Overview
Relay Bank Overview
| Monthly Fee: | $0.00 |
| Minimum Opening Deposit: | $0.00 |
| APY: | N/A |
| Transactions: | Unlimited |
| Cash Deposits: | Not Supported |
| Bonus: | N/A |
| Overdraft Fees: | $0.00 |
| Fee-Free ATM Access: | 50,000+ Locations |
| Debit Cards (Physical & Virtual): | 50 Per Account |
Who Is Relay Bank For?
- A business that needs multiple, online-only bank accounts to segment their various businesses or business units.
- Business owners who already use QuickBooks, Xero, Gusto, or any other popular accounting/payroll software want to integrate it directly into their bank accounts.
- A non-cash business that does not require cash deposits (i.e., e-commerce stores, affiliate marketers, etc.)
Pros & Cons
Pros And Cons Of Relay Bank
Features
Relay Bank Features
Business Checking Account
The Business Checking Account from Relay Bank has no minimum balance requirements and no monthly fees. You'll also get free ATM withdrawals, free ACH transfers, and free incoming wire transfers. Within your Relay account, you can have up to 20 separate checking accounts (10 for sole-proprietors) to help you segment your various businesses or business units.
Business Debit Cards
Relay Bank offers both physical and virtual Mastercard debit cards that can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. You can have up to 50 cards issued for free and there are no foreign transaction fees.
Member Access With Permissions
You can give employees, contractors, or vendors limited access to your Relay Bank account with restricted permissions. For example, you can give an employee the ability to view transactions and balances but not initiate transfers. Or you can give your accountant access to change transaction categories and labeling but restrict their ability to deposit or withdraw cash.
Fee-Free ATM Access
Your Relay business checking account gives you fee-free access to all 50,000+ Allpoint ATMs around the world, and never worry about being charged an ATM fee again.
Mobile Banking
The Relay app is available for both iOS and Android devices and lets you do everything from checking your account balance to initiating ACH transfers. The mobile app also lets you deposit checks remotely using your phone's camera.
Native Integrations
Relay integrates with some of the most popular accounting programs like Quickbooks, Gusto, Xero, Plaid, and more. This allows you to automate your accounting processes while reducing redundant tasks.
Bill Pay
With Relay Bank, you can automatically pay your bills online for free. Simply link your vendors and schedule payments to be made automatically or on a one-time basis.
Open Account
How To Open A Relay Bank Account
Estimated Time To Create Account: 3 minutes
Create An Account
To open a Relay Bank account, simply go to their website and create an account. You'll need to provide your basic personal information like full name, phone number, email address, work position, and password.
Upload Your Business & Personal Documentation
Once you've entered in your personal information, you'll need to provide business documentation to verify your ownership of your business.
You may need to upload one or more of the following:
– Government ID (Drivers license or photo ID)
– SSN (Sole-proprietor) or EIN (Existing business entity)
– Personal address and phone number
– US business address and phone number
– DBA (Doing business as) if you have filed for one
– Articles of Organization (for LLCs)
– Partnership Registration Form (for partnerships)
– Articles of Incorporation (for corporations)
Wait For Account Approval
Now, all you have to do is wait for your account to be approved. This usually takes less than 24 hours but may take up to a few days.
Once your account is approved, you'll be able to log in and start using all of Relay's features immediately.
Use your business email to speed up the verification process. This will ensure you have to complete fewer business verification steps in the future.
Fees
Relay Bank Fees & Pricing
Relay Bank currently has two seperate plans: Relay and Relay Pro. Their base-plan is free to use and offers all the tools you'll need to jump-start your business. However, if you need more advanced accouting tools and with complex, multi-step approval processes, and same-day ACH transfers, Relay Pro could be a better choice for you, but the plan does start at $30/mo.
Relay
| Monthly Fee: | $0.00/mo |
| No-Fee Checking Accounts: | 20 |
| ACH Transfer Time: | 1-2 Business Days |
| Integrations: | Xero, Quickbooks Online |
| Pay Bills In Batches: | No |
| Approve & Pay Bills In Once Place: | No |
| Import Bills From Quickbooks & Xero: | No |
| Multi-Stage Workflows: | No |
| Domestic Wires: | $5.00 Each |
| International Wires: | $10.00 Each |
Relay Pro
| Monthly Fee: | $30.00/mo |
| No-Fee Checking Accounts: | 20 |
| ACH Transfer Time: | Same day |
| Integrations: | Xero, Quickbooks Online, and more |
| Pay Bills In Batches: | Yes |
| Approve & Pay Bills In Once Place: | Yes |
| Import Bills From Quickbooks & Xero: | Yes |
| Multi-Stage Workflows: | Yes |
| Domestic Wires: | Free |
| International Wires: | Fee |
Compare
Relay Bank Vs. Other Business Bank Accounts
No account minimums
Major accounting& payroll integrations
No Cash deposits
No physical locations
Unlimited 2.2% cash back debit card
Discounts on services like Google Ads, Quickbooks, & more
Checking account does not earn interest
No physical locations
Major accounting & payroll integrations
24/7 live chat and email
Cannot send/receive international wires
No physical locations
Relay Bank Vs. Nearside Bank
If you're looking for a business bank account with no monthly fees, free ATM withdrawals, and free ACH transfers, then Relay Bank is a great option. However, if you need access to lending products like loans or lines of credit, Nearside Bank might be a better option as they offer these services. Additionally, Nearside Bank also offers a debit card that gives unlimited 2.2% cash back while Relay Financial's debit card gives no cash back.
Relay Bank Vs. NorthOne Bank
If you care about monthly fees, we recommend Realy Bank as there are no minimums or monthly maintenance fees. NorthOne Bank has a monthly fee of $10 per month. However, to make up for this monthly fee, NorthOne does have more ATM access points as well as more native integrations with platforms like Stripe, PayPal, Amazon, Shopify, and more.
Bottom Line
Is Relay Bank For You?
If you're looking for a free all-in-one business banking solution, Relay Bank is definitely worth checking out. They offer a variety of features that are perfect for small businesses, including free online and mobile banking, no monthly fees or minimum balances, and unlimited transactions. Plus, there's no need to switch banks – Relay Bank is FDIC insured and can be used with your existing personal or other business checking account.
Overall, we were extremely impressed with Relay Bank and would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an online-only bank account that does not need cash deposits!
FAQ
Relay Bank FAQ
Do I Need An LLC To Get A Relay Bank Account?
No, you do not need to have an LLC to get a Relay Bank account. However, if you are a sole proprietor, you will need to provide your Social Security number (SSN) when you apply.
Is Relay Bank FDIC Insured?
Yes, deposits are insured for up to $250,000 by the FDIC. Evolve Bank & Trust is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and they are the banking partner of Relay Bank.
Does Relay Bank Offer Credit Cards?
No, Relay Bank currently does not offer credit cards. However, they are planning to launch a business credit card sometime in the near future.
Is Relay Business Banking Legit?
Yes, Relay Bank is a legitimate company, and its banking partner, Evolve Bank & Trust, has been in business since 1925.
