Can I open a USAA business account? (Best USAA alternatives)

USAA is a financial institution that focuses on banking, investing and insurance. The Fortune 500 firm aims to help you, the customer, streamline and manage your everyday finances.

Customers of USAA can open checking accounts, manage mortgages, and get credit cards. Yet many people want to know if USAA offers a business account.

In this post, find out if there is a USAA business account, and what the best alternatives are.

If you’re looking for a business account that will help your business operate internationally, then check out Wise business. You can avoid the high fees, hefty admin, and headaches of a local bank.

Table of contents
Can I open a business account with USAA? Best alternatives to USAA business account Factors to consider when choosing a business account Grow and go global with Wise Business

Can I open a business account with USAA?

Unfortunately, it isn’t currently possible to open a USAA business checking account.

This wasn’t always the case, though.

Back in 2018, USAA ran a pilot program¹ with veteran-financed Streetshares Inc. The USAA business banking program gave perks to small businesses turning over at least $25,000 a year. This pilot program ended, though, and USAA hasn’t tried a similar initiative since.

One thing the USAA does offer today for its customers is business insurance². If you run a small business and you want to protect your finances, USAA can help. There are many insurance plans, so you can pick the policy that suits your business:

• Business owners policy
• General liability
• Workers’ compensation
• Professional liability
• Cyber liability
• Umbrella insurance
• Commercial auto

Business insurance is useful if you want to protect your money, but it isn’t the same as having a business account. With that in mind, let’s explore what some of the best alternatives are.

Best alternatives to USAA business account

Since USAA doesn’t offer a business account, you’ll have to shop around to find the best alternatives.

There are plenty of banks out there, both physical and online, with business accounts. To save you the effort of tracking them down, this post will cover some of the top options for business banking.

Wise Business

If your company needs a solution for international transfers, then Wise Business could be the best option. Banks will often charge monthly fees, and setting up can be a hassle. As a business owner, every dollar (and second!) counts.

Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. The Wise Business account is designed with international business in mind, and makes it easy to send, hold, and manage business funds in 40+ currencies. You can get major currency account details for a one-off fee to receive overseas payments like a local. You can also send money to 160+ countries.

With Wise Business, you can pay invoices with the exchange rate in 160+ countries, even from your phone or app. 50% of payments are instant or arrive in an hour. You can also save money on international payroll, employee reimbursements, or recurring payments. Not to mention saving hours of admin time.

You can set up an account for free in the US and enjoy the features of Wise Business. You can also choose to pay a one-off fee to access multiple international account details like an IBAN, sort code, routing number, and more.

Open a Wise Business account online

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information. Transaction speed claimed depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers' identity.

Bank alternatives

We live in a digital age in which everything is available at our fingertips. Yet, there’s still something special about brick-and-mortar stores.

Unless you think online bots are a good replacement for humans, go to a bank branch for a personal customer experience.

In-person, you can talk through your options in excruciating detail if you need to. This way, you can feel comfortable about your decision. You can ask all the questions you have and get the answers straight away. This can be reassuring, and it’s a great way to make sure you don’t get caught out with hidden fees.

With a physical bank, you may not be able to work with businesses outside of the country. This might be an issue if you plan on dealing with employees and customers on an international scale.

Bank	Top features	Best for
Bank of America Business Fundamentals Checking³	Digital Cash Flow Monitor Industry-leading security Options to waive fees	New small businesses
Chase Business Complete Banking⁴	No minimum fee to open an account Various options to waive fees	Military members looking to waive fees
Capital One Spark Business Basic Checking⁵	Unlimited transactions per month Free Overdraft Protection (with Capital One small business deposit account) Free business debit card	Managing business cash flow

Online banking services

You can open a business account online in a few clicks, which is ideal if you prioritize convenience. If you lead a busy life, using an online banking service can save you a lot of time.

You can also read this guide to find out how to open a business account online.

Of course, the downside to using an online banking service is that you miss out on the personal touch. If you have doubts or questions, your only options will be calls, text-based chat, and online help bots. This is far from the personal customer experience you get with physical banks.

Rather than driving to the bank and waiting in line, check out these online banking services to see if they're a good fit.

Online banking service	Top features	Best for
BlueVine Business Banking⁹	Unlimited Transactions Live support No monthly fees	A fast and easy banking account setup
Axos Business Interest Checking¹⁰	No monthly maintenance fee with average daily balance of at least $5000 Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements	Perks and accruing interest

Military business banking

USAA offers excellent deals for service members, but there’s no business account, unfortunately.

If you’re in the military, and you’re trying to find the best account for your business, there are alternatives. Here are some of the other military banking options to consider for your business.

Military business account	Top features	Best for
Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking⁶	Three tiers of business checking with varying fees and perks	Active military officer, veterans, and those who work in the Department of Defense
Security Service Federal Credit Union Business Checking⁷	No monthly service fee No minimum balance requirement Free online banking	Security and low fees
Armed Forces Bank Business Banking⁸	Four business checking accounts, each one intended for a different stage of growth	Scaling your business and finding the perfect account for the size of your company

Factors to consider when choosing a business account

All businesses are different, so look for an account that suits the needs of your business. While one business account might be widely-praised, it doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you.

You’ll need to think long and hard about which business account is right for your company. If you don’t, you can expect high fees and opening deposits, and wish you’d gone with one of the alternatives.

There are many factors to consider, such as limits on the account, ATM access, and the interest rate. Crunch the numbers and choose a business account that allows your company to thrive.

Opening deposit

The opening deposit refers to how much you need to deposit when you open the account. While some business accounts will be free to set up, many will require you to invest an initial sum of money.

Fees

There are a couple of fees associated with business accounts. There are monthly fees and extra fees. Keep an eye out for business accounts that let you waive the fees in various ways, especially if you’ve served in the military.

Limits

Limits can affect how much you can deposit and how many transactions you can make. Find an account that won’t restrict how you manage your business’ finances.

ATM access

There may be ATM fees with the business account. Plus, see if there are withdraw and deposit cash, and which ATMs you can use your business account with.

Interest rates

The best business accounts offer high interest rates. Though, there may be a minimum balance necessary and higher fees with these accounts.

Grow and go global with Wise Business

If you do business with customers around the world, you’ll need an account that gives you the best global fees and security.

The Wise business account is great for doing business on an international scale. You can pay invoices, manage your business finances, and pay and receive money without large fees.

With the Wise business account, you’ll always get the mid-market exchange rate. There are no hidden fees and the transfer fees are transparent.

But don’t just take our word for it. Opening a Wise business account is free, and easy to do, so you can try it out for yourself.

Open a business account today

Some key features of Wise Business include:

Major local account details to receive international payments with ease No monthly account fees just a simple one-off fee for account details Receive payments from e-commerce platforms (such as Amazon or via Stripe). Create invoices using the Wise invoice generator or invoice templates. Accounting integrations, including a QuickBooks Bill Pay connection. Bill payments will be synced, matched, and categorized in QuickBooks for simple reconciliation. Batch payment options. Fast payment of up to 1,000 people.

---

Sources:

1. USAA - Pilot program
2. USAA - Business insurance
3. Bank of America
4. Chase Bank
5. Capital One
6. Navy Federal
7. SSFCU
8. Armed Forces Bank
9. BlueVine
10. Axos

Sources checked 3 March 2021