Relay Business Banking vs Bluevine Business Checking
Relay and Bluevine sit at the top of most fintech business banking shortlists, and they split the market cleanly. Relay is built for operators who organize money across many accounts and cards. Bluevine is built for owners who want the highest free yield on operating cash. Both sweep to $3 million in FDIC coverage, so the tiebreakers are elsewhere.
| Relay Business Banking | Bluevine Business Checking | |
|---|---|---|
| APY | Auto-savings pays 1.11% (Starter), 1.75% (Grow), or 3.00% (Scale) as of 5/1/2026 | 1.5% on balances up to $250,000 (Standard, with activity); up to 3.7% on Premier |
| Monthly Fee | $0 (Starter) | $0 (Standard) |
| Minimum to Open | None | None |
| ATM Access | Fee-free at Allpoint ATMs, including cash deposits at deposit-enabled machines | Free at 38,000+ MoneyPass ATMs; no Bluevine fee elsewhere but operator fees apply |
| Insurance | FDIC insured up to $3 million through Thread Bank's deposit sweep program | FDIC insured up to $3 million through Coastal Community Bank and sweep network |
| Our Rating | 8.5 | 9.0 |
Where Each Wins
Yield
BluevineBluevine pays 1.5% on checking up to $250,000 at the free tier. Relay's checking pays nothing, and its auto-savings pays 1.11% on the free Starter plan, with the 3.00% rate locked behind the $90 per month Scale plan.
Cash deposits
RelayRelay accepts cash deposits fee-free at Allpoint deposit-taking ATMs, one of the few fintechs that does. Bluevine charges $4.95 per deposit at Green Dot retailers.
Account structure
RelayRelay gives you up to 20 checking accounts and 50 debit cards on the free tier, unmatched for envelope and Profit First budgeting. Bluevine caps out at 5 sub-accounts.
FDIC coverage
TieBoth sweep deposits for up to $3 million in FDIC coverage, Relay through Thread Bank and Bluevine through Coastal Community Bank.
Payment fees
BluevineRelay's free Starter tier charges $5 for outgoing wires and $5 for same-day ACH, with free wires starting at the $30 Grow plan. Bluevine offers same-day ACH and wires across the board, with fee discounts and waivers on its upper tiers.
Built-in software
TieBoth bundle invoicing, bill pay, and accounting integrations. Relay adds spend approval workflows; Bluevine adds a full accounts payable suite.
The Verdict
Pick Bluevine if yield is the point. Earning 1.5% free on up to $250k beats anything Relay pays without a $90 monthly subscription. Pick Relay if operations are the point: agencies, multi-entity owners, Profit First devotees, and anyone who handles cash will get more from 20 accounts, 50 cards, and free cash deposits than from the rate difference. Pure savers go Bluevine, operators go Relay.
Updated 2026-06-11
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