Zelle is owned by Early Warning Services, an LLC that helps banks verify checks and payments. Zelle is a service used to make low-fee, fast and easy payments to other US bank accounts. You might be able to use Zelle with your business bank account, but it has some limitations.
You can use Zelle with a business bank account if your account is Zelle-compatible. If your bank uses Zelle, it’s automatically included, and you can enroll in the service through your bank’s mobile app or online portal.
If the bank you use for your business account doesn’t offer Zelle, unfortunately, you can’t use it. Zelle states, “In order to use Zelle with your business account, your bank or credit union must currently offer Zelle for your business account type.”
Zelle is compatible with many US bank accounts. Here are nine top business accounts that support it.
| Account compatible with Zelle | Monthly fee | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| NBKC Business Checking | $0 | |
| U.S. Bank Business Essentials® | $0 | |
| Chase Business Complete Banking® | $15 (waivable) | |
| Truist Dynamic Business Checking | $20 (waivable) | |
| Wells Fargo Initiate Business Checking | $10 (waivable) | |
| CitiBusiness Streamlined Checking | $15 (waivable) | |
| TD Business Premier Checking | $30, first 3 months waived | |
| PNC Bank Business Checking | $12, first 3 months waived | |
| Huntington Business Checking 100 | $0 |
No, Zelle isn’t a bank or fintech that offers its own bank accounts. Zelle is a mobile payment service that partners with thousands of banks and credit unions. It offers peer-to-peer (P2P) payments to other bank accounts.
It’s similar to apps like Cash App or Venmo, except Zelle is automatically integrated within a bank’s mobile app if it’s a compatible institution.
If you’re going to use Zelle with your business bank account, keep these points in mind:
You can send money to other eligible personal or business accounts that support Zelle. Customers with bank accounts that support Zelle can also pay you through Zelle if your business account supports it and you’re enrolled in the service.(1)
Unfortunately, there are Zelle scams, and one of the most common is called the Pay Yourself Scam.
The Pay Yourself Scam usually starts with the scammer contacting you, claiming to be a Zelle or bank fraud representative. The scammer may tell you they’ve noticed some “suspicious” activity with your account and ask you to verify your information, including your unique Zelle security code.
If you give the scammer your unique Zelle security code, they could use it to enroll their bank account with Zelle. From there, the scammer will tell you to “send money to yourself” to verify your account, so you think you’re sending money to yourself, while in reality, you’re sending money directly to the scammer’s account.
Zelle will never ask you to send money to yourself or any other account to verify your identity or Zelle account. If you receive any messages or phone calls asking you to send money, don’t engage with the communication, contact your bank directly and report the scam to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Zelle only supports domestic transfers, and you can only transfer money to or from other US bank accounts that support Zelle. Check out these alternatives if those limitations are deal breakers for your business:
Zelle is a popular P2P payment app, but it may not be ideal for sending payments as a business. Fees may apply, it can’t send international payments, and it doesn’t work with all institutions or fintechs.
Compare more money transfer services here, or compare the best free business checking accounts.
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