Citizens Bank

A business account review often needs the document behind a transaction. Citizens puts cleared-check images alongside account history, and account-data downloads carry the activity into Quicken or QuickBooks. Business alerts can announce an available statement, posted direct deposit or cleared check.

For payments, Quick-Add takes a biller’s company name and your account number. You can then arrange due-date reminders or repeating payments. Multiple users can have different levels of access, so account administration does not have to depend on one person’s login.

Clearly Better Business Checking costs

There is no monthly maintenance fee or minimum monthly balance. Up to 200 check transactions per statement period are included; each additional check transaction costs US$0.50. That allowance refers to check transactions, rather than describing every banking service as free.

Optional online accounting through Autobooks costs US$9.99 monthly. Digital invoicing has separate payment-acceptance charges: 3.49% for cards and 1% for ACH bank payments. Those paid tools are separate from downloading account data for your own bookkeeping software.

Apply and enrol

Citizens lists business checking availability in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, DC.

Applications can start online or by appointment. The document checklist changes with the business structure. A sole proprietor needs government photo ID and an SSN, with an employer tax number or trading-name certificate when applicable. Partnerships and other entities have additional formation and ownership requirements.

For online-banking enrolment, use the ATM or debit-card number, PIN and Citizens account number. Customers without a card can enrol by calling the bank. Once enrolled, configure account alerts around the events that matter for your bookkeeping, such as incoming deposits and cleared supplier checks.