Azlo, a small business bank with fee-free checking account options, is closing its doors in early 2021. The company announced on Jan. 7 that current Azlo customers will need to transition to a new bank, and it recently outlined a phased account closure schedule on its website.
Current customers' accounts will close by March 31, 2021, but certain features (such as invoicing) will drop off before then. Account holders should transfer their accounts sooner rather than later so they don't risk missing payments in the process.
Moving your money from one bank to another is arguably easier than ever thanks to the availability of digital banking solutions and mobile apps.
And there are a few fee-free alternatives — like Bluevine small business checking and Novo Business Checking— both which have features that former Azlo customers may like.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
A *$500 bonus by applying for a Bluevine Business Checking account using the referral code CNBC500 before 9/30/2026. Minimum qualifications must be fulfilled in order to be eligible for this bonus.
Standard $0; Bluevine Plus $30 (with options to waive); Premier $95 (with options to waive)
On Bluevine's site
Terms apply. Bluevine accounts are FDIC insured up to $3 million per depositor through Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC
Up to $250,000
6 or 12 months
625
Starting at 7.80%
On Bluevine's site
While both options are good for freelancers and small biz owners, Bluevine is a slightly more robust option. Bluevine Standard and Plus customers can earn a higher-than-average APY on their checking account balance up to $250,000, get their first two checkbooks free and access fee-free ATM transactions at up to 38,000+ MoneyPass® locations nationally.
Novo, on the other hand, refunds all ATM fees (up to $7 per month) and is great for digital entrepreneurs because of its notable tech perks. New account holders can get up to $3,000 in Google Cloud credits, $150 toward Google Ads and 40% off the first six months of QuickBooks Online to help streamline bookkeeping and invoicing. Novo also allots the first $20,000 in credit card transactions as fee-free when you link your account with Stripe.
Neither Bluevine nor Novo charge monthly maintenance fees or set minimum balance requirements.
Bluevine Business Checking
Special offer
A *$500 bonus by applying for a Bluevine Business Checking account using the referral code CNBC500 before 9/30/2026. Minimum qualifications must be fulfilled in order to be eligible for this bonus.
Monthly maintenance fee
Standard $0; Bluevine Plus $30 (with options to waive); Premier $95 (with options to waive)
Minimum opening deposit
$0
Minimum balance
$0
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Standard 1.3% APY on balances up to $250,000 if you meet a monthly activity goal*; Bluevine Plus 1.75% on balances up to $250,000; Premier 3.0% APY on balances up to $3 million
Free ATM network
No fees at over 38,000 ATM locations nationwide
ATM fee reimbursement
No
Small business perks
Two free checkbooks
Overdraft fee
$0
Mobile check deposit
Yes
Terms apply. Bluevine accounts are FDIC insured up to $3 million per depositor through Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC
Pros
- High APY available for eligible accounts
- No monthly fees or charges for ACH payments, overdrafts or incoming wire transfers
- Deposits are FDIC-insured up to $3 million
- Access to 37,000+ free ATMs in the MoneyPass network
Cons
- No physical branches
- Fee for cash deposits, which are handled through a third-party network
- No refunds for out-of-network ATM transactions
- Outgoing domestic wires cost $15.
*The requirements to earn the $500 bonus:
Customers must apply for a Bluevine Business Checking account by using the referral code above before 1/31/2026. After opening the account, customers must add funds within 30 days, then meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements every 30 days for the next 90 days from account funding:
- Deposit at least $5,000 from eligible merchant services to your Bluevine account
- Make at least $5,000 of outbound payroll payments from your Bluevine account using eligible payroll providers
- Spend at least $2,000 with your Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard® and/or Bluevine Business Cashback Mastercard®
*The requirements to earn interest are either:
- Debit Card Spend: Spend $500 per month with Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard® issued by Coastal Community Bank pursuant to a license from Mastercard inc, which can be used everywhere Mastercard® is accepted.
- Incoming Payments: Receive $2,500 per month in customer payments into Bluevine Business Checking account via ACH, wire transfer, mobile check deposit, or directly from merchant payment processing provider
Novo Business Checking
Special offers
Sign-up perks can include up to $3,000 in Google Cloud credits, $150 toward Google Ads, 40% off the first six months of QuickBooks Online and up to $20,000 in fee-free transactions when you link your credit card with Stripe.
Monthly maintenance fee
$0
Minimum opening deposit
$0
Minimum balance
$0
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Free ATM network
No out-of-network ATM fees and fees charged by other ATM operators are refunded, up to $7 per month
Small business perks
Account holders can sync with Slack, Stripe, Shopify, QuickBooks, TransferWise, Xero, Zapier, and other popular merchant tools. Amazon integration for sales and revenue tracking.
Overdraft fee
If there are insufficient funds to complete a transaction payment, your Novo account will not be charged an overdraft fee.
Mobile check deposit
Yes
Terms apply. Novo Platform Inc. {"Novo") is a fintech, not a bank. Banking services provided by Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A. Member FDIC.
Pros
- Money-saving partnerships with QuickBooks, Stripe and other platforms
- Easily syncs to Google Pay and Apple Pay
- No monthly fees or minimum balance requirements
- ATM reimbursements up to $7 per month
Cons
- Cannot accept cash deposits
- Account does not earn interest
- No physical branches
Our methodology
To determine which business checking accounts offer the most convenience, Select analyzed dozens of U.S. business checking accounts offered nationwide by online banks as well as those with physical branches. We narrowed down our rankings by considering no-fee checking accounts or accounts with easy ways to waive the monthly maintenance fees.
We compared each checking account on a range of features, including:
- Fees
- Minimum balance requirement
- Mobile banking ease
- Small business tools and support
- Large ATM network
- Account accessibility
- Customer reviews, when available
All of the accounts included on this list are either members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or FDIC-insured through partner institutions. This insurance protects and reimburses you up to your balance and the legal limit in the event your bank or credit union fails.
The rates and fee structures for checking accounts are subject to change without notice and they often fluctuate in accordance with the prime rate.
Your earnings depend on any associated fees and the balance you have in your checking account. To open an account, some banks and institutions may require a deposit of new money, meaning you can't transfer money you already had in an account at that bank.
Read more
Novo is a fintech company; not a bank. Deposit account services provided by Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A., Member FDIC. Physical debit cards issued by Middlesex Federal Savings or Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC; virtual cards issued by Patriot Bank, pursuant to licenses from Mastercard® International Incorporated. Mastercard can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
