Head to head
North One vs. Novo Business Banking
One account gives you insight, the other gets things done.
Novo is built for business owners who want to manage financial detail—roles, approvals, integrations, and accounting flows. North One is for business owners in the field—those sending payments between job sites, tracking budgets from the truck, and handling real-world tasks with real money.
If you’re a small business with a crew and cash flow to manage, North One delivers the tools to move fast, plus many of the same streamlined flows that Novo does.
But if your business depends on tight bookkeeping integration, Novo may be a better fit.
Which business bank is right for you?
North One and Novo both offer modern, adaptable banking solutions designed to cut the friction of traditional banks, but they’re built for different kinds of business owners.
Novo is optimized for structured financial management. It’s ideal for businesses who delegate tasks across a team, manage approval workflows, and keep their books tightly integrated with tools like QuickBooks and Xero. If your business has a dedicated bookkeeper who needs access to your account but shouldn’t be authorized to make transactions, or a marketing manager who can only spend up to a certain threshold, Relay can help you stay organized.
North One, on the other hand, is built for hands-on operators, particularly in construction and the trades. If you're managing crews, cutting checks to subcontractors, and collecting payments on the job site, North One gives you the tools to move money without hidden fees and stay in control. With mobile-first banking, same-day ACH transfers, and real-time budgeting through Envelopes, North One helps you separate job costs, pay vendors, and manage cash flow.
Both accounts offer powerful tech integrations and are unencumbered by the brick-and-mortar locations of traditional banks. But if your business depends on real-time decisions and real-world payments, North One is for you.
North One Standard vs. Novo
Both North One and Relay offer $0 business checking accounts—but North One delivers more earning power.
Feature
North One Standard
Novo
Monthly Fee
$0
$0
Cash back on card transactions
0% but up to 4% in select categories
0% up to 35% for certain purchases
ATM Access
145,000+ ATMs through Allpoint+
and Green Dot®
Free ATM access; $7 refund on third party fees per month
Cash Deposit Limits via Green Dot®
$1,500/day, $3,500/week, $5,000/month
N/A
ACH Limit
Max of $500,000 per deposit, per day.
Send up to $50,000.00 per day,
and $1,500,000.00 per calendar month.
Varies by account
Domestic Wire Limit
No maximum on deposits.
Send up to $200,000.00 per day and up to $6,000,000 per rolling 30-day period.
Not available to all customers
Feature
North One Standard
Monthly Fee
$0
Cash back on card transactions
0% but up to 4% in select categories
Same-day ACH
145,000+ ATMs through Allpoint+ and Green Dot®
ATM Access
$1/check (Standard), $0 (Plus)
Cash Deposit Limits via Green Dot®
$1,500/day, $3,500/week, $5,000/month
ACH Limit
Max of $500,000 per deposit, per day.
Send up to $50,000.00 per day,
and $1,500,000.00 per calendar month.
Domestic Wire Limit
No maximum on deposits.
Send up to $200,000.00 per day and up to $6,000,000 per rolling 30-day period.
Feature
Novo
Monthly Fee
$0
Cash back on card transactions
0% up to 35% for certain purchases
ATM Access
Free ATM access; $7 refund on third party fees per month
Cash Deposit Limits via Green Dot®
N/A
ACH Limit
Varies by account
Domestic Wire Limit
Not available to all customers
Pricing and fees overview
North One and Relay both offer $0 base plans, but their pricing structures reflect different priorities. North One uses a flat-fee model: $30/month for Plus unlocks faster payments, waived check fees, and simpler access to core tools—no tiers or surprises. Novo, by contrast, has only one plan with basic benefits.
Fee Type
North One
Novo
Monthly Fee
$0 (Standard) / $30 (Plus)
$0
Inbound Domestic Wires
$0
$0
Outbound Domestic Wires
$20 (Standard), $15 (Plus)
Up to $30.00
Same-day ACH
1.50% (Standard), $0 (Plus)
1.50% up to a $20 maximum
Physical checks
$1/check (Standard), $0 (Plus)
$0
Overdraft
No fee
No fee
Cash Deposits
Free through Allpoint.
Up to 2 Green Dot surcharge fee reimbursements/month.
N/A
Minimum Balance
$0
$0
Fee Type
North One
Monthly Fee
$0 (Standard) / $30 (Plus)
Inbound Domestic Wires
$0
Outbound Domestic Wires
$20 (Standard), $15 (Plus)
Same-day ACH
1.50% (Standard), $0 (Plus)
Physical checks
$1/check (Standard), $0 (Plus)
Overdraft
No fee
Cash Deposits
Free through Allpoint.
Up to 2 Green Dot surcharge fee reimbursements/month.
Minimum Balance
$0
Fee Type
Novo
Monthly Fee
$0
Inbound Domestic Wires
$0
Outbound Domestic Wires
Up to $30.00
Same-day ACH
1.50% up to a $20 maximum
Physical checks
$0
Overdraft
No fee
Cash Deposits
N/A
Minimum Balance
$0
The biggest advantage of North One, though, is how it eliminates hidden fees: no minimum balance requirements, no overdraft charges, and flat costs for key services like wires and same-day ACH. Novo charges higher fees for wire transfers, if they are even available for your account to begin with.
Tools and features for Small Business Owners
Both North One and Relay offer built-in budgeting tools for business owners who want to embrace the Profit-First method. North One offers Envelopes, which allows users to set aside money for taxes, payroll, or materials directly within their account. Relay, by contrast, enables users to create multiple checking accounts for budgeting purposes in conjunction with Profit First strategies. While both banks support budgeting, North One does so with a more guided, in-app experience, while Relay offers structural flexibility that pairs well with outside financial tools.
Mobile App Experience
North One’s app is designed for mobile-first business owners who work on the go. Users can send payments, deposit checks, and manage their budget directly from their phones, with an interface tailored for small operators.
Novo also offers a clean, intuitive mobile app, despite its core strengths. Business owners who rely heavily on mobile access may find North One’s app more streamlined for everyday tasks.
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Customer Support
North One support gets high marks in customer reviews, with users frequently naming specific agents who resolved issues fast or followed up without prompting. Live agents are available during business hours, and support is U.S.-based.
On the other hand, Novo customers can only get help through email support. a disadvantage which is reflected in many reviews
Integrations
Both Novo and North One offer strong integrations with accounting and invoicing software and financial tools, plus tools like PayPal, Shopify, and Square to help you move money in and out faster, especially from sales platforms and contractors for operations that want instant access to their revenue.
Cash access
Novo does not allow any cash deposits at all. North One accepts cash through the Green Dot® and Allpoint networks. For contractors, retailers, or service providers who deal with cash regularly, North One’s attention to this detail may be more practical.
Customer feedback and reviews
Review Site
North One
Novo
Trustpilot
(4.3/5)
(4.1/5)
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(5/5)
(4.6/5)
NerdWallet
(4.7/5)
(4.2/5)
Better Business Bureau
A-
A
Review Site
North One
Trustpilot
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(4.3/5)
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(5/5)
NerdWallet
(4.7/5)
Better Business Bureau
A-
Review Site
Relay
Trustpilot
(4.8/5)
(4.6/5)
NerdWallet
(4.9/5)
Better Business Bureau
B
Customer reviews for Novo are positive, but those for North One are higher. For North One, business owners frequently mention fast response times, helpful in-app support, and a customer support team who goes above and beyond. Reviews will sometimes point to longer-than-expected processing times for check deposits or delays during dispute resolution, but these are typically balanced by prompt replies from North One’s support team.
Novo is well-regarded by many small business owners and startups for its clean, user-friendly interface and customizable platform. Users consistently highlight how easy it is to manage business finances, send invoices, and integrate with tools like Stripe, QuickBooks, and Shopify. Features like card locking and built-in bookkeeping options add to the sense of control, especially for solo operators and growing teams.
However, not all experiences are positive. Some users have reported issues with fund holds, sudden account closures, and difficulties reaching customer support. While many find the app reliable and full-featured, others express frustration with inconsistent payment processing and delayed responses when problems arise. Overall, Novo earns high marks for usability—but customer service and account stability can be sticking points for some.
North One tends to be favored for responsive, human-centered support and reliability in everyday banking tasks, particularly by business owners working in the field.
Which account is right for you?
If your business has a finance team or a bookkeeper who logs in daily, Novo gives you the structure to manage it all. You can assign roles, control permissions, and connect directly to accounting tools like QuickBooks, Xero, and Gusto. It’s a good fit for companies that prioritize oversight and detailed reporting. It can also help you are looking for funding and small loans for your business.
But if you're the one running payroll from the field, cutting checks to subcontractors, and tracking budgets between job sites, North One is likely the better choice. It’s built for speed and clarity, offering same-day ACH, mobile check deposits, and budgeting tools that live right inside the app. You don’t need layers of setup or extra logins, just a banking experience that keeps up with how you actually work.
