Brex is a financial technology company that provides business banking accounts and corporate expense management for startups and enterprise companies. It began as a corporate charge card for technology companies and has since built a full-stack financial operating system targeting high-growth organizations.
In 2022, Brex discontinued service to small businesses that lacked venture capital backing or significant cash deposits. The product is now explicitly designed for venture-backed startups and larger enterprises.
What the product is structurally
Brex structures its offering as two connected products: the Brex Business Account and Brex Empower. The Business Account is a depository product where funds are held through a program managed by LendingClub Bank, a federally chartered institution. Deposits are FDIC-insured up to standard limits.
Brex Empower is the spend management software layer. It handles corporate card issuance, expense policies, approvals, reimbursements, accounting integrations, and travel booking. These two products are designed to be used together, but can be used independently.
Brex also provides a global account product for companies operating across multiple currencies and jurisdictions. This product includes multi-currency wallets and international wire capabilities through banking infrastructure partners.
How it works in practice
Credit limits for the Brex card are evaluated based on the business’s total capital position rather than personal creditworthiness. For venture-backed companies, Brex typically reviews the size and source of the last funding round. For bootstrapped companies, it evaluates business bank balances.
ACH transfers, domestic wires, and international wires are supported through the Business Account. The global account extends this to multi-currency capabilities with local payment rails in select corridors.
Brex Empower connects to accounting software including NetSuite, Sage Intacct, QuickBooks, and Xero. The platform supports real-time card controls, budget enforcement, automated receipt collection, and approval routing.
The Brex AI layer, introduced in 2024, analyzes transaction data to flag policy violations, surface duplicate expenses, and generate finance reports. This functionality is positioned for finance teams at Series A companies and above.
Fees and pricing mechanics
The Brex Business Account carries no monthly fee, no minimum balance requirement, and no domestic transaction fees. Outgoing domestic and international wires are fee-free for standard Business Account holders as of 2026.
Brex Essentials, the base tier, is free and includes standard card and expense management features. Brex Premium, a paid tier, is priced on a per-user basis and unlocks advanced policy controls, dedicated support, and expanded integrations.
Brex earns interchange fees from merchant transactions as a primary revenue source. Rewards points are earned on card spending and redeemable for travel, statement credits, or transfers to partner programs.
Limits, eligibility, and availability
Brex requires businesses to meet one of its defined eligibility criteria: venture capital or private equity funding, $50,000 or more in a Brex or linked business account, or enterprise business status with a qualifying revenue profile. Sole proprietors and micro-businesses typically do not qualify.
The application is fully digital and requires company formation documents, EIN, beneficial ownership information, and documentation of funding or financial standing. Approval timelines vary based on the complexity of the review.
International businesses can access Brex’s global account if they meet eligibility thresholds. The platform supports legal entities in a range of countries, but the feature set available to non-U.S. entities differs from the domestic offering.
Tradeoffs, risks, or limitations
The eligibility threshold is a practical constraint for early-stage founders without institutional funding. Companies that do not meet the minimum qualification criteria cannot access the platform, regardless of their operational need.
Brex’s credit limit structure means that a company’s spending power is tied to its capital position. A drawdown of reserves — common during growth phases — can result in a reduced credit limit at a moment when spending needs are highest.
The platform’s complexity is calibrated for finance teams with dedicated headcount. Founders managing their own finances alongside operations may find the feature density more than their workflow requires.
Brex does not hold a bank charter. Operational continuity for the deposit account depends on the health of its banking partners. Deposits remain insured, but account access during a partner disruption would be subject to recovery procedures.
See also: Brex Corporate Card Review, Mercury Review, Ramp Review
