The 9 Best Bonuses for Business Checking Accounts

Business owners know that every dollar counts. Now that you have some cash flow, your deposits and expenses mustn’t get mixed up with your expenditures. A separate business checking account will help organize and streamline your financials.

If you’re in the market for a new business checking account, it helps to find one with a cash bonus offer attached. You’ll need to meet a few requirements, but extra cash–especially at the beginning of the year–is wonderful.

Looking for a business credit card signup bonus? Check out our list here.

Before applying to the bank with the most familiar name, consider these business checking accounts, which offer a small financial reward just for signing up.

Overview of the Best Bonuses for Business Checking Accounts

Bank	Potential Bonus	Expiration Date
Citigold Checking	Up to $1500	01/07/2025
Chase Business Complete Checking®	$500	04/17/2025
PNC Business Checking	Up to $1,000	06/30/2024
Axos Business Checking	Up to $400	09/30/2024
Bank of America Business Checking Account	$200	12/31/2025
American Express Business Checking	30,000 Membership Rewards Points	Ongoing
Huntington Bank	Up to $1,000	09/03/2024
U.S. Bank	Up to $900	01/15/2025
BMO Harris Bank	Up to $750	09/09/2024

Best Bonuses for Business Checking Accounts

1. Citigold Checking – Up to $1500 Bonus

Citigold is designed for customers who plan to sustain a combined average monthly balance of at least $200,000. The minimum combined average monthly balance range must be met within three months.

This account can earn the biggest bonus, but you need to deposit a minimum of $300,000 to get that bonus. Here are the bonus tier levels:

$500 with a $30,000 minimum deposit
$1,500 with a $200,000 minimum deposit
$1500 with a $300,000 minimum deposit

Your account balance on the 20th day will determine your eligible bonus. You must maintain this minimum balance for 60 days, and the cash bonus will be deposited within 30 calendar days after completing all required activities.

Citigold is designed for clients who maintain a minimum combined average monthly balance of at least $200,000 in eligible linked deposit, retirement, and investment accounts. These clients get complimentary financial planning, travel perks, and up to $200 in cash back a year on subscriptions.

The Citigold bonus expires: 01/07/2025

2. Chase Business Complete Checking Account – $500 Bonus

When you open a Chase Business Complete Checking account, you can earn up to a $500 bonus. You’ll give Chase your email, and Chase will email you an offer code. You can either use it online or take it to a branch.

To earn this bonus, you must:

Fund a minimum deposit of $2,000 in new money within 30 days of offer enrollment and maintain that balance for at least 60 days.
Complete five qualifying transitions within 90 days of offer enrollment.

Remember that this account comes with a $15 monthly service fee, but it can be waived if you maintain an average daily balance of $2,000 or spend at least $2,000 in monthly purchases with a Chase Ink business credit card.

The Chase bonus expires: 04/17/2025

3. PNC Bank – Up to a $1,000 Bonus

PNC offers four different business checking accounts to choose from, and all offer a bonus.

Basic Business Checking

Get a $200 bonus when you:

Open a new business checking account by 06/30/2024 and maintain an average daily balance of at least $5,000 for each of the first three statement cycles AND
Make at least 20 qualifying PNC Bank Business debit card transactions within the first three statement cycles.

Basic Business Checking has a $12 monthly fee, but it can be waived if you have an average monthly collected balance of $500 or use a linked PNC credit card to make $500 in monthly purchases.

You get 150 free monthly transactions, no charge for up to $5,000 cash deposited, free online bill pay, and mobile banking.

Business Plus Checking

This account also offers a $200 bonus when you complete the same activities as above, but the account gets you more services, like:

Up to 500 transactions a month
No charge for up to $10,000 cash deposited
Free online banking and bill pay

This account has a $22 monthly fee, but it can be waived if you meet one of the following requirements:

Have a $5,000 average monthly collected balance OR
Use a PNC-linked credit card to make $5,000 in purchases OR
Maintain a Merchant Services account and generate a minimum of $5,000 in qualifying monthly processing deposits OR
Maintain a $20,000 average combined collected balance in a linked PNC business checking and business money market accounts.

Treasury Enterprise Plan

Earn a $500 cash bonus when you open a new account and maintain a minimum average ledger balance of $30,000 for the first three statement cycles, or earn a $1,000 cash bonus when you open a new account by 06/30/2024 and maintain a minimum average ledger balance of $100,000 for the first three statement cycles.

As you might imagine, this account is for businesses with higher cash deposit needs. It offers:

Up to 2,500 transactions per month
No charge for up to $50,000 cash deposited per month over the counter, at the night depository, or via QuickDeposit
Up to four additional business checking accounts with no monthly maintenance fee, a $10 monthly fee for each account after that
Two investment options for excess cash: Premium Business Money Market Account or MMDA Sweep Account with no Monthly Account Maintenance Fee
Online banking and bill pay

This account has a $50 monthly fee unless you maintain a $30,000 average combined monthly collected balance in the master and all additional beneficiary business checking accounts.

Analysis Business Checking

Earn a $500 cash bonus when you open a new account by 06/30/2024 and maintain an average daily balance of at least $30,000 for the first three statement cycles, or earn a $1,000 cash bonus when you open a new account by 06/30/2024 and maintain an average daily balance of at least $100,000 for three statement cycles.

This account allows you to pay only for the services you use each month and comes with a $25 monthly fee.

The PNC Bank bonus expires: 06/30/2024

4. Axos Business Checking – Up to $400 Bonus

Axos Business Checking allows you to earn a $400 bonus, but it’s distributed over four months.

Open a basic business checking account or a business interest account by 09/30/2024 and get a $400 bonus with the promo code “NEW400.”

$75 will be earned for each statement cycle, up to $300, when you meet these requirements:

Average daily balance of between $25,000 and $49,999.99
You have completed 10 monthly point-of-sale transactions using your Small Business Checking Visa debit card for signature-based purchases, with a minimum transaction amount of $3.
You must have bill pay set up and connected to your Basic Business Checking Account or Business Interest Checking account. The bill pay minimum is $10.

When you meet the above requirements, $100 will be earned for each statement cycle, up to $400, but your average daily balance must be over $50,000.

Both accounts feature no monthly maintenance fees, unlimited transactions, and unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements.

The Axos Bank bonus expires: 09/30/2024

5. Bank of America – $200 Bonus

Bank of America Business Checking pays a $200 cash bonus offer when you:

Open a new eligible business checking account by 12/31/2025
You make deposits of $5,000 or more in New Money within 30 days of account opening, AND
Maintain an average balance of $5,000 during the maintenance period.

There are two accounts to choose from.

Business Advantage Fundamentals Banking

Access to Business Advantage Checking 360 online and other mobile tools
Access to small business specialists
Business debit cards with $0 liability
There is a $16 monthly fee, but it can be waived if you maintain a $5,000 combined average balance, spend $250 in net purchases on your business debit card, or become a member of preferred rewards for business.

Business Advantage Relationship Banking

The fundamentals account has everything the basic account has plus additional features, but there is a $29.95 monthly fee unless you maintain an average daily balance of $15,000.

The Bank of America bonus expires: 12/31/2025

6. American Express Business Checking – 30,000 Membership Reward Points

You can earn 30,000 membership reward points with American Express Business Checking after you:

Deposit a total of $5,000 in eligible deposits within 30 days of opening your first account AND
Maintain an average daily balance of $5,000 over the next 60 days AND
Make 5 or more qualifying transactions within 60 days of opening your account

This account features no monthly maintenance fees, 24/7 support, unlimited transactions, and you earn 1.30% APY on balances of up to $500,000. All business checking accounts come with an American Express Business Debit Card.

Membership reward points can be deposited into your business checking account or transferred to Amex travel partners like Marriott, Hilton, and Delta.

7. Huntington Bank – Up to $1,000

Huntington Bank offers three business checking accounts from which to choose.

Business Checking 100

Earn a $100 bonus when you deposit $2,000 within 60 days of account opening and keep the account open for at least 90 days.

Business Checking 100 gets you:

100 monthly transactions
Deposit up to $5,000 in cash or currency monthly
No monthly maintenance fees

Business Unlimited Checking

Earn a $400 bonus when you open a new account, deposit $5,000, and keep the account open for at least 90 days.

Business Unlimited Checking offers:

Unlimited transactions
Deposit up to $10,000 in cash or currency monthly
One bonus service
Waived monthly maintenance fees with $10,000 total deposit relationship balances or with a qualifying personal checking account

Unlimited Plus Business Checking

Get a $1,000 bonus when you deposit at least $20,000 in new money within 30 days of account opening.

Unlimited Plus Business Checking offers:

Unlimited transactions
Deposit up to $25,000 in cash or currency monthly
Choice of two bonus services
Waived monthly maintenance fees with $50,000 in total deposit relationship balances or with a qualifying personal checking account

The Huntington Bank bonus expires: 09/03/2024

8. U.S. Bank – Up to $900 Bonus

Earn up to an $900 bonus when you open a U.S. Bank Business Checking account using the Promo code Q4DIY24. Complete these qualifying activities:

Open a U.S. Bank Business Checking account (Silver, Gold, or Platinum)
Deposit at least $5,000 or $30,000 in new money within 30 days of account opening, and maintain at least that balance for 60 days after opening the account.

Earn $350 when you deposit $5,000 or earn $900 when you deposit $25,000.

Silver Business Checking

Best for new or small businesses with basic banking account needs.

$0 monthly maintenance fee
125 free transactions a month
$0.50 for each additional transaction

Gold Business Checking

Best for businesses with more banking activity

$20 monthly maintenance fee, waivable
300 transactions a month
$0.45 for each additional transaction

The fee can be waived with U.S. Bank Payment Solutions Merchant Banking OR $10,000 average collected balance OR $20,000 combined average collected business deposit balances OR $50,000 combined average collected business deposits and outstanding credit balances.

Platinum Business Checking

Best for mature businesses with higher balances

$30 or $0 monthly maintenance fee, waivable
550 transactions a month
$0.40 for each additional transaction

The monthly fee can be waived if you have a $25,000 average collected balance OR $75,000 combined average collected business deposits and outstanding business credit balances.

The U.S. Bank bonus offer expires: 01/15/2025

9. BMO Harris Bank – Earn Up to $750

BMO Harris offers four different business checking accounts, and your bonus amount depends on your average daily balance for the first 120 days after opening the account.

If you maintain an average daily balance of $4,000, you can earn $300. With an average daily balance of $10,000, you can earn $500; with an average daily balance of $30,000 or more, you can earn $750.

You must also make 10 transactions on your account within the first 90 days.

BMO Simple Business Checking

With Simple Business Checking, you can make up to 100 monthly transactions; each additional transaction is 40 cents. You can also deposit up to $2,000 a month in cash. Each additional $100 will be charged 25 cents.

There is a monthly service fee of $10, but you only need to keep an average daily balance of $100 to avoid that fee. Note that to get the welcome bonus, you’ll need to keep an average daily balance of $4,000 for the $300 bonus, $10,000 to receive the $500 bonus, and $30,000 for the $750 bonus.

BMO Premium Business Checking

With Premium Business Checking, you can make up to 200 transactions per month, with each additional transaction costing 40 cents. You can also deposit up to $5,000 in cash per month, and each additional $100 will be charged 25 cents.

There is a monthly service fee of $15, but you only need to keep an average daily balance of $1,500 to avoid that fee. Note that to get the welcome bonus, you’ll need to keep an average daily balance of $4,000 for the $300 bonus, $10,000 to receive the $500 bonus, and $30,000 for the $750 bonus.

BMO Elite Business Checking

With Elite Business Checking, you can make up to 500 transactions per month, with each additional transaction costing 40 cents. You can also deposit up to $20,000 in cash per month, and each additional $100 will be charged 25 cents.

There is a monthly service fee of $25, which is waived if you meet one of the following requirements:

An average daily balance of $10,000 in your checking account
$25,000 average daily balance in combined business balances

Note that to get the welcome bonus, you’ll need to keep an average daily balance of $4,000 for the $300 bonus, $10,000 to receive the $500 bonus, and $30,000 for the $750 bonus.

BMO Digital Business Checking

With Digital Business Checking, you get unlimited transactions per month. You can deposit up to $1,000 in cash per month, and each additional $100 will be charged 25 cents.

There is a monthly service fee of $10, but you only need to keep an average daily balance of $500 to avoid that fee. Note that to get the welcome bonus, you’ll need to keep an average daily balance of $4,000 for the $300 bonus, $10,000 to receive the $500 bonus, and $30,000 for the $750 bonus.

Non-BMO or Allpoint ATM transactions will cost $3.

The BMO bonus expires: 09/09/2024

Why Open a Business Checking Account?

As a business owner, you’ll want to separate your business and personal money. This means opening a business checking account and depositing all revenue from the business into it. You would also pay all business expenses out of the account.

This is beneficial for a couple of reasons. First, it will let you know whether your business is making money. If you keep running out of money in your checking account, your income isn’t keeping up with your expenses. This can be surprisingly hard to keep track of if you don’t have a separate checking account for your business.

Second, it will make tax time much easier. You’ll have a separate list of income and expenses you can refer to instead of digging through your checking account for all your business expenses. Link this account to bookkeeping software and pull reports at tax time.

Third, you’ll want to avoid “co-mingling” your accounts if you have an LLC or corporation. The point of an LLC is to limit your liability. If the company gets sued, it will only have the assets in the business to go after. If you’ve been co-mingling your funds, then your funds will also be at risk since there is no clear line between where the business assets end and your funds begin.

What to Look for in a Business Checking Account

Businesses come in all shapes and sizes. Your unique business and how you run it will ultimately determine essential features to look for in a business checking account. However, these business checking account features should be on every business owner’s radar:

Transaction Limits

Unlike personal checking accounts, many business accounts have a limit on how many free transactions you can have in a month and will charge you for each transaction you make after that.

If you pay per transaction, the costs can add up quickly, so ensure you get an account that can accommodate your specific business needs. When your business grows, consider upgrading your account.

Monthly Service Fees

Most business accounts come with a monthly service fee, but there are also usually a few requirements you can meet to waive it. For example, an average daily balance requirement or a specific number of transactions on your linked credit card. Ideally, you’ll be able to meet those requirements easily, but if you can’t, make sure the additional perks are worth it. Plenty of checking accounts don’t charge fees or have easy-to-meet fee waivers.

Monthly Cash Deposit Limits

Monthly deposit limits usually refer to cash deposits. If your business takes payments in cash, you’ll want to pay attention to these. Cash deposit limits can cost you.

Business checking accounts typically have a set amount of cash you can deposit monthly. If you exceed the limit, you’ll be charged a fee for every $100 deposit above that limit. Choose an account that will allow for all your cash deposits and limit these fees as much as possible.

What Do I Need to Open a Business Checking Account?

Requirements vary by bank, but opening a business checking account is generally pretty easy. Check out the bank’s website or call customer service for the exact documentation you’ll need, but there are some common requirements that banks may ask for.

Business documentation: You will need to provide legal documentation that verifies the existence of your business. This may include a business license, articles of incorporation, partnership agreement, or other legal documentation, depending on the type of business. You’ll also indicate whether the business is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or corporation.
Personal identification: You must provide personal identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued ID.
Business identification number: You’ll likely need to provide your business identification number, such as an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Tax Identification Number (TIN). You’ll need the form from the government you received when getting your EIN.
Tradename certificate: If you are opening the account using the business name, you must prove you own that name. If you aren’t incorporated, a Tradename certificate will do the trick. You can use your name if you’re a sole proprietor or don’t have a business name.
Minimum deposit: Many banks require a minimum opening deposit to open a business checking account.
Authorized signers: You will need to provide the names and signatures of authorized signers on the account, typically individuals with the authority to conduct financial transactions on behalf of the business.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I set up a business account as a freelancer or contractor?

Yes, absolutely. It’s a great idea to keep your personal and business expenses separate. Call your bank and ask what documentation it needs. If you need an EIN but don’t have one, they are free and easy to get on the IRS website.

Can I receive a bank account bonus more than once?

No. Not from the same bank, anyway. Most banks prohibit you from earning more than one new account bonus per account type per year. You could earn a bonus on a checking account, savings account, personal checking account, or business checking account, but you can’t earn the same bonus on the same type of account more than once.

Also, be careful about churning bank accounts. Some banks consider it a red flag if you’ve opened too many new accounts.

What happens if I close my account before receiving the bonus?

If you close your account before receiving the bonus, you’ll likely forfeit the bonus. Many business checking accounts have certain requirements, such as maintaining an average daily balance of $5,000 for 90 days. If you close the account before, you’ve violated the promotion terms. Wait until you receive the bonus before you close the account.

Are bank bonuses worth it?

If you’re willing to jump through whatever hoops the promotion requires you to do, then bank bonuses can certainly be worth it. Opening a new account online doesn’t take long, so you’re not investing much time. However, you should probably only open accounts you intend to use anyway. Make sure the account meets your needs before you sign up. Remember, bank bonuses are considered taxable income.

Final Thought on the Best Bonuses for Business Checking Accounts

If you open a new business checking account, study the terms carefully. You don’t want to get excited about your bonus only to discover you missed a step and don’t qualify.

Take some time to choose a new checking account based on your needs and the bonus amount. Note minimum balance requirements, transaction limits, cash deposit limits, etc. You don’t want to be hit with fees that could have been avoided with more careful planning.