If you’re looking for a business checking account with a big-name bank, Capital One and Chase are likely on your radar. But the best business checking account depends on the unique needs of your business.
Do you make a lot of cash deposits? Need frequent branch access? Want an easy payment solution? Here’s how to decide between the entry-level accounts at Capital One and Chase for your business banking.
Capital One vs. Chase business checking
This guide breaks down the fees, perks and limits to help you decide which of these banks best suits your business. We’re focusing on each bank’s entry-level account for this comparison, but both offer options to upgrade as your business grows.
Account details
Capital One Business Basic Checking® | Chase Business Complete Banking® | |
|---|---|---|
NerdWallet star rating | ||
Monthly fee | $15, waived with a minimum balance of $2,000+ over 30- or 90-day average, whichever is greater. | $15 (multiple ways to waive) |
Welcome offer | $500. Terms apply. | $500. Terms apply. |
Free transactions | Unlimited electronic and in-person transactions. | Unlimited electronic transactions. 20 in-person transactions and/or paper checks per month. |
Free cash deposits | With a teller: Up to $5,000 per month with no fee, after that $1 fee per $1,000 deposited. At ATMs: No fee or monthly limit. | Up to $5,000 of in-branch cash deposits per statement cycle. |
Branch locations | ~ 260 branches across eight states plus Washington, D.C. | 5,000+ |
ATM network | 70,000+ ATMs, including Capital One, MoneyPass® and Allpoint® ATMs. | ~14,000 |
Customer support | Business support hours: Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET No weekend support or live chat support. | Chase doesn't publish business support hours. No live chat support. |
Capital One wins on transaction limits
Capital One Business Basic Checking® offers unlimited fee-free digital transactions (including mobile deposits, ACH transfers and bill pay), so small-business owners don’t need to keep count. You can also write paper checks and visit a teller whenever necessary.
By comparison, Chase Business Complete Banking® offers unlimited electronic transactions, including mobile deposits, ACH payments and debit card transactions, but customers are limited to just 20 paper checks and in-person transactions per month.
Chase wins on branch access
Chase operates more than 5,000 branches across 48 states, plus Washington, D.C. Capital One’s physical footprint is a fraction of that, with around 260 branches across eight states and Washington, D.C. Capital One also operates around 60 cafes in 18 states plus D.C. — but those are staffed by “ambassadors,” not bankers, and have limited services.
States where Capital One has branches
Capital One has full-service branches in the following states:
Connecticut.
Delaware.
Louisiana.
Maryland.
New Jersey.
New York.
Texas.
Virginia.
Washington, D.C.
Capital One wins on cash deposits, but it's close
This one is almost a draw — both accounts cap fee-free cash deposits with a teller at $5,000. What makes the difference? Capital One Business Basic Checking® charges $1 per $1,000 beyond the limit, compared with $3 per $1,000 with a Chase Business Complete Banking® account.
That said, neither bank charges for ATM deposits. Chase customers can deposit excess cash at Chase ATMs for no fee; Capital One customers can use Capital One or select Allpoint ATMs.
Incidental fees
Capital One Business Basic Checking® | Chase Business Complete Banking® | |
|---|---|---|
Out-of-network ATM fees | $2 | $3 |
ACH transfers | No additional charge for standard ACH. | No additional charge for standard ACH. |
Incoming wires | $15 domestic and international | $15 domestic and international ($0 if from Chase) |
Outgoing wires | $25 domestic; $40-$50 international | $25-$35 domestic; $40-$50 international |
Overdraft fees | $35 per item. No daily limit on overdraft charges. | $34 if overdrawn $50+; max 6/day |
Capital One and Chase both charge for things like overdrafts and out-of-network ATM use. Their fees are comparable and characteristically high for brick-and-mortar banks. Look for an online-only business account to find low-cost wire transfers and save on other incidental fees.
Software tools
Capital One Business Basic Checking® | Chase Business Complete Banking® | |
|---|---|---|
Built-in invoicing | — | ✓ |
Accept tap-to-pay in mobile app | — | ✓ |
Zelle for Business | — | ✓ |
Sub-accounts | — | — |
Tax-planning tools | — | — |
Contractor management | — | — |
Chase wins on built-in business tools
Chase Business Complete Banking® goes beyond basic business banking tools like bill pay and mobile deposit. It includes Chase QuickAccept, which lets you accept tap-to-pay card payments via the Chase mobile app — no additional equipment necessary. Account holders also get built-in invoicing and can send and receive payments via Zelle for Business.
Capital One Business Basic Checking® has bill pay and syncs with QuickBooks, but no other included tools or integrations.
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Capital One vs. Chase business checking: The bottom line
Chase Business Complete Banking® wins for most businesses. Its branch network is unmatched and tools like invoicing and tap-to-pay card acceptance via the mobile app give it an edge over most brick-and-mortar business accounts.
Capital One Business Basic Checking® is more of an edge case. It has fewer digital tools and a limited branch network. But it's worth a closer look if your business runs on cash and teller visits rather than app integrations.
