A guide to digital banks: The best options for your business

Digital banking providers offer businesses flexibility and convenience, plus access to features and benefits that traditional banks don’t offer. From multi-currency accounts with low FX fees to built-in accounts payable and accounting features, online banking services can save your business time and money. 

This article covers some of the best digital banks and banking service providers for businesses. Plus, you’ll learn: 

  • What digital banks are. 
  • Why businesses should use digital banks. 
  • How to choose a digital bank for your business.  

The information about all the platforms discussed in this article was collected between 12 April 2024 and 15 April 2024. This article was written and approved by Juni and is intended as marketing material.

What are digital banks?

Digital banks, also known as online banks, represent a modern approach to banking that operates without traditional physical branch networks. 

These banking providers offer services exclusively over the internet, providing customers with fast, efficient and accessible financial management tools directly from their computers or phones. 

Why businesses should use digital banks

With digital banking solutions, all your financial data is available to you 24/7, right at your fingertips. In addition to the convenience of online banking, other advantages of using a digital bank for your business banking needs include: 

  • Efficiency and accessibility: Digital banks offer services that are accessible around the clock through mobile and web applications. This constant availability is ideal for businesses that need to manage financial tasks from various locations or outside of traditional banking hours.
  • Customised business tools: Many digital banks provide specialised tools tailored for business use, such as integrated expense management systems, invoicing capabilities and advanced financial analytics. 
  • Seamless integrations: Digital banks tend to offer better integrations with other tools, including accounting platforms and accounts payable software, allowing for a more streamlined financial workflow and real-time data syncing.

How to choose a digital bank for your business

Evaluate your business needs

To ensure you choose the right solution, assess the specific banking services your business requires. Do you have a lot of international transactions? Or are you more focused on payroll and domestic payments? Determining your core financial activity will guide you in choosing a bank with the right features.

Additionally, consider where your business is in its growth trajectory. Startups might value flexibility and scalability, while established businesses might prioritise advanced financial analytics and loan options.

Consider integration capabilities 

Check if the digital bank integrates smoothly with your existing business software, such as accounting tools, HR systems and other financial management platforms—integrations can dramatically reduce administrative overhead and improve accuracy in financial reporting.

The digital banking solution you choose should connect with whatever platforms are most relevant to your business. So if you operate in digital commerce, that may mean integrating with storefronts and payment gateways. 

Analyse fees and costs

Understand the fee structure for transactions, especially the ones most common in your business operations. Some digital banks offer lower fees for certain types of transactions, like domestic transfers, which can be cost-effective in the long run. Along those lines, pay attention to FX and international currency fees. 

So look for digital banks that offer fee structures favourable to your business’s financial activity levels. Some banks offer tiered pricing or waive fees entirely based on account balances or the number of transactions.

Read customer reviews and feedback

Good customer support is critical—you don’t want to be left figuring out an urgent payment or transaction issue all by yourself. Reading user reviews can give insight into how responsive and helpful the bank is in resolving issues.

What are the best digital banking providers? 5 options for businesses

1. Juni

Juni isn’t a bank, but rather a financial service provider designed specifically for ecommerce businesses. The Swedish company’s co-founders come from an ecommerce background, which is why all of Juni’s offerings and features are tailored to the unique needs of companies operating in digital commerce. 

Juni offers multi-currency business accounts, as well as virtual Juni Mastercard® Corporate cards in USD, SEK, EUR and GBP. With these cards, you get access to up to 1% cashback on eligible debit spend, with no caps, plus flexible financing options of up to €2 million (with up to 60 days to pay). 

Juni digital business account
Juni offers multi-currency accounts for ecommerce businesses with low FX fees and built-in spend insights.

You can create multiple cards and assign them to specific employees or suppliers, helping you control and monitor your spend. Plus, transparent and capped FX fees mean you don’t leave cash behind when sending and receiving cross-border payments.

The platform comes with many other features that simplify your banking and financial processes, like accounts payable tools, accounting automations and integrations with storefronts and ad networks, like Meta and Google Ads. 

What to know about Juni 

  • Multi-currency accounts with low FX fees built specifically for companies in digital commerce.
  • Ability to create multiple virtual cards in different currencies with customisable controls. 
  • Access to flexible financing and capital on cards and invoices.*
  • Accounts payable and spend management tools, as well as accounting automations.
  • Integrations with storefronts like Amazon and Shopify, payment gateways and accounting software.
  • Mobile app and highly responsive customer service with quick reply times and tailored guidance.

2. Revolut

Revolut is a fintech company with a designated business finance platform. The neobank supports over 25 currencies and transactions with 100 countries, and you get access to customisable multi-currency accounts when you sign up. You can also sign up for a Revolut savings account, which offers up to 3.51% AER. 

When you open a business account with Revolut, you also get access to virtual and physical business debit cards that you can set customisable limits on and authorise where employees can and can’t use them. 

What to know about Revolut

  • Multi-currency accounts, plus savings options. 
  • Virtual cards with customisable limits. 
  • Real-time spend controls and insights for increased visibility. 
  • Competitive rates on local and global transfers. 
  • Integrations with accounting tools and payment gateways. 
  • Analytics and spend breakdowns.  

3. Monzo

Monzo is a fully regulated UK-based online bank that gives you free instant domestic transfers, access to virtual cards and business loan opportunities. With Monzo Business Pro, you can authorise account access for up to two additional users. 

Monzo offers Pots, which you can set up to reserve funds for taxes, savings or other categories, helping you automate your financial processes. You can also send payment links and invoices directly from Monzo and pay in over 40 currencies, including euros. 

What to know about Monzo

  • Only available to sole traders or limited company directors in the UK.
  • Up to 5 separate virtual cards for each Pot you create. 
  • Savings Pot with an interest rate of up to 1.60% AER.
  • Integrated invoicing and budgeting functionalities. 
  • Accounting integrations with Xero, Freeagent and Quickbooks. 
  • Mobile and web access and 24/7 customer support. 

4. Wise

Wise is a UK-based fintech company that specialises in cross-border transactions. Wise Business is available to a variety of business types, including sole traders and limited companies. The platform lets you transfer and receive money across the world, supporting payments from over 70 countries. Plus, you can store funds in over 40 currencies in your Wise account.

You also get access to debit cards with low conversion fees and 0.5% cashback on spend. You can order multiple cards for your team members—these just come with a one-time cost (your first card is free). 

What to know about Wise

  • Multi-currency accounts that support payments to over 70 countries. 
  • Cross-border transfers with low fees. 
  • Access to multiple debit cards with 0.5% cashback. 
  • Customisable permissions for team members. 
  • Real-time insights into spend for more visibility. 
  • Integrations with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and more. 

5. Starling Bank

Starling Bank is an online British bank that offers business accounts for sole traders, limited companies and other registered businesses. You have the option to sign up for multi-currency accounts that support EUR and USD (in addition to GBP), though as of writing, the website states that they aren’t currently accepting new applications for these accounts. 

With Starling, you can access a Mastercard debit card that connects to your banking app with features like digital receipts and spend analytics. This account also gives you the option to sign up for Starling’s Business Toolkit, which helps you automate invoices and expenses. 

What to know about Starling

  • Business bank accounts (fee-free option available). 
  • Access to Mastercard debit card and Business Toolkit. 
  • Spend analytics and automated expense categorisation to help you budget. 
  • Integrations with accounting platforms like Xero and QuickBooks. 
  • 24/7 app, phone and email support.
  • Free access to multiple directors (but not available to third parties or other team members). 

Convenient, flexible, digital banking: Better for businesses

Digital banks are just as reliable as brick-and-mortar banks, and they often come with some additional features and benefits you don't usually get from traditional banks. 

Just remember that when choosing a banking provider, you should focus on what your business specifically needs. Whether you’re a solopreneur or already have an established company, which account is right for you will depend on whether its features and functionalities align with your needs. 

Juni, for example, is designed specifically for businesses that operate in digital commerce, offering features that help ecommerce businesses simplify financial admin, effectively manage cash flow and invest in growth. Get started with Juni today.

*Juni Capital for cards is available for companies registered in UK, NL, SE, DE, FR, ES, IT, NO and FI, upon eligibility. Juni Capital for invoices is available for companies registered in SE, DE, NL, FR, ES, IT, NO and FI, upon eligibility. Fees, terms and conditions apply. Click here for more details.

Frequently asked questions about the best digital banks

Which bank is best for digital banking?

The best digital banking option for your business will depend on various factors, such as what industry you operate in, where your business is registered and how large your company is. For example, if you operate in digital commerce, you’ll want to look for banks with ecommerce business account options. 

How do I open an online bank account?

Opening an online bank account is typically a straightforward process:

  1. Choose a digital bank that suits your business needs.
  2. Visit the bank's website or download their app.
  3. Provide the required documentation, which usually includes business registration details, personal identification for the account holders and proof of address.
  4. Complete any necessary verification step.
  5. Once approved, you can set up your account preferences and begin using your account.

Get the control and visibility your business needs

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