Pros and cons
- Pros:
- No fees. A major advantage is no-fee accounts. Relay has no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and no minimum balance requirements
- Multiple accounts. You can open up to 20 checking accounts. This is great for organizing your money
- Lots of cards. You can get up to 50 physical or virtual Visa debit cards for your team
- Free ATM withdrawals. You can take out cash for free at any Allpoint ATM around the world
- Software integration. It connects with QuickBooks Online and Xero, which is a nice touch
- Cons:
- No rewards. You won't earn any cash back or points with this card
- International fees. If you send a wire transfer internationally, it will cost you $10 on the standard plan
- Currency conversion fees. Expect to pay 1% or more when you convert currency
Welcome offer
There is no welcome offer for the Relay Business Banking Debit Card. It's a debit card, not a credit card, so you won't find a sign-up bonus. The main draw here is the fee-free banking and cash management tools.
Key benefits
The main benefits of the Relay card are its cash management features and lack of fees. Here are some of the perks most useful.
- Multiple Accounts. You can open up to 20 individual checking accounts. If you use the envelope system for your finances, this is a great way to keep things organized. You can have separate accounts for taxes, payroll, and other expenses.
- Employee Cards. You can issue up to 50 physical or virtual Visa debit cards to your team members. A benefit is that you can set spending limits and track their expenses. It's a good way to manage team budgets.
- Mobile App. The Relay mobile app lets you manage your accounts from your phone. You can deposit checks, transfer funds, and see your transaction history.
- Software Integrations. Relay connects with popular accounting software like QuickBooks Online and Xero. It also works with payment platforms like PayPal, Stripe, and Square, which makes it easy to get paid by customers.
- No ATM Fees. You can withdraw cash for free at any Allpoint ATM worldwide. Just be aware that while Relay won't charge you a fee, the ATM owner might.
- Security. Your deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through Thread Bank. The Visa debit cards also have Zero Liability Protection, so you won't be on the hook for unauthorized charges.
Earning and redeeming rewards
The Relay Business Banking Debit Card does not have a rewards program. You won't earn any cash back, points, or miles on your purchases. The main purpose of this card is to give you a simple and fee-free way to manage your business spending, not to earn rewards. Since there are no rewards, there's nothing to redeem.
Transfer partners
This is a debit card, not a credit card, so there are no transfer partners. You can't transfer points to any airline or hotel loyalty programs.
How it compares to other cards
It's always a good idea to see what else is out there. Here are a few other business banking platforms worth considering.
- Bluevine Business Checking. Bluevine has a high-yield business checking account with no monthly fees. It also has a line of credit, which could be helpful if you need extra funding. Like Relay, Bluevine has no minimum balance requirements and gives you a debit card for your business spending.
- Wise Business. If you do a lot of business internationally, Wise Business is a good option. It has low-cost international transfers and lets you hold and manage money in different currencies. You also get a business debit card.
- Novo Business Checking. Novo is another online business banking platform with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. It connects with a lot of business tools and gives you a virtual debit card. Novo also refunds all ATM fees, which is a nice perk.
Who should get this card?
The Relay Business Banking Debit Card is a solid choice for small businesses, freelancers, and startups that want a simple, fee-free way to manage their money. It's particularly good for businesses that need to separate their funds for different purposes, since you can create up to 20 individual checking accounts. If you have a team and need to issue multiple debit cards with spending controls, Relay is also a good option.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a card that offers rewards like cash back or travel points, this isn't the card for you. Businesses that do a lot of international transactions might also want to look at other options, since Relay charges a fee for outgoing international wire transfers on its standard plan and has currency conversion fees.
The bottom line
The Relay Business Banking Debit Card is a great choice for small businesses that care more about simple, fee-free banking and cash management than rewards. The ability to create multiple accounts and issue numerous employee cards makes it a powerful tool for organizing your finances and controlling your spending.
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