Best Business Bank
Find the Best Business Bank
Every business is different, but you certainly know that when you have a business you need a business bank account. Whether you have been in business for years or are just starting out, you may be wondering how you can find the best business bank.
Keep in mind that business banking and personal banking are two different things. Sure there are plenty of similarities, but the way you use the bank, and the way the bank works with you, are different. Because business banking is so critical to the life of your business, you have to pay attention to the details. While you are trying to keep costs at a minimum, banks may introduce a variety of fees that don’t come into play for personal accounts.
One of the primary considerations in today’s business environment is the ability to do your banking online. Not only is it convenient to check the status of your accounts anytime you please, but the ability to pay bills and move money between accounts is also a great benefit.
The Best Business Bank Wants You
It’s true, banks want your business. When you start shopping for a bank for your company you might come across some incentives or introductory offers to entice you toward one bank or another.
Banks know that people hate change. And, businesses are often slower to change than people. So, if a bank can entice you to bank with them, then odds are good your business will stay for a long time.
Having owned several businesses, each with their own accounts, I would say that in the course of doing business thinking about changing banks is pretty low priority. I would rather spend my time trying to bring in more revenue than shop for a new bank. So a bank really has to screw up to lose my business.
What Do You Want in the Best Business Bank?
When you hunt for a bank you must consider your own needs. Is it most convenient to have a bank near your office, or perhaps between home and office? Or do the bank’s online management features allow you to work with any bank, anywhere?
You have to consider how your business needs to access its money. Will you typically have a cash surplus? If so, then getting an interest bearing account might be beneficial for you. On the other hand, if cash accumulation remains low with lots of turnover you might not need interest, but rather having zero or low transaction fees will provide the greatest financial benefit for your business.
Related to this is the question of what happens in an overdraft situation? Will the bank cover the overage up to a point so that your check won’t bounce? That is a nice feature to save some embarrassment. But the bank probably has fees for this goodwill gesture. Or they may connect a business checking with a savings account and transfer funds when needed. Again, there may be fees for this service so ask good questions.
Another consideration is that of credit and debit cards. If these are convenience features you would like to tie directly to your banking account, look into the options provided by various banks.
Potential Banks to Serve You Best
Here are some banks with links to get you started on your research:
- Bank of America Small Business (up to $2.5MM), Corporate (>$2.5MM)
- Capital One Small Business (up to $10MM), Commercial (>$10MM)
- Chase Business (up to $10MM), Commercial (>$10MM)
- CitiBank Small Business (up to $5MM), Business (>$5MM), Commercial (>$20MM)
- ING Direct for Business (savings options only)
- US Bank Small Business (up to $10MM), Commercial (>$10MM)
In the end, the best business bank is the bank that best serves the needs of your unique business. Knowing that you are not likely to readily change banks, do your research up front to find one that will serve you now and into the future.