#business-banking
Business Banking
Choose and manage business banking relationships
Debanking in 2026: What the End of 'Reputational Risk' Means for Your Business Bank Account
Federal regulators eliminated "reputational risk" from bank supervision in 2026 — a joint OCC-FDIC rule effective June 9, an SBA lender audit, FTC warnings to payment processors, and new state disclosure laws now limit when banks can close accounts. Here's who remains exposed and what to do if your business account is frozen or terminated.
Commingling Personal and Business Funds: How One Bad Habit Kills Deductions, Invites Audits, and Pierces Your LLC Shield
Mixing personal and business money in one account can void your LLC's liability shield, get legitimate deductions disallowed for lack of substantiation under IRC Section 162, and turn a routine audit into a full transaction pull. Here's what commingling looks like, why courts and the IRS punish it, and a five-step cleanup plan.
Why Fintechs Are Applying for Bank Charters: The 2026 De Novo Banking Boom Explained
Roughly two dozen fintechs, including Mercury and Upstart, applied for or received OCC national bank charters in 2026 — up from 14 applications in all of 2025 — to escape the sponsor-bank model exposed by the 2024 Synapse collapse and get direct FDIC insurance, lending authority, and payment-rail access.
Where to Park Idle Business Cash in 2026: High-Yield Savings, CDs, and Sweep Accounts
As of mid-2026, competitive business savings accounts pay roughly 3.5%–3.75% APY while the national average sits near 0.4% — a $150,000 idle balance in a 0.01% checking account forgoes about $5,000 a year. A timeline-based framework for placing tax reserves, operating buffers, and balances above the $250,000 FDIC limit into high-yield savings, CD ladders, ICS/CDARS sweep programs, and Treasury money market funds.
Congress Killed the $5 Overdraft Fee Cap. Here's What It Actually Costs Your Business Now
Congress repealed the CFPB's $5 overdraft fee cap via the Congressional Review Act in May 2025, before it ever took effect — large banks now charge $10 to $36 per overdraft and collected over $12 billion in overdraft and NSF revenue in a year. Here's what the repeal means for small business bank accounts, which states are stepping in, and five concrete ways to stop paying the fee.
Positive Pay: The Bank Service That Stops Check Fraud Before It Clears
Positive Pay is a business bank service that matches every check against your issued-check list and flags mismatches the same day, a control most eligible small business accounts still don't use even though checks remain the most-targeted form of payments fraud.
Why Regulation E Won't Save Your Business From Wire Fraud: UCC Article 4A Liability Explained
Business wire transfers are governed by UCC Article 4A, not Regulation E, meaning a company can be held liable for a fraudulent wire if its bank's security procedure was commercially reasonable, even though 86% of the FBI's $3.05 billion in 2025 BEC losses moved via wire or ACH.
How to Open a Business Bank Account: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to open a business bank account step by step, including required documents for each business type, how to compare bank fees and features, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for choosing between national, community, and online banks.
How to Send Money Abroad: A Complete International Payments Guide for Small Businesses
A complete guide to international payments for small businesses. Compare wire transfers, online services, and multi-currency accounts. Learn about fees, exchange rates, IRS regulations, and how to save money sending payments abroad.
Best Small Business Credit Cards: How to Choose the Right Card for Your Company
A comprehensive guide to choosing the best small business credit card. Compare cash back, travel rewards, low APR, and secured cards. Learn how to match your spending patterns to the right card and avoid common mistakes that cost businesses money.
Beancount-Friendly Business Banking Checklist (2025)
An objective checklist for evaluating online business bank accounts through a Beancount lens, with practical criteria for data exports, safety, payment speed, operational controls, and onboarding.