Kabbage Business Checking Review: 1.10% APY + Public $300 Bonus

(Update October 2021: Post has been updated to reflect a new public $300 bonus. I posted about a $300 bonus in the past, but it ended up being targeted select AmEx business cardholders. This one is open to the public. You must scroll down a bit to see the bonus info, screenshot below. Note that you may be asked to provide supplemental business documentation like Articles of Incorporation.)

Updated full review:

Kabbage offers financial solutions for small businesses, and was acquired by American Express in late 2020. On top of the very competitive interest rate of 1.10% APY, there is currently a public $300 bonus for their business checking account. Here are the highlights:

• 1.10% APY on balances up to $100,000
• No monthly maintenance fees.
• No minimum balance requirements.
• Free ATM access. Check app for a map to the nearest in-network ATM.
• Deposit checks for free via mobile app.
• Deposit cash at one 90,000 participating retailers nationwide (including Walgreens, CVS, Walmart) for a variable fee up to $4.95. Check app for a map to the nearest location.
• Need paper checks? $20 fee for one pack of 100 personal-sized checks.

Looks like if you like doing all your business banking via a mobile app, this would be a good fit. If you deal with a lot of physical cash or write a lot of checks… not so much, since you would have to pay a fee for each cash deposit and a $20 fee for every 100 checks. However, at 1.10% APY and no minimum balance requirement, you could just use this as a business savings account.

Other Kabbage products include a business line of credit and a service to send invoices and accept payments. (They also helped dole out a lot of PPP loans.)

Kabbage Checking is provided by Green Dot Bank, member FDIC. The routing number may show up as “GoBank, A Division of Green Dot Bank.”

$300 bonus details.

New accounts earn a cash deposit of $300. Earn a $300 cash deposit into your Kabbage Checking account after you complete a total of 5 debit card purchases within 45 days of account opening. (You must apply and be approved by 12/15/2021. Terms apply.)

This promotion is being offered by American Express Kabbage Inc. (“we”, “us” or “our”). The Kabbage Checking account is provided by Green Dot Bank. Green Dot Bank will deposit a $300 cash deposit into your Kabbage Checking account subject to the terms of this offer as stated below. To be eligible to earn the $300 cash deposit, you must 1) apply and be approved for a Kabbage Checking account opened between October 1, 2021 and December 15, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and 2) successfully complete 5 debit and/or virtual card purchases within 45 calendar days of the opening of your Kabbage Checking account. Only transactions that clear within 45 calendar days of Kabbage Checking account opening will qualify. Transactions that do not clear within this 45-day period will not qualify. To receive the $300 cash deposit from Green Dot Bank, your Kabbage Checking account must be open and in good standing at the time of fulfillment. Once you have completed all the above eligibility requirements, the $300 cash deposit will be deposited into your Kabbage Checking account between 45 to 90 calendar days from the date your Kabbage Checking account was opened. Limit one offer per new Kabbage Checking account. This offer (i) is not available to existing Kabbage Checking customers, (ii) is non- transferable, and (iii) cannot be combined with any other offer.

This bonus was previously targeted to holders of an American Express business credit card, but a representative messaged me and said this one is now fully open to the public.

Bottom line. Kabbage offers a digital-first business checking account that would work well for small businesses that don’t deal with a lot of physical cash deposits or paper checks (due to the fees involved). I get the feeling that it is only a matter of time before this becomes the “American Express business checking account”. Hopefully the interest rate stays high for a while.