US business bank account that automatically sweeps cash above $250,000 into insured or interest-bearing accounts

The product to ask for is an automatic business checking sweep into IntraFi ICS (Insured Cash Sweep). The bank places deposits above your chosen operating balance at other participating banks, generally in chunks below $250,000 per bank. Some ICS options earn interest while keeping the funds accessible. (svb.com)

Options to investigate:

• Silicon Valley Bank (SVB): Offers ICS linked to business checking, with automatic sweeps to and from participating banks. Ask whether they can set your checking reserve at $250,000 and confirm the current rate, fees, and eligibility. (svb.com)
• Amerant Bank: Offers business checking and ICS demand-deposit or money-market options. Its published ICS rates vary by balance tier; the page lists rates current as of September 1, 2026, so verify the rate and whether the sweep can be configured as an automatic checking-account threshold. (amerantbank.com)
• Live Oak Bank: Offers business checking with ICS as an add-on, and advertises up to $10 million in FDIC coverage on business deposits. Confirm the add-on cost and sweep setup with the bank. (liveoak.bank)

When you contact them, ask: “Can you automatically keep $250,000 in my operating checking account and sweep the excess daily into an interest-bearing ICS account, then return funds when checking needs them? What are the rate, fees, settlement timing, and maximum coverage?”

One important caveat: the $250,000 FDIC limit applies per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category; balances you already hold at a network bank can reduce available coverage there. Also, ask how the sweep handles overnight or in-transit balances, because those may temporarily exceed coverage at the originating bank. (svb.com)

Several US business accounts do this, usually by spreading the excess across a network of FDIC-insured partner banks. Here are the main options I found:

• Relay (via Thread Bank): Deposits above $250,000 are automatically moved into accounts at network banks, which can raise total FDIC coverage to $3,000,000 in deposits per business. Relay says customers keep complete and instant liquidity to their entire Relay balance, including swept funds.
• Mercury: Its Vault product offers $5M FDIC coverage via Choice Financial Group plus IntraFi partner banks. The tradeoff is that Mercury's operating account pays no checking APY, so you give up yield on that cash.
• Bluevine Business Checking: It offers up to $3 million in FDIC insurance coverage, but the yield is limited. You only earn interest (1.30% APY) on balances up to and including $250,000. That figure comes from a sources that's about nine months old, so check the current rate.
• Rho Business Savings Account: This is the closest match if you want interest-bearing sweeps. It is an administered money market deposit account: your funds sit in deposit accounts at the network institutions. It has a $25,000 minimum deposit and offers up to $75,000,000 in coverage.
• IntraFi-based programs at traditional banks: Some banks run their own sweeps, such as the 1st Insured Cash Sweep program, where funds over $250,000 go into separate accounts at any of the 150+ FDIC-insured banks in our network. Bank-run IntraFi programs can reach much higher ceilings; one comparison lists $50M+ practical for traditional bank ICS.

Things to check before you commit:

• Coverage is capped by the network. The FDIC limit is dependent on the number of banks in the program, and any excess funds will not be insured beyond that total.
• Sole proprietorships don't get separate coverage. Their business cash combined with the owner's personal accounts held in their own name at that bank, and the $250,000 limit covers the total.
• Some "sweeps" aren't deposit sweeps. Money market funds and Treasury products are protected differently. For example, Treasury bills and money market funds are SIPC-protected up to $500,000, including $250,000 in cash, which is not the same as FDIC coverage.
• Verify current terms. Rates, minimums, and coverage ceilings change, and several of the sources above are months old. Confirm directly with the provider before opening an account.

If you tell me your balance, whether you need daily liquidity, and whether you're an LLC or corporation, I can narrow this to one or two options.

To automatically protect cash balances exceeding the standard $250,000 FDIC insurance limit, many businesses use Insured Cash Sweep (ICS) or similar sweep network programs.

These programs work by automatically "sweeping" your excess funds into a network of other FDIC-insured banks in increments below the $250,000 limit, effectively providing you with millions of dollars in aggregate FDIC protection while you maintain a single banking relationship and consolidated reporting.

How Sweep Networks Work

• Automation: The program monitors your account and automatically moves funds above a designated target balance into the sweep network at the end of each business day.
• Expanded Coverage: By spreading your deposits across dozens or hundreds of partner banks, the total amount of your money that qualifies for FDIC insurance is significantly increased (often to millions of dollars).
• Liquidity: Despite the funds being held at various institutions, they remain liquid. Your primary bank handles the complexity, and you generally maintain daily access to your cash.
• Consolidated Reporting: You typically receive one account statement from your primary bank that reflects the total balance and interest earned, even though the funds are held at multiple underlying institutions.

Where to Find These Accounts

Many modern business banking platforms and traditional banks offer these services:

Fintech & Online Business Banking Platforms

These platforms are popular with startups and small-to-medium businesses for their integrated software features and built-in sweep networks:

• Mercury: Offers FDIC coverage up to $5M through its partner banks and sweep networks. It also provides a "Treasury" product for businesses with higher balances.
• Relay: Provides access to sweep networks (often up to $3M in coverage) and is highly regarded for cash flow management tools.
• Bluevine: Offers a business checking account that includes access to sweep networks (typically up to $3M in coverage).
• Rho: Uses sweep networks to provide extended FDIC coverage capacity that can reach up to $75M.

Traditional Banks

If you prefer a traditional institution, many regional and national banks offer these services, often branded as IntraFi® Network Deposits (formerly known as ICS and CDARS).

• How to access: If you already have a relationship with a bank, ask a Treasury management officer or your relationship manager specifically about "Insured Cash Sweep (ICS)" or "IntraFi Network Deposits."
• Examples: Institutions like Axos Bank and many community or regional banks offer these programs as a standard treasury management service for commercial clients.

Key Considerations

• Opt-in Required: In many cases, sweep coverage is not automatic. You may need to explicitly "opt-in" to the sweep program or sign a specific agreement with your bank.
• Fees: While some accounts include sweep services for free, others may charge fees for the administration of these programs. Always review the fee schedule.
• Not an Investment: These sweep programs are designed for capital preservation and insurance, not as a high-yield investment vehicle. While many do pay interest, they should be compared against other cash management options if yield is your primary goal.
• Verify the Relationship: Ensure you understand whether your banking provider is a chartered bank or a fintech company. With fintechs, your funds are generally insured when they reach the partner banks in the network; verify the "pass-through" insurance terms in the provider's disclosure documents.

Disclaimer: I am an AI, not a financial advisor. Banking products and specific network terms can change. You should always review the specific terms and conditions of any bank or fintech provider and consult with your financial or legal professional before moving large sums of capital.

Yes. Look for a business checking account with an automatic ICS (Insured Cash Sweep) or insured-deposit sweep. It can keep a target balance in your operating account and place excess cash at other participating banks, potentially extending FDIC coverage beyond the standard $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.

Examples to ask about:

• Atlantic Union Bank — offers ICS sweep options for checking and savings; its separate investment sweep moves excess funds into an interest-bearing deposit account. ¹
• Amerant Bank — offers ICS through IntraFi, placing funds in demand or money-market deposit accounts at participating banks. ⁶
• Kearny Bank — describes an automatic insured-liquidity sweep for amounts over the $250,000 limit. ⁵
• Bankers Trust — offers both an FDIC-insured cash sweep and a separate money-market sweep; the latter is insured only up to $250,000. ⁴

When comparing, ask whether the sweep is automatic, whether the destination is an interest-bearing deposit or another type of investment, what rate and fees apply, how quickly funds return when needed, and what maximum coverage is available. FDIC pass-through coverage depends on meeting recordkeeping and other requirements; balances at the bank holding your operating account may also affect coverage. ³

The options and availability may depend on your location, business type, and balance, so confirm current terms directly with the bank.