Relay is a US online business banking platform that lets you open up to 20 checking accounts and auto-transfer every deposit, so you always know what's set aside for tax, payroll and profit. It's a financial technology company, not a bank: banking services come from Thread Bank, Member FDIC. It suits owners who plan their money by splitting it into separate accounts. As of October 2026, its Starter plan has no monthly fee and savings APY rises from 1.19% on Starter to 3.21% on Scale.
If you've ever looked at one business account balance and wondered how much of it's really yours, Relay is built for you. This review comes from Relay's home and plans pages, read as of October 2026. I haven't run a business through Relay for this page, so everything here is what Relay says, plus the questions that decide whether it fits.
What makes Relay different
Most business accounts give you one pot. Relay lets you open up to 20 checking accounts and automatically transfer a share of every deposit into them, so tax, payroll, owner pay and operating expenses each sit in their own place. Its home page shows that exact setup. You can issue Visa debit or credit cards, set spending limits and roles, capture receipts and sync expenses to your accounting software. Relay says it serves more than 110,000 businesses.
Read the small print on the plans page too: Relay is a financial technology company and isn't an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services are provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC, and pass-through deposit insurance only applies when certain conditions are met.
Relay's three plans at a glance
| Starter | Grow | Scale | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee (as of October 2026) | None | 30 dollars, with a 14-day trial | Listed on the plans page, with a limited-time offer |
| Savings APY (as of October 2026) | 1.19% | 1.87% | 3.21% |
| Card cash back | 1% | 1.25% | Listed on the plans page |
| Bills and approvals | Bill intake, spend policies, multi-step approval rules | Adds batch payments and spend approval requests | Adds AI-powered automation and insights |
| Invoicing | Payment links, invoice tracking, automated follow-ups | Adds recurring invoices, card on file charging and surcharging | Everything in Grow |
| Accounting sync | QuickBooks and Xero | Plus customisable bookkeeping automation | Everything in Grow |
Relay says the interest rates are variable and change with the target range of the Federal Funds rate, so treat the APY as a snapshot, not a promise.
How the multiple accounts idea works in practice
Relay's home page shows the setup it's designed for: one checking account for income, then separate accounts for owner pay, operating expenses, payroll and a high-yield savings account for tax and profit. Every deposit can be split automatically by rules you set, so the money for your next tax bill is moved out of sight before you're tempted to spend it. If you've read about the profit-first approach to small business money, this is the bank account version of it.
Two practical details help here. Relay says there's no minimum balance on any plan, so a pot can sit empty until money arrives, and its plans page says Grow and Scale save on payment fees for wires and same-day ACH. Relay's own calculator on that page estimates your monthly charges, cash back and interest across the three plans from your real balances and transactions, which is the quickest way to see whether paying for Grow makes sense.
Questions to ask before you open an account
- How many pots do you need? Count tax, payroll, owner pay, operating expenses and profit before you decide.
- How much will you keep in savings? The APY difference between plans only matters on a meaningful balance.
- How many wires and same-day transfers do you send? That decides whether a paid plan earns its keep.
- Who else needs access? Cards with limits and roles help if a bookkeeper or team member spends on the business.
Who Relay suits
- Owners who run their money in separate pots for tax, payroll and profit.
- Small teams who need cards with limits and roles, and receipts captured as they spend.
- Businesses using QuickBooks or Xero who want transactions synced automatically.
- Owners who send a lot of invoices and want follow-ups handled for them.
- Not a fit if you're outside the US or need a local branch for cash.
If you're still choosing where to bank, my guide on how to open a business bank account online walks through the process, and this explainer on personal and business deposit accounts covers why mixing the two causes trouble.
My verdict on Relay
It's one of the clearest options for owners who want structure in their banking, because up to 20 accounts with automatic transfers does the budgeting for you. Start on Starter, which has no monthly fee, and move to Grow when you need recurring invoices, batch payments or bookkeeping automation. Remember it's a fintech working with Thread Bank, so read how the deposit insurance applies to your balances.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Relay a bank?
No. Relay says it's a financial technology company and not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services are provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.
How many accounts can I open with Relay?
Relay says you can open up to 20 checking accounts and auto-transfer every deposit across them.
Does Relay charge a monthly fee?
As of October 2026, Relay's Starter plan has no monthly fee. Grow and Scale are paid plans, and Grow has a 14-day trial.
What interest does Relay pay on savings?
As of October 2026, Relay lists savings APY of 1.19% on Starter, 1.87% on Grow and 3.21% on Scale. It says rates are variable.
Does Relay work with QuickBooks and Xero?
Yes. Relay lists QuickBooks and Xero accounting integrations on its Starter plan and above.
