NorthOne Review

NorthOne is a banking platform for small businesses. But is it right for you? Find out the unique features it offers and how it compares.

	Get 3 months of free business banking Get Deal
	Overall Score	4.3
	Checking	4.0
	Customer Service	5.0
	Mobile App	5.0
	Fees	3.0

5-point scale (the higher, the better)

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Pros and Cons

• Unlimited envelopes
• Invoice maker
• App integrations

• $10 monthly fee
• No APY
• Cash deposit fee

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Bottom Line

Good business banking features and tools if you're okay with paying a monthly fee

• What is NorthOne?
  
• Pros & Cons
  
• Overview
  
• Features
  
• Fees to Look Out for
  
• Is NorthOne Worth It?
  
• Reasons Not to Use NorthOne
  
• Customer Service
  
• NorthOne Safety
  
• NorthOne vs Bluevine vs Novo

It can be hard to find the right banking platform for your business.

NorthOne is a digital banking service created with small business owners and freelancers in mind. $10 a month gets you access to all its tools, including unlimited transactions, invoicing, and budgeting.

But with so many free business checking accounts available, is NorthOne Business Banking worth the monthly fee?

Read on to learn about NorthOne's features, fees, and how they compare to competitors Bluevine and Novo.

What is NorthOne?

NorthOne is a business bank account with integrated features for invoicing, budgeting, and bookkeeping.

In 2019, founders Eytan Bensoussan and Justin Adler created NorthOne after interviewing thousands of small business owners. Their goal was to offer a superior banking experience that helps solve real-world challenges that business owners face.

It's important to note that NorthOne is a fintech (financial technology) company and not a bank. They are partnered with Bancorp Bank to provide FDIC insurance.

Who NorthOne is Best For

NorthOne is best for small business owners, freelancers, and startups who:

• Don't mind paying $10/month for convenience and features.
  
• Use business tools like Quickbooks and Square.
  
• Need a lot of sub-accounts for budgeting.
  
• Don't need to write checks.
  
• Are single owners as you only get 1 debit card.
  
• Are okay with purely online and mobile banking.

NorthOne Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Unlimited fee-free transactions
  
• Create unlimited envelopes
  
• Send unlimited custom invoices
  
• No ATM fees at over 2 million ATMs worldwide
  
• Integrates with popular business apps
  
• Accepts cash deposits
  
• No foreign transaction fees from NorthOne
  
• High transaction limits

Cons:

• $10 monthly fee (cannot be waived)
  
• $4.95 cash deposit fee
  
• Only one business debit card per account
  
• No checkwriting
  
• No international wires
  
• The ATM owner may charge a fee
  
• Does not pay APY

NorthOne Overview

NorthOne offers a range of banking features designed to make managing business finances as smooth and easy as possible.

Users can access their finances on the go through NorthOne's mobile app or desktop site. You can make payments via ACH bank transfer and wire transfer, send invoices, access ATMs, deposit checks, and more.

To help you organize and budget, NorthOne gives you unlimited sub-accounts. You can fully customize your Envelopes and how much to save for each.

With NorthOne's app integrations, business owners can also connect directly to popular tools. Some of the apps include Shopify, PayPal, and Etsy. It also connects to accounting and bookkeeping apps, like QuickBooks and Gusto.

Keep reading to learn about each feature in more detail.

How to Get Started with NorthOne

NorthOne is available to sole proprietors, LLCs, S-corp, C-corp and Partnerships.

Applying for an account is straightforward and takes just a few minutes. You will need:

• Valid government issued photo ID
  
• Valid phone number
  
• SSN or EIN (for all except for sole proprietors)
  
• Home and business address
  
• Details about your business and owner(s)

Based on the structure of your business, you will most likely need to submit:

• DBA (if operating under a different name)
  
• Articles of organization (for LLCs)
  
• Articles of incorporation (for corporations)
  
• Partnership agreement (for partnerships)

Once your NorthOne account is open, you must make a $50 opening deposit in order to access all features.^[1]

NorthOne Banking Features

Now, you know a little about NorthOne. Let's take a look at their specific features in detail.

Unlimited transactions
You can make and receive unlimited transactions and payments via ACH or domestic wire transfers.

Unlimited Envelopes
One of NorthOne's biggest benefits is the unlimited Envelopes. This is their budgeting system to help you save and plan for the things you need.

Having unlimited sub-accounts gives you complete control of your budget. You can set aside money for anything, like taxes, upcoming purchases, business trips, office supplies, whatever!

You can set custom rules for each envelope. You can schedule fixed recurring transfers or a percentage of deposits. You decide the frequency, whether that's daily, weekly, or monthly.

Your funds in the sub-accounts are protected from being accidentally spent.

Unlimited Invoices
NorthOne has a built-in invoicing feature. You can create and send invoices right from the NorthOne Business Banking mobile app.

Or you can use their free highly-rated Invoice Maker app. This app lets you create professional invoices with different templates, track invoices, and send automatic follow-ups.

App Integrations
Running a modern business, especially with a small team, often means relying on software. One of NorthOne's strengths compared to similar platforms is the number of integrations they support.

It integrates with the most popular accounting, payments, and eCommerce apps. Including:

This lets you see all your tools in one place, so you don't have to run between different platforms.

Expense Tracking Tools
The dashboard lets you manage receipts and track your spending. It also immediately categorizes purchases made with your NorthOne debit card. This way, it ensures you're always organized and know what you're spending on.

Cash deposit
If you have cash, you can deposit it at over 90,000 Green Dot locations. They're at convenient places like your local pharmacies and grocery stores. However, note that Green Dot charges a $4.95 fee.^[2] The limit is $5,000 per month.

Mobile check deposits
Deposit your checks for free from anywhere with just your phone. The limit is $15,000 per check and $50,000 per 30-day period.^[3]

No-fee ATM access
You can withdraw cash with no NorthOne fees at over 2 million Cirrus and MoneyPass ATMs worldwide. However, the owner of the ATM may charge additional ATM fees.

NorthOne Debit Card
It's no good having money if you can't spend it. That's quick and easy thanks to the NorthOne business debit card, offered in partnership with Mastercard.

In the event your card is lost or stolen, you can lock and freeze it. You can do this with just a few clicks through your NorthOne app. NorthOne will send you a replacement in as little as 5 business days.

Fees to Look Out for

Fees are an important consideration when deciding on a bank account for your business.

NorthOne offers simple, transparent pricing. They charge a low monthly fee of $10 for their business deposit account. You get access to all the features.^[4]

It has:

• No minimum balance requirements
  
• No overdraft / insufficient funds fee
  
• No stop payment fees
  
• No foreign transaction fees

Besides the monthly fees, the only other fee you'll see is $15 for both incoming and outgoing domestic wire transfers. And $25 to expedite mailing a card.^[5]

And note that though NorthOne doesn't charge fees at over 2 million ATMs, the owner of the ATM may.

Is NorthOne Worth It?

Overall, NorthOne Business Banking offers a good balance of features. For $10 a month, you get unlimited transactions, invoicing, savings envelopes, and app integrations. Plus, you have the option to deposit cash if needed.

There are plenty of free business checking accounts, but they may lack certain features. For example, Bluevine doesn't have built-in invoicing. Novo doesn't let you deposit cash. And we've yet to see another account with unlimited envelopes.

Think about what features you use for your small business. If NorthOne happens to offer everything you need, then $10 a month is probably worth it for the convenience.

But NorthOne does have quite a few downsides too. Read on.

Reasons Not to Use NorthOne

Overall, NorthOne offers an excellent well-rounded business checking account. But there are some downsides that may not work for you.

$10 monthly fee
While this may not be much, there are tons of free business checking accounts. If there are features you don't really need, you can probably find a free account that works for you.

No checkwriting
NorthOne doesn't support physical checks. This includes paper checks ordered from a third party. Some digital banks will send a check on your behalf. NorthOne plans to offer this in the future, but not yet.

Only 1 debit card
As of now, each account can only get one physical debit card and one virtual card. This can be a drawback if your business has more than one owner.

Cash deposit fees
NorthOne makes it convenient to add cash to your account through Green Dot. But it costs $4.95 for each deposit. So it's not good for businesses that take a lot of cash.

No international wires
You cannot send or receive international wire transfers.

No APY or rewards
NorthOne doesn't offer any interest, cashback, or any other types of rewards to make up for the monthly maintenance fee.

NorthOne Customer Service

NorthOne aims to stand out with excellent customer support. You will always speak to a real, live human who can help with your small business banking questions.

They offer support via live chat, phone, and email. We can confirm that NorthOne responds very quickly on live chat, and you're not just talking to a bot. If you prefer phone call, you can even schedule a call-back so you don't need to wait on hold.

Is NorthOne Legit?

The NorthOne Business Banking account is provided in partnership with The Bancorp Bank. This bank is a member of FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). Your deposits are protected up to $250,000 in case the bank fails. You can trust that your money is safe.

NorthOne is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau. It currently has a B rating.

Is NorthOne Safe?

NorthOne takes security seriously. Here are some ways they keep your account secure:

• Multi-factor authentication and biometric login with Touch ID or Face ID
  
• Constant fraud monitoring for suspicious activities
  
• Immediate notification if any fraud is detected
  
• Sensitive personal information is never stored
  
• All communication is through secure channels
  
• Freeze your card from the app if it's lost or stolen

And remember that your funds are protected by the government up to $250,000 in the event of a bank failure. You can feel secure knowing that your personal information and money are both safe.

How Does It Compare?

NorthOne isn't the only fintech company offering small business checking accounts. Before you decide on which one is right for you, see how it stands up to similar companies.

Two of NorthOne's most widely used competitors are Bluevine and Novo. Let's see how they stack up.

	NorthOne	Bluevine	Novo
	SPECIAL OFFER Get 3 months of free business banking - Learn More	SPECIAL OFFER Business Checking - Up to 1.5% APY - Learn More	SPECIAL OFFER Free Business Checking - Learn More
	Benefits and Features
Savings	No savings account, but you can create unlimited envelopes for savings goals	No savings account, but you add 5 free sub accounts	No savings account, but you add up to 5 Reserves
Checking	$10 monthly fee (cannot be wavied); no balance requirements	Up to 1.5% APY. No monthly fees; no balance requirements; no overdraft fees	No monthly fees; no balance requirements
APY	N/A	1.5% APY on balances up to $100,000 for customers that meet monthly eligibility requirements	N/A
Customer Service	Phone, email, and live chat: Monday - Sunday, 8 am - 10 pm EST.	Phone and email: Monday - Friday. 8 am to 8 pm EST	Phone, email, or in-app messaging: Monday - Friday, 9 am - 6 pm EST
Minimum Deposit to Open	$50	$0	$50 to access all Novo's features
ACH Transfer Fee	$0	$0	$0
ATMs	38,000+ MoneyPass ATMs	37,000+ MoneyPass ATMs	Unlimited reimbursement of all ATM fees worldwide
Balance Requirement	None	None	None
Cash Deposit Fee	$4.95	$4.95	N/A
Incoming Wire Transfer Fee	$15 for domestic wires	$0	$0
Locations	Online only	Online only	Online only
Out of Network ATM Fee	Fee from ATM owner	$2.50	Unlimited ATM fee rebates
Outgoing Wire Transfer Fee	$15 for domestic wires	$15	N/A
Overdraft Fee	$0	$0	$27
Monthly Fee	$10	$0	$0
	Get 3 months of free business banking Get 1 month of free business banking Business Referral Program - $75 Bonus	Business Checking - Up to 1.5% APY Open a Free Business Checking Account	Free Business Checking

NorthOne vs Bluevine
Bluevine is a free online business checking account, while NorthOne costs $10 a month. That may not be a lot for most businesses, but it is something to keep in mind.

Another HUGE draw Bluevine has over NorthOne is the high interest rate. You earn 1.5% on balances up to $100,000 with monthly eligibility requirements; 0% APY on balances over $100,000.

However, NorthOne has lots of app integrations, while BlueVine only syncs with Quickbooks. It also lets you create unlimited envelopes for different savings goals. In comparison, Bluevine gives you just 5 subaccounts.

NorthOne vs Novo
Novo is another digital business banking platform with no monthly fee. Novo stands out for its app integrations. You can connect your business account with thousands of business apps.

It also offers a number of perks on business products. You can discounts on services like Gusto, Stripe, Google Cloud, Zendesk, and others. These can be very valuable if you use them.

One major difference is that Novo doesn't accept cash deposits, while NorthOne does. And Novo will send a check on your behalf if you request it through the app. NorthOne doesn't offer this service.

Bottom Line

Overall, NorthOne is a solid, secure small business banking platform that helps make money management easier and less stressful.

It offers a good balance of features used by the typical small business owner. The $10 monthly fee is quite reasonable too.

However, there are business bank accounts that don't charge a monthly fee, like Bluevine and Novo. So, you may consider one of them if you want to avoid paying for business checking. Compare their features to see which one has the ones you need.

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