Head to head
North One vs. Relay Business Banking
One account gives you insight, the other gets things done.
Relay is built for business owners who want to manage every 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 Relay does. But if your business depends on precise financial oversight, multi-user controls, and tight bookkeeping integration, Relay may be a better fit.
Which business bank is right for you?
North One and Relay both offer modern, adaptable banking solutions designed to cut the friction of traditional banks, but they’re built for different kinds of business owners.
Relay 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. Relay Starter Account
Both North One and Relay offer $0 business checking accounts—but North One delivers more earning power.
Feature
North One Standard
Relay Starter
Monthly Fee
$0
$0
Cash back on card transactions
0% but up to 4% in select categories
1%
ATM Access
145,000+ ATMs through Allpoint+
and Green Dot®
145,000+ ATMs through Allpoint+
and Green Dot®
Cash Deposit Limits via Green Dot®
$1,500/day, $3,500/week, $5,000/month
$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.
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.
Varies by account
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
Relay Starter
Monthly Fee
$0
Cash back on card transactions
1%
ATM Access
145,000+ ATMs through Allpoint+ 
and Green Dot®
Cash Deposit Limits via Green Dot®
$1,500/day, $3,500/week, $5,000/month
ACH Limit
Varies by account
Domestic Wire Limit
Varies by account
North One Plus vs. Relay Grow and Scale
Choosing a paid business account isn’t just about the price; it’s about which plan actually improves your daily operations. North One Plus costs less than Relay Scale and delivers critical advantages where it counts: faster access to funds, real-time payments, and hands-on support.
Relay’s Grow and Scale plans do add advanced user permissions and approval workflows, which may benefit businesses with complex finance teams. But for hands-on operators, North One Plus delivers more practical value for everyday use, without bloated costs.
Feature
North One Plus
Relay Grow
Relay Scale
Monthly Fee
$30
$30
$120
Cash back on card transactions
1%, plus up to 4% in select categories
1.25%
1.5%
Real-Time Payments (RTP)
Available
Limited
Limited
Dedicated Support
Priority Support
Standard Support
Priority Support
Cash Deposits
Yes, via Green Dot and Allpoint
Yes, via Green Dot and Allpoint
Yes, via Green Dot and Allpoint
Feature
North One Plus
Monthly Fee
$30
Cash back on card transactions
1%, plus up to 4% in select categories
Real-Time Payments (RTP)
Available
Dedicated Support
Priority Support
Cash Deposits
Yes, via Green Dot and Allpoint
Feature
Relay Grow
Monthly Fee
$30
Cash back on card transactions
1.25%
Real-Time Payments (RTP)
Limited
Dedicated Support
Standard Support
Cash Deposits
Yes, via Green Dot and Allpoint
Feature
Relay Scale
Monthly Fee
$120
Cash back on card transactions
1.5%
Real-Time Payments (RTP)
Limited
Dedicated Support
Priority Support
Cash Deposits
Yes, via Green Dot and Allpoint
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. Relay, by contrast, uses a three-tiered system with lower wire and ACH fees as you move from Starter ($0) to Grow ($30) to Scale ($120), but key benefits are locked behind those higher-priced plans.
Fee Type
North One
Relay
Monthly Fee
$0 (Standard) / $30 (Plus)
$0 (Starter) / $30 (Grow) / $120 (Scale)
Inbound Domestic Wires
$0
$0
Outbound Domestic Wires
$20 (Standard), $15 (Plus)
$8.00 (Starter) / $5.00 (Grow and Scale)
Same-day ACH
1.50% (Standard), $0 (Plus)
$5 (Starter) / $3 (Grow) / $1 (Scale)
Physical checks
$1/check (Standard), $0 (Plus)
Vendor fees apply (Starter, Grow, Scale)
Overdraft
No fee
No fee
Cash Deposits
Free through Allpoint.

Up to 2 Green Dot surcharge fee reimbursements/month.
Free through Allpoint.
Green Dot fee up to $4.95.
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
Relay
Monthly Fee
$0 (Starter) / $30 (Grow) / $120 (Scale)
Inbound Domestic Wires
$0
Outbound Domestic Wires
$8.00 (Starter) / $5.00 (Grow and Scale)
Same-day ACH
$5 (Starter) / $3 (Grow) / $1 (Scale)
Physical checks
Vendor fees apply (Starter, Grow, Scale)
Overdraft
No fee
Cash Deposits
Free through Allpoint.
Green Dot fee up to $4.95.
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. Instead of gating features behind multiple tiers, most tools are available upfront or through a single Plus upgrade. Relay’s tiered model may work well for businesses that send frequent payments or want granular controls, but understanding your total cost can take more effort.
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.
Relay also offers a clean, intuitive mobile app, though its core strengths are more desktop-oriented and optimized for teams that manage multiple users or accounts. 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. While these offerings may seem standard at first glance, the consistency in which they’re called out in customer reviews underlines the support team’s dedication to helping their customers.
Relay also offers phone, chat, and email support, with live agents available slightly longer—9 AM to 8 PM ET on business days—and includes a virtual assistant for after-hours questions. Both platforms maintain 24/7 self-service help centers, but Relay has a slight edge in phone accessibility, while North One focuses more on personalized and integrated in-app support.
Integrations
Relay offers strong integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, and Gusto, making it a great fit for teams with formal finance processes. North One also offers integrations with accounting software, plus tools like PayPal, Shopify, and Square to help you move money in and out faster, especially from sales platforms and contractors. While Relay is the standout pick for financially complex operations, North One is the clear winner for operations that want instant access to their revenue.
Cash access
Both North One and Relay allow users to deposit checks via mobile app and accept cash through the Green Dot® and Allpoint networks. The core difference is in emphasis: North One markets its cash deposit capabilities directly to business owners who handle physical payments, while Relay treats cash access as an optional, secondary feature. 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
Relay
Trustpilot
(4.3/5)
(4.8/5)
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(5/5)
(4.6/5)
NerdWallet
(4.7/5)
(4.9/5)
Better Business Bureau
A-
B
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 both North One and Relay are extremely positive, and the praise reflects the distinct strengths of each platform. 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 occasionally 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.
Relay customers often highlight the account’s clean design, ease of managing multiple accounts, and strong integration with accounting tools. That said, some users report friction with ACH transfer timing or currency-related issues, especially when expecting faster payment execution. While support is generally praised, these users sometimes describe inconsistent follow-up on more complex technical questions.
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. Relay stands out for its flexible infrastructure and seamless digital experience, especially among users with more structured financial workflows.
Which account is right for you?
If your business has a finance team, strict approval workflows, or a bookkeeper who logs in daily, Relay 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.
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.
