Startup treasury: match your cash to the right account

Mercury, Brex, Wise Business, Meow. 4 questions before you wire $5M anywhere.

1. Cash balance?
2. Monthly burn / spend volume?
3. International activity?
4. Top priority?

Fit matrix

ProfileBest fitWhy
US startup, simple banking + sweepMercuryDefault US startup banking with built-in treasury sweep and broad FDIC coverage via partner banks.
Venture-backed, cards + treasuryBrexBest when you want corporate cards and treasury in one platform.
Multi-currency, low-cost transfersWise BusinessBest for holding multiple currencies and cheap international transfers.
multi-currency / global startup - non-USD revenueAirwallexAirwallex is the multi-currency-first treasury platform - built for global startups with non-USD revenue.

FAQ

Is the yield FDIC-insured?
Mercury Treasury and Brex Cash sweep balances across partner banks for higher FDIC coverage but the yield-bearing portion is typically money market funds (not FDIC). Meow holds direct T-bills - government-backed but not FDIC. Read each provider's disclosure.
Can I use multiple accounts?
Yes, and most Series B+ startups do: Mercury for ops, Meow for yield ladder, Wise for intl. Pick a primary; layer in others.
What about Treasury Prime / Modern Treasury?
Both are infrastructure (you build on top), not end-user accounts. Different category.

Also worth considering

Vendors outside the matcher's primary 4 that fit specific situations the matcher won't surface. Each routes through the personal-recommendation form below.

Melio - B2B accounts-payable + bill pay
Melio is B2B accounts-payable / bill pay - pay any invoice via ACH/check/card, even if the vendor only takes paper checks.
Get a personal intro to Melio →

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