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Best Business Checking Accounts for an LLC
Compare the best business checking accounts for an LLC below, as reviewed by ZenBusiness.
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Last Updated: August 31, 2026
Every LLC needs a business checking account. Not only does a business account help you manage cash flow, but it also helps you keep your business funds separate from the money in your personal savings account. That separation of personal accounts and business accounts is absolutely essential to maintain your LLC’s personal asset protection.
But how do you decide which bank is the best for a small business checking account? Which one has the lowest transaction fees or monthly service fees? What is the overdraft protection like? How about local branch presence or the ability to make electronic deposits? Opening an account comes with a lot of questions. Plus, there are currently over 4,000 FDIC-insured banks in the United States, which can make it really difficult to decide which business account is right for your checking needs.
But don’t worry: we’ve done the research for you to help determine the six best business checking accounts for an LLC. While only you can decide which bank account is the #1 best fit — after all, only you know what your financial priorities are — we can help narrow down your options with these picks.
Compare the Best Business Checking Accounts for LLCs
| Account Provider | Opening Balance Requirement | Monthly Fee | Important Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axos Business Interest Checking | $100 | $10 (waived with $5,000 balance) | 1.01% APY, unlimited ATM reimbursements | Online businesses looking to earn interest |
| PNC Business Checking | $100 | $12 (waivable if conditions are met; waived the first three statement cycles) | $400 signup bonus (limited), up to 150 free transactions | Owners who want in-person support |
| U.S. Bank Business Essentials | $100 | $0 | $400 signup bonus, free mobile card reader | Owners who want a physical bank without monthly fees |
| Bluevine Standard Business Checking | $0 | $0 | 1.3% APY (qualifying accounts only), 5 sub-accounts | Owners needing sub-accounts and digital banking |
| American Express Business Checking | $0 | $0 | 1.3% APY (up to $500k), reward points for debit use | Small business owners who prioritize rewards and interest |
| EverBank Small Business Checking | $0 | $0 | ATM fee reimbursement, remote deposit | Single-member LLC owners or sole proprietors who want an account built for their size business |
Axos Business Interest Checking
If your LLC is primarily an online business, an online bank like Axos could be a good fit for your needs. The Axos Business Interest Checking account actually provides interest, with a rate currently set at 1.01% APY — a less-common perk for a checking account. This is a tiered variable rate account.
To get started, you’ll need to make a minimum account opening deposit of $100 or more. After that, the monthly account fees are $10, but that can be waived if you maintain a $5,000 balance. The Axos Business Interest Checking account also provides unlimited domestic ATM reimbursements, which is helpful for those situations when you find yourself needing cash. You can also use the financial institution’s online banking app to make up to 60 remote deposits per month free.
If you prefer visiting a local branch to manage transactions or you have a high number of cash transactions, then Axos probably won’t be a good fit; this bank has no physical locations.
Pros
- Known to run welcome bonuses (though none are currently available at the time of this writing)
- Reimbursements for domestic ATM use
- Fair APY allows you to earn interest on your balance
Cons
- Customer support hours are limited
- No physical locations
- Monthly service fee is on the higher side and hard to avoid for brand-new LLCs
PNC Business Checking Account
If you aren’t sold on an exclusively online banking solution, a PNC business checking account is a small-business-friendly account from a bank with physical locations. While PNC isn’t a truly national bank, they do have nearly 2,200 branches (with plans to add 100 more by 2028). As of this writing, they’re also offering a $400 account opening bonus for qualifying businesses, but that offer is temporary.
New business checking customers need to have a $100 minimum opening balance to open their account. After that, there’s a $12 monthly account maintenance fee (but PNC gives you the first three statement cycles for free). You can have that fee waived in three different ways:
- Keeping a balance of $500 in the business checking account (combined average)
- Spend $500 in a billing statement cycle on your linked business credit card from PNC
- Link an eligible merchant account and have $500 or more in eligible processing deposits on that account
PNC isn’t great for business owners with a large volume of transactions. There’s no charge for up to 150 transactions per month; after that, the fees kick in. That said, PNC does allow you to deposit up to $5,000 in cash each month at no extra cost. Their mobile banking app helps make it easy to manage your business checking account from anywhere, too.
Pros
- No monthly service fee for first three months
- Has physical locations
- Enrolled users have several attainable options to avoid monthly service fees
Cons
- Limits for transactions and deposits may not fit if your business operates on a larger scale
- Physical branches aren’t available nationwide
- No interest for your account balance
U.S. Bank Business Essentials Checking
U.S. Bank’s Business Essentials business checking account is a solid option for small business owners who want to use a financial institution with physical locations. Currently, U.S. Bank has over 2,000 locations in 26 states.
The Business Essentials checking account keeps things simple. You’ll need to make a minimum opening deposit of $100, but after that, there are no monthly maintenance fees. As of this writing, U.S. Bank is also offering a $400 welcome bonus (provided you deposit $5,000 in your account in the first 30 days, maintain that balance for 60 days, and make at least five qualifying transactions).
A Business Essentials account offers a free mobile card reader so you can accept credit and debit card transactions; you’ll also get unlimited digital transactions. However, you can only make 25 physical transactions (such as making a business deposit with a bank teller) per month at no cost; extra physical transactions will cost you. This makes it a less-friendly option for business owners who handle a lot of cash or checks at the bank.
Pros
- No monthly maintenance fee
- Free mobile card reader to accept credit and debit card payments and no software fees to use it
- Variety of customer support options
Cons
- Surcharges for using out-of-network ATMs
- Low cap for free physical transactions
- No APY interest rate offered
Bluevine Standard Business Checking Account
If you’d like to keep your business checking account online, Bluevine is a newer mobile banking experience that might be a good fit. This digital-first bank doesn’t offer physical locations, but it is a good option for small business owners who want an affordable account. Bluevine has no minimum opening balance requirement, and there’s no monthly service fee with the Standard plan.
An unusual offering you’ll get with Bluevine is the ability to create sub-accounts: distinct account numbers that you can use to control which accounts your vendors, contractors, and suppliers can bill. This can be helpful for business owners who need to keep their invoices organized into different categories.
Like other digital-focused banks, Bluevine isn’t the best fit for business owners who frequently handle cash transactions or want to visit a physical branch.
Pros
- No monthly service fee or minimum opening deposit required
- Eligible business checking accounts can get 1.3% APY on their balance if they meet the eligibility requirements
- Create up to five sub-accounts for organizing finances
Cons
- Interest earnings are only guaranteed for Plus or Premier customers; Standard plan subscribers must qualify to earn interest
- No dedicated physical branches
- Cash deposits are limited to participating GreenDot retail locations or in-network ATMs
American Express Business Checking
If you’re looking to open a business checking account with an established, well-known financial institution, American Express is another viable option. As an American Express (Amex) business customer, you’ll enjoy banking with no monthly service fee; you don’t even need a minimum deposit to join.
American Express also has an intriguing rewards program where you earn one point for every $2 in debit card purchases. You can redeem these rewards for direct deposits into your account or discounts with travel partners and other vendors. Another perk is the 1.3% APY that you can earn on balances up to $500,000 (businesses won’t earn interest on balances higher than that; a business savings account would be a better option).
The biggest downside to American Express is that they don’t have dedicated bank branches. It’s also impossible to deposit cash directly into your account, so it’s not a great option if you handle a lot of cash in your business operations.
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum balance to open an account
- Rewards program for debit card purchases
- Competitive interest rate for a business checking account
Cons
- No physical locations
- $10 fee for same-day ACH transactions
- No way to deposit cash directly into the account
EverBank Small Business Checking
Formerly known as TIAA bank, EverBank is another online-only bank. If you’re a single-member LLC or sole proprietor, the small business checking account might be an intriguing option for you; this account is built specifically for sole proprietors and single-member LLCs.
As of this writing, there’s no minimum deposit required to open an account. Once you’ve got their business checking account, you’ll enjoy a $0 maintenance fee. They also offer bill pay solutions, remote deposits, and ATM reimbursements (up to $15 per month) for third-party ATMs.
Like any online banking option, EverBank doesn’t have a physical presence, so it’s not a great fit for LLCs with lots of cash transactions.
Pros
- No monthly maintenance fees
- Designed for solo business owners
Cons
- No physical locations
- Customer service limited to standard business hours
- Interest earning capabilities requires upgrading your account
What do I need to open a business account for my LLC?
Every bank has different requirements for opening a business checking account. You’ll need to check with your chosen bank to know for sure what they require. But here are some of the more common requirements:
- Your legal business name and company structure
- A copy of your DBA (“doing business as”) certificate or trade name registration if you operate under a name that’s not your legal name
- Your EIN
- Financial data like your revenue totals (if applicable)
- Business owner information: Social Security number, DOB, address, etc.
Again, these requirements vary. Consult each potential bank to learn their requirements before signing up.
In Conclusion
Opening a business bank account is a vital step in the business formation process for any LLC. Without one, you’d have difficulty demonstrating that your personal finances and business assets are truly separate, which could lead to a court piercing your corporate veil and allowing creditors to seize your personal assets if your business ever gets into trouble.
Thankfully, opening a business checking account isn’t too difficult or time-consuming. And this guide has helped you discover some of the best options in business banking, all with reasonable terms for signing up. Some even throw in perks like interest, expense tracking, and more.
Whether you choose one of these accounts or walk over to your local bank branch and open one there, it’s absolutely essential that you open a dedicated business checking account for your LLC to help your business thrive. We hope this article helped you choose the right account for your LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Business Checking Accounts for LLCs
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Yes, opening a business checking account is crucial for helping maintain the legal separation between your personal and business finances. This separation helps protect your personal assets if your business is ever sued or faces debt collection. Without a dedicated business account, a court might rule for “piercing the corporate veil,” which could put your personal savings and assets at risk.
Beyond that protection, a dedicated account is good to have for practical reasons. This account can help simplify expense tracking, cash flow management, and tax preparation.
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The best business checking account for an LLC depends on what your company needs most, like low fees, easy access, or built-in tools to manage money.
Some online accounts, like Bluevine, focus on features such as sub-accounts and higher interest rates for qualifying users. These can be helpful if you want to organize funds for things like taxes, payroll, or savings.
If you prefer in-person banking, a traditional bank like PNC or U.S. Bank might fit better. These banks usually offer physical branches, ATMs, and local support along with online and mobile tools.
Before you choose, compare monthly fees, transaction limits, interest options, expense tools, and how you want to access your account (online only, in person, or both). Pick the account that best matches how your LLC earns, spends, and saves money.
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No. From a legal standpoint, your LLC is a separate entity from you as an individual. Not maintaining a separate account that’s wholly owned by your LLC blurs that legal distinction, potentially voiding your LLC’s liability protections. Keeping your business and personal finances separate helps ensure accurate bookkeeping and demonstrates that your LLC is operating as a distinct legal entity. A dedicated business checking account is the safer and more professional option.
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In most cases, yes — banks typically require your LLC’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) when opening a business account. The EIN acts like a Social Security number for your business and helps verify your identity with the IRS. Check with your chosen bank to confirm their specific requirements.
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The easiest way to track business expenses is with a business checking account that includes built-in expense categorization. If that’s not available with your chosen bank account, it’s possible to use accounting software that syncs with your business bank account to categorize expenses and track them easily. No matter which option you go with, it’s prudent to track expenses as you go so they don’t pile up and get too overwhelming when the time comes to file taxes or manage your business books.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. For specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
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