Bluevine Business Checking Review

Bluevine offers free business checking with a high interest rate. But what's the catch? Is it right for your business? Read on for the full review.

	Free Business Checking - Earn $300 Bonus Get Deal
	Overall Score	4.4
	Checking	4.5
	Fees	5.0
	Mobile App	4.5
	Customer Service	3.5

5-point scale (the higher, the better)

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Pros and Cons

• High interest rate
• $0 monthly fee
• 2 free checkbooks

• Fees to deposit cash
• No physical branches

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Bottom Line

Free account with interest for basic business checking needs

The Bluevine business checking account has no monthly service fees or minimum balance requirements.

And even better, it offers a higher interest rate than most high-yield savings accounts.

But there are also downsides to be aware of. Read on to see if Bluevine makes sense for your business.

What is Bluevine?

Founded in 2013, Bluevine is a fintech company that offers services to help small businesses grow and manage their money. It offers a free checking account with interest and line of credit for small businesses.

Though Bluevine is online-only, it offers traditional banking features too, like cash deposits and free checkbooks. This makes Bluevine a good option even for small physical businesses.

Bluevine is not a bank. It partners with Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC, and a trusted network of program banks to provide FDIC insurance up to $3 million.

Who Bluevine Business Checking is Best For

• If you want to earn interest on your business funds.
  
• If you need to deposit cash and/or write checks for your business.
  
• If you don't need in-person banking services.

Bluevine Business Checking Account Pros & Cons

Pros:

• No monthly service fees
  
• 4.25% APY on balances up to $3M for Premier customers; 3.0% APY on balances up to $250,000 for Plus customers; 1.5% APY on balances up to $250,000 for Standard tier customers that meet monthly eligibility requirements
  
• No fees at 38,000+ MoneyPass ATMs
  
• Unlimited free transactions
  
• Two free checkbooks per year
  
• No insufficient funds fee
  
• Accept cash deposits at Green Dot retail locations and Allpoint+ ATMs
  
• 5 free sub-accounts
  
• Add multiple users with different access levels
  
• Up to 4 free additional debit cards for authorized users
  
• Compatible with Quickbooks

Cons:

• Online only; no physical branches
  
• Fee for cash deposits
  
• Poorly reviewed app

How to Get Started With Bluevine

Opening a Bluevine business banking account is straightforward and takes just a few minutes.

To qualify, you must:

• Be a small business owner
  
• Be at least 18 years old
  
• Be a U.S. citizen or resident with a U.S. address

You'll be asked to provide some general business information, including:

• Name, email, business address, and phone number
  
• Number of employees in your business
  
• Approximate annual business revenue
  
• Years in business
  
• Industry

Bluevine claims that most customers can open an account in just one minute. As Bluevine reviews your application, it may take a few days to start transactions.

In some cases, Bluevine may request additional verification in the form of an EIN confirmation letter from the IRS.

Bluevine Business Checking Fees

Bluevine's goal is to make business banking affordable and accessible to all. It offers three plans:^[1]

Bluevine Standard

• No monthly service fees
  
• No minimum balance requirements
  
• No overdraft / non-sufficient fund fees
  
• No ATM fees at 38,000+ MoneyPass ATMs
  
• Free Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard
  
• No incoming wire fees

Bluevine Plus

• Everything in Standard plan
  
• $30 per month (can be waived with $20k average daily balance and $2k debit card spend)
  
• 20% off most Standard payment fees

Bluevine Premier

• Everything in Standard plan
  
• $95 per month (can be waived with $100k average daily balance and $5k debit card spend)
  
• 50% off most Standard payment fees

Some fees you may encounter are:

• $15 for outgoing wire transfers ($12 for Plus; $7.50 for Premier)
  
• $30 for express card replacement
  
• Up to $2.50 out-of-network ATM fee
  
• $4.95 for cash deposits at Green Dot
  
• $1 fee per deposit + 0.5% of deposit amount at Allpoint+ ATMs
  
• 2.9% Bill Pay with Credit Card
  
• $10 for same-day ACH ($8 for Plus; $5 for Premier)
  
• $25 + 1.5% International wires FX ($20 + 1.25% for Plus; $12.50 + 1% for Premier)

How to Earn Interest on Bluevine Checking Account

The biggest attraction of the Bluevine Business Checking Account is the high interest rate.

You can earn 4.25% APY on balances up to $3M for Premier customers; 3.0% APY on balances up to $250,000 for Plus customers; 1.5% APY on balances up to $250,000 for Standard tier customers that meet monthly eligibility requirements.

Standard tier customers can earn APY by doing one of the following:^[2]

• Spend $500 per month with your Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard, OR
  
• Receive $2,500 per month in customer payments. This can be via ACH, wire transfer, mobile check deposit, or directly from your merchant payment processing provider.

Cash deposits will not qualify towards the $2,500 requirement.

Plus and Premier plan customers are not required to meet any minimum qualifications to earn APY.

Bluevine Business Checking Features

Bluevine is loaded with tons of great features to help small business owners manage their money.

Unlimited transactions
You can make unlimited transactions and payments via ACH or domestic wire transfers.

No-fee ATM access
You can withdraw cash fee-free at over 38,000 MoneyPass ATMs across the U.S. MoneyPass ATMs are at convenient places like 7-Eleven, your local grocery stores, and banks. But if you go out-of-network, there may be a withdrawal fee from the owner.

Mobile check deposits
Deposit your checks for free from anywhere with just your smartphone. The limit is $20,000 per 30-day period.^[3]

Cash deposits
You can make cash deposits at over 90,000 Green Dot locations or over 1,500 Allpoint+ ATMs. They're usually at your local pharmacies and grocery stores. There is a service fee when depositing cash.

Free paper checks
Many business checking accounts don't give you free checks. But Bluevine gives you two free checkbooks each year. This is a nice perk if you write paper checks to employees and suppliers.

5 free subaccounts
You can create up to 5 free subaccounts. Each one has its own dedicated account number - giving you up to a total of 6 free checking accounts. This is useful if you want to bill or pay vendors from a specific bank account.

The best part is that money in the subaccounts is also eligible to earn interest, up to $250k in combined account balances for Standard tier, up to $250k for Plus tier, and up to $3M for Premier tier. You can manage cash flow with automatic transfers between your main and sub-accounts based on your customized rules.

Additional users
You can add additional users to your checking account. There are three different access levels: administrator (full access), authorized user (limited access), and accountant (read-only access).

Bill pay with credit cards
Bluevine gives you the option to add credit cards to your account and pay bills with that. This gives you some float time before your next credit card due date.

You can even pay a vendor who doesn't accept credit cards, and Bluevine can process it as ACH.

Multiple debit cards
You can issue up to 4 additional debit cards for authorized users of your business checking account at no extra cost. You can manage and monitor transactions for these cards directly on your Bluevine dashboard.

This offers businesses the flexibility and security for spending without the need to share card details via text or email.

Bluevine Plus Features

By upgrading to the Plus tier, you'll enjoy higher interest earnings on your balances and a 20% reduction in most Standard payment fees.

With Bluevine's Plus tier, you'll benefit from reduced fees compared to Bluevine Standard on most payment types, including check payments, same-day ACH, and domestic and international wires. It also offers perks such as 5 free checks printed and mailed per month.

Bluevine Premier Features

By upgrading to the Premier tier, you'll enjoy the highest potential interest, a 50% reduction in most payment fees, and access to priority support.

Bluevine Premier tier provides reduced fees compared to Plus for various payment methods, including check payments, same-day ACH, and domestic and international wires. This upgrade allows you to maximize your savings, especially if you have larger cash balances and need to handle lots of payments.

This tier comes with up to 20 free checks that can be printed and mailed per month.

Bluevine Business Checking Requirements

To apply for a Bluevine business checking account, you must fulfill the requirements below:

• Be a small business owner
  
• Be at least 18 years old
  
• Be a U.S. citizen or a resident with a verifiable U.S. address
  
• Must not be in the following industries: Adult Entertainment, Gambling, Weapons and Firearms, Illegal Substances, Virtual Currency

Reasons to Not Use Bluevine

Bluevine's business account does a lot of things right, but there are some downsides too.

Cash deposit fees
Bluevine makes it convenient to deposit cash by partnering with Green Dot and Allpoint. But it costs $4.95 for each deposit at Green Dot and $1 + 0.5% of deposit amount at Allpoint+ ATMs. And there is a limit, so it may take multiple deposits if you have a lot to deposit.

No physical branches
You need to be completely comfortable with online banking only. You can't walk into a branch to get help or create a personal relationship.

Bluevine Customer Service

You can reach Bluevine by phone or email through their online message form.

Bluevine's phone number and hours are:

• Banking and Lending: (888) 216-9619
  Mon - Fri, 8am - 8pm (ET)
  
• Paycheck Protection Program: (650) 338-4012
  Mon - Fri, 8am - 6pm (ET)

Is Bluevine Safe?

You can trust that your money is safe. Bluevine Business Checking account is provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC. Your deposits will be spread across multiple banks, including Coastal Community Bank and a trusted network of program banks.

In addition, Bluevine keeps your account safe with data encryption and multi-factor authentication. Bluevine, Inc. is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau.^[6]

Bluevine Business Line of Credit

Bluevine started out as a platform that offers fast and simple small business financing. It offers line of credit up to $250,000, with interest rates starting from 6.2%.^[7] There are no monthly service fees or account opening fees.

You can apply from your dashboard and receive funds as quickly as a few hours. This lets you access funding whenever you need it. As you pay off your balance, your credit line is replenished.

When you draw on your credit line, you have 6 or 12 months to repay it with fixed monthly or weekly payments. But there's no prepayment penalty.

To qualify, you need to be in business for 24+ months, a 625 FICO credit score, and $40,000 in monthly revenue.^[8]

Bluevine used to offer invoice factoring directly, but it now partners with FundThrough to offer this service. This lets you get an advance on outstanding invoices so you can keep the cash flow moving.

How Bluevine Compares

Here's how Bluevine Business Checking compares against other popular online business accounts:

Bluevine vs Novo
Novo caters to entrepreneurs and small business owners. It doesn't offer any interest.

What sets Novo apart is its integrations with popular business software, like QuickBooks, Slack, Xero, Shopify, and Stripe. Plus, it offers thousands of dollars of discounts on business services (for example, $5,000 in free processing with Stripe).

There are no monthly service fees or minimum balance requirements. The minimum deposit is $50 to access all features.

	Visit Site	Visit Site
	Bluevine	Novo
	SPECIAL OFFER Free Business Checking - Earn $300 Bonus - Learn More	SPECIAL OFFER Free Business Checking - Learn More
	Benefits and Features
Checking	4.25% APY for Premier customers, 3.0% APY for Plus customers, 1.5% APY for Bluevine Standard tier customers. No monthly fees, no balance requirements, and no overdraft fees for Bluevine Standard	No monthly fees; no balance requirements
Savings	No savings account, but you add 5 free sub accounts	No savings account, but you add up to 20 Reserves
APY	4.25% APY on balances up to $3M for Premier customers; 3.0% APY on balances up to $250,000 for Plus customers; 1.5% APY on balances up to $250,000 for Standard tier customers that meet monthly eligibility requirements	N/A
ATMs	approximately 40,000 MoneyPass ATMs	Up to $7 per month reimbursement of ATM fees worldwide
Customer Service	Phone and email: Monday - Friday. 8 am to 8 pm EST	Phone, email, or in-app messaging: Monday - Friday, 9 am - 6 pm EST
	Visit Site	Visit Site
	Free Business Checking - Earn $300 Bonus Free Business Checking - Up to 1.5% APY Premier Business Checking - Up to 4.25% APY	Free Business Checking Spend $1500 with your Novo card within 90 days, and get $75 Free Business Checking
Novo: Pricing information from published website as of 09/27/2024.

Bluevine vs Lili
The unique thing about Lili is that it includes integrated accounting.

There are no monthly fees for basic account but it only includes basic banking features and savings tools. While paid plans provide invoicing, tax planning, and bookkeeping tools.

With the paid plans, Lili will instantly categorize your transactions. It'll also automatically set aside the right amount in a tax savings account. This way, you'll be ready when it's time for taxes.

	Visit Site	Visit Site
	Bluevine	Lili
	SPECIAL OFFER Free Business Checking - Earn $300 Bonus - Learn More	SPECIAL OFFER Free Checking Account for Small Business Owners - Learn More
	Benefits and Features
Checking	4.25% APY for Premier customers, 3.0% APY for Plus customers, 1.5% APY for Bluevine Standard tier customers. No monthly fees, no balance requirements, and no overdraft fees for Bluevine Standard	No monthly fees; no balance requirements; no overdraft fees; no foreign transaction fees
Savings	No savings account, but you add 5 free sub accounts	Emergency Bucket for all users; Lili Pro users also get an Emergency Bucket with 3.65% APY
APY	4.25% APY on balances up to $3M for Premier customers; 3.0% APY on balances up to $250,000 for Plus customers; 1.5% APY on balances up to $250,000 for Standard tier customers that meet monthly eligibility requirements	N/A
ATMs	approximately 40,000 MoneyPass ATMs	approximately 40,000 MoneyPass ATMs
Customer Service	Phone and email: Monday - Friday. 8 am to 8 pm EST	Monday – Friday 9am – 7pm EST
	Visit Site	Visit Site
	Free Business Checking - Earn $300 Bonus Free Business Checking - Up to 1.5% APY Premier Business Checking - Up to 4.25% APY	Free Checking Account for Small Business Owners Lili Pro Business Checking

FAQ

Does Bluevine have a routing number?
Yes, Bluevine's routing number is 125109019.

How do you add cash to Bluevine?
You can add cash to your Bluevine business account using an Allpoint+ ATM or at Green Dot. With Green Dot, simply hand the cashier the money and ask them to load it onto your Bluevine Debit Mastercard. With Allpoint, follow the ATM instructions for depositing cash.

How long does it take for Bluevine to deposit money?
Cash deposits at Allpoint are available within minutes, while Green Dot deposits may take up to 10 minutes. ACH transfers from external bank accounts take 3-5 business days. Check deposits via the Bluevine mobile app can take up to 6 business days.

How many Bluevine business checking accounts can I have?
All account holders can add up to 5 free subaccounts, for a total of 6 Bluevine checking accounts.

Is Bluevine business checking FDIC insured?
Yes, Bluevine is partnered with Coastal Community Bank and a trusted network of program banks to provide FDIC insurance up to $3 million per depositor.

Bottom Line: Is Bluevine Right for You?

Bluevine offers one of the best small business checking accounts on the market. It has no monthly maintenance fees but comes packed with features. The paid Plus and Premier plans give you even more benefits.

One of the biggest benefits is the high interest rate. It's a great way to grow your money a little. Plus, you get perks like free incoming wires and paper checks.

However, the downsides could be pretty significant too. Think about whether you can deal with them. It's important to carefully compare banks to find the right fit for your business.

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