Source: https://rivet.global/blog/mercury-vs-bluevine
Published: 2026-06-03 · Updated: 2026-11-04 · By Alexia M.

# Mercury vs Bluevine: business checking compared for 2026

Mercury vs Bluevine on plan prices, interest, wire fees and international payments, with figures from each pricing page and a note on multi-currency needs.

## Key takeaways

- Bluevine Standard is free and pays 1.3% APY on balances up to $250,000 if you spend $500 on the card or receive $2,500 a month; Plus ($30) and Premier ($95) pay more and can be waived.
- Bluevine charges up to $15 per outgoing domestic wire and up to $25 per international payment, plus up to 1.5% when the payment is in a foreign currency.
- Mercury lists $0 for domestic and USD international wires and 1% on converted wires, so a company that sends many wires usually pays less there.
- Bluevine excludes businesses based in Nevada and those in finance, insurance and mining.

Bluevine and Mercury land in the same search for different reasons. Bluevine is known for interest on a checking account. Mercury is known for free wires. Figures below come from each company's own pages, read on 4 November 2026.

## Side by side

| | Bluevine | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Standard $0, Plus $30, Premier $95 (paid plans waivable) | Mercury $0, Plus $29.90, Pro $299 |
| Interest | 1.3% to 3.0% APY by plan, with conditions on Standard | Treasury yield up to 4.25% with a $250K balance, offered separately |
| Outgoing domestic wire | Up to $15 | $0 |
| International payment | Up to $25, plus up to 1.5% in a foreign currency | $0 in USD; 1% if converted |
| Partner bank | Coastal Community Bank and program banks | Choice Financial Group, Column N.A. |

## When Bluevine costs less

Take a company that holds $80,000 and sends two wires a month. On Bluevine Standard, if it meets the activity condition, it earns 1.3% on that balance, roughly $87 a month, and pays up to $30 in wire fees. Interest wins.

## When Mercury costs less

Now take an agency that pays 15 contractors abroad each month by wire. On Bluevine that is up to $375 in payment fees before any currency fee. On Mercury, USD wires are $0, and converted ones cost 1%. The more money you send, the more Mercury's model helps.

## The question both leave open

Both hold dollars. A contractor in Poland paid by a converted wire receives zloty at the sender's rate, sometimes minus an intermediary fee. A European client paying you by wire to a US account pays its own bank's international fee. If either happens every month, the currency leg is your largest cost.

## 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 is built for companies that earn or pay in several currencies. Starter is free with USD details for ACH and wires. Growth ($200 a month) adds EUR and GBP details, local payouts to 120+ countries at $1 per payout and FX from 0.50%, shown before you confirm. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See [Payouts](/payouts) and [the true cost of international payments](/blog/true-cost-of-international-payments).

## Questions

### Which is better, Bluevine or Mercury?

Bluevine suits a small business that keeps a steady balance and wants interest on checking. Mercury suits a company that sends wires often or wants startup tools such as treasury and corporate credit. Count your monthly wires first; that usually decides it.

### Does Bluevine charge for international wires?

Yes. Bluevine's checking page lists up to $25 per international payment, and foreign-currency payments add up to 1.5% of the amount.

### Is Bluevine a real bank?

Bluevine is a financial technology company. Its checking accounts are provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC, and program banks, with coverage up to $3M per depositor through that network.

### What if I invoice clients outside the US?

Both accounts hold US dollars. To give a European client euro details for SEPA, or to pay contractors in their own currency on local rails, you need a multi-currency account.