you’ll need to hold that minimum balance for 60 days straight to earn the reward.

Access to Mobile Banking

With Chase mobile banking, you can set up alerts to notify you when transactions take place or an account drops below a certain threshold. The app uses Chase QuickPay alongside Zelle to get payments out quickly, or you can transfer funds across the country. If you need to find the Chase location nearest you, the app will find a suitable branch or ATM close by.

Extra Features

Chase’s business services go beyond any we’ve seen, featuring an assortment of tools to manage cash flow and help you get what others owe you. You can use payment and transfer services to pay your employees or vendors, when switch to collections to make sure you get paid. Fraud protection safeguards your account and monitors for suspicious activity.

Methodology for the Best Business Bank Accounts for Online Sellers

We spent a lot of time identifying the best features online sellers need when choosing the best bank. Here are the top considerations we used when making our selections:

Monthly Fees: Some banks charge monthly service fees to add to their overall profit potential and help cover operating costs. Our search for the best business bank accounts for online sellers focused on bank accounts without such fees. If a bank does charge a maintenance fee, we’ve pointed out what you need to do to remove it.
Additional Fees: Fees often extend beyond monthly maintenance requirements. Banks can charge for ATM use, transfers, cash deposits, or hit you with penalties for overdrafting your account. We chose bank accounts with minimal fees that you can often avoid with some upfront planning.
Minimum Balance: If a bank charges a monthly service fee, we made sure small businesses can keep up with the minimum balance requirements to remove it. In other instances, we checked minimum balances needed to earn rewards or interest rates on the best business checking accounts.
Access to Mobile Banking: Online selling offers a lot of flexibility, and we wanted to make sure your bank does the same. All the banks on our list have mobile banking tools to keep you connected and on top of your finances no matter where you are.
Extra Features: We looked beyond the surface level for any extra features banks have to stand out among the competition. Top considerations include interest rates, business services, overdraft protection, and free transactions.
Ease of Use: No one has time for the archaic dealings of traditional banks. We picked financial institutions that are simple to sign up for and make features easily accessible. When you have purchases flying at you, you don’t want to get bogged down in banking logistics.

Best Business Bank Accounts for Online Sellers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Still have questions about the best business bank accounts for online sellers? You may find the answers you’re looking for right here.

Do I need a business bank account to sell online?

Yes, you need a business bank account to sell online. E-commerce requires a merchant account, which you can only create with a business bank account.

What is the easiest business bank account to open online?

Bank accounts operating exclusively online tend to be the easiest to open. Our favorites are Bluevine, Lili, and Axos Bank.

What type of bank account is best for small business?

A business checking account is your best option as a small business owner. You can use such an account for transfers, to make payments, and withdraw cash for your company. Some even have additional perks specific to your type of venture.

Do I need a business bank account for an LLC?

There’s no law requiring you to have a business bank account for your LLC. Still, having one is incredibly beneficial for limited liability and keeping personal and business funds apart.

Bottom Line

The top business bank accounts for selling online keep fees to a minimum while helping you keep a pulse on your finances. They make for easy transfers both into and out of your account without placing caps on how much you can do. We love Bluevine for its ease of use and healthy interest rate, but any of the bank accounts on this list could serve you well.

Best Business Bank Accounts by State

Below you will find an interactive U.S map that can help you locate and compare different banks and financial institutions that offer business accounts in your area.

January 24, 2023March 21, 2023

7 Best Banks for Small Businesses in New York in 2023

Businessman holding an ATM card in an ATM gallery

A bank account for your small business helps keep funds in order and customers happy. The best banks for small businesses in New York go one step further, offering additional features to keep your company running smoothly. After careful research, here are our seven favorites for 2023.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in New York

Bluevine – Best Overall Bank for Small Businesses
Capital One – Best Bank for Digital Transactions
Axos – Best Bank for Online Banking
Bank of America – Best Bank for Rewards
Chase Bank – Best Bank for Sign-On Bonus
Key Bank – Best Bank for Cash Deposits
Citizens Bank – Best Bank for Customer Service

Our Methodology

It should come as no surprise that fees are on top of our list of considerations for New York banks. We also looked at minimum balance requirements to maintain accounts and APYs for some passive income. Finally, we wanted to ensure banks have access to mobile banking and are easy for small businesses to use.

Click here for a more detailed explanation of our methodology.

Bluevine

$4.95 per cash deposit, $2.50 for out of network ATM fees, $15 for outgoing wires

2.0% APY

Pay vendors by wire or check, schedule payments, manage cash flow

Capital One

$15 for checking (waivable), $3 for savings (waivable)

$15 per incoming domestic wire, $25 for outgoing domestic wire, fee for excess cash deposits

0.20% APY

$2,000 for checking, $300 for savings

Access credit card accounts, transfer money, deposit checks, access bank statements, access to CreditWise service

Axos

$5 (waivable) for savings

$35 for outgoing wire transfers

0.20% APY

$2,500 on savings account

Pay bills, analyze spending patterns, monitor accounts

Bank of America

$16 for checking (waivable), $10 for savings (waivable)

Out of network ATM fees, fees for excessive deposits

Up to 0.04% APY

$5,000 for checking, $2,500 for savings

Manage accounts, pay and transfer, digital wallets, bill pay

Chase

$15 for checking (waivable), $10 for savings (waivable)

$25 to $40 for wire transfers, $0.40 per transaction (after first 20)

Up to 0.02% APY

$2,000 for checking, $1,000 for savings

Fraud monitoring, card control, pay and transfer, view offers

Key Bank

$5 (waivable) for checking, $4 (waivable) for savings

$33 overdraft fee, $0.40 per item in excess of 200 transactions, $20 for wire transfer

0.01% APY

$1,000 for checking, $300 for savings

Document hub for past statements, send money, account alerts to monitor transactions

Citizens Bank

$4.99 (waivable)

$0.50 fee for each excessive transaction, $39 overdraft fee

Up to 0.02% APY

$500 for savings account

Custom business alerts, check balances, transfer funds, find branch locations

Bluevine: Best Overall Bank for Small Businesses in New York

Up to 2.0% APY

★★★★★

4.7

Bluevine sets the bar high with zero monthly maintenance fees and 2.0% APY for business customers. There’s no minimum deposit requirement to get started, so any small business can partake. You won’t find a savings account, but Bluevine has virtual buckets you can drop funds into to stay organized. Pay attention to cash deposits, which will cost you $4.95 each time you make one.

Why we chose it: Bluevine holds the top spot thanks to its minimal fees, ease of use, and incredible interest rate.

Organize project work intuitively
Add resources as your project grows
Provide context with notes and descriptions

No business savings account
No ATM reimbursement
Fee for cash deposits

Fees

New Yorkers won’t have to worry about fees at any MoneyPass ATM in the state. There are hundreds throughout, but any ATM not in the system will set you back $2.50. The biggest fee to worry about is for cash deposits, where Bluevine charges $4.95 each time you add cash to your account.

Interest Rates

With Bluevine’s business checking account, you’ll receive an unprecedented 2.0% APY on funds within. Note that this interest rate only applies to money up to $100,000 in your account. Anything in excess does not earn any interest at all.

Minimum Balance

Bluevine has no minimum balance to start an account or maintain it. You’ll never receive a monthly charge if funds drop dangerously low. Your balance also doesn’t affect your interest rate, which is applicable on funds from $0 to $100,000.

Access to Mobile Banking

The Bluevine mobile app puts all your banking needs right in the palm of your hand. Just like on a computer, you can perform unlimited transfers, make bill payments, or deposit checks into your account. If you set up subaccounts for tracking purposes, the app transfers money between them immediately.

Capital One: Best Bank for Small Businesses in New York for Digital Transactions

0.20% APY

★★★★★

4.6

Your small business relies on digital transactions to stay afloat. Capital One understands this, allowing you to send and receive funds digitally without penalty. In the event one of your accounts gets stretched too thin, the bank won’t charge a fee for the overdraft. There are several Capital One banks within New York City, but those in other parts of the state should have no trouble finding at least an ATM.

Why we chose it: You can keep your vendors paid and happy with unlimited digital transactions from Capital One.

Unlimited digital transactions
Does not charge overdraft fees
Large ATM network

Limited physical locations
Monthly account fee
Out-of-network ATM fees

Fees

Digital transfers are free to any other bank account at any time. There is a monthly service fee on all Capital One’s business accounts, but you can toss these aside by meeting balance requirements. Incoming and outgoing domestic wire transfers cost $15 and $25 respectively, so try to avoid using this feature.

Interest Rates

New Capital One members unlock a promotional interest rate for the first 12 months of use on a business savings account. The current rate is 0.20% APY, which has been in place since 2020. After the first year, the APY reverts to the standard amount in effect at the time.

Minimum Balance

It takes a 30 or 90-day balance average of $2,000 in your checking account to waive the $15 monthly fee. To remove service fees on business savings, you’ll have to keep a minimum balance of at least $300 at all times.

Access to Mobile Banking

Capital One has a mobile app for both Android and iOS devices. It’s free to download and lets you perform digital transactions wherever you may be. Other features include mobile deposits and digital payments using Zelle.

Axos Bank: Best Bank for Small Businesses in New York for Online Banking

0.20% APY

★★★★★

4.5

Axos Bank Review

Axos Bank’s online system means you can bank from anywhere, even if business takes you outside New York. The bank lacks a few integrations, but you can access funds from any MoneyPass or AllPoint ATM around the country. Its basic checking has no monthly fee, and you’ll never have to worry about charges due to an overdraft.

Why we chose it: Axos Bank may not have physical locations, but its extensive online services make it an excellent choice for New Yorkers.

No monthly fee on basic account
Cash deposits allowed via MoneyPass and AllPoint ATMs
Zero overdraft fees

Limited integrations
Below average CD rates
Poor customer service

Fees

You may have some trouble finding a fee within Axos Bank’s online system, which is a good problem to have. Its basic checking account does not charge for maintenance, although higher-tier plans have waivable fees. The bank even reimburses you for domestic ATM use and two wire fees each billing cycle.

Interest Rates

You can earn 0.20% APY with an Axos business savings account, but rates don’t get any better with premium plans. Even CDs max out at 0.20%, leaving much to be desired. The interest plus checking account accrues up to 1.01% APY on amounts up to $50,000 if you want to go that route.

Minimum Balance

If you have a new small business, a basic business checking account is appealing thanks to no minimum balance requirements. You’ll need $2,500 minimum to remove fees from a business savings account or $5,000 for interest plus checking.

Access to Mobile Banking

With online banking as its core, Axos Bank would be dropping the ball if it didn’t have an excellent mobile service. The app works quickly to process transfers or handle mobile deposits. You can link all your accounts to your phone, watch account balances, and even analyze how you spend your money.

Bank of America: Best Bank for Small Businesses in New York for Rewards

Up to 0.04% APY

★★★★★

4.4

Bank of America takes an impressive traditional banking package and makes it better through a preferred rewards program. By enrolling, you gain access to cool perks that can boost your interest rate or remove fees on select banking services. Nearly 300 of Bank of America’s 4,300 branches reside in the state, offering plenty of opportunities for in-person banking. You’ll have a few fees to dance around as you do business, but this isn’t hard to do.

Why we chose it: Bank of America’s exclusive Preferred Rewards system offers excellent business perks to give your company a leg up on the competition.

Preferred rewards to boost interest rate
Over 17,000 ATMs and 4,300 branches
Can waive the monthly fee

Lacks 24/7 customer service
Monthly fees
Transaction fees when using non-Bank of America ATMs

Fees

Bank of America offers three ways to negate the $16 monthly maintenance fee. If you can’t maintain a $5,000 minimum balance, you can either spend $250 in qualified debit card purchases or become a Preferred Member instead. Savings requires a minimum of $2,500 or a Preferred Rewards membership to avoid paying $10 per month.

Interest Rates

None of Bank of America’s checking accounts have any kind of built-in interest rate. Savings accounts start at 0.01% APY but can grow depending on your status as a preferred member. CDs reach up to 3.51% if you have at least $10,000 and the time to lock these funds away.

Minimum Balance

Meeting minimum balance requirements will do away with annoying service fees you’ll otherwise have to pay. The amount you have in your accounts is the primary factor in determining what level of preferred membership you earn.

Access to Mobile Banking

Through the mobile app, you can set custom alerts so you’re always aware of what’s happening with your account. Enhanced security features prevent others from getting in, making it safe to pay all your bills from your phone. A spending and budgeting tool also exists to help you plan for future expenses.

Chase: Best Bank for Small Businesses in New York for Branch Locations

Up to 0.02% APY

★★★★★

4.4

With 600 locations throughout New York, Chase has more branches than any other bank in the state. You’ll have free reign of Chase’s business services whether you prefer to bank online or in person. Anyone signing up right now can qualify for a $300 bonus just for becoming a member. If that wasn’t enough, Chase gives up to $900 cash back on credit card purchases.

Why we chose it: Chase has more branches than any other bank in New York and hands you a $300 bonus just for signing up.

600 New York locations
Up to $300 sign-on bonus
Multiple ways to waive the monthly maintenance fee

Monthly maintenance fees
Only 20 free transactions per month
Minimal APY

Fees

Chase Business Complete Banking has a $15 service fee you can remove with a $2,000 daily balance. It’s also possible to waive this fee through deposits from Chase QuickAccept or purchases with a Chase Ink Business Card. Attaching a savings account to your checking removes any monthly fees you’d normally pay there.

Interest Rates

Chase does not have a checking account with options to accrue interest. You’ll have to look to a savings account for 0.01% or 0.02% APY. There are higher interest rates with certificates of deposit, but these vary depending on where in New York you are.

Minimum Balance

As long as you maintain a minimum of $2,000 in your Complete checking account, you’ll never have to pay a monthly fee. Plans jump to $35,000 and $100,000 minimums from there, which may not jive with smaller businesses.

Access to Mobile Banking

The Chase mobile app lets you view paperless statements and transfer money throughout New York and beyond. There’s an option to pay or schedule payments, and handling deposits with Chase QuickAccept can eliminate monthly account fees. With so many locations in the state, you can also use the app to find the nearest one.

Key Bank: Best Bank for Small Businesses in New York for Cash Deposits

0.01% APY

★★★★★

4.3

Many banks charge for cash deposits, but Key Bank allows you to add up to $25,000 to your account each month without penalizing you. It has a strong presence in the Empire state and locations in 38 others. Maintenance fees are low to begin with, but they’re also easy to waive with a low balance. The mobile app is a great way to track funds lest you stumble into hefty overdraft fees.

Why we chose it: Businesses channeling a lot of cash will love up to $25,000 in cash deposits each month without fees.

Deposit up to $25,000 in cash each month without fees
Low, waivable maintenance fees
More than 1,100 branches and 1,400 ATMs

Low interest rates
Heavy overdraft fees
Lackluster CD options

Fees

Key Bank is pretty generous with fees except when it comes to overdrafts. A simple slip up can cost you $33 each time you try to pull too much from an account. Monthly charges are $5 and $4 for basic checking and savings, but you can eliminate these with the proper balance.

Interest Rates

The interest rate you can earn on your savings or interest plus checking account is variable and based on several factors. After searching various zip codes, we couldn’t find anything higher than 0.01% APY.

Minimum Balance

It takes $1,000 in checking and $300 in savings to waive fees for each account. Key Bank lists its interest rates as variable and mentions they can change based on your current balance. In theory, higher balances should accrue more.

Access to Mobile Banking

Key Bank gives you the power to lock and unlock your cards right from your mobile device. You can also set up account alerts to monitor transactions in real-time and pay bills with a tap. If you need previous records, the app holds your last seven years of statements and two years of tax records.

Citizens Bank: Best Bank for Small Businesses in New York for Customer Service

Up to 0.02% APY

★★★★★

4.2

January 19, 2023March 21, 2023

Help is never far away at Citizens Bank, thanks to useful online information and a great customer support team. There are over 1200 locations in New England you can stop into, or contact someone via phone seven days a week. Multiple plan options play to the needs of different business models, including a fee-free account for small businesses.

Why we chose it: Citizens Bank’s excellent customer service and large number of New England locations make it a great option for New Yorkers.

Excellent customer service
Nearly 200 branches in New York
No monthly maintenance fee on some accounts

Low interest rates
High overdraft fees
Some accounts charge ATM fees

Fees

Some business checking accounts have unwaivable fees, but Citizens Bank’s introductory package has no monthly fee at all. You can take off the $4.99 charge on its small business savings account with the right amount of funds. Beware $39 overdraft fees you’ll receive for taking too much out of your account.

Interest Rates

Citizens Bank has both a business savings and money market account within reach of small businesses. Funds in savings earn 0.01% APY, whereas the money market account will earn you 0.02%. CDs don’t fare you much better, capping at 0.03% with 18-month terms.

Minimum Balance

A $500 minimum daily balance on your Citizens Bank business savings account is all you need to remove the monthly service charge. The minimum balance requirement rises steeply for other accounts.

Access to Mobile Banking

Citizens Bank recently refreshed its mobile app with an intuitive, new interface and several other enhancements. Using the app allows you to bank 24/7 from anywhere and move money as you see fit. Online banking demos offer tips and tricks for getting the most out of your account.

Methodology for the Best Banks for Small Businesses in New York

A lot goes into researching the best banks for small businesses in New York. Here are the top factors we considered when making our picks.

Fees: Banking fees can show up in many forms. We focused on banks without monthly charges, or at least easy ways for small businesses to waive them. Other important fees we considered revolved around transactions and deposits every small business has to perform.
Minimum Balance: Banks often impose service fees on accounts with low balances. We opted for banks having accounts with minimum balance requirements manageable by even the smallest business. In some cases, a higher account balance also means more interest.
Interest Rates: Interest rates can be an effective way to add a little passive income to your business. Fintechs like Bluevine let you earn up to 2.0% APY. In the small business world, every bit counts.
Access to Mobile Banking: Mobile banking is an essential tool in our fast-paced world. Banks without intuitive apps quickly fall by the wayside to those providing a ton of mobile services. The best ones allow you to view accounts and transfer funds with a tap.
Ease of Use: Along the vein of mobile banking, accounts should be easy to both set up and use. That means a startup process with few documents and clear systems. Having a good customer service team like Citizens Bank is also a plus.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in New York Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Still have questions about the best banks for small businesses in New York? This FAQ may have the answers you seek.

What is the best bank to use in New York?

Any of the banks to make our list are solid options for New York-based businesses. Whether you’re running a sole proprietorship or an LLC, these banks can serve you well.

What is the most used bank in New York?

Chase has the most locations in New York and has many members as a result. The bank has several locations in the Big Apple, but businesses upstate or out west have access to branches as well.

Do banks give loans to startups?

Banks can give loans to startups, as long as they demonstrate the means to pay it all back. Some will limit your startup to small loans or high interest rates to recoup money as fast as possible.

Do I need a good credit score to open a business bank account?

You don’t necessarily need a good credit score to open a business bank account. Some banks do not even check credit when you sign up. Financial institutions will monitor your ability to manage funds and may sever ties if issues arise.

Bottom Line

There are many banks to choose from in New York, but they aren’t all the same. The best options come with minimal fees and interest rates that offset any costs you incur along the way. You can’t go wrong with any of the banks on this list for your business needs.

Best Business Bank Accounts by State

Below you will find an interactive U.S map that can help you locate and compare different banks and financial institutions that offer business accounts in your area.

7 Best Banks for Small Businesses in Georgia in 2023

Businessperson performing card transactions on an ATM

The best banks for small businesses in Georgia keep fees low while providing services designed specifically for your venture to succeed. Ready to open an account but not sure where to start looking? This article lists our top picks and explains the logic behind each one.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in Georgia

Bluevine – Best Overall Bank for Small Businesses
Capital One – Best Bank for Overdraft Protection
Wells Fargo – Best Bank for Growth
Axos – Best Bank for Cash Deposits
Bank of America – Best Bank for Rewards
Chase Bank – Best Bank for Sign-On Bonus
Regions Bank – Best Bank for Traditional Banking

Our Methodology

We weighed several factors when choosing our favorite banks for small businesses in Georgia. Our top considerations fell to fees and minimum balance requirements needed to maintain an account. We also looked at interest rates and access to mobile banking for each account. Finally, it was important for us to make sure each bank was easy to both set up and use.

You can find a more detailed analysis of our methodology here.

Bluevine

$4.95 per cash deposit, $2.50 for out of network ATM fees, $15 for outgoing wires

2.0% APY

Pay vendors by wire or check, schedule payments, manage cash flow

Capital One

$15 for checking (waivable), $3 for savings (waivable)

$15 per incoming domestic wire, $25 for outgoing domestic wire, fee for cash deposits

0.20% APY

$2,000 for checking, $300 for savings

Access credit card accounts, transfer money, deposit checks, access bank statements, access to CreditWise service

Wells Fargo

$10 (waivable) for checking, $5 (waivable) for savings

Fees for deposited items, excess transactions and cash deposits

0.15% APY

$500 for checking, $300 for savings

Deposit checks, send and receive money, toggle cards on or off

Axos

$5 for savings (waivable)

$35 for outgoing wire transfers

0.20% APY

$2,500 on savings account

Pay bills, analyze spending patterns, monitor accounts

Bank of America

$16 for checking (waivable), $10 for savings (waivable)

Out of network ATM fees, fees for excessive deposits

Up to 0.04% APY

$5,000 for checking, $2,500 for savings

Manage accounts, pay and transfer, digital wallets, bill pay

Chase

$15 for checking (waivable), $10 for savings (waivable)

$25 to $40 for wire transfers, $0.40 per transaction (after first 20)

Up to 0.02% APY

$2,000 for checking, $1,000 for savings

Fraud monitoring, card control, pay and transfer, view offers

Regions Bank

$12 for checking (waivable), $5 for savings (waivable)

$3 for excessive withdrawals, $25 for wire transfers, $3 for out-of-network ATM

0.01% APY

$2,500 for checking, $500 for savings

Set alerts and notifications, control your cards, make deposits, mobile payments

Bluevine: Best Overall Bank for Small Businesses in Georgia

Up to 2.0% APY

★★★★★

4.7

Bluevine is one of the few fintech companies offering an interest rate on active funds in your checking account. This account has no minimums, so you can start with whatever deposit you have available and never have to maintain a certain balance. It’s possible to do all your banking without dealing with fees, but Bluevine does charge quite a bit for cash deposits.

Why we chose it: Bluevine takes our top spot thanks to its incredible interest rate, simple setup, and lack of monthly fees.

High interest rates
Very few fees
No minimum deposit required

No business savings account
No ATM reimbursement
Fee for cash deposits

Fees

You’re forever free from the burden of monthly fees with Bluevine. The fintech’s biggest pinch point here comes from cash deposits, which cost $4.95 every time you use them. Otherwise, just be sure to use one of Bluevine’s affiliated ATMs to avoid out-of-network fees.

Interest Rates

There’s a 2.0% APY waiting for you the moment you sign up for Bluevine. It’s available to everyone without minimum balance requirements or other stipulations. The rate only applies to funds up to $100,000 in your account, with everything beyond that earning nothing.

Minimum Balance

You can join Bluevine’s ranks with pennies and not have to worry about charges for falling below some minimum balance. The high interest rate becomes immediately available as well, even if your account starts small.

Access to Mobile Banking

Everything you can do from your computer you can also do from Bluevine’s mobile app. From within, you’ll have the tools to pay vendors or schedule payments to go out in the future. Viewing your funds at any time is a cinch, and the software helps you understand where each cent is going.

Capital One: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Georgia for Overdraft Protection

0.20% APY

★★★★★

4.6

Money can be tight with small businesses, and Capital One gets that. Even perfect planning can result in account overdrafts, but the bank will never charge for the lack of funds. Unlimited digital transfers help to ease financial stresses that much more. You may not find any bank locations outside the capital, but Capital One’s extensive ATM network has you covered for withdrawals and deposits.

Why we chose it: Capital One safeguards your account from unnecessary fees with overdraft protection and unlimited monthly digital transfers.

Does not charge overdraft fees
Unlimited digital transactions
Large ATM network

Limited physical locations
Monthly account fee
Out-of-network ATM fees

Fees

There may not be fees for overdrafts, but Capital One will hit you with monthly charges on both checking and savings if you don’t meet maintenance requirements. You’ll also have to pay every time you make a cash deposit, so plan accordingly.

Interest Rates

Capital One starts all new members off with a 0.20% promotional interest rate for the first year with your business savings account. There’s no guarantee that this APY will continue past that time, but the bank has kept its current rate since 2020. Your checking account won’t accrue any interest.

Minimum Balance

Keeping certain minimum balances is key to avoiding Capital One’s service fees. For checking, you’ll want to have an average of at least $2,000 over a 30 or 90-day period. Its savings account is a little more forgiving, requiring only $300 over the same window.

Access to Mobile Banking

Capital One comes through in a big way with its mobile banking tools. In addition to standard features like bill pay and account management, you can set up automatic savings from your phone. The app also comes together with CreditWise to inform you of your score and keep it high.

Wells Fargo: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Texas for Growth

0.15% APY

★★★★★

4.6

Wells Fargo has more than 8,000 branches across the country. There are nearly 300 in Georgia alone, ideal for LLCs working out of more than one state. Even if you’re not near a physical location, the bank offers online services to meet your needs. Account tiers feature additional benefits but also have increasing fee schedules. Speaking of fees, you’ll need to monitor your account regularly to stay away from charges for excess deposits or overdraft fees.

Why we chose it: Wells Fargo’s extensive banking network and business services serve to take your venture to the next level.

Several account options and business services
Possible to waive monthly fees
Extensive banking network around the country

Monthly fees
Charges for excess deposits or transactions
Revolving overdraft fee

Fees

While it is possible to navigate Wells Fargo’s fees, doing so is far from easy. You’ll need to keep tabs on transactions and deposits to be sure you don’t surpass your monthly limit. Should your account drop below zero, expect a hefty overdraft fee you can receive up to three times in one day. All this is on top of monthly maintenance fees, but at least you can waive these.

Interest Rates

Wells Fargo’s introductory savings account offers 0.15% interest across the board. Higher tiers can reach the 2.00% mark if you can keep up with balance requirements.

Minimum Balance

The Initiate Business Checking account has a $10 monthly fee you can cast aside with a $500 minimum daily balance. Minimum requirements jump all the way to $10,000 just one tier up.

It only takes $300 in your basic savings account to negate fees, but savings accounts similarly scale very quickly.

Access to Mobile Banking

Wells Fargo boasts banking at your convenience with its comprehensive mobile app. You can use your account as a digital wallet or keep an eye on your funds to ensure you don’t wander into fee territory. If that wasn’t enough, the app also allows you to pay bills, transfer funds, or find the closest ATM.

Axos Bank: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Georgia for Cash Deposits

0.20% APY

★★★★★

4.5

Axos Bank Review

Where most banks charge you every time you deposit cash, Axos makes it free from any MoneyPass or AllPoint ATM location. Its business checking account has no monthly fee, although you will have to watch out for one with savings. You can transfer money around without penalty, and the bank looks away from overdrafts as well. Zelle fans will be disappointed to learn that it doesn’t integrate with Axos software.

Why we chose it: Axos Bank showcases unlimited credits, debits, and cash deposits without costing you a dime.

Cash deposits allowed via MoneyPass and AllPoint ATMs
No monthly fee
Zero overdraft fees

Does not work with Zelle
Below average CD rates
Poor customer service

Fees

It’s not hard to avoid the few fees Axos has for a truly free banking experience. Your first 50 checks are free, and the bank even reimburses your first two wire transfers. At $35, additional wire transfers are costly. There is a $5 monthly fee for havings a savings account, but you can do away with this if you have a high enough balance.

Interest Rates

Axos’s business savings account awards a 0.20% APY for members. This rate remains the same whether your funds are high or low. There’s no option to earn interest on money in your checking account.

Minimum Balance

It’s possible to open a business checking account without initial deposit or balance requirements. This account has no monthly maintenance fees even if funds drop dangerously low. You can waive the service fee on Axos’s business savings account by keeping a $2,500 average monthly balance.

Access to Mobile Banking

Mobile banking with Axos is fast and free from any device. Use the app to manage your portfolios and create a custom dashboard to view them from. It also works well for depositing checks or handling external transfers. Unfortunately, the app does not integrate with Zelle for speedy transfers.

Bank of America: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Georgia for Rewards

Up to 0.04% APY

★★★★★

4.4

Bank of America has locations throughout Georgia and over 4,300 branches from coast to coast. You can either visit in person or online to enroll in the bank’s Preferred Rewards program for a long list of benefits. Perks include higher interest rates, fee-free banking services, and credit card bonuses. Each account has a monthly fee, but you can work around it with some foresight.

Why we chose it: Bank of America complements its impressive traditional banking with a suite of exclusive member rewards.

Preferred rewards to boost interest rate
Over 17,000 ATMs and 4,300 branches
Can waive the monthly fee

Lacks 24/7 customer service
Monthly fees
Transaction fees when using non-Bank of America ATMs

Fees

It’ll cost you $16 per month for upkeep on your small business checking account if you don’t meet at least one requirement. It will take a $5,000 average monthly balance, at least $250 in debit card purchases, or enrollment into the Preferred Rewards for Business program to remove the fee. Savings works much the same way, needing a $2,500 minimum balance or a Preferred Rewards for Business membership.

Interest Rates

Interest rates on your business savings account start at 0.01%. You can increase this over time by climbing the ranks of the Preferred Rewards program until reaching 0.04% at the Platinum level. Rates don’t apply to funds you have in your checking account.

Minimum Balance

Among Bank of America’s options for removing service fees are minimum balance requirements. The amount you have in each account is also an important factor in determining your Preferred Rewards level and resulting rewards.

Access to Mobile Banking

Bank of America’s excellent mobile app delivers just what you need while out and about. You can schedule and pay bills from anywhere you can connect or use Zelle to send money to friends and family. The software also has a spending and budget tool to keep your funds on course.

Chase: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Georgia for Sign-On Bonus

Up to 0.02% APY

★★★★★

4.2

Chase will hand you $300 just for opening a Business Complete Checking account with a handful of qualifying activities. You can also take advantage of a number of business services to help your business grow. Accounts do have monthly fees, but you can eliminate these in multiple ways. Interest rates aren’t high, but Chase’s other features more than make up for it.

Why we chose it: A $300 bonus for signing up and up to $900 in cash back make Chase Business very appealing to small business owners.

Up to $300 sign-on bonus
Several available business services
Multiple ways to waive the monthly maintenance fee

Monthly maintenance fees
Only 20 free transactions per month
Minimal APY

Fees

Chase accounts have monthly maintenance fees but offer several ways to get around paying them. You’re only allowed 20 free transactions per month, and each beyond that will cost you $0.40. While this may not seem like a lot, it can add up fast.

Interest Rates

Your sign-up bonus doesn’t come with very high interest rates. Chase savings starts at 0.01% APY and only increases to 0.02% over time. With balance requirements on each account, it’s hard to say how much of an impact this will make.

Minimum Balance

Anyone wanting to remove service fees on Chase’s business checking account needs a daily balance of just $2,000. You can also waive fees with $2,000 in net Chase business card purchases or $2,000 in incoming deposits. A savings account must have $1,000 or be linked to your checking account to avoid penalties.

Access to Mobile Banking

Through your phone and the Chase mobile app, you can set up account alerts and transfer money across the country. Chase QuickDeposit and QuickPay work to move money around quickly so you always have an accurate statement. You can also use the app to locate nearby Chase branches or ATM locations.

Regions Bank: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Georgia for Traditional Banking

0.01% APY

★★★★★

4.1

January 16, 2023March 21, 2023

At Regions Bank, different account options allow small businesses of all sizes to pick the one perfect for them. Additional perks like payroll services and business loans work to maximize your company’s chances for success. Applicable accounts can tap into a rewards system, but low interest rates and high overdraft fees leave a bit of a bad aftertaste.

Why we chose it: Regions Bank is traditional banking at its best, with several account options and business services to choose from.

Several checking and savings account options
Rewards system with applicable accounts
Payroll services available

Only three withdrawals per month
Low interest rates
Nasty overdraft fees

Fees

Any transaction leading to an account overdraft will set you back $36, a heavy blow for something that you may not see coming. Any withdrawals past your initial three each month are met with a $3 charge. Out-of-network ATMs will also cost you $3 to use, seeing Regions Bank’s fees stack up ever higher.

Interest Rates

At the time of writing, Regions Bank’s savings account will only let you accrue 0.01% in interest. Money market accounts are similarly low, but even a little bit is better than nothing.

Minimum Balance

It takes an average monthly balance of $2,500 to eliminate monthly fees associated with a Regions Bank checking account. If this isn’t doable, you can make at least $1,000 in Visa purchases or one or more Merchant Services transactions. Regions Bank will waive the monthly fee on your business savings account with a $500 balance.

Access to Mobile Banking

Mobile banking at Regions Bank will help keep your business on track. You can set alerts to know when a check clears or get notified when money comes in. The app taps into Zelle’s functionality for fast transfers and lets you deposit checks with your camera. If you’re really in a hurry, you can request information through a quick text.

Methodology for the Best Banks for Small Businesses in Georgia

Many financial institutions call the Peach State home, so finding the best bank for your small Georgia business can be overwhelming. Below you’ll find the methodology we used when making our selections.

Fees: We always take fees to heart when looking for the best banks for small businesses, as every penny matters. No bank is completely fee-free, but we’ve identified institutions where you can bank for free if you play your cards right. Most have monthly fees, but every Georgia bank on our list has ways to remove these.
Minimum Balance: Maintenance fees often go hand-in-hand with minimum balances. As long as you can meet a set amount, the bank will waive service fees for that month. We opted for banks with easier-to-reach requirements so your small business doesn’t have to come up with funds it doesn’t have.
Interest Rates: If fees are unavoidable, a bank should at least make it up to you through a nice interest rate. Accruing even a little interest each month can offset those fees and perhaps provide something to tuck away for a rainy day.
Access to Mobile Banking: Mobile banking is crucial in modern society, and any bank not realizing this will get left in the dust. In a fast-paced world, there’s not always time to get back to a computer before funds need to move. Having immediate access can also prevent overdraft fees or money from getting stuck where you don’t need it. Many banks take these apps one step further, enabling tools for budgeting and the ability to turn your mobile device into a wallet.
Ease of Use: The best banks for small businesses in Georgia wouldn’t have made our list if they were a challenge to use. From branch/ATM access to online tools, each of these institutions makes banking as straightforward as possible. This ease of use translates to account setup as well. In most cases, you can be up and running in minutes with little more than an EIN.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in Georgia Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Still not sure about the importance of a bank for your small Georgia-based business? This FAQ may have the answers you’re looking for.

Do banks help small businesses?

Banks are instrumental in helping small businesses organize funds and facilitate payments to other organizations. They can also provide services such as loans and fraud protection.

How much money should a small business have in the bank?

Every small business is different, but it’s wise to set aside at least 10% of your profits each month. If you can compile a three to six-month buffer of your operating expenses, you have a much better chance of surviving a mishap should it arise.

Do I need a business bank account for LLC?

A dedicated business account for an LLC is an excellent way to keep personal and business funds separate. Since LLCs offer limited liability protection, a lawsuit shouldn’t be able to touch your private assets. If the two are mixed, explaining where your personal funds end gets much more difficult.

Does the IRS require a business bank account?

The IRS does not require you to have a business bank account, but it does demand that you keep separate records for your business. Having a business bank account greatly simplifies this process.

Bottom Line

Choosing the right bank for your small business doesn’t have to be a chore. Analyze the funds your company has to work with and make a determination from there. Pick accounts with balance requirements you can manage and fees you can deal with. Don’t be afraid to find a bank with additional features you can use, like high interest rates or business services for your industry.

Best Business Bank Accounts by State

Below you will find an interactive U.S map that can help you locate and compare different banks and financial institutions that offer business accounts in your area.

7 Best Banks for Small Businesses in North Carolina in 2023

Finding the perfect bank for your North Carolina-based small business can be quite the challenge. We’ve saved you some trouble by picking out financial institutions known to offer stellar services while keeping fees to a minimum. Read on to learn everything you need to know about our favorites for 2023.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in North Carolina

Bluevine – Best Overall Bank for Small Businesses
Capital One – Best Bank for Overdraft Protection
U.S. Bank – Best Bank for Low Fees
Bank of America – Best Bank for Traditional Banking
First Citizens Bank – Best Bank for Checking Accounts
Chase Bank – Best Bank for Sign-On Bonus
Truist Bank – Best Bank for Branch Locations

Our Methodology

When choosing the top banks for your small business, we looked at troublesome fees and balance requirements that can help wash them away. We also looked for encouraging interest rates and mobile apps that won’t slow you down. Finally, we gauged overall ease of use when making our final selections.

You can find a more detailed analysis of our methodology here.

Bluevine

$4.95 per cash deposit, $2.50 for out of network ATM fees, $15 for outgoing wires

2.0% APY

Pay vendors by wire or check, schedule payments, manage cash flow

Capital One

$15 for checking (waivable), $3 for savings (waivable)

$15 per incoming domestic wire, $25 for outgoing domestic wire, fee for cash deposits

0.20% APY

$2,000 for checking, $300 for savings

Access credit card accounts, transfer money, deposit checks, access bank statements, access to CreditWise service

U.S. Bank

$3 (waivable)

$0.50 fee for transactions after the first 125, fees at out of network ATMs

0.01% APY

$500 for business savings

Transfer funds, view documents, find branch/ATM locations, manage cards

Bank of America

$16 for checking (waivable), $10 for savings (waivable)

Out of network ATM fees, fees for excessive deposits

Up to 0.04% APY

$5,000 for checking, $2,500 for savings

Manage accounts, pay and transfer, digital wallets, bill pay

First Citizens Bank

$5 (waivable)

$15 wire transfers, $2.99 external transfers

0.03% APY

$2,500 for business savings

Check deposits, phone payments, digital wallets

Chase

$15 (waivable)

$25 to $40 for wire transfers, $0.40 per transaction (after first 20)

Up to 0.02% APY

$2,000

Fraud monitoring, card control, pay and transfer, view offers

Truist Bank

$5 (waivable)

$0.50 per transaction after the first 50, $3 paper statement fee

0.01% APY

$250 for business savings

Receive crucial account insights, transfer funds, Zelle compatibility

Bluevine: Best Overall Bank for Small Businesses in North Carolina

Up to 2.0% APY

★★★★★

4.7

Bluevine may not have a business savings account, but it shows up in a big way with checking. From the moment you sign up, you’ll receive the fintech’s high interest rate and have very few fees to deal with as you bank. Small businesses needing a little more can make use of a line of credit, and Bluevine makes it easy to organize your funds with sub-accounts.

Why we chose it: Few banks can top Bluevine’s high interest rates, minimal fees, and intuitive layout.

High interest rates
Very few fees
Revolving lines of credit available

No business savings account
No ATM reimbursement
Fee for cash deposits

Fees

You can rest easy knowing that Bluevine will never charge you a monthly fee to keep your account up and running. Most transactions are free, but you’ll want to avoid out-of-network ATMs and wire transfers if at all possible. There is a charge for every cash deposit you make, so plan accordingly.

Interest Rates

At 2.0% APY, you’re going to have a hard time finding a financial institution with a better interest rate. While great for small businesses, this rate only applies to funds up to and including $100,000. Any amount in excess doesn’t earn any interest at all.

Minimum Balance

There’s nothing about Bluevine’s setup requiring any sort of minimum balance. It’s free to open and maintain your account even if funds teeter near $0. You don’t have to reach a certain threshold to start earning Bluevine’s awesome interest rate, either.

Access to Mobile Banking

Bluevine’s mobile app is an extension of everything you can do from your personal computer. You’ll have full access to your business checking account and be able to manage your account accordingly. In addition to standard features, it’s also possible to deposit checks right from your phone.

Capital One: Best Bank for Small Businesses in North Carolina for Overdraft Protection

0.20% APY

★★★★★

4.6

You may not have abundant funds with your small business, and Capital One gets that. As you make payments and move money from one location to another, the bank won’t hit you with overdraft fees if one account gets too low. Unlimited digital transfers allow you to keep funds flowing, while Capital One’s extensive ATM network makes it easy to take some out or deposit more.

Why we chose it: Capital One has your back with unlimited digital transfers and overdraft coverage should your account run a little thin.

Does not charge overdraft fees
Unlimited digital transactions
Large ATM network

Limited physical locations
Monthly account fee
Out-of-network ATM fees

Fees

There are no overdraft fees, but Capital One does have a monthly service charge to contend with if you’re unable to meet certain requirements. Transactions are free, as are cash deposits of up to $5,000 each month. The only other fees you’ll likely encounter come from incoming and outgoing wire transfers.

Interest Rates

Capital One offers promotional interest rates for anyone becoming a member. With a savings account, you’ll immediately receive these higher-than-average rates for your entire first year. Afterward, the account earns interest at the standard interest rate in effect at that time.

Minimum Balance

You can waive maintenance fees on your business checking account by keeping an average balance of $2,000 over a 30 or 90-day window. For savings, you’ll need to hold a minimum balance of at least $300 to avoid fees there. The promotional interest rate applies no matter how much you have in your savings.

Access to Mobile Banking

The Capital One mobile app has all the standard features you’d expect to find, from bill pay to mobile deposits and account transfers. It stands out with CreditWise, a feature designed to track your credit score and offer tips for keeping your number high.

U.S. Bank: Best Bank for Small Businesses in North Carolina for Low Fees

0.01% APY

★★★★★

4.5

U.S. Bank’s minimal fee structure is a blessing for small businesses having to pinch every penny. With a bit of planning, you can do all your banking without ever having to deal with a single fee. In addition, U.S. Bank has thousands of branch locations across the country to serve your needs. If that wasn’t enough, it has a long list of merchant services specifically designed to help businesses in your industry succeed.

Why we chose it: With so few fees, U.S. Bank makes it possible to address all your banking needs without ever paying a cent.

Nearly nonexistent fees
Specialized merchant services for restaurants, retailers, and service providers
2,400 branch locations

Charges for overdrafts
Relatively low APY
Only locations in 28 states

Fees

U.S. Bank’s checking account set up specifically for small businesses has no monthly fee and allows up to 125 transactions before charges begin. Savings accounts start off at just $4 per month, but you can remove this cost quite easily. As long as you deposit or withdraw funds from one of U.S. Bank’s 4,700 ATMs around the country, you’ll never have to deal with fees there either.

Interest Rates

Interest rates are the one chink in U.S. Bank’s strong armor. There’s no way to earn any with your checking account. What’s more, most savings and money market accounts don’t go higher than 0.01% APY. You’ll only find higher interest rates with U.S. Bank’s Platinum Money Market account, which has some rigid maintenance requirements.

Minimum Balance

You’re free to have as much or as little as you want in your business checking account without having to deal with fees. Keeping at least a $500 daily balance in U.S. Bank’s small business savings account will remove monthly fees there. Other accounts to consider as your business grows require at least $10,000 to maintain.

Access to Mobile Banking

While logged into U.S. Bank’s mobile app, you can easily complete everyday banking tasks with the intuitive U.S. Bank Smart Assistant. With just your voice, you can deposit checks, pay your bills, or send money from place to place. There are also tools for handling your business credit cards.

Bank of America: Best Bank for Small Businesses in North Carolina for Traditional Banking

Up to 0.04% APY

★★★★★

4.4

Bank of America has a presence almost everywhere with over 4,300 branches and 17,000 ATM locations. There are a number of checking and savings account options to fit whatever stage of life your business currently resides in. Interest rates are competitive, and a robust rewards system offers even more perks.

Why we chose it: With multiple account options and a long list of merchant services, Bank of America has the tools a small business needs to succeed.

Over 17,000 ATMs and 4,300 branches
Multiple checking and savings account options
Preferred rewards to boost interest rate

Lacks 24/7 customer service
Monthly fees
Transaction fees when using non-Bank of America ATMs

Fees

All of Bank of America’s checking and savings accounts have monthly fees, but there are ways around them. On the checking side, you can maintain an average monthly balance of $5,000, spend at least $250 in debit card purchases, or enroll in the Preferred Rewards program. Similarly, your savings account is free to use if you keep at least a $2,500 balance or become a Rewards member.

Interest Rates

You’ll earn 0.01% APY when you become a Bank of America member, but you can grow this rate through the rewards program. As you move up the ranks, it’s possible to increase your rate to 0.04% along with the other perks the service brings. If you want to earn even more, you can lock away funds in a CD and earn up to 3.51% APY over time.

Minimum Balance

As explained above, there are minimum balance requirements to avoid paying fees every month on your checking and savings accounts. Your balance also plays a role in your rewards tier, with more available funds potentially moving you to a higher level.

Access to Mobile Banking

It’s easy to perform account maintenance through the Bank of America mobile app. The software also has a spending and budgeting tool to help you reach financial goals along the way. Furthermore, you can set up custom alerts to flag you when balances reach a certain level or you need to make a payment.

First Citizens Bank: Best for Small Businesses in North Carolina for Checking Accounts

0.03% APY

★★★★★

4.4

First Citizens Bank has no less than six checking options to choose from when opening a bank account. Whether you’re pinching every penny or have some money to burn, there’s a plan for your business. Most accounts have easily waivable monthly fees, and you’re free to deposit up to $5,000 in cash monthly without penalty. First Citizens Bank may only be in 21 states but has nearly 500 branches in North Carolina alone.

Why we chose it: First Citizens Bank appeals to all types of small businesses with multiple checking account options and ways to waive monthly fees.

Multiple checking account options
Up to $5,000 in cash deposits each month
Waivable monthly fees

Some fees are difficult to work around
Locations in only 21 states
Subpar interest rates

Fees

Depending on the account, you can take care of maintenance fees by enrolling in paperless statements or keeping up with a low balance requirement. There aren’t many other fees to worry about, but First Citizens Bank does impose a $2.99 charge for any transfer to an external bank.

Interest Rates

A business savings account will earn you 0.03% APY on any money stored within. Money market options don’t fare any better at the present time. CDs in 12, 24, and 36-month intervals can earn you a little more.

Minimum Balance

First Citizen’s Bank’s introductory checking account has no monthly fee if you enroll in paperless statements. Other checking accounts require at least $25,000 to avoid charges. The bank’s savings account fares a little better, but you’ll still need $2,500 to be safe.

Access to Mobile Banking

You can use First Citizen’s app to deposit checks using nothing more than your camera. With digital wallets, it’s also possible to pay with your phone while out and about. Alongside these features, the mobile app can handle transfer requests and let you see balances wherever in the world you find yourself.

Chase: Best Bank for Small Businesses in North Carolina for Sign-On Bonus

Up to 0.02% APY

★★★★★

4.2

Chase Bank knows how to treat members right. Qualifying accounts receive a $300 bonus just for signing up, and you can earn up to $1,000 in cash back just for using your credit card. The bank also has several cool services like fraud protection and business loans to keep your company in top form. There’s not much in the way of APY, but these other features more than make up for it.

Why we chose it: A $300 sign-on bonus is just the tip of the iceberg regarding Chase’s generous perks for your small business.

Up to $300 sign-on bonus
Several available business services
Multiple ways to waive the monthly maintenance fee

Monthly maintenance fees
Only 20 free transactions per month
Minimal APY

Fees

You can kick monthly service fees to the curb on both checking and savings account. With checking, this requires keeping a certain monthly balance, making deposits from Chase QuickAccept, or through Chase Ink Business Card purchases. Removing fees from savings is as easy as linking it to your checking account. You’ll want to watch your transactions, as Chase only allows 20 free ones each month.

Interest Rates

Chase’s savings accounts aren’t strong in the interest rate category. You’ll start at 0.01% APY but can boost this to 0.02% over time. Anyone wanting to accrue some serious interest should look into Chase’s certificates of deposit.

Minimum Balance

If you’re not into deposits or purchases with your business card, you’ll want to have a $2,000 monthly balance to do away with service fees on your checking account. There are no monthly requirements for savings, so long as you link it to your checking. To qualify for the sign-on bonus, you’ll need to hit a $2,000 balance within the first 30 days and then keep it for the next 60.

Access to Mobile Banking

Chase QuickPay on the mobile app uses Zelle to send and receive payments quickly. You can also use the software to transfer money in a more traditional way or schedule upcoming payments. For those in a time crunch, you can use texts to check balances and transaction history.

Truist: Best Bank for Small Businesses in North Carolina for Physical Locations

0.01% APY

★★★★★

4.2

January 11, 2023March 21, 2023

No matter where in North Carolina you call home, you’re likely not too far from one of Truist’s 500+ locations around the state. The bank makes every effort to be accessible to new businesses with varying account levels and member perks. You’ll also receive protection from overdrafts and a negative balance buffer if things go sideways.

Why we chose it: Top-notch banking services and more North Carolina locations than any other bank make Truist an excellent option for residents of the Tar Heel state.

Nearly 500 locations in North Carolina alone
No overdraft fees
Easily accessible for new businesses

Limited no-fee transactions
No free incoming wires
Low interest rates

Fees

Truist’s Simple Business Checking doesn’t have a monthly fee and is ideal for startups. Other accounts require certain balance requirements to get rid of their service fees. You’ll get up to 50 transactions per month for free, but any beyond this will set you back $0.50. It’s best to avoid paper statements so you don’t get hit with a $3 charge each month.

Interest Rates

There are a lot of fantastic perks for using Truist’s savings account, but interest rates aren’t one of them. You can only earn 0.01% on funds in this account, no matter your current balance.

Minimum Balance

Balance requirements for removing service fees start out high and only get higher. You’ll need at least $2,500 to ward off charges on savings, and checking accounts must have $5,000 starting at tier two.

Access to Mobile Banking

You can log off your PC and pick right up where you left off on the Truist mobile app. Additional features include access to a digital wallet and integration with Zelle. The app also provides intuitive insights into your spending patterns and alerts you to unusual account activity.

Methodology for the Best Banks for Small Businesses in North Carolina

In this section, we share the reasoning behind the methodology we chose for selecting the best banks for small businesses in North Carolina. The following five criteria were at the forefront of our decision-making process:

Fees: The whole purpose of using a bank is to simplify your finances, not add in a bunch of unnecessary fees. We strove to identify the best banks for small businesses that make it possible to handle funds without breaking the bank.
Interest Rates: Money is that much sweeter when it goes to work for you. We opted for banks that pay out some form of interest rate among savings and checking accounts so you can earn a little extra cash just for doing what you do.
Minimum Balance: As a small business, you may not have an abundance of funds to work with. It was our goal to choose banks with low or nonexistent balance requirements to avoid unsightly fees.
Access to Mobile Banking: In a digital world, we switch between electronic devices at a moment’s notice. We looked for banks with full-featured mobile banking apps you can use whether at home or on the go.
Ease of Use: No one likes a bank that’s a pain to use. We selected banks with intuitive interfaces and easy-to-use mobile apps that won’t slow you down along the way. It was also important to select financial institutions that are easy to set up, with some requiring little more than an employer identification number (EIN) to get going.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in North Carolina Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We understand that choosing the right bank for your small business is no easy task. This FAQ serves to answer some of the most prevalent questions on the subject.

Which bank is best for opening a small business account?

After careful consideration, we’ve identified the seven banks on this list as the best options for opening a small business account in North Carolina. Our favorite is Bluevine for its flexibility, high interest rates, and minimal fees.

What bank is popular in North Carolina?

Bank of America and Truist Bank are among the most popular in North Carolina. These two financial institutions see the most deposits and have hundreds of locations across the state.

What four documents do you need to open a business bank account?

In most cases, banks will ask for your employer identification number (EIN) and your Articles of Operation should you want to open a bank account. You’ll also need to present an Ownership Agreement and business license to complete the process.

Do I need a business bank account for an LLC?

It’s wise to have a business bank account for your LLC, even if you’re currently a one-person show. Doing so keeps your personal and business assets separate, allowing you to take full advantage of an LLC’s limited liability protection.

Bottom Line

When it comes down to opening a bank account for your small business in North Carolina, don’t rush into your choice. Take the time to find one with fees, interest rates, and balance requirements that your business can handle. Consider also how the bank’s services will grow with your business over time to maximize your potential. We’re excited about what Bluevine brings to the table, but we feel any of the banks on this list can serve you well.

Best Business Bank Accounts by State

Below you will find an interactive U.S map that can help you locate and compare different banks and financial institutions that offer business accounts in your area.

7 Best Banks for Small Business in Massachusetts in 2023

Businessperson checking their business' bankbook

The best banks for small business in Massachusetts simplify fund management through a rich list of features and minimal fees. Finding that perfect bank, however, can be quite the ordeal. If you’re a Massachusetts-based company and in need of a bank, this guide has what you’ve been looking for.

Best Banks for Small Business in Massachusetts

Bluevine – Best Overall Bank for Small Businesses
Capital One – Best Bank for Traditional Checking
Eastern Bank – Best Local Bank
U.S. Bank – Best Bank for Low Fees
Bank of America – Best Bank for Rewards
Citizens Bank – Best Bank for Branch Locations
Chase Bank – Best Bank for Sign-On Bonus

Our Methodology

When coming up with our favorite Massachusetts banks, we studied monthly pricing and additional fees you’d have to deal with as a small business owner. Our research also considered interest rates you can earn and any minimum balance requirements to keep your accounts in order. Finally, we looked at mobile banking options and overall ease of use from account creation to everyday use.

You can find a more detailed analysis of our methodology here.

Bluevine

$4.95 per cash deposit, $2.50 for out of network ATM fees, $15 for outgoing wires

2.0% APY

Pay vendors by wire or check, schedule payments, manage cash flow

Capital One

$15 for checking (waivable), $3 for savings (waivable)

$15 per incoming domestic wire, $25 for outgoing domestic wire, fee for cash deposits

0.20% APY

$2,000

Access credit card accounts,
transfer money,
deposit checks,
access bank statements,
access to CreditWise service

Eastern Bank

$0 to $18 (waivable)

Up to $30 wire transfers, overdraft fees

0.1% to 0.5% APY

$2,500 for savings
$10,000 (for higher tier checking)

View account statements, links with Zelle, debit card controls, deposits and transfers

U.S. Bank

$4 (waivable)

$0.50 fee for transactions after the first 125, fees at out of network ATMs

0.01% APY

$500 for business savings

Transfer funds, view documents, find branch/ATM locations, manage cards

Bank of America

$16 for checking (waivable), $10 for savings (waivable)

Out of network ATM fees, fees for excessive deposits

Up to 0.04% APY

$5,000 for checking, $2,500 for savings

Manage accounts, pay and transfer, digital wallets, bill pay

Citizens Bank

$4.99 (waivable)

$0.50 fee for each excessive transaction, $39 overdraft fee

Up to 0.02% APY

$500 for savings account

Custom business alerts, check balances, transfer funds, find branch locations

Chase

$15 (waivable)

$25 to $40 for wire transfers, $0.40 per transaction (after first 20)

Up to 0.02% APY

$2,000

Fraud monitoring, card control, pay and transfer, view offers

Bluevine: Best Overall Bank for Small Business in Massachusetts

Up to 2.0% APY

★★★★★

4.7

It’s not often you see a checking account with an interest rate, but Bluevine takes things one step further with a 2.0% APY. Bluevine foregoes a savings account as a result, allowing you to manage all your funds through one location. If that wasn’t enough, there’s no need to worry about keeping a minimum balance and fees are few and far between.

Why we chose it: A fantastic interest rate, minimal fees, and an easy-to-use system all play a role in making Bluevine the best bank for small businesses in Massachusetts.

High interest rates
Very few fees
No minimum balance required

No business savings account
No ATM reimbursement
Fee for cash deposits

Fees

You never have to worry about a monthly service fee with Bluevine, no matter how much you have in your account. Small businesses working with a lot of cash will want to plan ahead, as every cash deposit will set you back $4.95. Otherwise, make a point to use one of Bluevine’s in-network ATMs to avoid any charges there.

Interest Rates

Funds up to $100,000 in your checking account earn 2.0% interest on a regular basis. Any amount above this number doesn’t accrue any interest at all. Smaller businesses shouldn’t need to worry, but there’s no savings account to funnel access cash into with Bluevine.

Minimum Balance

There are no minimum balance requirements for Bluevine’s services. Whether you have $5 or $5,000, you’ll never get charged a monthly fee for using your account. Bluevine doesn’t adjust your interest rate depending on your balance, either.

Access to Mobile Banking

The Bluevine mobile app keeps all this banking power right in front of you no matter where you go. You can keep an eye on cash flow, pay your bills, or deposit checks with the click of a button. Best of all, it’s incredibly simple to use.

Capital One: Best Bank for Small Business in Massachusetts for Traditional Checking

0.20% APY

★★★★★

4.6

Small businesses deal with a lot of cash management, and Capital One gets that. Its checking accounts allow for unlimited digital transfers while protecting you from overdraft fees should you bite off more than you can chew. The extensive ATM network extends well beyond the state’s borders, giving you access to funds wherever you may be. A stellar mobile app simply rounds out the package.

Why we chose it: Capital One provides all the traditional checking tools a small business needs to succeed.

Unlimited digital transfers
Does not charge overdraft fees
Large ATM network

Limited physical locations
Monthly account fee
Out-of-network ATM fees

Fees

Capital One’s introductory business checking account has a waivable $15 service fee to contend with. You can deposit up to $5,000 in cash every month for free, but every $1,000 after that comes with a $1 charge. The only other fees you need to concern yourself with come in the form of wire transfers.

Interest Rates

When you sign up for a Capital One savings account, you’re locked into a high 0.20% promotional rate for the next 12 months. Although there’s no guarantee of this rate remaining after that point, Capital One hasn’t changed its APY in over two years.

Minimum Balance

To avoid Capital One’s $15 maintenance fee on your checking account, you’ll need to hold an average balance of $2,000 over the past 30 or 90 days. The same logic applies to your savings account, but a minimum balance of just $300 removes the $3 fee.

Access to Mobile Banking

With the top-rated mobile banking app, you can make payments or schedule them to go out as you see fit. It also works well for mobile deposits and digital payments through a partnership with Zelle. The CreditWise feature tracks your credit and shares ways to get or maintain a high score.

Eastern Bank: Best Local Bank for Small Business in Massachusetts

0.1% to 0.5% APY

★★★★★

4.6

Eastern Bank has locations scattered throughout Eastern Massachusetts, extending both north into New Hampshire and south to Rhode Island. It has a number of checking and savings options to pick from while offering the vast majority of its services entirely for free. There are some transaction limitations, but incredible interest rates more than compensate for them.

Why we chose it: Eastern Bank is your quintessential local option, both popular throughout the state and offering some extraordinary interest rates.

Popular throughout Massachusetts
Fee-free checking account
Good interest rates

Low monthly transaction limit
High monthly balance requirements
Lack of presence outside Massachusetts

Fees

Small business owners can take advantage of a free business checking account geared toward sole proprietors. Other businesses have to make the jump to a handful of checking accounts starting at $11 in monthly fees if your balance isn’t high enough. Savings accounts only charge $2 per month if you can’t meet waiver requirements.

Interest Rates

It’s only possible to earn 0.01% APY with Eastern Bank’s business savings account. Better options for earning interest come with the money market account, starting at 0.10% and jumping as high as 2.50% should you reach a $250,000 account balance.

Minimum Balance

There’s no minimum balance to worry about with Eastern Bank’s free checking account, but all other checking options require at least $10,000 to wipe away fees. Its savings account only requires a $500 balance, but savvy business owners will want the APY from a money market account with a $2,500 minimum.

Access to Mobile Banking

Through the Eastern Bank mobile app, you can check your account balances, transfer funds, or make payments. The software integrates seamlessly with Quicken for customers wanting to monitor spending and create budgets. You can also set the app to notify you of important events through email or text.

U.S. Bank: Best Bank for Small Business in Massachusetts for Low Fees

0.01% APY

★★★★★

4.5

U.S. Bank’s Silver Business checking account has no monthly fees, making it perfect for new or small businesses. The only other fees you’ll encounter come with excess transactions or out-of-network ATM use, making it feasible to bank for free. In addition, there are over 2,400 bank locations around the country and a variety of merchant services designed with your business in mind.

Why we chose it: With U.S. Bank, you can manage your entire operation’s funds without ever having to pay a penny.

Nearly nonexistent fees
Specialized merchant services for restaurants, retailers, and service providers
2,400 branch locations

Charges for overdrafts
Relatively low APY
Only locations in 28 states

Fees

While there are waivable monthly service fees for higher tier checking accounts, U.S. Bank’s setup for small businesses has no such issue. Savings accounts do start with a maintenance fee, but you can waive this as well. As long as you count your monthly transactions and limit ATM use to in-network machines, you shouldn’t deal with any fees while banking.

Interest Rates

U.S. Bank doesn’t come through in a big way for interest rates, offering only 0.01% APY across its savings account options. Money in your checking account won’t accrue any interest at all.

Minimum Balance

There’s no upkeep to worry about with your U.S. Bank Silver checking account. If your business upgrades to the Gold package or beyond, you’ll need at least $10,000 in your account at all times. To negate the $3 service fee for a savings account, you’ll want to maintain a $500 or higher balance.

Access to Mobile Banking

Through your mobile device, you can use the U.S. Bank app to handle bills and transfer money between accounts with the push of a button. The app goes above and beyond by providing timely insights specific to your account that help you make strategic financial decisions.

Bank of America: Best Bank for Small Business in Massachusetts for Rewards

Up to 0.04% APY

★★★★★

4.4

Bank of America has an entire Preferred Rewards program with the sole purpose of showering you with perks just for participating. These bonuses can boost your interest rate, remove deposit fees, or offer extra incentives for using a credit card. With branch locations and ATMs throughout Massachusetts and the rest of the country, your banking needs are always a stone’s throw away.

Why we chose it: Bank of America gives back to your business with a comprehensive rewards system.

Preferred rewards to boost interest rate
Over 17,000 ATMs and 4,300 branches
Can waive the monthly fee

Lacks 24/7 customer service
Monthly fees
Transaction fees when using non-Bank of America ATMs

Fees

Bank of America charges a service fee on each of its accounts, but you can remove each one with careful planning. For Fundamentals checking, you must maintain a $5,000 average monthly balance, spend at least $250 in debit card purchases, or become a Preferred Rewards member. You’ll need $2,500 in your savings account or be a Preferred Rewards member to do away with fees there.

Interest Rates

There’s no way to earn interest with a Bank of America checking account, so savings is where the action’s at. Rates start at 0.01% APY with low balances but can grow to 0.04% as you build rewards.

Minimum Balance

As mentioned above, you’ll need $5,000 in checking or $2,500 in savings to eliminate service fees on each account, assuming you don’t qualify any other way. Your monthly balance also plays a role in your rewards bracket and the accompanying perks you can have.

Access to Mobile Banking

The benefits don’t stop with Bank of America’s rewards program. The #1-rated mobile app puts you in complete control of your accounts from the convenience of your smartphone. Alongside account management, you can create custom alerts when payments come due or a balance falls dangerously low.

Citizens Bank: Best Bank for Small Business in Massachusetts for Branch Locations

Up to 0.02% APY

★★★★★

4.3

Citizens Bank has a real presence in the region, with over 1200 branches in New England. Introductory checking accounts come without monthly maintenance fees and feature an overdraft line of credit when surprises occur. If you ever find yourself in need of help, Citizens Bank has people standing by 24/7 to assist.

Why we chose it: With over 200 branches in Massachusetts alone, Citizens Bank has a solid corner on the New England market.

Over 1200 branches in New England
24/7 customer service
No monthly maintenance fee on some accounts

Low interest rates
High overdraft fees
Some accounts charge ATM fees

Fees

There are zero service fees on Citizen Bank’s small business checking account, allowing you to step in without fear of unsightly charges. Savings accounts experience a $4.99 monthly fee if you can’t keep up with balance requirements. Citizens Bank automatically waives this fee for the first four months to help you settle.

Interest Rates

The best Citizens Bank can do when it comes to interest rates is 0.02%, and that’s on a higher-tier money market account. As a small business owner, it’s more likely you’ll accrue 0.01% on any funds you can set aside.

Minimum Balance

You won’t have to worry about upholding a minimum balance on your small business checking account unless your company is ready to move to a higher tier. At entry level, keeping a $500 minimum balance on your Citizens Bank savings account removes the monthly fee. APY remains the same no matter how many dollars you have stored away.

Access to Mobile Banking

Using the Citizens Bank mobile app lets you bank from anywhere at any time. Handle payments, move money around, and receive account insights all from your mobile device. Within, you can also manage debit cards and make use of the document center.

Chase: Best Bank for Small Business in Massachusetts for Sign-On Bonus

Up to 0.02% APY

★★★★★

4.2

January 11, 2023March 21, 2023

Chase is well-known for quality banking and an abundance of business services to keep your business in top form. To go one step further, the bank hands you $300 just for signing up with qualifying activities. There is a monthly fee, but you have multiple ways to remove this at the end of each cycle. Most locations are in the Boston area, but Chase’s online banking options make up for the lack of branches.

Why we chose it: Chase complements its excellent banking features with up to $300 in cash just for opening an account.

Up to $300 sign-on bonus
Several available business services
Multiple ways to waive the monthly maintenance fee

Monthly maintenance fees
Only 20 free transactions per month
Minimal APY

Fees

If you can’t manage the minimum daily balance, Chase will charge a $15 monthly service fee for doing business with you. Savings accounts also have fees, but the bank waives these if you link a qualified checking account. Wire transfers are a bit pricey, and Chase only allows 20 transactions before they start charging.

Interest Rates

When it comes to savings accounts, the best you can do with Chase is 0.02% interest after you’ve built a relationship with the firm. Business CDs can reach up to 3.00% APY if you can afford to tuck money away for 3 to 12 months.

Minimum Balance

It takes a minimum balance of $2,000 to wash away the monthly maintenance fee on Chase’s small business checking account. To qualify for your sign-up bonus, you’ll need to bring your balance to at least $2,000 within your first 30 days and then hold that amount for the next 60.

Access to Mobile Banking

Chase lets you set and manage alerts on your accounts when you expect funds to come in or need to send some out. The app works well for transferring money or finding the ATM nearest to your current location. There’s also a QuickPay option with Zelle to send cash in a matter of moments.

Methodology for the Best Banks for Small Businesses in Massachusetts

It was our goal to find the best banks for small businesses in Massachusetts, whether you’re in the greater Boston area or living in the western part of the state. After careful consideration, we used the following factors to determine our favorite banking options:

Fees: Money makes the world go round and is a crucial component of any small business. When every cent matters, keeping banking fees to a minimum can significantly impact your bottom line. We factored this into our selections and made sure to note how to waive fees if they are applicable.
Interest Rates: The direct inverse of fees, having a bank willing to pay you for using their services can be a huge win. When it feels like so many financial institutions are moving away from offering interest, we strove to find the best ones that still do.
Minimum Balance: If you’re just starting out, chances are you don’t have a lot of money to play with. Many banks require a monthly balance to circumvent monthly charges, so we focused on options for keeping this amount to a minimum.
Mobile Banking: Everyone owns a smartphone, and few of us have time to stop and bank at a traditional brick and mortar. Banks with excellent mobile apps make it possible to handle all your financial needs as long as you have a wireless signal.
Ease of Setup and Use: Most financial institutions on our list can have you up and banking in a matter of minutes, whether you visit in person or through the mobile app. Some require little more than an EIN, but all of them make the process easy. We also looked at how easy it was to take care of your banking after becoming a member.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in Massachusetts Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Finding the perfect bank for your small business is no easy task. This FAQ serves to answer some of the most common questions about identifying the best banks for small businesses in Massachusetts.

What kind of bank account should I open as an LLC?

It makes sense to open a business bank account for your LLC to maximize the number of features your company can ultimately use. Having a separate account for your LLC also provides personal liability protection to keep personal finances safe.

Is a local bank better for small business?

Many local banks offer the benefit of having intimate knowledge of your area. Those with a more online presence have the luxury of being available no matter where you are in the country.

Can I open a bank account with my EIN number?

Yes, you can open a bank account with your EIN number There’s no doubt you’ll need some sort of tax identifier when opening a bank account for your business. An EIN allows you to do so without mixing in your personal information.

What four documents do you need to open a business bank account?

In general, you’ll need to provide your business license and employer identification number (EIN) to open a business bank account. In addition, most banks will require your ownership agreement and your articles of organization.

Bottom Line

Finding a good bank in Massachusetts can be challenging, with so many options in a relatively small area. When making a selection, watch out for fees or balance requirements that may cause the financial institution to do more harm than good. It doesn’t hurt to find easy-to-use companies willing to give something back for doing business with you. We believe any of the options on our list could serve as a great choice to help you keep your finances in line.

Best Business Bank Accounts by State

Below you will find an interactive U.S map that can help you locate and compare different banks and financial institutions that offer business accounts in your area.

7 Best Banks for Small Businesses in Florida in 2023

Businessperson working on their computer at a desk

Creating a bank account for your small business allows you to keep tabs on money flow so you can effectively manage your bottom line. The best options have additional features to keep your company’s finances in tip-top shape. Read on to learn more about our favorite picks in this comprehensive review.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in Florida

Bluevine – Best Overall Bank for Small Businesses
Capital One – Best Bank for Digital Transfers
U.S. Bank – Best Bank for Lending Options
Bank of America – Best Bank for Rewards
Suncoast Credit Union – Best Bank for Interest Rates
Chase Bank – Best Bank for Business Services
City National Bank of Florida – Best Bank for Transactions

Our Methodology

When nailing down the best banks for small businesses in Florida, we looked into fees for keeping an account open minimum balances required to keep those costs at bay. We also checked out additional costs for using a bank’s various services and any interest rate bonuses that come with signing up. In an increasingly digital world, it was also crucial to find banks with excellent mobile banking services.

Click here for a more detailed explanation of our methodology.

Bluevine

$4.95 per cash deposit, $2.50 for out of network ATM fees, $15 for outgoing wires

2.0% APY

Pay vendors by wire or check, schedule payments, manage cash flow

Capital One

$15 (waivable)

$15 per incoming domestic wire, $25 for outgoing domestic wire

0.20% APY

$2,000

Access credit card accounts,

transfer money,

deposit checks,

access bank statements,

access to CreditWise service

U.S. Bank

$0.50 fee for transactions after the first 125, fees at out of network ATMs

0.01% APY

$500 for business savings

Transfer funds, view documents, find branch/ATM locations, manage cards

Bank of America

$16

Out of network ATM fees, fees for excessive deposits

Up to 0.04% APY

$5,000

Manage accounts, pay and transfer, digital wallets, bill pay

Suncoast Credit Union

$0 to $20

$1.50 for out of network ATMs, $29 per returned check, up to $35 for wire transfers

From 0.25% to 3.55% APY

$0 to $100,000

Pay bills, transfer funds, deposit checks, set up savings goals

Chase

$15 (waivable)

$25 to $40 for wire transfers, $0.40 per transaction (after first 20)

Up to 0.02% APY

Fraud monitoring, card control, pay and transfer, view offers

City National Bank of Florida

$25 (waivable)

$40 for wire transfers

0.05% APY

$5,000

Pay bills, transfer money, set up digital wallet, mobile deposit

Bluevine: Best Overall Bank for Small Businesses in Florida

2.0% APY

★★★★★

4.7

Bluevine’s online-only banking is perfect no matter what part of Florida you call home. Its business checking account offers some of the highest interest rates you’ll find anywhere, making up for the lack of a savings plan. You can start a Bluevine account at any time, thanks to no minimum deposit or balance. There are very few fees to work around; you’ll just need to keep cash deposits to a minimum.

Why we chose it: High interest rates, minimal fees, and a lack of maintenance requirements make Bluevine the best business bank account for LLCs or other business types.

High interest rates
Very few fees
No minimum deposit required

No business savings account
No ATM reimbursement
Fee for cash deposits

Fees

You won’t find any monthly fees when using Bluevine, making it possible to bank without ever paying a dime. Expect charges for using out-of-network ATMs, making the mobile app a valuable tool for finding free withdrawal sites. Each cash deposit will set you back $4.95, making this a tool you want to use sparingly if at all.

Interest Rates

Bluevine comes through in a big way with its 2.0% APY. The rate is 50 times the current national average and applicable on balances up to $100,000. Once your small business’s balance grows beyond this amount, those extra funds won’t accrue any interest.

Minimum Balance

There’s no minimum balance requirement for using Bluevine, no matter how much you have in your account. Small businesses can start with next to nothing and take immediate advantage of the high interest rate.

Access to Mobile Banking

The Bluevine mobile app makes banking from anywhere a breeze. The thoroughly-designed tool makes it easy to manage your accounts and see where your money is going. It’s also possible to pay vendors by wire or check and schedule payments for fulfillment down the road.

Capital One: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Florida for Digital Transfers

0.20% APY

★★★★★

4.6

Capital One’s business checking account allows an unlimited number of transfers between your accounts so you never have to worry about having funds where you need them. Even if you do overdraft an account, Capital One won’t charge you for the mistake. The bank does have a number of Capital One Cafés in select Florida cities, but you won’t find these everywhere. There is a monthly fee, but you can waive this with a high enough balance.

Why we chose it: With no limits on digital transfers, Capital One gives you the freedom to keep funds moving.

Unlimited digital transfers
Does not charge overdraft fees
Large ATM network

Limited physical locations
Monthly account fee
Out-of-network ATM fees

Fees

Capital One’s business accounts come with a $15 monthly fee that can be hefty for a small business. Luckily, you can waive this fee by keeping an average balance of $2,000 over a 30 or 90-day window. There’s no charge for using one of Capital One’s 70,000 ATMs nationwide.

Interest Rates

Opening up Capital One’s business savings accounts unlocks interest rates of up to 0.20% for your first year. This amount applies to balances up to $5 million, giving small businesses plenty of wiggle room. None of the bank’s checking accounts offer any interest, making free digital transfers that much sweeter.

Minimum Balance

You don’t need to keep a minimum balance with Capital One to keep your account open. It is in your best interest to maintain at least $2,000 in your checking to avoid the $15 monthly service fee. Keeping extra funds in your savings account allows you to generate some interest on money not currently in use.

Access to Mobile Banking

Since you won’t find many physical Capital One locations, the bank’s top-rated mobile app comes to the rescue. With it, you can do all your transfers, make digital payments, and deposit money with your device’s camera. The app also gives you access to Capital One’s CreditWise service to monitor your credit score and hear cool tips.

U.S. Bank: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Florida for Lending Options

0.01% APY

★★★★★

4.5

When your small business needs a cash injection, U.S. Bank has you covered. You can make use of several loan and line of credit options to upgrade your venture and not go under trying to pay it all back. The bank also has specialized merchant services for most business types that provide additional tools to help you succeed. There are even physical locations in Orlando and some coastal cities if you like banking in person.

Why we chose it: Small businesses in need of extra funds can turn to U.S. Bank for a plethora of lending options.

Lending to fit your needs
Specialized merchant services for restaurants, retailers, and service providers
2,400 branch locations

Charges for overdrafts
Relatively low APY
Only locations in 28 states

Fees

You’ll never have to worry about monthly fees when using U.S. Bank’s silver checking package for small businesses. Higher-tier accounts do have waivable monthly fees to contend with as your company grows. You’ll just need to keep tabs on monthly transactions to ensure you don’t incur charges for exceeding the monthly limit.

Interest Rates

U.S. Bank’s checking accounts do not come with any options to generate interest. While savings plans come with different perks, the current maximum interest rate is just 0.01%. Although a minimal amount, there is no balance cap to what you can earn.

Minimum Balance

There’s no minimum balance requirement when starting off with U.S. Bank’s silver account package designed specifically for small businesses. Other checking accounts have waivable fees should you keep up with the necessary balance amounts. Savings accounts start at a $500 minimum balance to remove service fees.

Access to Mobile Banking

If you find yourself away from one of U.S. Bank’s physical locations, you can perform all your banking through the mobile app. It’s possible to seamlessly transfer funds from one account to another and stay up to date with your financial status. U.S. Bank will also keep you informed with customized alerts.

Bank of America: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Florida for Rewards

Up to 0.04% APY

★★★★★

4.4

Bank of America’s rewards system is second to none, offering valuable benefits and rewards while growing alongside your business. Bonuses include higher interest rates and waived fees on select banking services. Over 4,300 branches dot the country, with several locations in Florida cities. While there is a monthly fee, savvy business owners can waive this amount with careful banking.

Why we chose it: Bank of America’s rewards come with several perks to make banking a win-win for all parties involved.

Preferred rewards to boost interest rate
Over 17,000 ATMs and 4,300 branches
Can waive the monthly fee

Lacks 24/7 customer service
Monthly fees
Transaction fees when using non-Bank of America ATMs

Fees

Bank of America’s introductory checking account comes with a $16 monthly fee. You can negate this amount by maintaining a $5,000 monthly balance, spending at least $250 on your debit card, or by becoming a Preferred Rewards member. The only other fees to watch out for come from out-of-network ATM withdrawals and charges for excessive deposits in a given month.

Interest Rates

Most small businesses opening a savings account will earn 0.01% interest out of the rate. It is possible to increase this to 0.04% with enough activity in Bank of America’s rewards system. There’s no option to accrue interest with a Bank of America checking account.

Minimum Balance

Keeping an average monthly balance of $5,000 in your checking account will remove the $16 service fee. Similarly, you’ll want to have at least $2,500 in your savings account to avoid a $10 monthly charge there.

Access to Mobile Banking

Bank of America’s mobile app consistently earns high honors for its functionality. Within, you can manage your accounts, pay bills, or transfer funds from any location. You can also make use of the budgeting tool to monitor expenses and control spending.

Suncoast Credit Union: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Florida for Interest Rates

From 0.25% to 3.55% APY

★★★★★

4.4

Suncoast Credit Union serves the Sunshine State through a number of physical branches and a stellar free online banking app. Monthly fees are few and far between, but you will need to keep high balances on some accounts to avoid them. Incredibly high interest rates help offset fees you can’t prevent and provide a small source of additional funds.

Why we chose it: This Florida-based credit union has some of the highest interest rates of any institution in the state.

Very high interest rates
Free online banking
Minimal monthly fees

High minimum balances on some accounts
Significant returned check fee
All locations on the west coast

Fees

Depending on your plan, you may have to contend with monthly fees if you can’t maintain minimum balance requirements. Introductory plans do not have this issue, allowing small businesses to bank without fear. Additional fees come in the form of out-of-network ATM fees and charges for returned checks.

Interest Rates

You won’t find any interest rates for Suncoast’s checking accounts, but there are some great options in the savings department. On the low end, you can generate 0.25% APY for basic savings and work up to 3.55% through share certificates. If you have some money to set aside, the paybacks can be worth it.

Minimum Balance

You’ll need $50 to open an account with Suncoast, but there’s no minimum balance for its Smart Checking plan. You’ll need at least $2,000 to avoid fees at higher levels. Savings accounts and share certificates have balance requirements from $5 to $100,000 depending on what interest rate you’re shooting for.

Access to Mobile Banking

It’s possible to use the SunMobile banking app to do anything from open an account to transfer funds to any financial institution. You can pay suppliers, set up savings goals, and deposit checks as well. Best of all, the app is very intuitive and takes moments to master.

Chase: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Florida for Merchant Services

Up to 0.02% APY

★★★★★

4.2

Chase Business Bank Review

Chase goes above and beyond, providing a number of merchant services you can use to improve your business. Fraud protection and cash management tools are just the tip of the iceberg for bonus features. New account owners receive up to a $300 bonus just for signing up, and there are several ways to earn bonus points on purchases. Although monthly fees are present, there are plenty of ways to work around them.

Why we chose it: Chase adds a long list of merchant services to its traditional banking to help your business succeed.

Several available merchant services
Multiple ways to waive the monthly maintenance fee
$300 sign-on bonus

Monthly maintenance fees
Only 20 free transactions per month
Minimal APY

Fees

Monthly fees start at $15 for Chase Business Complete Banking. You can do away with this charge by maintaining a $2,000 daily balance, making deposits through Chase QuickAccept, or through Chase Ink Business Card purchases. There is a cost for transactions after your first 20, and you’ll want to avoid costly wire transfers if possible.

Interest Rates

As with most banks, Chase doesn’t provide any interest for money you have in a business checking account. To earn a rate, you’ll need to start up a business savings account that accrues up to 0.02%.

Minimum Balance

If you want to avoid Chase’s monthly service fee, you’ll want to keep at least $2,000 in your checking account at all times. Dipping below this amount even once per month is enough to merit the charge. Savings accounts have no fee as long as you have an active checking account with Chase.

Access to Mobile Banking

In addition to standard banking procedures, you can use the Chase mobile app to lock or unlock your credit card should you misplace it. There’s also a budget planning feature to set aside funds for a large purchase and credit monitoring tools to protect your credit health.

City National Bank of Florida: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Florida for Transactions

0.05% APY

★★★★★

4.2

January 10, 2023March 21, 2023

City National Bank of Florida has over 75 years of experience serving customers throughout Florida. The bank allows up to 200 transactions and $10,000 in free cash deposits each month, a considerable step up from many other institutions. Understanding APY rates among various accounts is unclear and can lead to a frustrating experience. A great mobile app helps lessen some of the sting.

Why we chose it: City National Bank of Florida allows a wide margin for transactions and cash deposits where other banks fall short.

Up to 200 transactions per month
$10,000 in free cash deposits per month
Great mobile app

Requires a monthly balance
Branches are primarily in the Miami area
APY rates are not transparent

Fees

New small business owners will face a $25 monthly fee when signing up for City National’s business checking account. You can work around this expense with proper planning, and the only other charges come with domestic and international wire transfers.

Interest Rates

City National Bank of Florida is not transparent about its interest rates anywhere on the website. There’s no hope for APY with checking, but savings accounts can earn up to 0.05% after meeting a monthly minimum balance.

Minimum Balance

It takes an average minimum monthly balance of $5,000 to avoid City National’s $25 maintenance fee on your checking account. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll need to keep at least $3,500 in your savings account to be eligible for the bank’s interest rate.

Access to Mobile Banking

City National’s mobile banking setup marries well with Zelle for quick transactions and transfers. You can also use the app as a digital wallet for payments or organize finances with money management tools. There’s even free credit reporting and tips for improving or maintaining your score.

Methodology for the Best Banks for Small Businesses in Florida

We considered several facets for opening a business bank account and managing your finances once you’re up and running. Below are the top factors we used for determining the best banks for small businesses in Florida.

Fees: Small businesses often have to count every penny. Using a bank that nickels and dimes you for every little thing can quickly run your account dry. We looked for banks without maintenance fees or at least the option to waive said charge with a few simple steps. It was also crucial to locate institutions that minimize costs for transactions and transfers that every business needs to perform.
Interest Rates: We realize business bank accounts function primarily for the purpose of organization and making payments, but that doesn’t mean you can’t earn a little interest on the side. Between checking and savings accounts, we called out banks offering easily accessible rates you can use for some extra cash. Some options even go well beyond the national average.
Minimum Balance: Banks with maintenance fees will often waive them if you have enough money in said account. Small businesses may not have a lot of money to work with early on, so we identified institutions with low balance requirements to avoid fees. Some banks also have account minimums to unlock interest rates or other rewards.
Access to Mobile Banking: In our fast-paced world, having all your banking needs at your fingertips is a huge win. Mobile devices also played a role in the emergence of online-only banks with accounts you can access from anywhere. Even banks traditionally known for physical locations are amping up mobile apps to compete with the masses. Our selections highlight banks with top-tier mobile banking options to manage finances and make payments.
Ease of Use: When making our top banking for small business picks, we wanted to ensure features were straightforward to use. This applies to everything from transfers and payments to opening a business bank account with nothing more than an EIN. No bank account should be more trouble than it’s worth.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in Florida Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Have more questions about opening a bank account for your Florida business? This FAQ may have the answers you’re looking for.

How do I open an LLC bank account in Florida?

Opening an LLC bank account in Florida requires your business’s operating agreement and articles of organization. You’ll also need to show some form of identification proving you’re a resident of the state and an employer identification number (EIN) for tax purposes. With these documents in hand, starting up your account shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

Can I open a bank account with my EIN number?

Yes, it’s a good idea to open a bank account with an EIN number. Any business with at least one employee requires an EIN for tax purposes, and banks will use this when registering your account. If you’re the only employee of your venture, the alternative is to use your social security number (SSN). However, using your SSN can blur the line between personal and business finances.

Do I need a Florida ID to open a bank account in Florida?

Most Florida banks require proof of residency in Florida before letting you open an account. You can work around this by choosing an online-only bank account that’s manageable no matter where you currently live.

How much should a small business have in a bank account?

It’s wise to hide away at least six months’ worth of operating expenses in case you hit a snag with your business operations. This is money you can fall back on while you recover from whatever slowdown you currently face. If possible, add at least 10% of your profits each month in order to grow these savings.

Bottom Line

Business bank accounts can work wonders for small businesses trying to manage funds and stay on top of debits and credits. The best banks for small businesses in Florida minimize fees to your organization while making it easy to transfer money and keep your suppliers happy. Look no further than these banks for all the tools your Florida-based company needs to meet your financial goals.

Best Business Bank Accounts by State

Below you will find an interactive U.S map that can help you locate and compare different banks and financial institutions that offer business accounts in your area.

7 Best Banks for Small Businesses in Texas in 2023

A work desk with a monitor screen displaying the words "Texas bank account"

In this day and age, banks do so much more than hold onto your finances. The best banks for small businesses in Texas offer comprehensive services while keeping your costs to an absolute minimum. Read on to hear about our favorite picks for the Lone Star State and why we liked each one.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in Texas

Bluevine – Best Overall Bank
Wells Fargo – Best Bank for Branch Locations
Capital One – Best Bank for Transactions
U.S. Bank – Best Bank for Lending Options
Bank of America – Best Bank for Rewards
PNC Bank – Best Bank for Withdrawals
Chase Bank – Best Bank for Business Services

Our Methodology

When creating our list of favorite Texas banks, we considered monthly pricing for account maintenance and any other fees that could slow your business down. We studied minimum balance requirements and which banks feature the best rates in the state. Finally, we picked institutions with solid mobile apps and all-around easy-to-use systems.

You can find a more detailed analysis of our methodology here.

Bluevine

$4.95 per cash deposit, $2.50 for out of network ATM fees, $15 for outgoing wires

2.0% APY

Pay vendors by wire or check, schedule payments, manage cash flow

Wells Fargo

$10 (waivable)

Fees for deposited items, excess transactions and cash deposits

0.15% APY

$500

Deposit checks, send and receive money, toggle cards on or off

Capital One

$15 (waivable)

$15 per incoming domestic wire, $25 for outgoing domestic wire

0.20% APY

$2,000

Access credit card accounts,

transfer money,

deposit checks,

access bank statements,

access to CreditWise service

U.S. Bank

$4 (waivable)

$0.50 fee for transactions after the first 125, fees at out of network ATMs

0.01% APY

$500 for business savings

Transfer funds, view documents, find branch/ATM locations, manage cards

Bank of America

$16 (waivable)

Out of network ATM fees, fees for excessive deposits

Up to 0.04% APY

$5,000

Manage accounts, pay and transfer, digital wallets, bill pay

PNC Bank

$12 (waivable)

Fees for excess transactions, out of network ATM use

Varies by region (0.01% to 0.03% APY)

$500 – $2,500

Bill pay, cash flow insights, access to merchant services, PINACLE

Chase

$15 (waivable)

$25 to $40 for wire transfers, $0.40 per transaction (after first 20)

Up to 0.02% APY

Fraud monitoring, card control, pay and transfer, view offers

Bluevine: Best Overall Bank for Small Businesses in Texas

Interest rates: Up to 2.0% APY

★★★★★

4.7

Bluevine provides an online-only service you can access from anywhere. Although there’s no savings account option, Bluevine’s business checking more than makes up for it. The fintech offers incredibly high interest rates for patrons and no monthly fees to keep your account active. There are a number of free ATMs for Texans to use, but charges start to creep in for out-of-network machines and cash deposits.

Why we chose it: Bluevine’s high interest rates, coupled with minimal fees and upkeep, make it the best bank for small businesses in Texas.

High interest rates
Very few fees
No minimum deposit required

No business savings account
No ATM reimbursement
Fee for cash deposits

Fees

You won’t incur any costs for doing business with Bluevine. Opening and maintaining an account is free, allowing you to transfer money and pay vendors without worry. While Bluevine has a large number of fee-free ATMs, you’ll get hit with a charge if you try to use an out-of-network machine. If your business deals with cash, you’ll have to be strategic to limit the number of cash deposit charges you incur.

Interest Rates

Bluevine has one of the best business checking accounts you’ll find, thanks to a 2.0% interest rate. Because of this, Bluevine does not offer a savings account to tuck away extra funds. It’s worth noting that this interest rate only applies to amounts up to $100,000.

Minimum Balance

You can open your Bluevine account at any time and never have to worry about maintaining a minimum balance. Even if your funds drop dangerously low, the financial technology company won’t start charging you a service fee. This is a huge sigh of relief for small business owners who work with limited cash flow.

Access to Mobile Banking

As an online company, Bluevine has to do mobile banking well. It has carefully crafted apps for both Android and iOS to create a simple, all-in-one banking experience. You can manage your cash flows, pay your vendors by wire or check, or even schedule recurring payments so you don’t have to worry about them.

Wells Fargo: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Texas for Branch Locations

Interest Rates: 0.15% APY

★★★★★

4.6

With 560 branch locations across the Lone Star State, Wells Fargo beats out the competition through sheer volume. Its prowess doesn’t end there, thanks to an extensive banking network stretching from coast to coast. You will want to be careful of charges for excess deposits and transactions, but at least you can remove the monthly service fee with a bit of planning.

Why we chose it: Wells Fargo has more branches in Texas than any other financial institution, making it ideal for anyone preferring in-person banking.

560 branch locations in Texas alone
Possible to waive monthly fees
Extensive banking network around the country

Monthly fees
Charges for excess deposits or transactions
Low interest rates

Fees

Wells Fargo’s Initiate Business Checking is ideal for small businesses and only has a $10 monthly service fee. Circumventing this charge is as simple as holding a minimum balance in your account or ledger. Your savings account options function much the same way, but you also negate fees by setting up automatic transfers.

Interest Rates

There’s no opportunity to generate interest through a Wells Fargo checking account, but savings accounts more than make up for this issue. Even the most basic savings plans start you off at 0.15%, with higher-tier options reaching up to 2.00% APY.

Minimum Balance

It only takes $500 to avoid the monthly service fee on the Initiate checking account. As this is a daily minimum requirement, you’ll want to make sure not to dip below this number at any point during the month. Introductory-level savings accounts require $300 to keep things fee-free. Some savings accounts can accrue more interest with higher balances.

Access to Mobile Banking

You can bank conveniently from your phone through Wells Fargo’s mobile app. It’s possible to gather account information, send money from place to place, or track important payments. With a few button presses, the app will even point you to the nearest branch location or ATM.

Capital One: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Texas for Transactions

Interest Rates: 0.20% APY

★★★★★

4.6

Where many banks give only a handful of free transactions each month, Capital One goes the extra mile. You’ll never receive a charge for digital transactions, and the bank also waives overdraft fees should you accidentally pay too much. There are several branch locations in the bigger cities, but those living in other areas are limited to an online service.

Why we chose it: Capital One doesn’t place a limit on digital transactions, allowing you to get money where it needs to go.

Unlimited digital transactions
High promotional interest rates
Does not charge overdraft fees

Limited physical locations
Monthly account fee
Out-of-network ATM fees

Fees

Small businesses will likely choose a Basic business checking account with a modest $15 monthly service fee. Capital One’s Unlimited checking affords more freedoms but has a $35 upkeep. In either case, you can waive these charges with the right requirements.

Interest Rates

Capital One offers promotional interest rates on savings accounts you can lock in for a year at a time. It’s currently possible to snag a 0.20% APY on all your savings, although there’s no guarantee this rate will stick 365 days from now. None of Capital One’s checking accounts generate any interest.

Minimum Balance

You’ll want to maintain a 30 or 90-day balance averaging $2,000 or more if you want to avoid Capital One’s $15 maintenance fee. Those looking at the bank’s Unlimited checking plan will need to average $25,000 in that account instead. There’s a $300 minimum on Capital One’s business savings account.

Access to Mobile Banking

Whether you live near one of Capital One’s Texas branches or not, you can take advantage of its stellar mobile app. From any device, it’s possible to perform all your digital transactions and deposit money through your camera. If that wasn’t enough, using the mobile app gives access to CreditWise for accurate credit assessments and tips on keeping your score high.

U.S. Bank: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Texas for Customer Service

Interest Rates: 0.01% APY

★★★★★

4.5

For a large banking institution, U.S. Bank goes above and beyond with its customer service team. Call any time day or night and you’ll connect with a banker offering fast solutions to your issue. The bank also has a long list of specialized merchant services for your business type and plenty of lending options should you need some extra cash.

Why we chose it: U.S. Bank makes up for a lack of Texas locations with an excellent 24/7 customer service team.

Excellent customer service
Specialized merchant services for restaurants, retailers, and service providers
Lending to fit your needs

Charges for overdrafts
Relatively low APY
Only locations in 28 states

Fees

The U.S. Bank silver business checking account resonates best with small business owners. This plan has no monthly maintenance fee to contend with, whereas the bank’s other options do. You will want to keep track of monthly transactions; you only receive the first 125 for free. U.S. Bank’s savings account does have a waivable service fee.

Interest Rates

None of U.S. Bank’s checking accounts offer any sort of interest rate. Savings accounts do, but the best APY available is 0.01%. This holds true no matter how much money you have, but at least there are no upper limits.

Minimum Balance

You won’t need to worry about a minimum balance if you stick to U.S. Bank’s introductory checking account designed for small businesses. Its savings account requires at least a $300 balance to do away with the $4 fee each month.

Access to Mobile Banking

The U.S. Bank mobile app will help you track down the branch location nearest to you while offering a slew of services on its own. On your device, you can still transfer money and stay up to date on your account balances. It’s also possible to set alerts in case funds drop below a certain level to avoid unsightly overdraft fees.

Bank of America: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Texas for Rewards

Interest Rates: Up to 0.04% APY

★★★★★

4.4

Over 300 of Bank of America’s branches are located right in the Lone Star State, making for easy banking. As you do business, the bank rewards you with higher interest rates and removes fees for some banking services. Perks grow with your business based on your average daily balance. Accounts do have monthly fees, but you can work around these through careful planning.

Why we chose it: Bank of America’s extensive rewards system pays you back any time you do business as usual.

Preferred rewards to boost interest rate
Over 17,000 ATMs and 4,300 branches
Can waive the monthly fee

Lacks 24/7 customer service
Monthly fees
Transaction fees when using non-Bank of America ATMs

Fees

The Business Advantage Fundamentals checking account comes with a $16 service fee you can remove by meeting one of three criteria. As long as you maintain a $5,000 average monthly balance, spend at least $250 in debit card purchases, or join the Preferred Rewards program, your account will is free to use. Your savings account has similar requirements lest you pay $10 per month for upkeep.

Interest Rates

Your Bank of America interest rate can change depending on your rewards status with the company. Savings accounts start at 0.01% APY, but it’s possible to reach 0.04% at the platinum honors tier. Small businesses may have to work a while to reach this milestone, but the possibility is there.

Minimum Balance

If you’re not a Preferred Rewards member, you’ll need to keep at least $5,000 in your checking account to avoid Bank of America’s monthly maintenance fee. Savings accounts are a bit more forgiving, requiring just $2,500 to negate a $10 per month charge.

Access to Mobile Banking

You’ll be able to view and interact with all your accounts from the Bank of America mobile app. It’s possible to deposit checks, transfer money, or pay bills right from your phone. The app also helps with spending and budgeting as you save up for that next big purchase.

PNC Bank: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Texas for Withdrawals

Interest Rates: Varies by region (0.01% to 0.03% APY)

4.3

★★★★★

PNC Bank has one of the most extensive ATM networks in the nation. Whether you’re in state or on the road, there’s a good chance you’re not far from fee-free withdrawals. If you accidentally take out too much, PNC Bank offers 24-hour overdraft correction to fix your mistake. Business owners new to PNC can qualify for $200 just for opening an account.

Why we chose it: PNC’s impressive network of banks and ATMs make taking out money a walk in the park.

Over 60,000 fee-free ATMs in the US
$200 sign-up bonus
24-hour overdraft protection

High overdraft fee
APY varies by region
Harder to open standalone accounts

Fees

As a thank you for signing up, PNC Bank doesn’t charge any service fees for your first three months as a member. After that, you’ll pay $12 on both your checking and savings accounts to keep them active. You can remove these charges through monthly balances, making purchases, or generating money from deposits.

Interest Rates

PNC Bank’s interest rates are a bit of an enigma. They vary from region to region in the Lone Star State, requiring a phone call to determine your potential earnings. Based on our research, you’ll likely end up somewhere in the 0.01% to 0.04% range, depending on your balance.

Minimum Balance

Monthly balances play an important role in eliminating service fees from your accounts. It only takes $500 to keep your checking account fee-free, but savings accounts require a minimum of $2,500. Your account balance may also play a role in the interest rate you receive.

Access to Mobile Banking

The PNC mobile banking app allows you to pay bills and manage your accounts from the convenience of your smartphone. In the same vein, you can access cash flow insights to visualize the impact of projected transactions and see how spending lines up.

Chase: Best Bank for Small Businesses in Texas for Business Services

Interest Rates: Up to 0.02% APY

★★★★★

4.2

December 27, 2022February 15, 2023

Chase Bank Review

Chase Bank adds a lot to the traditional banking mix through a long list of helpful business services. These tools include safeguarding your company against fraud or managing revenue through payment-collection solutions. Texans will also enjoy the number of Chase locations throughout the state and up to a $300 sign-on bonus with qualifying activities.

Why we chose it: Chase’s business services complement an already substantial list of traditional banking features.

Several available business services
Multiple ways to waive the monthly maintenance fee
$300 sign-on bonus

Monthly maintenance fees
Only 20 free transactions per month
Minimal APY

Fees

Chase’s introductory business checking account comes with a $15 easily waivable fee if you meet one of three criteria. All you need is a $2,000 daily balance, purchases with a Chase Ink Business Card, or deposits from Chase QuickAccept. As long as you have a checking account through Chase, maintaining a savings account is completely free.

Interest Rates

You won’t find the best rates on Chase’s savings accounts, but something is better than nothing. Most small businesses will start at 0.01%, but you can bump this up to 0.02% over time. Checking accounts won’t accrue any interest, so you’ll want to balance your funds accordingly.

Minimum Balance

It’s best to keep a daily balance of at least $2,000 in your checking account to do away with pesky service fees. A savings account requires a $1,000 balance, but you can also avoid this charge by linking it with your checking.

Access to Mobile Banking

Your mobile app dramatically simplifies the banking process. From your device, you can send payments just about anywhere and move funds from place to place between your accounts. If you don’t have time for the app, Chase also has several text prompts you can use to see your balances fast.

Methodology for the Best Banks for Small Businesses in Texas

We looked at several factors when choosing the best banks for small businesses in Texas. Here are the considerations we felt were most important and the reasoning behind each choice.

Fees: Small businesses often have to watch the bottom line as they build sales and rapport among clients. Banks can be a great way to track funds, but a financial institution with lots of fees does more harm than good. In our selection, we focused on companies with minimal fees or at least ways even a new business could waive them.
Interest Rates: The best banks for small businesses in Texas offer incentives in the form of interest just for letting them hold your money. We strove to identify those with easy-to-access above-average rates.
Minimum Balance: Most banks want you to keep a certain balance in each of your accounts or they’ll penalize you. We made sure these required amounts were well within the feasible range for small businesses to avoid charges.
Access to Mobile Banking: As a small business owner, you’re always on the go. Therefore, having access to mobile banking tools allows you to conduct business from wherever you may be. An excellent mobile app saves time while offering extra features to manage your funds.
Ease of Use: No one wants to fumble through enigmatic websites or hard-to-understand mobile apps. We make sure to pick out banks making every step of your experience as simple as can be. Convenience comes into play during the initial setup as well. At some banks, you can even open a bank account with nothing more than an EIN.

Best Banks for Small Businesses in Texas Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Want to learn more about starting a bank account for your small business in Texas? This FAQ answers some of the most common questions about the topic.

What is the most used bank in Texas?

Wells Fargo is currently the most used bank in Texas, with more than 560 locations. There are also more than 1,300 ATMs in the state to deposit checks or withdraw cash from.

Is it better to bank with one bank?

For small businesses, it makes sense to keep all your company funds with one bank. You’ll often need to maintain monthly balance requirements to eliminate service charges, which can be challenging if funds are split too thin. It’s also convenient to manage all your transactions from one location.

How do I choose a bank to open a business account?

When choosing a bank to open a business account, keep in mind each of the factors we listed above. The process should be simple, convenient, and not give you the runaround when trying to access your funds. Your bank of choice should have minimal fees (if any) and offer plenty of ways to help your business succeed.

Should I use a different bank for my LLC?

Whether or not you use a different bank, it’s wise to establish a separate bank account for your LLC. Any of the institutions on our list are some of the best business bank accounts for LLCs in the state of Texas.

Bottom Line

A bank account for your small business can do wonders for money management and watching your bottom line. The best options in Texas put the power at your fingertips while offering methods to work around ugly maintenance fees. We love what Bluevine brings to the table, but we feel any of the selections on this list will do you good.

Best Business Bank Accounts by State

Below you will find an interactive U.S map that can help you locate and compare different banks and financial institutions that offer business accounts in your area.

Spokeo Review: What is Spokeo and Does it Really Work?

Spokeo is a popular people search tool designed to track down old acquaintances or learn about the people around you. Through billions of records, the platform pulls together information to help you paint an accurate picture of others in your life. This Spokeo review thoroughly examines the platform’s features and how it provides the results you need.

Get Started with Spokeo

Spokeo Review – Our Verdict

Run a Reverse Phone Lookup with Spokeo

Spokeo is an excellent background check service whether you’re searching by name, phone number, email address, or physical location. Few other people search tools have such a range in their capabilities. Pricing is reasonable for what you get, and you can gather up some of the most basic data on your subject completely for free.

There are caps on the number of searches you can perform in a month, although it’s unclear at a glance what these limits are. Spokeo is pretty accurate at getting things right the first time though, with over 12 billion records to find data from.

Reasonably-priced plans
Pulls from over 12 billion records
Free basic searches

Unclear pricing model
Available in the US only
No unlimited search plans

Spokeo at a Glance

Unlike many other people search sites out there, Spokeo gets you results quickly. Even with 12 billion records at its disposal, you’ll have a list of applicable search candidates in mere moments.

You can view basic information on a search subject for free, but the information here is somewhat sparse. Many fields are blurred out, and detailed data is unavailable. To see everything unabridged, you’ll need to sign up for a monthly membership.

Spokeo has only one price point, a $24.95 package for name, email, phone number, and address searches. You’ll start off with a $0.95 7-day trial and can cancel at any time.

The site’s biggest downside is its monthly search limit. There’s no clear answer on how many reports you can run per month or how much it costs to upgrade.

Get Started with Spokeo

Who Spokeo is Best For

Having knowledge about those around you can keep you and your loved ones safe. Anyone can use Spokeo to look up information on neighbors, colleagues, or someone they met online. The site reveals questionable past behavior and criminal records that could be serious red flags. Spokeo can’t be used to screen candidates for employment, tenancy, or financial services.

Spokeo Pricing

To find any price information on Spokeo’s website, you first have to start up a search. After entering a search subject based on one of Spokeo’s available criteria, the service will quickly track down your data. Clicking on one of the names meeting your search parameters takes you to some very basic information you can view for free.

If you want a detailed report, choosing “unlock profile” takes you to a payment page as a new user. From there, Spokeo informs you that a one-week trial membership costs just $0.95. In the fine print, the site lets you know that you’ll receive a bill for $24.95 per month after the trial concludes.

Spokeo’s help center mentions casually that a subscription has a maximum number of searches available each month. It goes on to say that you can upgrade your plan to increase this limit but reveals no potential costs for doing so.

Spokeo Features

There’s a lot you can do with a Spokeo membership. Read on to learn about some of the platform’s top features.

Spokeo People Search

The Spokeo search tool enables you to locate lost friends and family with no more than a name. It will find anyone in the United States with that moniker and reward you with a list of those individuals. If you have a previously-known location, Spokeo will be able to narrow down your search that much more.

Choosing a name reveals any phone numbers and email addresses connected to the individual, along with all the places they’ve lived. You’re also made aware of any social media profiles the person has.

Screenshot on the Categories of personal information available on Spokeo

If you’re looking for background information, Spokeo shows employment and education history. It will also show accessible court records from any state in the country, making it one of the best background check services out there. The people search can help you screen online connections and avoid going out with potentially dangerous individuals.

Keep in mind the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) doesn’t let you use Spokeo for certain purposes. You can’t use the site to make determinations on employment, lending, or selecting a tenant for your rental property.

Run a People Search with Spokeo

Spokeo Reverse Phone Lookup

Decipher the person or business calling you at all hours of the day with Spokeo’s reverse phone lookup. With just a ten-digit number, the platform can provide the caller’s name, location, and whether you’re dealing with a cell phone, landline, or VoIP. If the system flags the number as spam, Spokeo will show you comments on the number from other Spokeo users.

Screenshot of Reverse phone lookup on Spokeo

Spokeo Email Search

An email search locates the name of the sender and any other available contact information for that person. The report will also link any social media accounts and personal details of the person on the other end of the message.

Screenshot of Reverse email lookup on Spokeo

For individuals you’ve met online, the email search can discover if the person’s being honest or fabricating parts of his or her story. It can also deter you from scams or see who a partner’s been chatting with.

Run a Reverse Email Lookup with Spokeo

Spokeo Address Search

Spokeo’s address search lets you obtain information on the inhabitants of a particular property. You can discover who lives at the location, contact info, and criminal records for anyone inside.

Screenshot of Reverse address lookup on Spokeo

You can broaden searches to check your neighborhood for safety concerns or sex offenders living nearby. Knowing potentially dangerous areas can keep you and your loved ones out of harm’s way.

The address search also helps potential homeowners learn the property details of a home in question. While real estate reports only provide so much, a Spokeo search can alert you to issues you weren’t aware of. You can also get a feel for a neighborhood and whether or not it’s a good place to live.

Run a Spokeo Address Search

Free Basic Searches

Spokeo doesn’t offer the option to pay upfront for searches. Instead, your initial search will lead you to basic information on the person or location in question. It will then point you toward the option of paying for more details.

You’re more than welcome to remain on the basic information page and browse everything made available there. The snapshot blurs out some lines of text, but it may reveal enough to provide whatever data you’re looking for. At a glance, you’ll know some address history, family members associated with your subject, and whether they have a criminal record.

Fast Results

Most people search sites slog through data while up your search subject. Along the way, pop-ups ask additional questions you’ll have to answer. These prompts may help narrow down results, but can delay the process if you’re not paying attention. When all’s said and done, it feels a bit over the top.

Luckily, this isn’t the case with Spokeo. Type in your search criteria, and in seconds, you’ll have results on your screen. You may have to scroll through a list to find the right John Smith, but at least this is something you can control.

Wealth Data

Wonder how much one of your coworkers makes? Spokeo is one of the few sites to share wealth data on a person in question. You can see income information from jobs alongside investments and financial interests your subject pursues. A search also shows any property the target owns and the approximate value of each place.

Mobile App

Users can download the Spokeo app to track down people while on the go. After installation, all of Spokeo’s features are instantly available no matter where you may be. The app searches the same databases and will even locate any missing information from your phone’s contact list. Through constant monitoring, you’ll be the first to know if one of your friends changes emails or gets a new cell phone number.

The Spokeo mobile app is currently only available for Android devices. Support for other devices is coming down the line.

Alternatives to Spokeo

If Spokeo doesn’t resonate with you, here are some alternative people search services to consider instead.

TruthFinder

TruthFinder Review

TruthFinder goes deeper than Spokeo, allowing you to check the dark web for stolen personal data. Discovering you’ve been subject to identity theft early on can minimize damage to your finances and credit score.

The site has both people searching and reverse phone lookups to pull together data on a target. These reports may not scour as many records as Spokeo does but still produce accurate results most of the time. Unlike Spokeo, there’s no limit to the number of searches you can perform in a month.

If signing up for two months at a time, it is possible to purchase TruthFinder for as low as $23.28 per month. There’s no option for a trial membership or refunds. TruthFinder does charge an additional $4.99 per month for phone number searches.

Where Spokeo’s searches are lightning-fast, TruthFinder takes the long route to get your answers. The site throws additional questions your way as it searches, but many steps don’t seem to add much weight to the outcome. All in all, the entire process takes several minutes to complete.

Proprietary dark web scanning
Reasonable pricing for phone number lookup service
Unlimited reports

Must get a monthly subscription, no individual reports
Only includes results from the United States
Over-the-top process to obtain results

Intelius

Intelius Review

It’s hard to top Intelius’s search prowess, perusing billions of records like Spokeo to pull together information. The service is very easy to use, with separate tabs dedicated to people search, reverse phone lookup, criminal records, and the like.

Intelius stands out for its address search feature, similar to what Spokeo brings to the mix. Looking up a property can tell you about previous owners, revisions to the home, and what its value should be based on several conditions.

Adding features like reverse phone lookup or address searching increases the overall cost of the package. Two months of people searching goes for as low as $21.13 per month, but adding extras can bring the price up to $34.95 per month. You can download reports for a $3.99 upcharge.

To keep yourself safe online, Intelius offers an identity protection program for $9.95 monthly. This system monitors your credit for strange happenings and alerts you immediately if something’s amiss. When battling against identity theft, there’s up to $1 million in insurance coverage available.

Unlimited searches
The site is easy to navigate
Address and property searches

Other services come with additional fees
Hard to understand pricing options
Reports are sometimes lacking

Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate Review

Instant Checkmate loves locating criminal activity and does it well. With so many government databases at its fingertips, you can learn all about the past of your neighbors or that potential love interest with a few keystrokes.

Where Spokeo’s searches are fast, Instant Checkmate can take an eternity to provide results to your inquiry. You’ll need to be present for a search in case Instant Checkmate asks you additional questions to narrow down your search.

Anyone constantly on the go will delight in Instant Checkmate’s mobile apps. The platform offers a search tool for both Android and iOS with the same functionality and results as the desktop application. With unlimited searches, you can look up that unknown number the moment you get the phone call.

You’ll have to buy a monthly membership to use Instant Checkmate, and prices aren’t cheap. A single month of reports will set you back $35.12, but those willing to pay three months at a time will only pay $28.09. Features such as phone reporting and dark web monitoring cost extra.

Accurate criminal and background checks
Dark web monitoring
Handy mobile app for Android users

Overbearing search process
Expensive membership fees
No option to pay per report

PeopleFinders

December 18, 2022February 15, 2023

PeopleFinders is no stranger to the search business, having over 20 years of experience helping people reconnect. The site uses more than 120 billion records to help you find individuals you’ve lost touch with over time.

You can generally obtain good results with nothing more than a first and last name, but knowing where someone lived at some point helps that much more. If you only have a phone number or address, PeopleFinders can work with that also.

Strangely enough, PeopleFinders doesn’t use social media when checking for results. Conversely, Spokeo is quite good about leafing through these platforms for additional data.

One month of PeopleFinders is the same price as Spokeo at $24.95. Through a current introductory offer, you can sign up for just $19.95. Three and six-month memberships bring that price down to $12.95 or $9.95 per month, respectively. PeopleFinders also offers a premium membership for $29.95, providing more detailed results.

20+ years of service
Quality service
Easy to use

Requires a premium membership for comprehensive reports
Available in the US only
Doesn’t search social media

Spokeo Review – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Still have questions about how Spokeo works? This FAQ serves to answer some of the most common questions about the service.

Is Spokeo legit?

Spokeo is a legitimate people search platform with over 15 years of experience in the field. It is a Better Business Bureau-accredited business with an A rating and has over 800 reviews on Consumer Affairs.

Is there a free version of Spokeo?

Yes, Spokeo offers a basic version of search results for free. Most of the information is blurred out, so you’ll need a paid membership to contact someone.

Does Spokeo work for cell phone numbers?

Yes, Spokeo does not discriminate between landline numbers and cell phones. Enter the ten-digit number into Spokeo’s search box and the site will locate any available information.

Are Spokeo results accurate?

With over 12 billion records, Spokeo’s results often come back very accurate. That said, there’s no guarantee that the records it searches are complete, accurate, or up to date.

Bottom Line on Spokeo Review

Spokeo can work wonders for anyone searching by name, address, phone number, or email. The platform looks through billions of records before providing a detailed report on its findings. You can see basic reports without paying a penny, but it will require a membership to have an unobstructed view of all available data. Since Spokeo is not FCRA-compliant, remember not to use the service for business-related inquiries.

Get Started with Spokeo

Best Business Bank Accounts by State

Below you will find an interactive U.S map that can help you locate and compare different banks and financial institutions that offer business accounts in your area.

Instant Checkmate Review: Are the Results Worth the Price?

In this troubling world, there’s nothing more important than keeping you and your family safe. Instant Checkmate searches can alert you to nearby criminals and sex offenders that could put your loved ones at risk. While impressive, this just scrapes the surface of all Instant Checkmate can do.

Is Instant Checkmate Legit? – Our Verdict

Run an Instant Checkmate People Search

Instant Checkmate has one of the largest databases to pull from. All these sources give the best chance at thorough and accurate criminal and background checks. There’s no limit to the number of searches you can run, and Instant Checkmate throws in location reports for good measure.

The search process takes longer than it should, with several annoying prompts that could be combined into a simple questionnaire. You have to buy at least a month’s membership to use Instant Checkmate, and prices are higher than most competitors. Fortunately, it’s possible to run searches from anywhere with the handy mobile app.

Accurate criminal and background checks
Dark web monitoring
Handy mobile app for Android users

Overbearing search process
Expensive membership fees
No option to pay per report

Instant Checkmate at a Glance

Instant Checkmate places the power of information right at your fingertips. With nothing more than a name, you can uncover everything from work history to criminal activity on a person in question.

Prices go run higher than the average people search tool, perhaps due to the depth of an Instant Checkmate scan. The only way to get a report is through a monthly membership, which costs as much as $35.12 if you only pay one month at a time. There are some additional upcharges if you’re interested in the add-ons.

Users with Android devices can take advantage of the Instant Checkmate mobile app. With this handy tool, you can run a search from just about any location. iOS users aren’t so lucky.

Because Instant Checkmate is not a Consumer Reporting Agency, it’s prohibited to search for the purpose of employment or tenant screening. You’re also unable to use the tool to make decisions about issuing credit, loans, or insurance.

Screenshot of Instant Checkmate Public Records Search Service

Who Instant Checkmate is Best For

Instant Checkmate is best for anyone wanting to look up an individual or location for personal reasons. If you want to learn more about your neighbors or locate a long-lost friend, Instant Checkmate likely has your answer.

That said, it is against the law to use Instant Checkmate for employment or tenant screening. You also can’t use the service to make determinations about loans or credit.

Instant Checkmate Pricing

The service has two subscription options, one for people searches and the other for reverse phone lookups. Here are some of the top features each plan offers:

Price

$28.09 – $35.12

$5.99

Location Reports

Phone Numbers

Employment/ Education History

Criminal Records

Address History

Owner’s Name

Social Media Profiles

Photos

Assets

If you’re trying to track someone down, Instant Checkmate’s Person Reports tool is your only option. A single search combs through billions of records to locate your subject and provide all available information.

You may learn where the person has lived, employment and education history, and any trouble they’ve gotten into with the law. Should you still want to get in contact, Instant Checkmate will share any phone numbers, addresses, and social media profiles belonging to him or her.

The Instant Checkmate cost for Person Reports is $35.12 for a single month. Anyone planning to use the service for longer can invest in three months for an average of $28.09 per month.

For just $5.99, you can run an unlimited number of reverse phone lookup reports for a month. This feature can identify who’s on the other end of a number you don’t recognize, putting a name to a caller. It’s also a great way to gather information on someone you met online and have been texting back and forth with.

When you run a report, Instant Checkmate will provide photos of the owner, their location, and any social media profiles they may have. You can use the date to decide whether or not to answer the phone next time.

Instant Checkmate has two add-on features to consider as well. For a one-time fee of $3.99, you can download your reports to a device and view them any time, even while offline. You’ll have this information even if you choose not to renew your Instant Checkmate contract.

The people search tool can also monitor the dark web for $1.99 per month. It will alert you if any of your sensitive information from passwords to credit card numbers end up out there. This way, you can act quickly and shut down the threat before it gets out of hand.

Get Started with Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate Features

There’s a lot you can uncover with an Instant Checkmate membership. Let’s dive into its top features now.

Instant Checkmate People Search

People Search is Instant Checkmate’s standout feature. This single tool can locate information on just about anyone, from a love interest to the new neighbor moving in down the street. A search provides a comprehensive list of available data from employment and education history to past addresses.

If you’re hoping to reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in ages, Instant Checkmate has you covered. The site will share known phone numbers, email addresses, or social media profiles you can use to reconnect.

The only information you need to perform a search is a first and last name. Knowing a city or state the person has lived in at some point will facilitate the process. Instant Checkmate then sifts through billions of records, putting all the data it collects into one easy-to-read format.

A search takes time, partly due to the number of records Instant Checkmate goes through. As the service does its thing, it may ask you additional questions to filter results. While this does help obtain an accurate report, it adds minutes to the already long search process. Moreover, you have to be in front of your device to address those prompts.

You can use the people search tool for any personal reason you can think of. Because of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), it’s against the law to use such a tool to make judgments about hiring, renting, or lending money.

Instant Checkmate Reverse Phone Lookup

Chances are you get occasional calls from phone numbers you don’t recognize. With Instant Checkmate’s reverse phone lookup, you can track down the name of the person or company trying to reach you. As bot calls become more common, you can contact the business calling you to get placed on a do not call list.

It’s also possible to use this feature to look up someone you’re already in contact with. If buying or selling online, running a search on a number can alert you to a scam. The tool also works great for looking up someone you met over the web to see if their story checks out before going out in person.

Results typically aren’t as comprehensive as a person search but still provides some background information on your target. You can learn where the individual lives and check out any available photos linked to a public record.

Run an Instant Checkmate Reverse Phone Lookup

Instant Checkmate Criminal Records Search

Instant Checkmate has a specific search for traffic, criminal, and arrest records. These background reports can reveal information about the people around you and help protect your loved ones.

If a criminal record exists, Instant Checkmate will tell you the nature of the offense and where it took place. It also shows when charges were filed, sentencing, and time spent behind bars.

Beyond looking up an individual, you can use Instant Checkmate to search crime stats in your city, state, or zip code. Having this information can be an invaluable tool before considering a move to a new area.

Run an Instant Checkmate Criminal Records Search

Sex Offender Database

All criminal record reports include a map of any registered sex offenders in the area you’re searching. Once the map loads, you can click on an offender to see detailed information and a mugshot. Knowing where these individuals live can help you keep your family out of harm’s way.

Inmate Search

Another feature unique to Instant Checkmate is the inmate search. Equipped with a name and state, the database will scan through available records for a match. If you’re unsure of a person’s location, you can run a nationwide search instead.

Should Instant Checkmate find a match, it will provide you with the full name, age, and sex of the inmate. The site will also provide any information on a potential release date. Note that searches don’t take into account eligibility for parole.

Customer Privacy

You can run searches on Instant Checkmate knowing that your privacy is protected. The platform will never reveal to any of your search subjects that you’re performing an inquiry on them. Those individuals won’t be any the wiser unless you tell them yourself.

Dark Web Monitoring

The dark web is teeming with identity thieves trying to make a buck off their latest conquest. These unscrupulous individuals use this part of the internet to sell stolen passwords, credit card numbers, and personal identification. Others can use this data to impersonate you or make purchases at your expense.

Instant Checkmate’s dark web monitoring scours the area for any information belonging to you. If located, the site informs you your identifiers have been compromised so you can take necessary action. Canceling a credit card or changing a password before it’s used can save you untold headaches trying to undo damage to your wallet or credit.

Instant Checkmate Mobile App

Those wishing to perform people searches without having to sit in front of a computer can rejoice. Instant Checkmate has a mobile app for Android users with all the same great functionality as the website itself.

You can use the app to look up a person or phone number anywhere you have cellular data or a Wi-Fi connection. The app provides the same comprehensive report you’d receive when searching from a computer.

Unfortunately, Instant Checkmate does not offer an app for iOS.

Hide Your Data

Instant Checkmate puts you in control of your own public data. While on the site, you can ask to suppress your information so others can’t run a search on you. Removing your data from Instant Checkmate translates to other people search sites as well.

Help Center

For questions or issues regarding your service, you can contact Instant Checkmate’s support team during regular business hours from 10 am to 7 pm Eastern Standard Time. There’s also an option to email the team outside those hours. Plan to wait about 24 hours for a response.

If waiting isn’t your strong suit, the website has a detailed FAQ section you can turn to for help. Here you’ll find answers to a long list of common questions regarding the service.

Alternatives to Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate has some great features, but it may not be for everyone. If that’s you, here are some alternatives to consider instead.

TruthFinder

TruthFinder Review

Like Instant Checkmate, TruthFinder allows you to keep tabs on the dark web. With TruthFinder, the power is in your hands to run your own reports any time you desire. Best of all, there’s no additional cost for the feature.

While TruthFinder doesn’t have a criminal record search per se, it does have sections for public records and background checks. These portals tend to run a little faster and offer up specific information.

Prices for TruthFinder come in cheaper than Instant Checkmate, with a month’s worth of people searching capping out at $28.05. You’ll need to pay an additional $4.99 per month to do reverse phone lookups.

TruthFinder allows you to run as many reports as you desire with an active membership, and reviews indicate the platform does a great job. Results consistently come back with accurate information, even if the process takes several minutes to complete.

Proprietary dark web scanning
Reasonable pricing for phone number lookup service
Unlimited reports

Must get a monthly subscription, no individual reports
Only includes results from the United States
Over-the-top process to obtain results

Intelius

Intelius Review

Intelius has three membership tiers to choose from. Each plan includes a people search, but moving up the ladder unlocks address lookup capabilities and reverse phone reports depending on how high you go. Reports tend to roll in more quickly with Intelius than other sites, but at times don’t have as much information.

You won’t find an address lookup feature with most other people search sites. Intelius lets you obtain current and historical data on a location by inputting the address. Potential homeowners can look into the past of a house for red flags before putting in an offer.

For just the people search, you’ll pay $24.86 for unlimited reports. Adding address lookups increases the price to $29.78, and the reserve phone search on top of that brings the total to $34.95. It’s possible to try out the service for $0.95 for a week to see if you like it.

For $9.95 per month, you can employ Intelius’s Identity Protect to safeguard your credit. Not only does this service help you understand your score, it offers up to $1 million in identity theft coverage should something happen.

Unlimited searches
The site is easy to navigate
Prepares results quickly

Other services come with additional fees
Hard to understand pricing options
Reports are sometimes lacking

US Search

For reasons unknown, US Search hides its pricing information until you’re well into your first request. Only after the site teases your results are you hit with costs and the option to pay per report or monthly. A month of unlimited searches will set you back $19.86, whereas a single report can cost as high as $3.

US Search’s site feels rather basic to the trained eye, perhaps to simplify the experience for new users. The platform comes with a quick start wizard designed to walk you through a search from beginning to end. Since there are no specific searches for criminal records or a person’s background, you’ll have to rely on the wizard to pull together the data you need.

None of the other people search sites we reviewed have a refund policy, making US Search unique in that regard. If you don’t like the service after using it a few times, you can contact the customer support team for a refund.

Quick start wizard
Reasonable cost for membership
Fair refund policy

Basic presentation
Lack of transparent pricing
Available in the US only

PeopleFinders

Run a Background Check with Instant Checkmate

PeopleFinders enters the picture with more than two decades of experience in helping people connect with old acquaintances and family members. The site has access to over 120 billion records it uses to locate data for your request.

The search process couldn’t be easier, requiring no more than a first and last name. If you have more information on your target, adding that to the mix typically brings in even better results. You can also search by address or phone number.

A regular PeopleFinders membership costs $24.95 per month, but an introductory offer knocks the price down to $19.95. If you want to buy a three or six month membership, you can get the monthly price down to $12.95 or $9.95, respectively. PeopleFinders also has a premium membership for $29.95 that supposedly shares more information about your subject.

When running a PeopleFinders search, the platform doesn’t check social media profiles for information. While this may not affect your results, one can’t help but wonder what additional data could be found there.

20+ years of service
Quality service
Easy to use

Requires a premium membership for comprehensive reports
Available in the US only
Doesn’t search social media

Instant Checkmate Review – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Still curious about how Instant Checkmate works? These answers serve to address some of the most common questions about the service.

Is Instant Checkmate legit?

Instant Checkmate is a legitimate site with several years of people search experience. The platform is a Better Business Bureau-accredited company with an A+ rating. It has over 1,600 reviews on Consumer Affairs, with an average rating of 4.1 stars out of a possible 5.

Is Instant Checkmate a free service?

No, Instant Checkmate is not a free service. To perform searches, you’ll have to purchase a one or three-month subscription. The site does not currently offer a free trial.

Is Instant Checkmate hard to cancel?

Instant Checkmate is easy to cancel through the membership settings section of your dashboard. Click the “Cancel Subscription” button on your active account and input the necessary information to cancel. Alternatively, you can email Instant Checkmate and cancel that way.

What does Instant Checkmate reveal?

A single search reveals as much available information as possible about your subject. You’ll learn contact details, social media accounts, criminal records, work and education history, and much more.

Bottom Line on Instant Checkmate

The sky’s almost the limit of what you can do with an Instant Checkmate membership. Searches can alert you to criminals in your neighborhood or throw up red flags about grabbing a meal with someone you met online. This knowledge can keep you and your loved ones safe in an increasingly dangerous world. Just make sure not to use Instant Checkmate when considering an employee, tenant, or lessee.

Best Business Bank Accounts by State

Below you will find an interactive U.S map that can help you locate and compare different banks and financial institutions that offer business accounts in your area.

December 16, 2022February 24, 2023

Intelius Review: An Excellent People and Address Search Tool

Intelius is a background check service designed to locate information on specific individuals in your life. With a few keystrokes, the service pores over billions of data points to pull any and all available data about a person in question. What’s more, the site has a similar feature for houses homeowners can use to buy with confidence. Keep reading to discover everything Intelius can do for you.

Is Intelius Legit: Our Verdict

Run an Intelius Reverse Phone Lookup

The Intelius people search tool allows unlimited searches with an active membership. Memberships fall into one of a handful of categories, and pricing options can be quite confusing. To complicate matters more, some add-ons can ramp the price up further.

Once you’ve paid for the features you need, it’s quite simple to perform searches on a computer or through the mobile app. You’ll encounter a few annoying prompts as your reports come in, but Intelius provides data faster than most other sites. Reports are usually good, but occasionally Intelius comes back with lackluster results.

Unlimited searches
The site is easy to navigate
Prepares results quickly

Other services come with additional fees
Hard to understand pricing options
Reports are sometimes lacking

Intelius People Search at a Glance

Intelius is a stellar people search tool for locating information on people across the United States. Crunching through billions of records, the site can bring back tons of data on your subject if it’s out there.

Alongside people searches, Intelius lets you scan addresses for past owners, home history, and equips you with knowledge about the community. Anyone looking to start a life in a particular neighborhood can use Intelius to affirm an option or provide you with a reason to say no.

Prices are quite reasonable, with people searching costing just $21.13 per month if you sign up for two months at a time. Unlocking the full range of Intelius’s search spectrum runs $34.95 monthly. If there’s room in the budget, you can also consider some add-ons from Intelius to round out your package.

Who Intelius is Best For

Intelius works well for anyone hoping to uncover information on a new neighbor, look up a potential romantic partner, or track down a long-lost family member or acquaintance. As long as you have a name, location, or even an old phone number, Intelius will go right to work.

Intelius is not for employers, renters, or lenders, however. Because of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), it is against the law to look up individuals for these means.

Intelius Cost

At present, there are three pricing options you can choose from with Intelius. Precisely what each plan gives in terms of reporting is a little confusing.

Price

$21.13 – $24.86/month

$29.78/month

$34.95/month

Unlimited Person Reports

Unlimited Address Reports

Unlimited Phone Reports

Criminal Records

Address History

Assets

Nearby Sex Offenders

Home Ownership History

Photos

Social Media Profiles

There’s a bit of overlap between Intelius’s plans, and exactly what you’re getting with each one isn’t terribly clear. No matter which route you go, you’ll be able to run an unlimited number of reports during your membership timeframe.

The Intelius People Search tier comes with two price options. Signing up for a single month of membership will set you back $24.86 while paying for two months at a time lowers the average to $21.13 per month. At this price point, you’ll have access to a person’s historical data, including criminal records and owned assets.

Address Lookup and People Search appear to add more detailed information about a particular area. You can still search for people, but it’s also possible to load in an address and see what the neighborhood is like. Reports will come back with demographics, property values, and how bad crime is. You can also see a list of sex offenders living close by.

You can try out Address Lookup and People Search for $0.95 for a week to see if the service is for you. If you don’t cancel within those seven days, Intelius will automatically charge you $29.78 for a month’s membership.

The Reverse Phone Lookup and People Search tiers include everything the previous plans have to offer. It also lets you find out who’s on the other side of that phone number. You can search solely by phone number to track down the caller’s name, address, and any social media profiles they may have. If pictures are available, Intelius will show you who’s calling and give you some clues as to why.

Similar to the previous tier, you can try Reverse Phone Lookup and People Search for six days for just $0.95. Because it contains the broadest range of Intelius’s search capabilities, a membership costs $34.95 per month.

Screenshot of Intelius Identity Protect plan

There are also a couple of add-ons you can pick up to bolster your Intelius package. For a one-time fee of $3.99, you’ll be able to download any reports you run while an Intelius member and view them even when you’re offline. Save important searches so you don’t have to run them again.

At $9.95/month, Intelius Identity Protect monitors your credit and enables you to view your score online anytime. The service also watches your records for signs of identity theft and alerts you when something looks suspicious. If there is an issue, Intelius affords up to $1 million in identity theft insurance to combat it.

Intelius Background Check Features

This Intelius review lists a ton of great features you’ll have access to the moment you sign up for a monthly membership. Here are some of the best tools you’ll have right at your fingertips.

People Search

Many people come for the Intelius people search and stay for the many other features. With just a first and last name, Intelius goes through billions of records to locate all available information on your target. If you know of a city or state the person has lived, it makes searching that much easier.

As the search does its thing, Intelius may ask you a few poignant questions along the way to narrow down its results. The process takes several minutes, and some of the prompts seem unnecessary. When results roll in, you’re rewarded with the person’s history as well as current location and assets.

The Intelius people search tool can work wonders for reconnecting with friends from high school or a relative you haven’t talked to in ages. It’s also a great way to investigate your date for Friday night or the neighbor who just moved in down the street.

You can use the people search to look up anyone as long as it’s for a personal reason. It’s against the law to use Intelius to look up potential employees, tenants, or lessees because of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

All of Intelius’s plans include the people search as part of their package.

>>> Run an Intelius People Search

Intelius Reverse Address Lookup

The reverse address lookup zeroes in on a location instead of a person. If you’re looking to buy a home, this is a great tool to learn about what happened there in the past. You’ll see the current homeowner’s information alongside any info available from previous residents. Data can be quite detailed, including the number of persons in the home and estimated income.

Intelius includes every recorded change and updates to the house in question. Reports will show how home value has changed over time and what its current value should be.

You’ll also obtain information on the surrounding area. A search reveals crime statistics and community demographics you can use to make a judgment on a potential place to live. Any sex offenders in the neighborhood will show up on your scan as well. Intelius will also try to provide data on neighbors with names and ages.

>>> Run an Intelius Reverse Address Lookup

Intelius Reverse Phone Lookup

Cell phone numbers aren’t as private as they used to be. It’s common to receive calls from numbers we don’t recognize, and Intelius’s reverse phone lookup can help you decipher who’s calling.

With just ten digits, Intelius will locate who’s on the other end of the line and report back to you. For those selling online, this search can help you determine if you’re dealing with an interested party or a scammer. Since online daters often connect through the phone, you can look up who you’re meeting with well in advance.

If it’s a business calling, the search can reveal that as well. There’s usually just a bot on the other end, so you can contact the company directly and get moved to a do not call list.

Intelius Criminal Records Search

Reporting provides more than just demographic information on a person in question. The Intelius criminal records search will locate any offenses, whether felonies or misdemeanors, on an individual. As long as records exist, Intelius is good at finding them.

To find criminal data, you’ll need your target’s first and last name. Known whereabouts help Intelius find who you’re looking for, but searches cover the entire United States.

Run an Intelius Criminal Record Check

Intelius Background Check

There’s a tab specific to background checks on the Intelius site. These Intelius background checks go deeper than just a criminal records search will do. A scan reveals marriage and divorce history, lawsuits, bankruptcies, liens, and more. You’ll also get any information typically included in a standard people search report.

Public Records Search

While public records are accessible by anyone, it can be arduous to track down the specific record you need. Intelius takes away the hassle, combing through databases across the country for the information you seek. You’ll have existing records in moments without ever having to leave your seat.

Confidential Inquiries

If you’re using Intelius to dig up information on someone, there’s a chance you may not want them to know. Luckily, all searches through Intelius are completely confidential. No matter what information you’re on a quest for, your search subject won’t be any the wiser.

Identity Protection

Your credit score sets the tone for loans, credit cards, and even landing that perfect apartment. Low scores indicate to banks and lenders that you may not have the ability to pay back what you plan to borrow.

An optional add-on, Intelius can monitor your credit score as an optional add-on so you know where you stand. If your score’s low, you’ll be able to put a plan in place to bring it up to a better level. Any dramatic changes to your credit may indicate a case of identity theft. Without identity protection, you may not find out until it’s too late.

As part of this package, Intelius throws in up to $1 million of identity theft insurance for such an event. The site helps with the recovery process and provides these funds to return what you’ve lost.

Suppress Your Public Data

Just as you can find information on others, so too exists information on you among the billions of records Intelius searches. With a bit of help from Intelius, this doesn’t have to be the case. The platform provides the means to remove your data from searches made by Intelius and similar people search sites by walking through a handful of prompts. You will need to authenticate your identity before proceeding.

Intelius Mobile App

With Intelius, you’re not limited to a computer to run your searches. The people search site has a mobile app for both Android and iOS you can use to check numbers and look up folks wherever you may be. The mobile app packs just as much power as a computer search, so you can rest assured you’re getting all available information.

Alternatives to Intelius

Should Intelius not speak to you for one reason or another, all hope is not lost. The services below are solid alternatives to anything Intelius can offer.

TruthFinder

TruthFinder Review

TruthFinder stands out thanks to its proprietary dark web scanning that’s included in a standard membership. Having a window into this section of the internet will quickly tell you if you’ve been the target of an identity theft scam.

There’s no limit on the number of reports you can run with TruthFinder, and results seem more accurate than other people’s search providers. The process to get your results is time-consuming and feels way over the top.

Prices for TruthFinder come very similar to what Intelius brings to the table. People searching can be as low as $23.28 per month if you subscribe for two months at a time, but this does not include the reverse phone lookup. You’ll have to tack on an additional $4.99 to look up phone numbers.

Unlike Intelius, TruthFinder doesn’t have the option to look up data based on a physical address. Potential homeowners wanting to learn about a neighborhood will have to learn residents’ names and search that way.

Proprietary dark web scanning
Reasonable pricing for phone number lookup service
Very accurate reports

Must get a monthly subscription, no individual reports
Only includes results from the United States
Over-the-top process to obtain results

Spokeo

Spokeo Review

Spokeo boasts having over 12 billion records to race through for a complete and thorough report. Once you have that data, you can download it to your computer to view at any time for no additional cost.

The site may pull from a multitude of locations, but some government sites don’t make the list. If you’re checking for arrest records or a lawsuit against someone, you may be better off with another search tool.

Membership costs are some of the lowest in the business. Short-term users can purchase a month of searches for $19.95. Anyone planning to use Spokeo for several months can pick up a three-month subscription and get that price down to $14.95 instead.

With Spokeo, you can search by name, physical address, phone number, or even an email address. Other sites often omit digital mail when trying to track down information on someone.

Reasonably-priced plans
Pulls from over 12 billion records
Unlimited PDF downloads

Lacks some government search information
Available in the US only
Reliant on social media

Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate Review

Instant Checkmate is the winner for government record searches, providing accurate criminal and background check data on your search subject. There’s even a section dedicated to looking up inmates in all 50 states.

With advanced search filters, Instant Checkmate is perhaps the easiest to narrow down a search to a specific person. The process is still over the top, taking several minutes of questions to get you where you want to be. It serves to get the best results, but there has to be a more streamlined method.

Searches often come with detailed property data rivaling Intelius’s address lookup feature. The platform also has dark web scans if you’re willing to pay a little more.

The pricing structure for Instant Checkmate is the highest of any site we’ve reviewed. A single month of searches costs a whopping $35.12. If you’re willing to buy three months at a time, you can get fees down to $28.09. Reverse phone searches are not included and add $5.99 to the total.

Accurate criminal and background checks
Searches come with property data
Advanced search filters

Overbearing search process
Expensive membership fees
No option to pay per report

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