As your business grows and your operations become more complex, you may find that budgeting, managing expenses, and separating cash flows through one account is no longer optimal.

To better organize your finances, you can open sub-accounts in addition to your main Bluevine Business Checking account.

Sub-account features and limits

Depending on your business checking plan, you can open up to 20 sub-accounts to manage different parts of your business.

Like your main Bluevine Business Checking account, sub-accounts have no minimum balance requirements, overdraft fees, or transaction limits.¹ Your sub-accounts also earn your business checking plan’s APY on eligible balances.² 

Each sub-account has its own dedicated account number, giving you complete control over how vendors, suppliers, or contractors bill your business. You can send and receive payments directly into your sub-accounts, issue debit cards linked to specific sub-accounts for clearer spending control, and set up automatic transfer rules to keep your funds organized based on balance thresholds.

How to open a sub-account

Opening a sub-account is fast and easy. Follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your Bluevine dashboard via desktop or mobile web browser.⁴

2. From either the homepage or the Checking tab of the dashboard, click the arrow next to the account dropdown at the top.

3. Click Add sub-account.

4. Review sub-account features and click Next once you’re done.

5. Confirm the purpose of your sub-account.

6. Create a nickname for your sub-account.

7. Check the box to confirm your beneficial ownership information is up to date.

8. Click Add sub-account.

9. Click Done on the account ready screen.

10. Click Done on the confirmation screen.

Sending payments from sub-accounts

1. Sign in to your Bluevine dashboard.

2. Navigate to Checking on the left-hand menu.

3. Select Send Payment.

4. Search for your payee or select Add payee.

5. Select your sub-account in the Pay from dropdown menu.

6. Enter the payment amount and bill details.

7. Choose your payment method, frequency, and send date, then click Next.

8. Verify the information you entered, then click Send Payment.

Transferring money between accounts

You can transfer money between your accounts by selecting the Transfer Money button on the Checking tab. Choose your accounts in the “Transfer from” and “Transfer to” fields. Your main checking account appears as “Bluevine (XXXX)” and sub-accounts appear as their nicknames, e.g., “Payroll (XXXX)”.

Transferring money between your Bluevine accounts and sub-accounts is instant. Transferring money to an external bank account typically takes 3–5 business days.

Navigating between accounts

To navigate between your accounts, go to the Checking tab of your Bluevine dashboard. To see account details or update the nicknames of your sub-accounts, click the account you’d like to view.

Ordering checkbooks for your sub-accounts

Your business can order checkbooks for your sub-accounts. For more information on ordering checks for your sub-account, see our support article. 

Issuing debit cards for your sub-accounts

See our support article for instructions on issuing debit cards for more information.

Viewing statements for your sub-accounts

To see your sub-account statements, navigate to the Documents tab > Statements on your Bluevine dashboard. Then, select the sub-account from the Account drop-down menu and select the applicable statement month.

Closing a sub-account

Before closing a sub-account, use the Transfer Money button on your Bluevine dashboard to move any funds out of your sub-account to your main account. Once your sub-account balance is zero, you can follow the steps below to close your sub-account:

1.  Sign in to your Bluevine dashboard.

2.  Navigate to the Home tab, where you can view your Checking accounts and balances.

3.  Find the sub-account you wish to close.

4.  Click the three dots next to the account.

5.  Complete the prompts to verify the closure of the sub-account.

Your main Bluevine Business Checking account will remain open if you close a sub-account. If you close your main account, any active sub-accounts will automatically be closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are sub-accounts typically used for?

Sub-accounts are an easy-to-use feature that allows you to budget, manage expenses, separate business cash flows, and control employee spending. For example, you might open a separate sub-account for payroll and another for tax savings. 

With sub-accounts, you can control which accounts vendors can bill, and implement growth strategies like the profit-first method.⁵

How many sub-accounts can I open?

The number of sub-accounts you can open is determined by your business checking plan. See this support article for more details.

How does interest work with sub-accounts?

The total balance of your main Bluevine Business Checking account and sub-accounts will contribute toward the interest you earn. Earned interest will be deposited into your main Bluevine Business Checking account.²

For more information, refer to our earning interest support article.

What happens if I close a sub-account?

If you no longer want or need your sub-account, you can close it without closing your main account. Please transfer your funds out of the account before closing your sub account.

Can I order a debit card for a sub-account?

Yes, you can issue debit cards for your sub-accounts. See our support article for instructions on issuing debit cards.

^{1 No limit on number of transactions. However, all accounts are subject to the aggregated monthly deposit and withdrawal amount limits of the Account Agreement.
2 Premier and Plus plan customers automatically earn annual percentage yield (“APY”) on their available balances. Standard plan customers will earn interest on their available balances if they meet an eligibility requirement as detailed in the Terms of Interest Accrual which is incorporated as a part of the Bluevine Business Checking Account Agreement.
3 Check payment fees are based on your plan type. See our support article on fees for more information.
4 Sub-accounts can only be opened on the desktop or mobile browser version of the Bluevine Dashboard experience.
5 This content is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice of any type, such as financial, legal, tax, or accounting advice. This content does not necessarily state or reflect the views of Bluevine or its partners. Please consult with an expert if you need specific advice for your business.}