Source: https://rivet.global/blog/business-checking-account-no-monthly-fees-us
Published: 2026-08-28 · Updated: 2026-11-04 · By Alexia M.

# Business checking accounts with no monthly fees: what you give up

Free business checking in the US: which providers charge no monthly fee, the fees that still apply on wires, cash and international payments, and how to compare.

## Key takeaways

- Mercury, Relay, Bluevine and Found all have $0 monthly plans; Chase Business Complete is $15 unless waived.
- Wires, cash deposits, instant payments and international payments still carry fees on many free plans.
- Bluevine lists up to $15 per outgoing wire and up to $25 plus up to 1.5% for international payments; Found lists $15 per wire and $2 per cash deposit.
- Count your monthly wires, cash deposits and foreign payments; that tells you which free account is actually cheapest.

"Business checking account with no fees" and "with no monthly fees" are among the top completions for business checking searches. The monthly fee is the easy part to compare. Figures below were read on each provider's page on 4 November 2026.

## Free plans and the fees behind them

| | Monthly | Domestic wire | Cash | International |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | $0 | $0 | Not offered | $0 USD; 1% FX |
| Relay Starter | $0 | Not listed | See Relay | Through a partner |
| Bluevine Standard | $0 | Up to $15 | See schedule | Up to $25 + up to 1.5% |
| Found | $0 | $15 | $2 per deposit | Not listed |
| Chase Business Complete | $15 or waived | See schedule | Up to $5,000 per cycle included | See schedule |

## Count your payments

For one month, write down:

1. Outgoing wires.
2. Cash deposits.
3. Payments abroad and their total.
4. Card spend in other currencies.

A company sending 10 wires a month pays $0 on Mercury and up to $150 on Bluevine. A company depositing cash weekly needs Found or a branch bank. A company paying $20,000 abroad pays the FX margin, which dwarfs any monthly fee.

## The international line

On most free US accounts, international payments are where fees concentrate. A 1% to 1.5% margin on $20,000 is $200 to $300 a month.

## Paying into the United States: the local rail

| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | ACH for batch payments; RTP and FedNow for instant transfers |
| Run by | Nacha for ACH; The Clearing House for RTP; the Federal Reserve for FedNow |
| Settlement | Same-day ACH within the business day, standard ACH the next; RTP and FedNow in seconds, 24/7, where both banks take part |

Source: [Nacha: Same Day ACH](https://www.nacha.org/rules/same-day-ach-moving-payments-faster). Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

## Where Rivet fits

Rivet's Starter plan is free with USD details, unlimited digital cards and payouts at $2 each. Growth ($200 a month) adds EUR and GBP details, payouts to 120+ countries at $1 and FX from 0.50%, shown before you confirm. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See [Pricing](/pricing).

## Questions

### Which business checking accounts have no monthly fee?

Among the ones we checked in November 2026: Mercury's base plan, Relay Starter, Bluevine Standard and Found's free plan. Chase Business Complete can be waived.

### How do free accounts make money?

From card interchange, interest on deposits, paid plans and transaction fees such as wires and instant transfers.

### Are free accounts safe?

Most are fintech companies working with FDIC-insured partner banks. Check the partner bank and how deposit insurance applies.

### What fees should I watch?

Wires, cash deposits, instant transfers, card spend in other currencies and international payments.