Quick answer: What are the best Chase alternatives
The best Chase alternatives depend on what you need from your business banking setup. Bluevine fits businesses that want a USD $0 monthly fee, no minimum required deposit, and interest on eligible checking balances. Mercury fits startups and digital-first businesses that want online banking, team permissions, and payment controls.
If you prefer a traditional bank with branch access, Bank of America and U.S. Bank are alternatives suited to businesses that still need physical banking services. For international operations, Airwallex supports multi-currency accounts and global transfers, while Relay fits businesses that want multiple checking accounts to organize cash.
There’s no single best Chase bank alternative. Your transaction volume, cash handling, international payments, team structure, and accounting setup should drive the decision.
Chase alternatives at a glance
If you’re comparing Chase alternatives, the biggest differences aren’t limited to monthly fees. Branch access, payment acceptance, international capabilities, team controls, and expense workflows can matter more depending on how you run your business.
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Note: Fees, features, eligibility requirements, and promotional offers can change. Check each provider’s current terms before opening an account.
Why you might want a Chase alternative
Chase can make sense if you value branch access, cash deposits, and a broad traditional banking relationship. Its Business Complete Banking account has a USD $15 monthly service fee, which Chase can waive when you meet qualifying conditions.
But those benefits may not matter as much if your business operates primarily online or needs more specialized financial tools.
1. You want lower ongoing banking costs
If most of your transactions happen electronically and you rarely visit a branch, a USD $0 monthly fee account may better suit your business. Several Chase alternatives offer no monthly fee on their core accounts, although other services can still carry charges.
2. You run most of your business online
An online business may get more value from digital onboarding, accounting integrations, user permissions, and mobile access than from a large branch network. This can be particularly useful if you manage your business across locations or work with a distributed team.
3. You need stronger international payment capabilities
If you pay overseas contractors, receive foreign currency revenue, or work with international suppliers, compare currency support, transfer fees, and foreign exchange rates. A multi-currency account can also reduce unnecessary conversions when you regularly move money across borders.
4. You want banking and spend management in one platform
A checking account handles everyday money movement, but it may not give your finance team enough control over employee spending, receipts, approvals, and reconciliation. As these processes become more time-consuming, expense management automation, automated expenses, and integrated accounting workflows can reduce the manual work involved in tracking and reconciling business spending.
The 7 best Chase bank alternatives for business accounts
The best Chase alternative depends on what you’re trying to change. If you want to reduce monthly banking costs, Bluevine and Mercury are worth a look. If branch access matters, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo offer a more traditional setup. Relay focuses on cash flow organization, while Airwallex is built around international business operations.
Rather than ranking these providers on price alone, compare them based on how you actually move, manage, and spend business money.
1. Bluevine: Best for low-fee checking and earning interest
Bluevine Business Checking is a strong Chase alternative if you want digital business checking without a monthly maintenance fee.
Bluevine’s Standard Business Checking plan currently has a USD $0 monthly fee, no minimum required deposit, no overdraft or NSF fees, unlimited transactions, and free standard ACH transfers. Eligible Standard customers can also earn 1.3% APY on balances up to USD $250,000 when they meet the monthly activity requirement. Higher APYs are available on paid plans.
Why consider it:
- USD $0 monthly fee with no minimum required deposit
- Interest on eligible checking balances, with higher APYs available on paid plans
- Invoicing, bill pay, subaccounts, payment acceptance, and team debit cards
Bluevine is a fintech company, not a bank. Its banking services and FDIC insurance are provided through partner banks, including Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC, subject to applicable conditions and limits.
Best fit: A small business that operates primarily online, wants low banking fees, and can benefit from interest on eligible checking balances.
2. Mercury: Best for startups and digital businesses
Mercury business banking is a Chase bank alternative for startups and businesses that manage most of their finances digitally. If you’re comparing Mercury alternatives for startups, the choice often comes down to how much you value digital banking, team controls, and payment workflows.
Mercury’s business checking and savings accounts have no monthly fees, account minimums, overdraft fees, or account opening fees. Its standard offering also includes free ACH transfers and free domestic and USD international wires.
Why consider it:
- No monthly fees, account minimums, overdraft fees, or account opening fees
- Free ACH transfers and free domestic and USD international wires
- User permissions, payment approval rules, team card limits, automated transfers, bill pay, and QuickBooks and Xero integrations
The tradeoff is straightforward: Mercury is designed for digital banking, not branch-based cash handling. It’s also a fintech company, with banking services provided through partner banks rather than being a bank itself.
Best fit: A startup, technology company, or remote business that prioritizes digital banking, team controls, and payment automation.
3. Bank of America: Best for branch access and traditional banking
Bank of America Business Advantage checking is a Chase alternative for businesses that want physical branches alongside established business banking services and digital tools.
Its Business Advantage Fundamentals Banking account currently has no monthly fee for the first 12 months, then USD $16 per month. After the introductory period, Bank of America can waive the fee if you maintain a USD $5,000 combined average monthly balance in eligible linked business deposit accounts, make at least USD $500 in qualifying new net debit card purchases, or qualify for Preferred Rewards for Business.
Why consider it:
- Branch access alongside digital banking
- Potential to waive the USD $16 monthly fee through qualifying conditions
- Zelle for eligible business accounts and QuickBooks integration
The account also includes digital banking, giving you access to traditional branch services without giving up everyday online banking tools.
Best fit: A business that wants branch access and traditional banking while still using modern digital tools.
4. U.S. Bank: Best for checking and payment acceptance
U.S. Bank Business Essentials is another Chase alternative worth considering if you want business checking and payment acceptance in one setup.
Business Essentials currently has a USD $0 monthly maintenance fee, unlimited digital transactions, and 25 free teller and paper transactions per statement cycle. It also includes payment acceptance tools, including a free mobile card reader and USD $0 monthly software fees for its payment acceptance solution.
Why consider it:
- USD $0 monthly maintenance fee with unlimited digital transactions
- 25 free teller and paper transactions per statement cycle
- Payment acceptance tools, including a free mobile card reader and USD $0 monthly software fees for the payment acceptance software
That combination can work particularly well if you accept card payments directly from customers and want those capabilities alongside your business checking account.
Best fit: Service businesses, retailers, and other businesses that need both everyday checking and customer payment acceptance.
5. Wells Fargo: Best for a traditional bank relationship
Wells Fargo Initiate Business Checking makes sense if you still want branch access, a large ATM network, and conventional business banking support. If you’re comparing Chase vs. Wells Fargo, the main differences come down to branch access, account costs, cash handling, and the broader banking services you need.
Its Initiate Business Checking account has a USD $15 monthly service fee, which you can avoid by meeting an eligible waiver condition. The account requires a USD $25 minimum opening deposit and includes online and mobile banking, Business Bill Pay, and mobile deposit.
Why consider it:
- Branch access and a large ATM network
- USD $15 monthly service fee with an available waiver condition
- Online and mobile banking, Business Bill Pay, and mobile deposit
Wells Fargo can therefore be a better fit than a digital-only provider when you regularly use physical banking services or want access to a traditional business banking relationship.
Best fit: Businesses that value branches, ATMs, and conventional banking support.
6. Relay: Best for organizing business cash flow
Relay business banking focuses less on branches and more on helping you organize cash, expenses, bills, and financial responsibilities within one platform.
Relay’s Starter plan currently costs USD $0 per month and supports up to 20 checking accounts per business. It also includes customizable debit cards, bill management, expense tracking, receipt storage, invoicing, and integrations.
Why consider it:
- USD $0 per month with up to 20 checking accounts per business
- Customizable debit cards, bill management, expense tracking, receipt storage, and invoicing
- Spend policies and role-based access for teams, along with accounting and other integrations
That setup can be useful if you want separate checking accounts for taxes, payroll, operating costs, or other purposes without opening accounts with several different providers. Relay also supports spend policies and role-based access for teams.
Relay is a fintech company, not a bank. Its banking services and FDIC insurance are provided through Thread Bank, Member FDIC, subject to applicable conditions.
Best fit: Small businesses that want clearer cash allocation and more control over business spending.
7. Airwallex: Best for international businesses
Airwallex Global Accounts stand out among Chase alternatives when international payments are a major part of your business. If you’re comparing international business bank accounts, Airwallex is particularly relevant when you need to collect, hold, and move funds across multiple currencies.
Airwallex Global Accounts let eligible businesses collect and hold funds in 20+ currencies and receive funds from 70+ countries and regions. The platform also supports global transfers, multi-currency corporate cards, expense management, payment acceptance, and accounting integrations.
Why consider it:
- Collect and hold funds in 20+ currencies
- Receive funds from 70+ countries and regions
- Multi-currency corporate cards, expense management, payment acceptance, and accounting integrations
Compared with Chase, Airwallex is more focused on cross-border payments and multi-currency operations. Chase is a traditional US bank with international payment services, while Airwallex is designed around global accounts and international money movement.
Its current Explore plan is listed at USD $0 per user per month and includes business accounts, multi-currency funds management, corporate cards, expense management, bill pay, and QuickBooks and Xero integrations. Transaction fees can still apply depending on the service you use.
That makes Airwallex particularly relevant if you receive international revenue, pay overseas suppliers, or need to manage multiple currencies without relying entirely on a traditional US bank.
Best fit: Businesses with regular international collections, payments, or multi-currency operations.
How to choose between Chase alternatives
Comparing Chase bank alternatives involves more than the monthly account fee. The right comparison depends on your transaction types, cash requirements, payment methods, international activity, and finance workflows.
1. Identify your transaction types
Estimate how much you receive, send, transfer, and deposit each month. A business receiving USD $200,000 mostly through ACH has different requirements from a restaurant depositing USD $10,000 in cash every week.
Your transaction mix can affect which features matter most. For example, digital-first businesses may care more about ACH limits and transfer costs, while cash-heavy businesses may place more weight on branch locations and deposit allowances.
2. Compare the full banking cost
The advertised monthly fee doesn’t show the full cost of an account. Charges can arise when you exceed included transaction or cash-deposit allowances, use certain payment services, or make transactions outside the provider’s network.
For example, Chase Business Complete Banking includes up to 20 paper and teller transactions and USD $5,000 in branch cash deposits per statement cycle. Additional transactions or deposits can incur fees.
Chase also charges USD $3 for withdrawals at non-Chase ATMs in the US and US territories, with the ATM owner’s surcharge potentially added separately.
For wire transfers, Chase’s current business fee schedule lists USD $50 for an international wire sent with a banker, USD $40 for an online USD international wire, and USD $5 for an online FX international wire, with the FX wire fee waived when the amount is at least USD $5,000.
3. Compare cash deposit and branch access
Businesses that regularly handle cash may place greater value on branch availability and included deposit allowances than businesses that operate almost entirely online.
Chase Business Complete Banking includes USD $5,000 in branch cash deposits per statement cycle at no additional charge and access to more than 5,000 branches and 14,000 ATMs.
4. Compare international banking capabilities
If international payments are part of your business, global payment processing can affect which banking features and costs matter most. Compare the following:
- Currencies supported: Chase supports international transfers in local currency to 60+ countries. For business customers, Chase says its international wire service is available across 240+ countries and territories, with the available currency and destination depending on the transfer service.
- Currencies you can hold: Chase states that it does not offer multicurrency accounts, so businesses looking to hold multiple currencies in one account have a different setup to consider.
- Local account details: Check whether the provider gives you local receiving details in the currencies and countries your business uses.
- Countries you can send to and receive from: Chase supports international business wires across its available destinations, while receiving options depend on the payment method and account setup.
- International wire fees: Chase’s current business fee schedule lists USD $40 for online USD international wires and USD $5 for online FX international wires, with the FX wire fee waived for transfers of USD $5,000 or more.
- FX pricing: Chase notes that banks may add a markup to exchange rates, but it does not publish one universal FX markup for all business international transactions. The applicable rate can therefore depend on the transaction.
This gives you a clearer baseline when comparing alternatives such as Airwallex, particularly if your business regularly receives or sends funds across borders.
5. Review accounting and expense integrations
Your banking provider should fit into the rest of your finance stack. Check whether transactions can sync with your accounting software and whether the platform supports expense tracking, approvals, receipt collection, or reconciliation.
Expense automation and expense reporting solutions can become more relevant as transaction volume and team spending increase. Accounting integrations that support automated expenses, reconciliation, and approval workflows can reduce the amount of manual finance work involved.
6. Consider how your needs will change as you grow
The account that works for a two-person company may not work once you have 30 employees, international suppliers, multiple entities, or a larger monthly transaction volume.
Think about what you’ll need six to 12 months from now. You may need additional user controls, higher transaction limits, more sophisticated payment workflows, or expense management automation as your team expands. A small business bank account should give you enough flexibility to handle those changes without forcing you to switch providers too soon.
Which Chase alternative is right for your business
The best fit depends on the way your business handles money. Different providers make more sense for different operating models:
- Cash-heavy or local businesses: Chase, Wells Fargo, or Bank of America can make sense when branch access and regular cash deposits are part of your routine. Chase Business Complete Banking, for example, includes up to USD $5,000 in branch cash deposits per statement cycle and access to more than 5,000 branches and 14,000 ATMs.
- Online-first businesses: Mercury, Bluevine, and Relay are better aligned with businesses that primarily manage banking digitally. Bluevine also offers interest on eligible checking balances, while Relay provides tools for organising business cash.
- International or multi-currency businesses: Airwallex is the more relevant option when collecting, holding, and moving funds across currencies is a regular requirement.
- Businesses that want multiple accounts for budgeting: Relay supports up to 20 checking accounts, making it useful for separating funds for taxes, payroll, operating costs, and other purposes.
- Businesses that prefer a traditional branch relationship: Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo are better suited when in-person banking and established branch networks matter.
- Businesses prioritising yield on operating cash: Bluevine may be a better fit when earning interest on eligible checking balances is important. Its Standard plan currently offers 1.3% APY on balances up to USD $250,000 when eligibility requirements are met.
- Businesses needing integrated payment acceptance: Chase and U.S. Bank both combine business checking with payment acceptance. Chase Business Complete Banking includes Chase QuickAccept, while U.S. Bank Business Essentials includes card payment acceptance and a free mobile card reader.
When Chase may still be the better choice
Not every business needs a digital-first alternative. Chase can still make sense when branch access, cash handling, or a broader traditional banking relationship plays a regular role in how you run the business.
1. You deposit cash regularly
Businesses such as restaurants, retailers, and local service companies may benefit from Chase’s branch network and cash deposit allowance. Chase Business Complete Banking currently includes up to USD $5,000 in branch cash deposits per statement cycle at no additional charge, subject to the account’s terms.
2. You need physical branches
If you prefer face-to-face support for banking issues, deposits, or account services, a traditional bank can be more practical than an online provider. Chase currently has more than 5,000 branches and 14,000 ATMs, giving businesses broad access to in-person and ATM banking.
3. You want traditional lending services
If your growth plans include business loans, credit lines, or other traditional banking products, access to a broader banking relationship may matter. Chase offers business lending alongside its checking and other business banking services, so keeping these services with one institution may be useful if that matches your financing needs.
4. You prefer an established banking relationship
Businesses that rely on the same provider for checking, lending, cash handling, and other financial services may prefer to keep those services with one traditional bank. For example, a growing retailer that deposits cash regularly and may need a business loan could benefit from having its banking and financing needs with the same institution.
Chase also combines branch banking with digital tools, payment acceptance, invoicing, and other business services, so you don’t necessarily have to choose between physical access and digital capabilities.
If you eventually decide to move to another provider, knowing how to switch banks in your business can help you plan the transition without disrupting everyday operations.
Chase alternatives vs. expense management platforms
A business bank account and an expense management platform solve different problems. Your bank account handles money coming into and leaving your business, while an expense platform focuses on controlling, tracking, and reconciling team spending.
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When a bank account is enough
If you’re a solo operator with limited card spending and straightforward bookkeeping, a business checking account may cover most of what you need. You may not need another platform if you can review transactions, collect receipts, and reconcile your accounts without much manual work.
When you need expense management automation
As your team grows, manual expense processes can become harder to manage. You may need automated approvals, spending limits, receipt collection, reimbursement workflows, and accounting reconciliation.
That’s where expense management automation can reduce repetitive finance work. Depending on the platform, you can connect employee cards and spending workflows with accounting systems, helping your finance team spend less time matching transactions and chasing receipts.
When banking and spend management should work together
If you’re comparing Chase alternatives because your finance processes are becoming harder to manage, don’t evaluate the bank account in isolation.
Look at how your account connects with cards, payments, expenses, accounting, and reporting. Understanding spend management can also help you decide whether your business needs more than a basic banking setup. If you’re processing a growing volume of employee spending, combining banking with expense reporting solutions and automated workflows can give your team more control without adding unnecessary manual work.
How Aspire1 simplifies business banking and expense management
If you’ve outgrown basic checking and want banking and spending workflows in one place, Aspire¹ combines business accounts¹, payments, corporate cards², and finance tools for growing businesses. The Aspire business account¹ supports USD accounts, ACH and wire transfers, while the platform connects with accounting tools such as QuickBooks and Xero.
Its expense management solution adds spend controls, corporate cards², receipt capture, claims, approval workflows, and accounting automation, helping reduce manual finance work.
Aspire is a financial technology company, not a bank; Column N.A., Member FDIC, provides US Deposit Account and banking services. If you’re evaluating Chase bank alternatives, Aspire can suit businesses that want banking and expense management automation in one platform.
Final thoughts on Chase bank alternatives
The best Chase bank alternative isn’t simply the account with the lowest monthly fee. It should match how your business moves money, handles cash, manages team spending, and operates across borders.
Bluevine and Mercury suit businesses that prioritize digital banking and lower account fees. Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo offer traditional banking with branch access, while Relay focuses on organizing business cash. Airwallex is better suited to businesses with regular international activity.
Before switching, review a typical month of transactions and compare the services you actually use. The right choice should solve your current banking needs without creating unnecessary costs or complexity as your business grows.
Chase alternatives: FAQs
Q1. What are the best Chase alternatives for small businesses?
The best Chase alternatives depend on how you run your business. Bluevine and Mercury suit businesses that prioritise digital banking, while Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo offer traditional banking with branch access. Relay can suit businesses that want to organise cash across multiple accounts, while Airwallex is better suited to regular international activity.
Q2. What is the best Chase bank alternative for startups?
Mercury is a strong option for startups that operate digitally and need user permissions, payment workflows, accounting connections, and low core banking costs. Its business checking and savings accounts currently have no required monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, although some optional services carry additional fees.
Q3. What is the best Chase alternative with no monthly fee?
Bluevine, Mercury, U.S. Bank Business Essentials, and Relay currently advertise USD $0 monthly fees for their respective offerings. Pricing varies by plan and service, so check the provider’s current terms rather than comparing the headline fee alone.
Q4. Which Chase alternative is best for international businesses?
Airwallex is particularly suited to businesses with regular international collections and payments because its Global Accounts support holding and receiving funds across multiple currencies. It’s worth comparing supported currencies, transfer costs, and foreign exchange pricing against your actual transaction patterns before switching.
Q5. What Chase alternatives are best for businesses that handle cash?
Traditional banks are usually a better fit when regular cash deposits matter. Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo offer branch-based banking and cash deposit services, while digital-first providers may have more limited physical cash handling options.
Q6. Should I choose a Chase alternative based only on fees?
No. Compare the account fee with transaction limits, cash deposits, payment capabilities, international transfers, accounting integrations, user controls, and the finance workflows you need. If your team spends significant time collecting receipts, approving purchases, or reconciling transactions, expense automation and expense reporting solutions can also matter when you evaluate the overall setup.
Q7. When should a business consider AI spend management?
AI spend management can make sense when your finance team handles a growing volume of employee purchases, receipts, approvals, and reconciliation. Top expense management software with automation features can help bring these workflows together, while AI-powered reconciliation and expense automation tools can reduce manual matching and review work.
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