Relay vs Chase Business Banking: Which Is Better?

Round by round

1. Round 1🗂️ Account StructureRelay wins
   Relay9/10

   20 accounts + 50 cards, auto-split

   • Auto-transfer rules split every deposit
   • Up to 50 debit/credit cards issued

   Chase4/10

   1 account

   No built-in multi-account or auto-split structure

   • Single account keeps banking simple
   • No native envelope budgeting

   Source: Chase product features

   This round goes to Relay, no contest.

2. Round 2💵 Handling CashChase wins
   Relay6/10

   90,000+ retailers

   Cash load network — rare among fintechs, but not a branch

   • One of the few fintechs that accepts cash at all
   • Slower and lower-limit than a branch

   Source: Relay cash-deposit disclosures

   Chase9/10

   $5,000/cycle

   Free in-branch cash deposits across the largest branch network in the US

   • Faster and higher-limit for heavy cash
   • Fee per $100 over the $5,000 free cash limit

   Source: Chase business fee schedule

   This one’s Chase’s. Faster handling and bigger limits win for cash-heavy businesses.

3. Round 3🧮 Monthly FeeRelay wins
   Relay9/10

   $0/mo

   Starter tier — 20 accounts, 50 cards, no minimum

   • Full multi-account structure free
   • Faster wires and top APY need a paid tier

   Source: Relay account terms

   Chase5/10

   $15/mo

   Waivable via $2,000 balance, card deposits, or card spend

   • Three different ways to waive the fee
   • Up to $180/year if you can't clear the bar

   Source: Chase business checking terms

   So this round goes to Relay. Zero beats homework.

4. Round 4📈 Interest On Set-Aside MoneyRelay wins
   Relay8/10

   0.91%-2.68%

   Tiered savings APY by plan (checking itself pays 0%)

   • Reserves earn while they wait
   • Top rate locked behind Scale tier

   Source: Relay rate disclosures

   Chase2/10

   0%

   No interest paid on Business Complete Banking balances

   • Separate savings & money-market accounts available
   • Idle balances earn nothing

   Source: Chase business checking terms

   This round goes to Relay.

5. Round 5🏦 Card Acceptance & In-Person BankingChase wins
   Relay4/10

   Online-only, no branches

   • No branches or in-person support
   • No built-in card acceptance

   Chase8/10

   In-app, same-day

   QuickAccept card acceptance plus a nationwide branch network

   • Card acceptance and branches in one account
   • Card swipe deposits help waive the monthly fee

   Source: Chase Payment Solutions data

   Round goes to Chase. Card acceptance and branches in one account beats no in-person support.

6. Round 6🛡️ FDIC ProtectionRelay wins
   Relay9/10

   ~$3M

   FDIC coverage via Thread Bank sweep network

   • 12x the standard FDIC limit
   • Coverage spread across a network of FDIC-insured banks

   Source: Relay/Thread Bank disclosures

   Chase5/10

   $250K

   Direct FDIC coverage as a single chartered bank

   • Direct charter, no partner-bank layer
   • No coverage above $250,000 without opening accounts elsewhere

   Source: Standard FDIC limit

   So this round goes to Relay.

Which one is for you?

Side by side

Top ratedRelay

Check price

Chase

Check price

Overall score

6.9

Best

6.5

Price

See price

See price

Signup Bonus

3.7

7.3

Cash Deposits

7.6

—

Head-to-head findings

Signup Bonus

~$50 base + referrals

Up to $500

Cash Deposits

90,000+ retailers / Allpoint ATMs

—

Record

Head-to-head record

7–1–1

6–3

Head-to-heads won

88 %

67 %

Rounds won

59 %

50 %

Pros

• Up to 20 checking accounts, 50 cards
• Official Profit First Professionals platform
• Included free on Starter plan
• Accepts cash — rare among fintechs

• Effortless cash handling at scale
• 20 free in-branch transactions per cycle
• Fee waived automatically once you clear any one of three bars
• Solid QuickBooks sync and strong app

Cons

• No teller window; retailer middleman
• Best rates locked behind paid tiers
• No branches — online-only
• Toronto-based; sponsor-bank migration in 2023

• Up to $180/year if you can't clear the bar
• No native ecommerce platform integrations
• Pays 0% APY on every balance tier
• No interest earned even on a large cushion parked between payroll or vendor runs

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