U.S. Bank Business Essentials Review: Save on Banking and Get a Huge Bonus
Review
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The U.S. Bank Business Essentials account could be a great fit for people who don't want to pay any monthly fees. It offers a low deposit requirement and free transactions each month, but it does have a few drawbacks. Read our full review to discover if the U.S. Bank Business Essentials account could be the right business checking account for you.
On U.S. Bank's Secure Website.
Member FDIC.
U.S. Bank Business Essentials
On U.S. Bank's Secure Website.
On U.S. Bank's Secure Website.
The U.S. Bank Business Essentials account is a good fit for small business owners who aren't ready to pay for a business checking account. Its feature list may not be as robust as some of its competitors, but it comes with all the tools you need to manage your funds as well as free monthly transactions. Plus, for a limited time, you can get a great sign-up bonus that takes this account to the next level.
U.S. Bank Business Checking Special Offer Disclosure
Promo code Q2AFL25 MUST be used when opening a U.S. Bank Business Essentials, Silver, or Platinum Business Checking account. Limit of one bonus per business. A $100 minimum deposit is required to open one of the referenced accounts.
Bonus Options
• Earn your $500 Business Checking bonus by opening a new U.S. Bank Business Essentials or Silver Business Checking account between 4/3/2025 and 6/30/2025. You must make deposit(s) of at least $5,000 in new money within 30 days of account opening and thereafter maintain a daily balance of at least $5,000 until the 60th day after account opening. You must also complete 5 qualifying transactions within 60 days of account opening.
or
Qualifying transactions include debit card purchases, ACH credits, Wire Transfer credits and debits, Zelle credits and debits, U.S. Bank Mobile Check Deposit or Bill Pay. Other transactions such as (but not limited to) other Person to Person payments, transfers to credit card or transfers between U.S. Bank accounts are not eligible.
New money is considered money that is new to U.S. Bank. Funds must come from outside U.S. Bank and cannot be transferred from another U.S. Bank product or a U.S. Bank Affiliate. For accounts opened on non-business days, weekends or federal holidays, the open date is considered the next business day. Account fees (e.g., monthly maintenance, paper statement fee, etc.) could reduce the qualifying daily balance, therefore you must make deposit(s) to cover the fees to maintain the daily balance during the qualifying period to be awarded the bonus. Refer to the Business Pricing Information or Business Essentials® Pricing Information Document for a list of fees.
Bonus will be deposited into your new eligible U.S. Bank Business Checking account within 30 days following the last calendar day of the month you complete all of the offer requirements, as long as the account is open and has a positive available balance.
Offer may not be combined with any other business checking account bonus offers. Existing customers (businesses) with a business checking account or customers (businesses) who had an account in the last 12 months, do not qualify.
All regular account-opening procedures apply. For a comprehensive list of checking account pricing, terms and policies, reference your Business Pricing Information or Business Essentials® Pricing Information and YDAA disclosure. These documents can be obtained by contacting a U.S. Bank branch or calling 800.872.2657.
Bonus will be reported as interest earned on IRS Form 1099-INT and recipient is responsible for any applicable taxes. Current U.S. Bank employees are not eligible. U.S. Bank reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time without notice.
Member FDIC.
There is no such thing as a business checking account that is perfect for everyone, and the U.S. Bank Business Essentials account isn't an exception. So, here's a list of the pros and cons of the account to help decide if it's right for you.
Great sign-up bonus: Earn a $500 bonus when you open a U.S. Bank Business Essentials account or $900 when you open a Platinum Business Checking Account online with promo code Q2AFL25 and complete qualifying activities, subject to certain terms and limitations. Offer valid through June 30, 2025. Member FDIC.
No monthly fees: Unlike many small business bank accounts, the U.S. Bank Business Essentials account doesn't have any monthly fees. Many competitor banks have monthly maintenance fees that can be avoided when account holders meet certain requirements, but the U.S. Bank Business Essentials account has none whatsoever.
Unlimited digital transactions: The U.S. Bank Business Essentials account allows unlimited digital transactions per month, and as many as 25 of them (or $2,500) can be cash deposits into the account. In a nutshell, the U.S. Bank Business Essentials account is designed so that businesses without high transaction volume can have a free checking account.
Discount on checks: Account owners get 50% off of their first order of checks, up to a maximum discount of $50.
Low minimum deposit requirement: The U.S. Bank Business Essentials account has a low $100 minimum opening deposit requirement, which is extremely low compared to some other popular business checking accounts.
Doesn't pay interest: To be fair, most small business checking accounts don't pay interest. But there are some that do, and the U.S. Bank Business Essentials account isn't one of them.
In addition to discussing these pros and cons, it's also important to mention that U.S. Bank offers three different U.S. Bank business checking accounts. The U.S. Bank Gold Business Checking account has significantly higher free transaction limits, and has a $20 monthly fee that can be waived when certain criteria are met. The U.S. Bank Platinum Business Checking account offers even more free transactions and is designed for high-volume, high-balance business customers. It has a $30 monthly fee that can be waived with certain balance or deposit criteria.
There are several ways for customers to contact U.S. Bank's business banking support. In addition to in-person customer service at the more than 2,200 branches in 26 states, customers can also call the bank's Business Service Center at 800-872-2657 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT on weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturdays.
The U.S. Bank Business Essentials account is designed to have a low-fee, straightforward pricing structure. It has no monthly maintenance fees, unlimited digital transactions per statement cycle, and up to $2,500 of cash deposits or 25 cash transactions per statement cycle, whichever comes first.
| Fees | Monthly Maintenance | ATM Withdrawal | Overdraft | Stop Payment | Insufficient Funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank Business Essentials | $0 | $0 (in-network), $2.50 (out-of-network) | $36.00, but overdraft protection available | $35 | $36 (returned item fee) |
U.S. Bank is a large, branch-based financial institution, so the available options for accessing and depositing money are a strength.
There are several ways you can add money to your U.S. Bank Business Essentials account. In addition to depositing cash in a U.S. Bank branch or through an ATM, you can deposit checks to the account, transfer money from internal or external bank accounts, or wire money. U.S. Bank also offers a range of card payment solutions for businesses, which can direct money from customer transactions to your account.
You can withdraw cash in person or from an ATM with the U.S. Bank Business Essentials account. You can write checks, and you can move money between linked internal and external accounts.
You can apply for a U.S. Bank Business Essentials account entirely online, and there's some information you should gather first. You'll need your personal information, such as your Social Security number, your business' tax ID, and personal information of all individuals who own more than 25% of the business (if applicable).
When opening an account, you'll need to deposit at least $100. This can be done in person at a U.S. Bank branch, at one of the bank's ATMs, or by using mobile check deposit on the U.S. Bank mobile app. You can also wire money into the account or link an existing bank account you have to transfer money online. Branch and ATM access are also commonly mentioned as a benefit.
The U.S. Bank Business Essentials account could be a great fit if you're looking for a no-fee checking account for your small business. However, be sure that you can live with the monthly transaction limit, as the cost of excess transactions could add up quickly.
If this isn't the right checking account for you, check out our full list of the Best Business Checking Accounts.
At Motley Fool Money, we rate checking accounts on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). We evaluate all checking accounts across four main criteria: brand and reputation, annual percentage yield (APY), fees and minimum requirements, and perks that really make a difference -- think branch access, additional linked account integrations, and welcome offers.
Our scores are weighted as:
Our aim is to maintain a balanced list featuring top-scoring products from reputable brands offering standout features. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.
At Motley Fool Money, we rate checking accounts on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). We evaluate all checking accounts across four main criteria: brand and reputation, annual percentage yield (APY), fees and minimum requirements, and perks that really make a difference -- think branch access, additional linked account integrations, and welcome offers.
Our scores are weighted as:
Our aim is to maintain a balanced list featuring top-scoring products from reputable brands offering standout features. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.
The U.S. Bank Business Essentials account is designed for newer or smaller businesses that don't maintain high account balances. There are two other tiers of business checking accounts offered by U.S. Bank that could better meet the needs of larger businesses.
The U.S. Bank Gold Business Checking account is the mid-tier product offered by the bank, offering 300 free transactions per statement cycle and a $20 monthly fee after meeting certain requirements. The U.S. Bank Platinum Business Checking account offers 500 free transactions per month and is designed for businesses that maintain higher balances and need to use their accounts often.
One of the most obvious things to look for is no monthly maintenance fee, or at least an easy way to get it waived. You also want to make sure your account allows you to make enough transactions to support your business, as many business checking accounts have transaction limits.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.
