Novo Review

Nearside (formerly Hatch) is a free business banking platform that distinguishes itself with a generous cash back offer on business debit card spending — providing 2.2% cash back on qualifying purchases without a monthly fee or minimum balance requirement. For small businesses that run significant operating expenses through their debit card, this cash back can offset meaningful costs while maintaining the fee-free banking structure. The Mastercard business debit card works everywhere cards are accepted, with instant virtual card issuance for online purchases available through the mobile app. ACH transfers, mobile check deposit, and basic expense categorization are included at no charge. The Nearside platform provides real-time transaction notifications and a clean mobile-first interface. Business checking FDIC insurance is provided through Evolve Bank & Trust. The cashback model is most valuable for businesses with high operating expense volumes processed through the debit card — contractors purchasing materials, retailers buying inventory, or service businesses running substantial recurring vendor charges. Nearside lacks some features present in more established neobanks — sub-account organization, corporate card programs, and treasury sweep products are absent — but the cash back offering fills a specific gap in the market: free business banking with genuine debit card rewards that most competitors don't provide. Account opening is fully digital with no credit check. For small businesses prioritizing expense offset over banking feature breadth, Nearside's rewards model delivers direct financial return.

Rho is a corporate banking and spend management platform targeting high-growth companies — typically Series A through Series C startups and mid-market businesses — with a unified platform for business banking, corporate cards, treasury management, and accounts payable. Unlike consumer-grade neobanks, Rho's focus on higher-AUM businesses shapes its feature set: high-yield savings powered by US Treasury instruments, multi-user controls with role-based permissions, BILL and NetSuite integrations for AP workflow, and multi-entity banking support for companies managing subsidiaries or international operations. The free business banking tier provides ACH, wire, international wire, and mobile deposit with no transaction fees. Corporate cards are issued on Mastercard with configurable spending limits and real-time transaction visibility. Treasury management sweeps idle cash into competitive short-duration instruments. The AP automation module handles bill capture, approval routing, and payment execution within the banking platform. Team management allows CFOs to grant controllers, bookkeepers, and accounts payable staff appropriate platform access without sharing owner credentials. The Rho mobile app provides on-the-go approval capabilities for time-sensitive payment authorizations. Integrations with QuickBooks, NetSuite, and Xero synchronize banking data to accounting systems. For finance teams at growth-stage companies who want banking, card management, and AP in one platform without paying Brex Premium pricing, Rho's free model funded by interchange and treasury spread offers a compelling combination.

Lili is a banking app for self-employed workers and small businesses that integrates financial management and tax tools directly into the banking experience. The free tier provides a Visa debit card, ACH transfers, and basic expense tagging. Lili's Tax Optimizer automatically sets aside a percentage of incoming deposits into a tax bucket, calculating the recommended set-aside rate based on business income and filing status — addressing the most common financial mistake of self-employed workers who don't reserve funds for quarterly tax payments. The expense management feature categorizes business expenses against tax-deductible categories and generates a year-end expense report that simplifies Schedule C preparation. Lili Pro adds higher APY savings, unlimited invoicing with payment links, unlimited expense categorization, and priority support. Lili Smart includes all Pro features plus an accounting integration with QuickBooks, advanced analytics, and a business checkbook. The invoicing tool allows freelancers to create and send professional invoices directly from the app without a separate tool. Business savings accounts within the Lili platform enable goal-based savings for tax reserves, equipment purchases, and emergency funds. FDIC insurance through Choice Financial Group covers all deposits. Lili's combination of zero-fee basic banking, automatic tax set-aside, and integrated invoicing creates a self-sufficient financial management suite for solopreneurs and micro-businesses who want to consolidate banking and basic bookkeeping in one mobile app.