BlueVine Business Checking Account 2024 Review

When your small business is starting to take off, a dedicated business checking account is a necessity, especially for bookkeeping purposes.

For a straightforward, no-fuss option, the BlueVine Business Checking account is one worth considering.

This online business checking account is best for small- to medium-sized businesses with simpler banking needs and a low-cost account to keep their business finances separate from personal finances.

To sweeten the deal:

Your account balance (up to $100,000) earns a market-leading interest rate.

Our review of the BlueVine Business Checking account looks at the fees and features of the account to help you determine whether it is right for you and your business.

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Find the best business accounts to manage your business funds better and improve your bottom line:

Unlimited Transactions

With the BlueVine Business Checking account, you can perform unlimited transactions with no minimum balance requirement.

Typical business checking accounts -- from a local financial institution, for example -- will waive the transaction fees for a certain number of transactions per month before charging a small per-item fee.

For example, there may be no fee for up to 300 transactions per month before a fee of $0.20 per item applies.

For businesses that conduct a large number of transactions per month, the ability to make unlimited transactions may result in major savings in transaction fees.

Earn a Market-Leading Interest Rate

With this account, your balance up to $100,000 will earn one of the most competitive interest rates available.

The portion of the balance in excess of $100,000 will not earn interest.

Still, this is an added benefit that can help the bottom line of your business.

Little to No Fees

Not only will you be avoiding transaction fees completely, other types of account fees will be very rare as well.

Firstly, the account has no monthly fee at all.

Also, the BlueVine Business Checking account doesn’t charge ACH payment fees or insufficient funds (NSF) fees.

You’ll get a free debit card that offers free ATM withdrawals at any MoneyPass ATM location. ATM transactions at out-of-network ATMs, the fee is $2.50. (The ATM operator may impose an additional surcharge on this transaction.)

Other Account Fees - Bluevine Business Checking

FDIC-Insured

Without a familiar brand or physical bank branches, many consumers fear that online banks and other financial companies are not safe for their deposits.

Because BlueVine Business Bank holds its deposits under Bancorp Bank, which is an FDIC-insured institution, your account balance is still insured up to $250,000 against the failure or closure of the financial institution.

Remember:

This account will be classified as a corporation, partnership or unincorporated association -- this coverage limit will not interfere with the coverage of any personal funds you may already have in companies affiliated with Bancorp Bank.

Other Features of the Bluevine Business Checking Account

As an online business checking account provider, Bluevine offers several features.

No overdraft fees or minimum balance

In addition to no monthly transaction fees, Bluevine doesn’t charge overdraft fees. You aren’t required to hold a minimum balance, either.

Digital banking services

The Bluevine Business Checking Account comes with bill pay. Bluevine’s bill pay allows you to pay from your account or a credit card with a fee. You also get mobile banking with a mobile check deposit feature.

Sub-accounts

Bluevine gives business customers the ability to manage their business finances on a more granular level. They allow you to add up to five sub-accounts with unique account numbers. Unfortunately, your debit card can only be used with your main account.

Bluevine offers three levels of account access. This allows you to give authorized users and accountants access to different parts of your bank account and can help save you and your team time.

Check-writing

If you use checks, the account comes with two free checkbooks per year as long as you have a balance in your account.

How to Open a Bluevine Business Checking Account

You can open a Bluevine Business Checking Account from the comfort of your home or cell phone. To get started, you must be a supported business entity type. These include:

• Corporation
• General partnership
• Limited liability company
• Limited liability partnership
• Limited partnership
• Sole proprietor

Depending on your entity type, you may be asked to provide additional documentation. In general, be prepared with the following information:

• Your name
• Email address
• Mobile phone number
• Social Security number
• Legal business name
• Business address
• Annual revenue
• Industry
• Tax identification number
• Percent of the business you own
• The above information for any 25% or higher owners of the business

How to Pick the Best Business Checking Account for Your Business 

Finding the right business checking account may feel overwhelming. Thankfully, the process can be simplified into two basic steps.

First, you must determine your business’s needs in a checking account. Then, compare that list of needs to the accounts you’re considering.

To help the process, you want to prepare some information in advance. These three items can help you estimate some of the most common business checking account fees.

• Estimated monthly cash deposits
• Estimated number of monthly transactions
• Average balance you plan to keep in the account

Fees aren’t the only factor businesses should consider. To help you think about your priorities, here are some of the common aspects of a business checking account you may want to emphasize in your search.

Monthly maintenance charges

Business checking accounts typically charge monthly maintenance fees. These fees often start around $10 per month and can be much higher, depending on the account.

Minimum balance requirements

Some banks have minimum balance requirements as a way to waive a monthly maintenance fee. Understand how the balance is calculated and the necessary amount to avoid the fee.

Free monthly transactions and excess transaction fees

Most business checking accounts limit the number of free monthly transactions that come with your account. Find out how transactions are defined and the fee for each transaction above the monthly limit.

Free monthly cash deposits and excess cash deposit fees

Most banks give a cash deposit allowance each month. Cash deposited beyond that amount results in a fee per $100 or $1,000 deposited.

Wire transfer fees

If you plan to make wire transfers, understand what type of transfers you make and how many you plan to make each month. Then, compare that against the account’s fee schedule to understand the costs you’ll pay.

Locations and operating hours of branches

If you need to visit a branch to handle cash transactions or other banking needs, branch locations and hours can be essential. Look for a bank with branches close to your home or business. Ideally, the bank will have convenient hours when you have time to visit.

Fees and locations of ATMs

ATM fees and locations can be important if you don’t need to visit a bank branch often. Look for convenient locations with an ATM network that minimizes fees.

Convenience features

Conveniences can help you spend less time and money banking. Mobile banking, including bill pay and mobile check deposit, can minimize branch visits.

Card payment processing options

If your business needs to accept card payments, you may want a bank that offers card payment processing. These programs can often deposit funds directly in your bank account quickly, but may charge a significant fee to do so.

Software integration and fees

You likely want your bank to integrate with your accounting software and your business’s other technology providers. Sometimes, banks charge fees to turn on this integration, but doing so could save you time.

Bank’s other account, loan, and service options

Other bank products may be more important than a business checking account. This could include loans, other account types, or services a bank offers. In these cases, you may prefer to pick a bank based on these other needs. 

You may choose to open a checking account at the same bank to simplify your finances even if it isn’t the best checking account.

Why May You Want to Choose Bluevine Over a Local Bank

The Bluevine Business Checking Account is an online account rather than one offered by a local bank. Many business owners may wonder why they should consider Bluevine when the checking account has no branches you can visit.

Bluevine pays interest on balances up to and including $100,000 as long as you meet one of two relatively easy-to-meet requirements. They also allow account owners to add several sub-accounts to help you manage your business finances in a more detailed way.

The account charges a much smaller set of fees for services than many banks charge. At the same time, the bank doesn’t charge several common fees, such as monthly maintenance or excess transaction fees.

The major downside to these advantages is you can’t deposit cash at a branch. Instead, you must deposit cash at Green Dot retail locations and pay a $4.95 fee per deposit.

As long as your business doesn’t require a significant amount of cash, cash deposits, or in-branch help, the Bluevine account could be a great fit and help you minimize fees.

Final Verdict

The Bluevine Business Checking Account may be a good fit for technology-savvy business owners that don’t have significant cash needs. 

Businesses that primarily make and receive digital payments are an ideal fit. You don’t have to pay monthly maintenance or excess transaction fees. You can even earn interest on the balance you keep in your account.

Businesses that need occasional cash deposits can do so with the Green Dot retail network by paying a $4.95 fee. That said, businesses that deal with cash regularly will likely need a bank account with branch locations in your area.