Selecting Your Business Bank

by Megan Justice | May 20, 2024 | Accounting, BankReconciliations, Bookkeeping, SmallBusiness

Your business needs a bank account.

Opening a business bank account isn’t just something that’s nice to have or helpful – it’s necessary. The first step in this necessity is deciding what bank to use for this need.

It’s not always as easy or obvious as just opening another account at your current bank and using it for business (though sometimes it is that easy and obvious). There’s fees to consider and locations and ethics and business friendliness and then there’s the possibility to need to go somewhere to open an account and and and…it’s enough to make me want to take a nap.

But it doesn’t need to be hard or difficult or anxiety inducing.

In a not-too-distant past, the accounting cycle started first by recording the transaction in the accounting system: money was billed to a client, the money was deposited, spent, or planned to be spent, all of that was recorded to the accounting system.

After all of that, the bank account was reconciled.

Modern accounting for small businesses still covers all of that ground, but, it often relies on the activity running through the bank account first and then imported into your Accounting Software.

Let’s take a look at your options and what you might consider at them. Later, we’ll share with you our recommendation and why we recommend this solution.

First, Consider Your Needs from a Bank

Any bank should cover the basics for you:

Low or no fees
Checking Account designed for business
Savings Accounts
Monthly bank statements that close at the end of the month, not in the middle of the month
Some kind of support or outreach to make sure your needs are being met and for you to reach out to when you need more, other, or additional help and support.

You should also consider your businesses’s specific needs.

Do you need to deposit cash in-person?
Is your credit challenged? Will you have a hard time opening a new bank account?
Is there a bank near your business’s location that works well for your needs?
Do you work primarily (or even exclusively) remotely?
Will you need or want to pay bills from your business bank account via ACH and/or bill payment?
Will you need physical checks on hand?
Will you use a debit card? How many? Do you need that debit card to be restricted in any manner? Do you need multiple debit cards for different reasons? What about virtual cards?
Do you have any ethical opinions or obligations on selecting a bank?

Local and Regional Banks

Local and regional banks often offer better and more direct customer service. Their locations are more limited, so if depositing checks and or cash are important to you, this may not be your best bet. Local and regional banks tend to invest back into their communities, which helps your dollar go further. These banks may also be harder to work with when it comes to bank feeds and modern accounting (business needs). If you’re local to the Portland, Oregon area, this is something we can help with understanding. It’s not always a blocking factor, but is something you should be aware of.

FinTech

Technology drives the world, and banking is no different. Banks based first in technology are emerging every day. These banks usually exist for a purpose – either for a niche market, to deliver a specific service, or support some aspect of your banking needs.

Large Banks

Large banks such as Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo offer the consistency of availability. They also sometimes have international access. Selecting a larger bank also exposes you to higher potential fees, less customer service, and your investment in that banks’ priorities and values. Remember that song from Mary Poppins with all the bankers? Kind of like that.

Credit Unions

Credit unions differ from banks in that profits are returned back to members. They tend to be smaller, more locally focused, and have quality customer service. They also tend to be low or no fee.

Where’s the recommendation? I know it’s coming.

Drumroll? Would you like one? Start that drumroll in your head!

We use and recommend Relay for our and your business banking needs.

Relay was built for business with accounting specific needs in mind. They offer advantages to the accounting process not seen in other banks. It’s the only bank we will accept access to, which can make the accounting and support process smoother. Current and onboarding clients interested in banking with Relay should let us know so we can help get you started.

Why We Recommend Relay

Besides providing more information on each transaction that runs through the bank than any other service, Relay checks all the boxes:

Free Business Banking. That’s right. It’s freemium. The premium services are ones that, if you need them, the cost is minimal. And if you don’t, you’re not missing out.
Multiple checking accounts. Loads of them.
Savings accounts. Yes, business savings accounts so your money can earn money while you rest.
Automations. So many of these can be set up and with ease.
Control and administrative access is phenomanal.
Direct connections to many pieces of Accounting Software, which means your transactions are imported directly and not through a third party service.

If FinTech isn’t your thing, we’re happy to work with you on making this all important decision. If you’re a current client, send us some questions you have after reading this. Onboarding clients, if we’ve not met yet, Introduce yourself so we can get started in supporting your business ownership journey. And if you’ve done this, be sure to send your questions our way so we can support you.

Starting a business has a whole host of exciting and terrifying considerations to make. From what goods or services you’re offering to how you’ll tell others about your business to production, delivery, and moving money to yourself personally, there’s so much to think about. By taking care of the adulting tasks shown here, you’re taking huge strides in setting yourself up for success down the road.

And, of course, if you want someone at your side, we’re here for you. Introduce yourself so we can get started in supporting your business ownership journey.

This post has been developed as a generic explanation to help you select your Business Bank. This information is written to be informative and is not tax advice. You should consult with your tax advisor as to how this information applies to your situation. Your specific needs may vary and may cause specific attention to need to be given to your processes. You should speak with your tax professional regarding the applicability of these issues to you and your business (and, yes, that includes Crayon Advisory if you are a current or onboarding client).

Looking for support?

Let us get to know you better by introducing yourself.