Best business bank for agencies in 2026

Last updated October 2026

Agencies have unusual banking needs. Retainers arrive in lumps, contractor payouts leave in waves, and the gap between the two can stretch for months. You need an account that handles high-volume ACH without flinching, gives you clear visibility across multiple clients or entities, and charges you as little as possible while your cash sits waiting for its next job.

We reviewed dozens of business accounts and narrowed the field to five. Each of these banks serves a different flavour of agency, from a bootstrapped freelancer collective to a venture-backed creative shop to a traditional firm that still values walking into a branch. Below you will find a full breakdown of features, pricing, and fit for every option, along with a framework for choosing between them.

If you want the short answer: most agencies should start with Mercury for its combination of zero fees, strong integrations, and generous FDIC coverage. Agencies spending heavily on ads or SaaS should pair it with a Brex corporate card for the rewards and credit lines. Read on for the full picture.

How we evaluated

We focused on the things that matter most to agencies. That means fee structure, ease of moving money (ACH, wires, international transfers), multi-entity support, software integrations with the accounting and invoicing tools agencies already use, and the quality of day-to-day banking experience.

Pricing transparency was a major factor. Several banks bury wire fees or charge for features that competitors include free. We dug into fee schedules, confirmed pricing against published rate cards, and noted where costs scale with usage.

We weighted the agency use case specifically. A bank that works beautifully for an e-commerce brand may be a poor fit for a 30-person agency juggling retainer billing, contractor payroll, and quarterly tax reserves. We considered how each account handles sub-accounts, user permissions, approval workflows, and the kind of lumpy cash flow that comes with project-based work.

Integration depth mattered more than integration count. Connecting to QuickBooks is table stakes. We looked at whether each bank offers meaningful two-way syncs, automated categorisation, and the kind of API access that lets you build custom workflows with tools like Zapier or Make.

We also considered trajectory. Banking is a long-term relationship, and the direction a company is heading matters as much as where it stands today. That means factoring in funding rounds, acquisitions, and product roadmap signals.

Mercury

What it is

Mercury is a fintech banking platform built for startups and scaling businesses, offering checking, savings, and treasury products through partner banks. It has become the default choice for tens of thousands of technology companies and, increasingly, for agencies that want a modern banking experience without the overhead of a traditional bank. Mercury does not hold a banking charter itself; deposits are held at Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust.

Key features

The dashboard is best-in-class for financial operations. Mercury gives you a single view across all your accounts, with real-time transaction data, automated categorisation, and the ability to create rules that tag and sort transactions as they arrive. For agencies managing multiple client accounts or business units, this visibility is worth more than most paid features at other banks.

Sub-accounts (called "accounts" in Mercury) are unlimited and free. You can spin up a dedicated account for each client retainer, each tax reserve, or each entity you operate. Money moves between them instantly, and each one gets its own account number for receiving payments.

Mercury Treasury lets you earn yield on idle cash. For agencies that maintain operating reserves above $250K, Treasury sweeps funds into money market instruments while keeping them accessible. The rates fluctuate with the broader market, but they have consistently been competitive.

International wires and multi-currency support are built in. Mercury supports outgoing wires in dozens of currencies, and the fee structure is straightforward. For agencies with overseas contractors or clients, this removes a pain point that plagues most domestic business accounts.

Team access and permissions are well-designed. You can set up multiple users with different roles, require dual approval for transactions above a threshold, and maintain an audit trail that makes your accountant's life easier at year-end.

Mercury's API is robust. If you are the sort of agency that automates everything (and you should be), the API lets you pull transaction data, initiate transfers, and build custom reporting dashboards. It integrates natively with QuickBooks, Xero, Gusto, and a growing list of accounting and payroll tools.

Pricing

Mercury offers three tiers:

Free ($0 per month) covers everything most agencies need: checking, savings, unlimited sub-accounts, free domestic and international wires, free ACH transfers, a debit card, and up to $5M in FDIC insurance through their sweep network. There are no minimum balance requirements, no transaction fees, and no monthly maintenance charges. This is not a teaser rate or a limited trial. The free tier is fully functional.

Plus ($29.90 per month) adds enhanced Treasury access, higher wire limits, priority support, and additional card controls. This tier makes sense for agencies that move significant sums regularly and want faster response times from the support team.

Pro ($299 per month) is built for larger operations. It includes dedicated account management, advanced reporting, custom integrations, and the highest transaction limits. Agencies billing north of $1M per month or managing complex multi-entity structures will find this tier earns its keep.

Who it suits best

Mercury is the strongest all-round choice for most agencies. It suits digital agencies, creative studios, consultancies, and any service business that operates primarily online. If you do not need to deposit cash at a branch and you value a clean, modern interface with strong integrations, Mercury should be your first account. It is particularly well-suited to agencies that are growing and want a bank that scales with them without introducing new fees at each stage.

Brex

What it is

Brex started as a corporate card company for startups and has evolved into a comprehensive financial platform offering business accounts, expense management, travel booking, and bill pay. In January 2026, Capital One announced a $5.15 billion acquisition of Brex. The deal is expected to close by mid-2026, with Brex co-founder and CEO Pedro Franceschi continuing to lead the business. For now, Brex operates independently, and its products remain unchanged. The acquisition, if anything, adds the backing of a major bank to Brex's already strong platform.

Key features

The corporate card programme is where Brex shines brightest for agencies. Brex cards offer higher limits than most alternatives because underwriting is based on your business's cash position and revenue rather than personal credit. For agencies that spend heavily on media buying, SaaS subscriptions, or client-billable expenses, this matters enormously. You can issue unlimited virtual and physical cards, set per-card spending limits, and lock cards to specific merchant categories.

Expense management is built into the platform. Receipts are captured automatically, transactions are categorised using rules you define, and reimbursements can be processed without a separate tool. For agencies that previously juggled Expensify or Ramp alongside their bank, Brex consolidates the workflow.

Brex business accounts offer FDIC coverage up to $6M through their programme bank partners. The accounts support ACH, domestic wires, and international transfers. Bill pay lets you schedule and send payments to vendors directly from the platform, with approval workflows for larger amounts.

Travel booking and management are integrated. If your agency sends people to client sites, conferences, or shoots, Brex's travel product handles booking, policy enforcement, and receipt capture in one flow. This is a meaningfully differentiated feature that most banking competitors cannot match.

Rewards are competitive. Brex offers points on every purchase, with elevated earn rates on categories like software, travel, and dining. Points can be redeemed for statement credits, travel, or transferred to airline and hotel partners. For an agency spending $50K or more per month across the team, the rewards add up to meaningful savings.

Pricing

Brex offers three tiers:

Essentials ($0) gives you the corporate card, basic expense management, and a business account. This tier works for smaller agencies that want the card benefits without committing to a paid plan.

Premium ($12 per user per month) unlocks the full expense management suite, travel booking, custom approval workflows, advanced accounting integrations, and priority support. For agencies with five or more people, this is the tier that delivers the most value per pound spent.

Enterprise (custom pricing) adds dedicated support, custom integrations, advanced compliance features, and negotiated terms. Larger agencies or those with complex multi-entity structures should have a conversation with the Brex sales team.

Who it suits best

Brex is the ideal complement to a primary business account like Mercury. It excels as a spending and expense management platform for agencies that have meaningful monthly expenditure across cards. Media buying agencies, agencies with travel-heavy teams, and shops with distributed workforces that need controlled card issuance will get the most from Brex. Consider using Mercury for your operating accounts and Brex for your cards and expense management, a pairing that has become something of a standard stack among well-run agencies.

Relay

What it is

Relay is a fintech banking platform purpose-built for small businesses, with a particular emphasis on visual cash flow management and profit-first accounting. It partners with Thread Bank to hold deposits and has carved out a niche among service businesses that want to see exactly where every pound sits across multiple accounts. Relay is not trying to be Mercury or Brex; it is trying to be the best possible bank for a 5-to-50-person business that takes cash allocation seriously.

Key features

Relay's defining feature is its approach to multiple accounts. On the free tier, you can create up to 3 checking accounts and 2 savings accounts. Paid tiers unlock up to 40 checking accounts each with their own account and routing numbers. This is built for the profit-first methodology, where you allocate revenue into purpose-specific accounts (operating expenses, tax, profit, owner's pay) the moment it arrives. For agencies that struggle with cash discipline, this structure is transformative.

The visual dashboard shows balances across all accounts simultaneously. Unlike Mercury, where sub-accounts feel like folders, Relay treats each account as a first-class citizen with its own balance, transaction history, and purpose label. You can see at a glance whether your tax reserve is funded, whether your profit account is on track, and whether your operating account has enough runway.

Automatic transfers between accounts can be scheduled. Set up rules that sweep a percentage of every deposit into your tax account, move a fixed sum to your profit account on the first of each month, or distribute retainer payments across client-specific accounts.

Team permissions are granular. You can give your bookkeeper read-only access to all accounts, give a project manager access to a single client account, and restrict who can initiate transfers above a certain threshold. For agencies with multiple stakeholders touching the finances, this granularity is valuable.

Integrations cover the basics well. Relay connects to QuickBooks Online, Xero, Gusto, and a growing roster of accounting tools. The syncs are reliable and bi-directional where it matters.

Pricing

Relay offers three tiers:

Starter ($0 per month) gives you 3 checking accounts, 2 savings accounts, 50 free ACH transfers per month, 2 checkbooks, and 1 user. Incoming wires are free, but outgoing domestic wires cost $5 each. This is a solid starting point for solo operators or very small agencies.

Grow ($30 per month) unlocks 10 checking and 10 savings accounts, unlimited ACH, 3 checkbooks, up to 3 users, and reduces wire fees. This tier is built for the agency that has adopted profit-first and needs more accounts to implement it properly.

Scale ($90 per month) pushes the limits to 40 checking and 40 savings accounts, unlimited ACH, unlimited checkbooks, up to 50 users, and the most generous wire and feature access. Larger agencies with multiple entities or complex allocation needs will land here.

Who it suits best

Relay is the best choice for agencies that follow (or want to follow) profit-first accounting or any allocation-based cash management approach. If you read "Profit First" by Mike Michalowicz and wanted a bank that was built for the system, Relay is that bank. It is also a strong option for agencies that want extreme visibility into where their cash sits at any given moment. It is less suited to agencies that need advanced Treasury products, international banking, or the kind of API depth that Mercury offers.

Chase Business Complete

What it is

Chase Business Complete Banking is the small business checking account from JPMorgan Chase, the largest bank in the United States. It is the traditional banking option on this list, offering something the fintechs cannot: a vast network of physical branches and ATMs, the weight of one of the world's most established financial institutions, and a relationship that can grow into business lending, merchant services, and wealth management as your agency scales. For agencies that value in-person banking, Chase is the obvious choice.

Key features

The branch network is unmatched. With over 4,700 branches and 16,000 ATMs across the US, Chase gives you physical access that no fintech can replicate. If your agency handles any cash, needs to deposit checks in person, or simply values the option of walking into a bank, this matters.

Chase Connect gives you an online banking dashboard that, while not as polished as Mercury's, covers the essentials: account management, transaction search, payment initiation, and basic reporting. The mobile app is well-rated and handles most day-to-day tasks competently.

Business lending and credit products are available through the same relationship. As your agency grows, having an established banking relationship with Chase can smooth the path to business lines of credit, SBA loans, and commercial mortgages. The fintechs are building lending products, but none of them can match the breadth and depth of Chase's credit offerings.

Merchant services are integrated. If your agency processes payments from clients through card terminals or online checkout, Chase Payment Solutions can be bundled with your account.

Chase Ink business credit cards offer competitive rewards programmes, including elevated earn rates on common agency expenses like internet, phone, and office supplies. The Ink Business Preferred card, in particular, offers strong travel rewards that rival what Brex provides.

Pricing

Chase Business Complete Banking costs $15 per month, but the fee is waivable in several ways: maintaining a $2,000 minimum daily balance, making $2,000 or more in qualifying Chase Ink card purchases, or linking a Chase Private Client checking account. Most agencies will meet one of these thresholds without changing their behaviour.

Transaction fees apply beyond 20 free transactions per statement cycle, at $0.40 each. Electronic deposits, payments, and transfers count toward the free transactions. For agencies with high transaction volumes, this can add up. Chase offers upgraded accounts (Performance Business Checking) with higher transaction allowances for businesses that exceed these limits regularly.

Wire fees are standard for traditional banks. Domestic incoming wires are $15, domestic outgoing wires are $25, and international wires cost $40 to $50 depending on the destination. These are significantly higher than the fintech options on this list.

Cash deposit fees apply beyond a monthly allowance, but most agencies will not encounter this limit.

Who it suits best

Chase Business Complete is the right account for agencies that want a traditional banking relationship with branch access, that handle cash, or that anticipate needing business lending products in the near future. It is also a strong option for agencies whose principals have existing Chase personal banking relationships, as the integration between personal and business accounts can simplify overall financial management. If you are comfortable with a purely digital experience, Mercury or Relay will serve you better and cost you less.

Novo

What it is

Novo is a fintech business checking account aimed at freelancers, sole proprietors, and small businesses. It partners with Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A. to hold deposits and has built a following among solopreneurs who value simplicity and zero fees. Novo positions itself as the no-fuss business bank account: no monthly fees, no minimum balances, and a straightforward feature set that covers the basics without overcomplicating things.

Key features

The account is entirely free with no conditions attached. There is no minimum balance, no monthly fee, and no requirement to maintain a certain transaction volume. For a solo agency founder or freelancer just getting started, this removes a barrier that some other accounts impose through soft requirements.

Novo Reserves lets you create up to 20 sub-balances within your account. These function like digital envelopes for earmarking funds, whether for taxes, specific projects, or a rainy-day buffer. They do not earn interest, but they provide the mental accounting that helps small operators stay disciplined.

Invoicing is built in. Novo Invoices lets you create and send invoices directly from the platform. Clients can pay via ACH or mailed cheque at no cost to you, though card payments carry standard processing fees. For a one-person agency or small shop that does not want to pay for separate invoicing software, this is a welcome inclusion.

Integrations are extensive for the price point. Novo connects to QuickBooks, Xero, Stripe, Shopify, Square, PayPal, Gusto, Slack, Zapier, and over 40 other tools. The breadth is impressive for a free account and covers most of the stack a small agency would run.

ATM fee rebates of up to $7 per month help offset the lack of a proprietary ATM network.

Pricing

Novo publishes a single plan:

Free ($0 per month) with no paid tiers, no minimum balance requirements, and no monthly maintenance fees. Standard ACH transfers are free in both directions, and incoming domestic wires are free. Outgoing domestic wires are available (up to $45 per wire), and international outgoing wires are handled through a Wise integration with Wise's own fee schedule applying. Express ACH carries a 1.5% fee, and express check deposit costs up to 2%.

FDIC coverage is standard at $250,000 through Middlesex Federal Savings. This is notably lower than Mercury's $5M sweep coverage or Brex's $6M programme, which is a meaningful consideration for agencies holding significant operating reserves.

The account does not earn interest. Neither the primary balance nor Reserves sub-balances generate any yield. For agencies with substantial idle cash, this is a significant opportunity cost compared to Mercury's Treasury or even a basic savings account elsewhere.

Who it suits best

Novo is the best fit for solo agency founders, freelancers, and very small agencies (one to three people) who want a clean, free business checking account with solid integrations and do not need the advanced features of Mercury or Relay. It works well as a first business bank account when you are just starting out and want to keep things simple. As your agency grows beyond a handful of people, you will likely outgrow Novo's limited user permissions (all added users get full owner access) and want to graduate to Mercury or Relay.

How to choose

Start with your agency's size and complexity. A solo consultant or two-person studio has different needs from a 40-person agency with multiple entities. Match the bank to where you are today while considering where you will be in two years.

If you are a solo operator or just starting out, Novo or Relay's free tier will serve you well. Both offer zero-fee checking with useful features for small operations. Novo is simpler; Relay is better if you want multiple accounts for cash allocation from day one.

If you are running a growing agency with a team, Mercury is the strongest default choice. Its combination of free banking, unlimited sub-accounts, strong integrations, and generous FDIC coverage makes it the most complete package for agencies in the 5-to-100-person range. The free tier covers most needs, and the paid tiers add meaningful value as you scale.

If your agency spends heavily on cards, add Brex to your stack. Use Mercury for your operating accounts and Brex for cards, expense management, and travel. This two-account approach gives you the best of both worlds and has become the standard setup among well-funded agencies and startups.

If you follow profit-first accounting, Relay was built for you. Its multi-account architecture and visual dashboard make the profit-first system easy to implement and maintain without spreadsheet gymnastics.

If you need branch access or business lending, Chase is the way forward. No fintech can match the relationship depth and physical presence of a major bank. The monthly fee is easily waivable, and the broader Chase ecosystem (cards, lending, merchant services) adds value that compounds over time.

Consider your international needs carefully. If you pay contractors or receive payments from outside the US regularly, Mercury handles this most smoothly of the five options. Brex also supports international transfers. Relay is US-focused. Chase can handle international wires but at higher cost. Novo routes international transfers through Wise, which works but adds a layer of complexity.

Think about where your tools need to connect. All five banks integrate with QuickBooks and Xero. But if you need API access for custom automations, Mercury is the clear leader. If you need your bank to also manage expenses and travel, Brex is the only option that bundles those functions natively.

One more thing worth mentioning: if you are building operational workflows for your agency, tools like Fabric can sit alongside your banking stack to help manage the broader picture of projects, tasks, and team coordination. Good financial operations work best when they are part of a broader system for running the agency, not an isolated silo.

Related comparisons

If you are weighing specific options against each other, these detailed comparisons may help:

• Mercury vs Brex -- a deep dive into how the two most popular startup banking platforms compare across features, pricing, and use cases.

• Mercury vs Chase for startups -- the modern fintech versus the traditional giant, and when each one wins.

• Mercury vs Relay -- both are excellent, but they are built for different philosophies of cash management.

• Brex vs Ramp -- if you are considering Brex for expense management, you should also look at how it compares to Ramp.

• Mercury review -- our full review of Mercury's platform, features, and experience.

• Brex review -- our full review of Brex's corporate card, business account, and expense tools.

Frequently asked questions

Which business bank is best for agencies?

For most agencies, Mercury offers the best combination of features, pricing, and scalability. It charges no monthly fees, provides up to $5M in FDIC coverage, includes free domestic and international wires, and integrates with the accounting and payroll tools that agencies rely on. If your agency spends heavily on corporate cards, pairing Mercury with Brex creates a comprehensive financial stack.

Can I use Mercury and Brex together?

Yes, and many agencies do exactly this. Mercury serves as the primary operating account for receiving client payments, managing cash, and paying contractors. Brex handles corporate cards, expense management, and travel. The two platforms integrate well, and using both gives you stronger features than either one alone.

Is Brex still independent after the Capital One acquisition?

Capital One announced its acquisition of Brex for $5.15 billion in January 2026, with the deal expected to close by mid-2026. Brex continues to operate independently under its existing leadership, and its products remain unchanged. The acquisition adds the financial backing of a major bank, which may lead to enhanced products and services over time.

What is profit-first banking, and which bank supports it?

Profit-first banking is based on Mike Michalowicz's "Profit First" methodology, where you allocate revenue into separate accounts for different purposes (profit, owner's pay, taxes, operating expenses) as soon as it arrives. Relay is purpose-built for this approach, offering up to 40 separate checking accounts with their own account numbers. Mercury's sub-accounts can also support a simplified version of this system.

Do any of these banks charge monthly fees?

Mercury, Brex (Essentials tier), and Novo are completely free with no monthly fees. Relay's Starter tier is also free, though its Grow ($30/month) and Scale ($90/month) tiers charge monthly fees for additional accounts and features. Chase charges $15 per month, which is waivable by maintaining a $2,000 minimum balance or meeting other qualifying conditions.

Which bank has the best FDIC coverage?

Brex offers up to $6M in FDIC coverage through its programme bank partners, the highest on this list. Mercury provides up to $5M through its sweep network. Chase offers the standard $250,000 per depositor. Relay and Novo also offer the standard $250,000. For agencies holding significant operating reserves, the extended FDIC coverage from Mercury or Brex provides meaningful peace of mind.

Can I deposit cash with any of these banks?

Chase is the only bank on this list with full cash deposit capabilities through its branch and ATM network. Mercury, Brex, Relay, and Novo are all digital-first platforms that do not support direct cash deposits. If your agency handles cash (which is uncommon for most agencies), Chase is the clear choice.

Which bank is best for paying international contractors?

Mercury handles international payments most smoothly, with built-in multi-currency support and straightforward wire transfer fees. Novo routes international transfers through Wise, which works well but adds an extra step. Chase supports international wires but at higher fees ($40 to $50 per transfer). Relay is US-focused and not ideal for regular international payments.

Do these banks integrate with QuickBooks and Xero?

Yes, all five banks on this list integrate with both QuickBooks and Xero. Mercury, Relay, and Novo offer direct integrations that sync transactions automatically. Brex's accounting integrations are particularly deep, with automated categorisation and receipt matching. Chase's integration is functional but less sophisticated than the fintech options.

Is Fabric free?

Fabric offers a free plan that covers core features for individuals and small teams. Paid plans are available for teams and organisations that need additional features, higher usage limits, and priority support. You can sign up and start using Fabric at no cost to see whether it fits your agency's workflow before committing to a paid tier.

Should I switch from Chase to Mercury?

If your agency does not need branch access or cash deposits, switching from Chase to Mercury will likely save you money and give you a better day-to-day banking experience. Mercury's zero-fee structure, superior dashboard, and stronger integrations make it a clear upgrade for digitally native agencies. That said, if you have an existing lending relationship with Chase or anticipate needing business credit products, keeping a Chase account alongside Mercury may be worth the $15 monthly fee.

What happens if my fintech bank fails?

All of the fintech options on this list (Mercury, Brex, Relay, and Novo) hold deposits at FDIC-insured partner banks. Your money is protected up to the applicable FDIC limit regardless of what happens to the fintech company itself. Mercury and Brex offer extended coverage through sweep networks that distribute your balance across multiple partner banks, pushing the effective coverage to $5M and $6M respectively.