Overview
Relay, at a glance.
Relay is a fintech company headquartered in the United States. Business accounts cost from $0 a month. Opening an account takes 3–5 days. Non-residents are accepted: owners and directors do not need to live in the country where the company is registered.
Relay is not a bank. Deposits are held at Thread Bank, a member of the FDIC, with pass-through FDIC insurance subject to conditions.
Why businesses pick Relay
- No monthly fee on the Starter plan and no opening fee
- Accepts non-residents: owners of a US business can live abroad, outside its prohibited-country list
- Free standard ACH
- Open to sole proprietors, partnerships, LLCs and corporations
- Trustpilot score of 4.3 from more than 3,700 reviews
Watch out for
- Only for businesses registered and operating in the United States
- Holds US dollars only
- International wires cost $20 to $25
- Crypto, cannabis and CBD, gambling, debt collection and telemarketing are not accepted
- The exchange margin on international wires is not published
Business fit
Will Relay accept your business?
Four quick answers. Where your company is registered and what it does rule a provider in or out faster than anything else.
Based on Relay's published rules
Likely no
Relay does not list United Kingdom among the countries where it accepts companies.
Relay does not publish a minimum company age or turnover, so those two answers are not checked here.
This is one provider. Your profile checks all of them.
- Every provider that fits your business
- The reason behind each match
- Company age and turnover checked too
Who it works with
Accepted and not accepted.
What Relay publishes about the businesses it takes on.
Who Relay serves
- Startups and SMEs
- E-commerce
- Professional services
All 9 industries on Relay's accepted list
- Seven-figure businesses
- Agencies
- Auto repair shops
- E-commerce businesses
- General contractors
- Home services/HVAC
- Project-based businesses
- Real-estate investors
- Small businesses and bookkeepers
Not supported
Industries and countries Relay does not accept, from its own published lists.
Industries
- Cannabis-related businesses, including CBD
- Cryptocurrency and virtual currency
- Debt collection
- Direct marketing and telemarketing
- Gambling, including fantasy sports
- NFTs
- Payday lending
- Prescription drug sales
Countries
- Not published
Coverage
Where can you use Relay?
Coverage is a starting point. It does not confirm that every business in these markets is eligible.
Supported currencies
USD only
Hold and receive · 1 currencies
- USD
Pay out · 10 currencies
- EUR
- USD
- GBP
- CHF
- CAD
- AUD
- JPY
- HKD
- NZD
- SGD
Payment reach
Not published
Who can apply
Company incorporation countries1 countries · show list
- United States
Owner nationality
Not publishedOwner residency
Not publishedCompany types
Sole proprietorships, General partnerships, LLCs, Corporations
Pricing
What does Relay cost?
Look beyond the monthly fee. Your total cost depends on how many transfers you make, where they go and how much you convert.
Account cost
Opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
$0–90
depends on plan
Starter
Lowest cost$0 per month
$0 setup · $0 in year one
Grow
$30 per month
$0 setup · $360 in year one
Scale
$90 per month
$0 setup · $1,080 in year one
Transaction fees
| Cost | Starter | Grow | Scale | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming | ||||
| ACH / local USD | Free | Free | Free | No charge |
| Outgoing | ||||
| SWIFT / international | $25 | $22 | $20 | Fixed fee |
| ACH / local USD | Free | Free | Free | No charge · Standard ACH; same-day ACH costs $1 on Starter and $0.50 on Grow |
Other fees
Onboarding
From application to live account.
Opening an account typically takes three to five business days.
- 1
Apply
Start the application online or through the sales team.
- 2
Company and people
Give the company's registration details, directors and owners.
- 3
Checks
Upload the documents requested and complete identity verification.
- 4
Account live
Once approved, the account is opened and you receive its details.
Documents you need
Not published
FAQ
Your questions, answered.
Is Relay a bank?
No. Relay is a financial technology company. Deposits are held at Thread Bank, a member of the FDIC.
How much does Relay cost?
Starter has no monthly fee, Grow costs $30 and Scale $90. Standard ACH is free, and an international wire costs $20 to $25 depending on the plan.
Can non-US residents open a Relay account?
Yes, for a business registered and operating in the United States. Owners can be non-US citizens or residents if they live outside Relay's prohibited-country list and provide the extra documents it asks for.
Which businesses does Relay not accept?
Cannabis and CBD, cryptocurrency, debt collection, direct marketing and telemarketing, gambling including fantasy sports, NFTs, payday lending and prescription drug sales.
Alternatives
How Relay compares.
If Relay is not the right fit, these providers work with similar businesses. Compare their listed licences and services below.
| Provider | Licensed in | Known for |
|---|---|---|
 RelayThis pageFintech company | Not published | US business accountNon-residents accepted |
 MercuryFintech company |  | US business accountNon-residents accepted |
 BluevineFintech company | | US business accountNon-residents accepted |
 NovoFintech company | | US business accountFree account |
 BrexFintech company | | Corporate cardsSpend management |
Not sure which one fits? Your profile ranks them for your business, with the reason behind each.