Online business accounts and neobanks in Australia offer fast remote opening and low cost international payments, but many are payment or electronic money providers rather than licensed banks, which changes how your money is held.
- Licensed bank or not
- Mixed. Several popular online accounts such as Wise Business and Airwallex are payment providers, not licensed banks. As of 10 February 2026.
- Typical opening time
- Often one to five business days at fintech accounts, with digital identity checks.
- Free account available
- Yes, some online accounts have no monthly fee, while others charge a plan or a one off setup fee. As of 10 February 2026.
- Most providers
- Multiple online business accounts serve Australia
General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.
How online accounts and neobanks work in Australia
Online business accounts in Australia fall into two broad groups. The first is licensed banks that operate mainly through an app and website, where eligible deposits are covered by the government deposit guarantee up to the cap per account holder per institution. The second is payment and electronic money providers, which offer account like features such as local account details, cards, and currency conversion, but hold your money under different rules and are not banks. Both can be useful, and the right fit depends on how you trade and how much weight you put on deposit protection. As of 10 February 2026.
What they tend to do well
Remote opening is usually fast, often one to five business days with digital identity checks. International payments are frequently cheaper than the major banks. As of 10 February 2026, Wise Business converts from about 0.6 percent and enables local account details for a one off A$65, Airwallex markets a free business account with local account details across many countries, and Revolut Business serves companies registered in Australia with plans from about A$10 to A$79 a month. Verify current pricing with each provider.
What to weigh up
Cash handling and branch access are limited or absent with online only providers. Where a provider is an electronic money institution rather than a bank, the deposit guarantee does not apply in the same way, so check how your funds are held. Feature sets, supported entity types, and eligibility differ between providers. Always confirm the current position with the provider.
What to check before you open one
When comparing online business accounts and neobanks in Australia, check these points, as of 10 February 2026. Verify with the provider
- Whether the provider is a licensed bank or a payment or electronic money provider, and how your money is held.
- The monthly or plan fee, any one off setup fee, and the international conversion margin.
- Whether the account supports your entity type, such as sole trader, company, or trust, and your expected cash and branch needs.
How to compare online accounts
- Decide how much you value deposit protection and branch access against speed and low international costs.
- Compare the licence status, the monthly or setup fees, and the currency conversion margin side by side.
- Confirm the current terms and eligibility with the provider before you apply, because features and fees change.
Compare business accounts available in Australia
These providers accept business customers in Australia. Fees and eligibility shown as of 10 February 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.
Compare business accounts →Questions about online accounts and neobanks in Australia
Are neobanks and online business accounts in Australia real banks?
How much do online business accounts cost in Australia?
How quickly can you open an online business account in Australia?
Is my money safe in an online business account in Australia?
Fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 10 February 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.