relay financial
Relay Financial Technologies operates a digital business banking platform for U.S. small businesses, offering up to 20 sub-accounts, Profit First cash-allocation automation, Visa debit/credit cards, AP, AR and expense management through Thread Bank and Unit Finance partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What relay financial does
Relay Financial Technologies, Inc. operates an online business banking and money-management platform targeted at U.S. small businesses, delivered in partnership with Thread Bank (Member FDIC, Tennessee-chartered) which holds the deposits and issues the cards. The platform is built on a banking-as-a-service architecture: Unit Finance, Inc. handles transaction processing, account setup, monitoring, customer support and the integration layer with Thread Bank, while Visa provides the card network under license. Relay's product surface is centered on up to 20 sub-accounts within a single business checking relationship, automated transfer rules driven by the Profit First cash-allocation methodology, high-yield business savings, and Relay Visa Debit and Credit Cards with spend controls and tier-based cash back rewards. Adjacent modules include Accounts Payable (bill upload, approvals, vendor payment), Accounts Receivable (invoice creation, payment requests, automated follow-up), Expense Management (receipt capture, real-time categorization, accounting sync), and a virtual card. FDIC coverage is extended to up to $3M per depositor via Thread Bank's deposit sweep program, and international payments are enabled through Community Federal Savings Bank and Nium, Inc.
The business model combines recurring subscription revenue from three monthly tiers (Starter free with 1.11% savings APY, Grow at $30/month with 1.75% APY, Scale at $120/month with 3.00% APY) with interchange from Visa debit and credit card transactions and transaction-based fees on ACH Same-Day, domestic wires, and international payments. The go-to-market is product-led growth through a fully digital self-serve onboarding flow on web and mobile (iOS/Android), supplemented by a demo request path for larger prospects and an Advisor Hub/Relay Certification program that drives referral-led acquisition through accountants and bookkeepers. Marketing relies on educational content on the Profit First methodology, accounting software integrations (Xero, QuickBooks Online) and payroll integration (Gusto) that drive organic discovery, plus Trustpilot-driven social proof. Customer segments are primarily small business owners across verticals including real estate investors, e-commerce operators, general contractors, agencies and home services.
The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional ownership, ticker, or funding-round data in the input materials. At the level evidenced in source materials, Relay serves more than 110,000 businesses and manages over $1B in customer deposits, with no physical branches and exclusive digital distribution. Repeated messaging emphasizes zero hidden fees, multi-account visibility, and tier-based rewards as the primary differentiators against both incumbent banks and competing SMB-focused fintechs.
relay financial firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- relay financial
- Legal name
- Relay Financial Technologies, Inc.
- Website
- https://bankwithrelay.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Relay Financial Technologies operates a digital business banking platform for U.S. small businesses, offering up to 20 sub-accounts, Profit First cash-allocation automation, Visa debit/credit cards, AP, AR and expense management through Thread Bank and Unit Finance partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
relay financial industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Banking
- NAICS
- Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Commercial Banking (52211)
- SIC
- Functions Related To Depository Banking, Nec (6099), Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cross-Border FX, Multi-Currency & Treasury for Payments (FSAGABAK), Credit Cards & Revolving Credit (FSABAAAC)
Keywords
relay financial business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Revenue: Monthly subscription fees from three tiered plans (Starter, Grow, Scale) generating recurring revenue. Higher tiers unlock better savings rates and cash back rewards.
- Interchange Revenue: Transaction fees from Visa debit and credit card usage across merchant networks worldwide
- Transaction Fees: Fees for ACH Same-Day transactions and domestic wire transfers, with tier-based pricing (Scale tier includes 10 free same-day ACH transactions)
- Cash Back Rewards Redemption: Monthly cash back rewards deposited into checking accounts; cost subsidized by merchant interchange from card network
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Starter - Free tier with basic banking features and competitive savings rate |
| Subscription | Monthly | Grow - Mid-tier with enhanced features and better rewards |
| Subscription | Monthly | Scale - Premium tier with maximum rewards and features |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
relay financial product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Relay Financial provides an online business banking and money management platform for small businesses. The offering includes multi-account business checking (up to 20 accounts), high-yield savings, Visa debit and credit cards, expense management, accounts payable/receivable, and Profit First banking methodology. Banking services are delivered through Thread Bank (Member FDIC), with deposits insured up to $3 million via a deposit sweep program.
Product overview
Relay Financial offers a unified online business banking platform built for small businesses, combining multiple financial products into a single integrated system. The core platform includes Business Checking and Business Savings accounts, supplemented by Relay Visa Debit and Credit Cards. Additional modules include Accounts Payable for bill management and vendor payments, Expense Management for receipt capture and accounting sync, Invoices/Accounts Receivable for invoice creation and payment collection, Payment Requests for accepting customer payments, and Profit First Banking for cash flow allocation. All services are provided through a web and mobile interface with integrations to accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks Online), payroll (Gusto), and financial data aggregation (Plaid, Yodlee).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business Checking Business checking accounts with up to 20 sub-accounts for organizing business finances, automated transfer rules, and real-time visibility into cash positions. Designed for small business owners managing multiple operational accounts.
- Business Savings Interest-bearing business savings accounts with high-yield options (up to 3.00% APY on the Scale tier) and automated savings rules for building cash reserves. Designed for small businesses to earn yield on operating reserves.
- Relay Visa Debit Card Visa debit card issued by Thread Bank for business spending, with customizable spend limits, virtual card support, and digital wallet compatibility (Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay). Designed for small business owners needing controlled payment cards.
- Relay Visa Credit Card Business credit card offering cash back rewards (1%-1.5% based on subscription tier) with no annual fee and 0% APR on purchases. Designed for small businesses earning rewards on operating spend.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to $3M FDIC insurance coverage through deposit sweep program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use relay financial
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
relay financial technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature6 records
relay financial partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and standard.
- Thread BankcoreThread Bank provides FDIC-insured banking services for Relay. All deposits are held at Thread Bank, Member FDIC, with up to $3M FDIC insurance through their deposit sweep program. Thread Bank is a Tennessee-chartered bank.
- Unit Finance Inc.coreUnit Finance Inc. assists with account operations including transaction processing, account setup, transaction monitoring, customer support, and technology integration between Relay and Thread Bank.
- VisacoreVisa provides the card network for Relay Visa Debit and Credit Cards. Cards are issued by Thread Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Accepted anywhere Visa cards are accepted.
- XerocoreXero accounting software integration for automatic expense syncing and financial data synchronization.
- QuickBooks OnlinecoreQuickBooks Online integration for automatic expense categorization and accounting sync.
- GustocoreGusto HR and payroll integration for seamless payroll processing and related financial management.
- Plaid and YodleestandardPlaid and Yodlee financial data aggregation services for account linking and verification.
- Community Federal Savings Bank and Nium, Inc.standardInternational payment services are provided by Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB) through a program sponsored by Nium, Inc., enabling international payment capabilities for Relay users.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
relay financial competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mercury: Mercury is a digital business banking platform purpose-built for startups and SMBs, offering multi-entity checking, treasury, and credit card products. It is the closest direct competitor to Relay, targeting a similar SMB digital-banking use case with a similar software-first experience.
- Brex: Brex provides business banking and corporate cards for startups and SMBs, combining spend management with checking and bill pay. It is a direct competitor in SMB banking, though typically oriented toward higher-spend, venture-backed customers than Relay's SMB core.
- Novo: Novo is an online business banking platform aimed at small businesses and freelancers, offering checking accounts, invoicing, and integrations with accounting and payments tools. It competes with Relay for the same SMB primary banking relationship.
- Bluevine: Bluevine provides online business checking, lines of credit, and bill pay targeted at small and mid-sized businesses. It competes with Relay on the SMB business banking relationship and on integrated cash flow and AP features.
- Lili: Lili offers a banking and financial management app built for freelancers and solo business owners, combining a business checking account with expense categorization and tax tools. It overlaps directly with Relay's small-business owner persona and lightweight accounting workflow.
- Found: Found provides banking and bookkeeping built specifically for self-employed individuals and small businesses, with tax tools and expense management. It targets the same self-employed / micro-SMB segment that Relay serves with its Profit First-style cash allocation.
- NorthOne: NorthOne is a digital business banking account built for small businesses, emphasizing integrations with accounting, payroll, and e-commerce tools. It competes for the same SMB primary-checking relationship as Relay and matches its software-led positioning.
Others
- Unit Finance: Unit is an embedded banking and BaaS platform used by fintechs to launch bank accounts, debit/credit cards, and treasury products. Relay uses Unit as a key operational infrastructure partner, and Unit competes more broadly for the same BaaS-to-SMB opportunity.
Broad incumbents
- Axos Bank (Small Business Banking): Axos Bank offers small business checking, savings, and treasury products, including a 100-sub-account business checking product. It is an established incumbent in the SMB digital banking space that overlaps with Relay's multi-account value proposition.
- Stripe (Banking / Treasury / Connect): Stripe offers embedded banking, treasury, and card-issuing infrastructure (Stripe Connect, Stripe Issuing, Stripe Treasury) that powers many fintechs' account programs. It is adjacent rather than direct, but competes with Relay at the platform/infrastructure layer through BaaS partnerships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
relay financial social profiles
Digital presencerelay financial compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
relay financial financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
relay financial leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
relay financial funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
relay financial M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about relay financial
What does relay financial do?
Relay Financial provides an online business banking and money management platform for small businesses. The offering includes multi-account business checking (up to 20 accounts), high-yield savings, Visa debit and credit cards, expense management, accounts payable/receivable, and Profit First banking methodology. Banking services are delivered through Thread Bank (Member FDIC), with deposits insured up to $3 million via a deposit sweep program.
Is relay financial a public or private company?
relay financial is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was relay financial founded?
relay financial was founded in -1.
How does relay financial make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription Revenue is the primary driver. The others are interchange Revenue, transaction Fees and cash Back Rewards Redemption.
Who are relay financial's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mercury, Brex, Novo, Bluevine, Lili, Found and NorthOne. Unit Finance is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Axos Bank (Small Business Banking) and Stripe (Banking / Treasury / Connect).
Does relay financial have an API?
No public API is recorded for relay financial.
What industry is relay financial in?
relay financial's product category is Small Business Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABABAC, SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs), with a secondary code of FSAGABAK, Cross-Border FX, Multi-Currency & Treasury for Payments. Its NAICS code is 5221 and its SIC code is 6099.