Business bank accounts with overdrafts UK 2023

From a piece of equipment breaking to the cancellation of a major order, business owners often have to deal with unexpected costs that can push their business account balance below zero.

An overdraft facility can be a solution, but only once you’ve ruled out the alternatives, because it can be quite expensive.

Compare business bank accounts with overdrafts

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Name	Product	Account fee	Bank transfers	Requires credit check	Accounting integrations	Arranged overdraft	Account management	Key benefits	Business bottom txt	Link
FREE TRIAL Business Current Account Business Current Account	FREE TRIAL	£7 per month (waived in the first 12 months)	Free		N/A	Subject to eligibility and application	Branch, online, app & phone	No monthly account fee for the first 12 months, then £7 per month.	Overdrafts: Debit interest is charged and monthly usage or annual fees will apply depending on the amount you borrow. Unauthorised borrowing charges will apply. All lending is subject to status. Security may be required. A guarantee may be required for Limited Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
FREE TRIAL The Co-operative Bank Business Current Account The Co-operative Bank Business Current Account Finder Award	FREE TRIAL	Free	Free		QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Multiple providers	On application (subject to status, eligibility and The Co-operative Bank's Lending policy)	Branch, online, app & phone	Free everyday digital business banking with the original ethical bank, plus access to the free ‘Go Get Paid’ app from BankiFi to help you get paid faster, rated 4.9 stars. Sole traders or Single Directors only. Charges apply for cash and cheque transactions. Apply online. T&Cs apply.		Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
OFFER Cashplus Business Go Bank Account Cashplus Business Go Bank Account	OFFER	Free	£0.30 Free for first 3 payments sent each month (£0.30 for every transfer thereafter)		Clear Books, FreeAgent, KashFlow, QuickBooks, Sage, Xero	By invitation	Online & app	No annual or monthly fee when you apply using the Finder link		Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
FREE TRIAL Business Account - £400k-£6.5m turnover Business Account - £400k-£6.5m turnover	FREE TRIAL	£8.50 per month (waived in first 12 months)	Free for EU digital transfers (SEPA)*		Multiple providers	Subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history.	Branch, online, app & phone	No monthly account fee for the first 12 months, then £8.50 per month. T&Cs apply. Other charges apply. Free invoice and accounting software provided by FreshBooks, worth over £260 per year, with your Barclays business account. T&Cs apply. *Charges for other bank transfers and card payments apply. Visit here for more information.		Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
FREE TRIAL HSBC Kinetic Current Account HSBC Kinetic Current Account	FREE TRIAL	£6.50 per month (waived in first 12 months)	Free		N/A		Branch, online, app & phone	No monthly account fee for the first 12 months.		Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
FREE TRIAL Business Plus Account Business Plus Account	FREE TRIAL	£5 per month (waived if balance stays in credit and averages over £10,000)	Free		FreeAgent, QuickBooks, Sage, Xero		Branch, online, app & phone	30 months of fee-free Business Banking when you switch to TSB.		Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
FREE TRIAL The Co-operative Bank Business Directplus Current Account The Co-operative Bank Business Directplus Current Account Finder Award	FREE TRIAL	£7 per month (waived in first 30 months)	Free		QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Multiple providers	On application (subject to status, eligibility and The Co-operative Bank's Lending policy)	Branch, online, app & phone	Free everyday business banking for 30 months with the original ethical bank, plus access to the free ‘Go Get Paid’ app from BankiFi to help you get paid faster. T&Cs apply.	Minimum balance: £1,000+ balance must be maintained, if this falls below £1,000 at any time during a charging period, other relevant transaction charges (including the £7 monthly service charge during the 30 months free banking period) will be applied as outlined in the tariff.	Go to site View details		loading Fetching your data...
Business Current Account Business Current Account		£45 per month	Free		N/A		Online, app & phone			View details		loading Fetching your data...
OFFER Start Up Bank Account Start Up Bank Account	OFFER	Free	£0.35		FreeAgent		Branch, online, app & phone	Use the digital accounting tool FreeAgent to make invoicing, payroll and managing your cash flow easy. It’s worth more than £145 + VAT a year (based on annual fee as of Aug 2021), but free for you.		View details		loading Fetching your data...
Business Banking Account Business Banking Account		£10 per month	Free		QuickBooks, Sage, Xero		Branch, online, app & phone			View details		loading Fetching your data...

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Latest reviews of business accounts with overdrafts

Cashplus - Cashplus Business Go Bank Account

Finder rating

★★★★★

Go to site Read review

• Why it’s great
• Pros/cons
• Details

No annual or monthly fee when you apply using the Finder link.

The Cashplus business account has no monthly fee and can be applied for in a matter of minutes online. Once your account is up and running, you'll be told whether you're also eligible for a business overdraft of up to £2,000, which can help you cover any unexpected expenses. If you're eligible, you'll be able to simply add your overdraft to your account through the app or via online banking. The account can also be integrated with accounting software such as Xero, Quickbooks and Sage, offers spending reports and instant notifications for payments and transfers, and enables you to capture and add digital receipts in the app. There's also the option to upgrade your account for a monthly fee, which will offer additional benefits such as cashback on your card spend and a credit builder feature, to help your business improve its credit score over time.

• Open an account in 5 mins
• "Cashplus iDraft" once eligible
• Currency cards for travel
• Online services in addition to the mobile app

• Charge to have your bank card issued
• Traditional bank still needed for majority of your business finance needs

Account fee	N/A
Bank transfers	N/A
Accounting integrations	Clear Books FreeAgent KashFlow QuickBooks Sage Xero
Requires credit check	N/A
Overdraft	N/A

The Co-operative Bank - The Co-operative Bank Business Current Account

Customer rating

★★★★★

Go to site Read review

• Why it’s great
• Pros/cons
• Details

Free everyday digital business banking with the original ethical bank, plus access to the free ‘Go Get Paid’ app from BankiFi to help you get paid faster, rated 4.9 stars.

This business account from the Co-op offers free business banking transactions for the first 30 months, including ATM withdrawals, debit card purchases, faster payments and automated debits and withdrawals. After that, a £10 monthly service charge applies and certain transactions will also be charged a fee. You'll be able to apply for an overdraft of up to £250,000 on the account, but whether you'll be eligible will depend on your individual circumstances. To apply, you'll need to complete and return an overdraft request form, plus an assets and liabilities form if you're applying for more than £10,000. These can be found on the Co-op website. Further benefits of the account include access to the payment app from Incomeing, and to legal, technical and HR services with Assurant. Customers also have access to merchant services with Fiserv, tailored business insurance cover with AXA, and access to free business webinars.

• Free everyday business banking for 30 months
• Access to a payment app, as well as additional support services
• Multiple ways to bank

• Monthly service charge applies after 30 months
• Only suitable for sole traders or single directors
• Fees apply to certain transactions

Account fee	N/A
Bank transfers	N/A
Accounting integrations	QuickBooks Sage Xero Multiple providers
Requires credit check	N/A
Overdraft	N/A

Lloyds Bank - Business Current Account

Finder rating

★★★★★

Customer rating

★★★★★

Go to site Read review

• Why it’s great
• Pros/cons
• Details

No monthly account fee for the first 12 months, then £7 per month.

This business account from Lloyds is designed for start-up and small businesses that have an annual turnover of less than £3 million. New businesses can enjoy free everyday business banking for the first 12 months, after which a monthly account fee of £7 will apply. Certain transaction fees will also be payable after 12 months, such as for cheques and cash payments. In addition, you'll be able to apply for an unsecured overdraft of up to £25,000 on the account. Customers can apply for a quote online to see how likely they are to get accepted for an overdraft without affecting their credit score. This bank account also offers dedicated support from Lloyds' UK-based business management team, plus access to useful guides and business tools. For a fee, the account can also be integrated with Business Finance Assistance. You must be aged 18 or over and a sole trader, partner or company director to apply.

• Free electronic payments
• Free cash deposits and withdrawals
• Open an account online

• Fees apply after first 12 months
• No interest paid on credit balances
• Fee applies to Business Finance Assistance after three months

Account fee	N/A
Bank transfers	N/A
Accounting integrations	N/A
Requires credit check	N/A
Overdraft	N/A

HSBC - HSBC Kinetic Current Account

Customer rating

★★★★★

Read review

• Why it’s great
• Pros/cons
• Details

No monthly account fee for the first 12 months.

This everyday business bank account from HSBC has no monthly maintenance fee for the first 12 months, but charges £6.50 per month after this. You can apply for the account via the app and most accounts are up and running within 48 hours. There's also the option of applying for an overdraft of up to £30,000 in the app, with funds available on the same business day that your credit assessment is successful. Through the account, you'll be able to manage direct debits, standing orders and future payments, get insights on your business spending through automatically categorised transactions, and keep track of your finances with a monthly breakdown of cash flow. You'll also be able to freeze your debit card if you misplace it, and unfreeze it again when found, plus scan and deposit cheques and make payments of up to £25,000 per day in the app.

• Easy to apply for and manage
• Arranged overdraft
• Useful app features to help you track spending
• No monthly fee for 12 months

• Interest is charged on overdraft
• Monthly maintenance fee applies after first 12 months
• No interest paid on credit balances

Account fee	N/A
Bank transfers	N/A
Accounting integrations	QuickBooks Sage Xero
Requires credit check	N/A
Overdraft	N/A

What’s a business overdraft?

A business overdraft is not unlike a personal overdraft: it’s a feature of your business current account that allows you to keep spending even if your account balance goes below zero.

Just like with personal accounts, you can choose whether or not you do want one as part of your account. There are quite a few fees and costs (more on this below), so you should weigh up options carefully before applying.

Business overdrafts are a flexible, if not cheap, way of borrowing money, and can help you with unexpected costs (bills, invoices and so on) as well as with occasional cash flow issues.

Can I get a business bank account with an overdraft?

Most traditional banks offer business overdrafts with their business accounts, and even some challenger banks will let you apply for one.

Business overdrafts are more often unsecured, but some banks may also offer a “secured” option, which means you’ll have to use your business assets as collateral.

Limits, interest rates and fees will depend on the bank, on your business’s turnover, and on how much you borrow during the year.

How much does a business bank account with an overdraft cost?

There are two main sets of costs to take into account:

• Interest rate. This is only charged if you do in fact end up using your overdraft. The rate you are offered will often depend on your business turnover and credit score. The final cost will also depend on how long it takes you to pay the overdraft back. The rate is usually variable, which means that it changes with the Bank of England official base rate.
• Fees. These tend to be fixed and are charged annually or monthly. Some banks will charge it whether you use the overdraft facility or not (and call it something like “arrangement fee”).

The advertised interest rate on business overdrafts is often quite decent, but do keep in mind that it is not necessarily the same as what your business will be offered (which will largely depend on its credit score).

On fees, make sure you have read the terms and conditions carefully so you know what and when you’ll be charged. You should also watch that you don’t go beyond your arranged overdraft’s limit to avoid any unauthorised borrowing fees, which can be quite hefty.

Will I be credit-checked if I apply for a business bank account with an overdraft?

Yes, the bank will check your business credit score. Depending on how it is, your business may be refused the overdraft application or offered a higher rate. You can check your credit score here.

However, many banks will let you check your eligibility first. Using a so-called “eligibility checker” is always a good idea because it will tell you how likely your business is to get accepted without leaving a trace on your credit record.

Who might open a business bank account with an overdraft?

An overdraft can be a good option for a number of businesses, from very small to bigger ones.

However, it should be seen as a safety net you can fall on if something goes wrong more than as a line of credit to use regularly. It is a fairly expensive way of borrowing money, so if you need it often, you may want to look for a cheaper solution.

For example, you can consider a business credit card, which can help your business cash flow and lets you borrow interest-free as long as you always pay back your bill on time. Fees also tend to be lower than with overdrafts and you might get additional benefits too.

Pros and cons of business overdrafts

Bottom line

Just like personal overdrafts, business overdrafts shouldn’t be used all the time; but they can be good to have if anything goes wrong and your business has to face extra costs.

Be especially careful when applying and make sure you have read and understood all the fees and costs (particularly what happens if you go over the credit limit).

Frequently asked questions

• How do I apply for a business overdraft?

  Depending on your bank, you should be able to do it online or in person. It should be a relatively straightforward process if you already have a business account with that same bank, because it will already have all the information on your business and its finances (unless your overdraft application is part of a wider business account application with a new bank, of course).

• What are the alternatives to a business overdraft?

  Apart from business credit cards, which we’ve already mentioned, there are a few business loan options that are more suitable to help with certain cash flow issues. Check out business credit lines and invoice financing, for example.

• What if my business overdraft application is refused?

  Don’t panic! There are other options for businesses whose credit record is less than great. Here is a guide on business credit cards for bad credit that may help.