Relay is a U.S. small business banking and money management platform, built on Thread Bank, Member FDIC. You can open up to 20 checking accounts under one login.
Is Relay a bank?
No. Relay is a financial technology company and is not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services are provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. That means your deposits are held at Thread Bank, and Thread provides pass-through FDIC insurance on the funds you deposit through Relay.
Who is Relay for?
Relay is built for U.S.-registered small businesses that need per-account visibility, multiple checking accounts, and a clean handoff to their bookkeeper. It fits especially well for owners running Profit First, envelope budgeting, or any multi-account allocation method.
Relay is a good fit if you:
Operate a business that is registered in the United States
Want more than one checking account under a single login
Use QuickBooks Online or Xero for your books
Work with an accountant, bookkeeper, or team member who needs role-based access
Follow Profit First or another multi-account cash management method
Collect payments through ACH, wires, checks, PayPal, Stripe, or Square
How does Relay work?
Relay gives you one login to open and manage multiple accounts, cards, and payment tools under a single business entity. In practice, it works like this:
Apply online and open a Relay Account for your U.S.-registered business
Open up to 20 individual checking accounts to organize revenue, taxes, payroll, and operating expenses
Open up to 2 savings accounts to hold reserves and earn Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 1.11%-3.00% (as of August 11, 2026, on qualifying subscription plans; see APY disclosure at publish for tier-by-tier rates)
Issue Relay Visa® Debit Cards and, if eligible, the Relay Visa® Credit Card with up to 1.5% cash back*
Connect QuickBooks Online or Xero so every transaction flows through to your books automatically
What's included in a Relay account?
Every Relay Account includes the following core capabilities. Specific limits, APY tiers, and features depend on your subscription plan (Starter Plan, Grow Plan, or Scale Plan).
Checking: Up to 20 individual business checking accounts under one login
Savings: Up to 2 business savings accounts with Annual Percentage Yield of 1.11%-3.00%, subject to plan tier
Debit: Physical and virtual Relay Visa® Debit Cards for you and your team
Credit: The Relay Visa® Credit Card, credit-eligible, with up to 1.5% cash back*
Payments in: ACH, domestic wires, checks, and connections to PayPal, Stripe, and Square
Payments out: ACH, domestic wires, international wires, and bill pay
Bookkeeping sync: Direct connections to QuickBooks Online and Xero
Team access: Role-based permissions for owners, employees, accountants, and bookkeepers
FDIC coverage: FDIC insurance available up to $3M for funds deposited via Thread Bank; Member FDIC. Pass-through insurance coverage is subject to conditions*
What isn't supported?
Relay does not open or service the following account types, regardless of business size or industry:
Personal accounts (Relay is business-only)
Escrow accounts
Trust accounts
401(k) or retirement accounts
Businesses that are not registered in the United States
Businesses in industries Relay and Thread Bank do not support (see the Prohibited industries article for the current list)
If your business is registered outside the United States, Relay is not available in your country today.
Can I request a live Relay demo?
Yes. Relay runs bi-weekly live webinars hosted by the marketing, sales, and Customer Experience teams, where you can see the product in action and ask questions in real time. Register at join.relayfi.com.
How do I apply?
You can apply online in about 10 minutes at app.relayfi.com/register. Most applications get a decision within one business day. Before you start the application, have your business registration details, employer identification number (EIN), and beneficial owner information ready.
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