Compare the best business bank accounts in the UK 2023

Want to avoid fees? Integrate with accounting software? Compare business bank and e-money accounts to find the best.

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A good business bank account is essential for running your business effectively, whether you’re a sole trader or a large established firm. Here you can see which are the best free and paid-for accounts, and which are best for aspects such as online and app banking or invoicing. We also look at accounts that suit businesses of different sizes.

Table: sorted by promoted deals first
1 - 19 of 115
Name Product Account fee Bank transfers Requires credit check Accounting integrations Arranged overdraft Account management Key benefits Business bottom txt Link
OFFER
Revolut Business Free
Free
Free
FreeAgent, Xero
Online & app
Sign up today and unlock 1 month of a paid plan without subscription fees. T&Cs apply.
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View details
Finder Award
OFFER
Mettle by NatWest - Mobile business bank account
Free
Free
FreeAgent, QuickBooks, Xero
Online & app
Save £150 a month with FreeAgent accounting software for free.
To get FreeAgent for free, you'll need to make at least one transaction a month from your Mettle account. A saving of £150 a year (based on FreeAgent's lowest tariff). Eligibility and conditions apply.
Go to site
View details
EXCLUSIVE
Tide Free
Free
£0.20
Free if both accounts are with Tide
Clear Books, FreeAgent, KashFlow, QuickBooks, Reckon One, Sage, Xero
Online & app
Free Tide Accounting.
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View details
OFFER
Monzo Business Lite
Free
Free
N/A
Online & app
Get a free business account with no monthly fees
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View details
FREE TRIAL
HSBC Kinetic Current Account
£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.
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View details
OFFER
Cashplus Business Go Bank Account
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
Finder Award
FREE TRIAL
The Co-operative Bank Business Current Account
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.
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View details
Business Account - £400k-£6.5m turnover
£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.

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CASHBACK
ANNA Free
Free
Free
2 free UK transfers per month
Sage, Xero
App
Earn 1% cashback for paying with your ANNA card in selected categories.
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View details
OFFER
Countingup Starter Business Account
£3 per month
(waived in first 3 months)
£0.30
N/A
App
No monthly account fee for the first three months
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View details
FREE TRIAL
Small Business Account
£12.50 per month
(waived in first 3 months)
From £0.30
FreeAgent, Sage, Wave, Xero
Online, app & phone
No monthly account fee for the first three months
Go to site
View details
FREE TRIAL
Business Plus
£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.
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View details
OFFER
Tide Plus
£9.99 per month
Free
20 free per month
Clear Books, FreeAgent, KashFlow, QuickBooks, Reckon One, Sage, Xero
Online & app
Register your limited company for free (usually £12) and open a Tide account in one go: choose 'Register a company' from the Tide homepage menu. T&Cs apply.
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View details
CASHBACK
Tide Cashback
£49.99 per month
Free
150 free per month
Clear Books, FreeAgent, KashFlow, QuickBooks, Reckon One, Sage, Xero
Online & app
Get 0.5% cashback with your Tide card. Plus register your limited company for free (usually £12) and open a Tide account in one go: choose 'Register a company' from the Tide homepage menu. T&Cs apply.
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View details
Tide Pro
£18.99 per month
+ VAT
Free
Clear Books, FreeAgent, KashFlow, QuickBooks, Reckon One, Sage, Xero
Online & app
Get your first month free
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View details
FREE TRIAL
ANNA £19.90 a month
£19.90 per month
(waived in first 6 months)
Free
200 free UK transfers per month
Sage, Xero
App
Free for the first 6 months. Plus earn 1% cashback for paying with your ANNA card in selected categories.
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FREE TRIAL
ANNA £9.90 a month
£9.90 per month
(waived in first 6 months)
Free
35 free UK transfers per month
Sage, Xero
App
Free for the first 6 months. Plus earn 1% cashback for paying with your ANNA card in selected categories.
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View details
FREE TRIAL
ANNA £4.90 a month
£4.90 per month
(waived in first 6 months)
Free
4 free UK transfers per month
Sage, Xero
App
Free for the first 6 months. Plus earn 1% cashback for paying with your ANNA card in selected categories.
Go to site
View details
Revolut Business Grow
£25 per month
100/month free then 20p per transfer
FreeAgent, Xero
Online & app
Go to site
View details
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Expert analysis: The best business bank account for you

Cathy Hudson profile pic
Cathy Hudson

Money expert

There are a range of factors to take into account when looking for the business bank account that will suit you best, depending on the size and nature of your business.

If you’re a small business, sole trader or freelancer, the best one to consider is Revolut Business. It doesn’t charge a monthly or annual fee with its ‘free’ service and allows you to create and manage invoices as part of this. You can also hold and exchange 25 different currencies fee-free.

Your options may be limited if you have a poor credit history as most banks will do a credit check to make sure you meet their criteria before agreeing to give you an account. However, some will offer you an account without credit checking you, such as Cashplus, which offers the best business bank account for people with bad credit. There are no monthly fees on its Business Go account and you can bank online or through an app.

If customer satisfaction is your priority, digital-only bank Mettle comes top for this according to our survey of business banking customers. It gets the highest rating for overall satisfaction and 97% of its customers said they would recommend it. HSBC is the second best for overall satisfaction, with 97.2% of its customers saying they would recommend it.

Best business bank account for small businesses, sole traders and freelancers

Small businesses and sole traders make up a huge part of the UK economy, and a growing number of banking providers are offering business accounts specifically tailored to their needs.

Best business bank for small businesses, sole traders and freelancers: Revolut Business

Revolut Business Free
Finder rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review
Sign up today and unlock 1 month of a paid plan without subscription fees.
The business account from Revolut enables you to create, send, manage and reconcile invoices all within its free service. Revolut is known for its multicurrency approach and its business account is no different. You can receive, hold and exchange money in more than 25 currencies worldwide with no hidden fees. You’ll be able to set up as many sub-accounts in each currency as you need. In addition, you can get fixed foreign exchange rates for a set amount and date in the future, and you can spend like a local worldwide with your company debit card in 150 currencies. Each team member can get up to 200 virtual cards and up to 3 physical plastic cards. You’ll be able to set card limits, track, freeze and unfreeze cards, as well as decide where cards can be used. If you’re looking for something a little more impressive, choose the Revolut metal card, exclusive to Revolut’s paid plans.
  • Flexible account options
  • Mobile app with lots of good features
  • Ability to issue cards to all employees
  • Easy to apply
  • Freeze card if lost or stolen
  • Safe and secure
  • Free purchases
  • Free account does not include many free transactions
  • All ATM withdrawals incur a charge
  • Can't deposit cash or cheques into your account
  • Not yet a fully fledged bank
  • Currently unable to earn interest
  • Direct debits only available for EUR accounts
Account fee N/A
Bank transfers N/A
Accounting integrations FreeAgent
Xero
Requires credit check N/A
Overdraft N/A

How can I find the best bank account for small businesses?

  • What are the fees? You’re not a big company owner so you probably want to keep your expenses low. Find out if there is any fee for setting up and managing your account and how much you have to pay for each transaction.
  • Can invoices be created directly from your banking app or desktop account? Being able to create new invoices and manage existing ones is important. Check if the bank account you’d like to open has this helpful feature.
  • Are there any additional perks? Whether it’s free credit cards available for your employees or a discount on coffee supplies, it’s good to know what possibilities for saving money come with opening an account.
  • Image of amoney alongside the stat: Banks lent £65bn to SMEs in 2022, up 13% vs 2021

Best business bank account for bad credit

A poor credit history can have an impact on opening a business bank account. Fortunately, there are some banking providers who specialise in business accounts for those with bad credit or don’t conduct credit checks at all. You can compare a range of bad credit providers here.

Best business bank account for bad credit: Cashplus

Cashplus Business Go Bank Account
Finder rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review
No annual or monthly fee when you apply using the Finder link.
Opening a business bank account with bad credit can be complicated. Most banks will carry out a credit check when you put in your application and reject it if you don’t meet the requirements. All is not lost though! Some companies, like Cashplus, offer banking services perfect for businesses that have poor or no credit history. There are no credit checks when you apply. The only thing that needs to be verified is your contact details.
  • 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

How can I find the best business bank account if I have bad credit?

  • Are there credit checks? Some providers let you open a bank account without checking your credit history. You could consider one of these providers if you have bad credit.
  • Are you eligible? Your credit history may not be that important to these providers but there are other things necessary for opening an account. This could include verifying your business is based in the UK. Check what the requirements are and see if you can apply easily.
  • How is the account protected? Make sure your money is safe. Find out which body the provider is regulated by and how your money is protected.

Best business bank account for new businesses and best for accounting integrations

Staying on top of your business finances and filing your tax return is an essential but laborious part of running a business. Fortunately, many business bank accounts now sync with accounting software to make your life a little easier and help streamline your accounting processes.

Best for new business and best for accounting integrations: Tide

Tide Free
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review
Free Tide Accounting.
Tide is a fintech app which offers business accounts to small businesses and freelancers, hoping to relieve them of some of the financial stress that comes with a growing company. One of the ways it does this is to help new businesses register their limited company and open an account all in one go. Tide also stands out for the number of accountancy software packages it can integrate with, giving you more choices to find one that suits your business needs.
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Categorised spending
  • FCA regulated
  • Quick set-up
  • No monthly fees
  • Easy to manage accounts and track payments within the app
  • Ability to set up direct debits and standing orders
  • Can receive online bank statements
  • No branches - all done via the web
  • Doesn't accept cheque deposits
  • No personal accounts
  • No international transfers or interest offered
Account fee N/A
Bank transfers N/A
Accounting integrations Clear Books
FreeAgent
KashFlow
QuickBooks
Reckon One
Sage
Xero
Requires credit check N/A
Overdraft N/A

How can I find the best bank account with accounting integrations?

  • What accounting software does the account integrate with? Some business bank accounts offer a wider range of options than others, so if you’re already used to a particular accounting software, make sure your chosen account links up to it.
  • Is there a monthly fee? Some business bank accounts will only offer accounting integrations if you upgrade to a more expensive account or plan, so make sure you factor this in when comparing your options.
  • What other banking features are available? While accounting software can be extremely useful for your business, it’s important to check that the account also offers everything else you need, such as international banking or an overdraft, for example.

Good for beginners and startups

There are a lot of factors to consider when starting up a business for the first time, and banking is one of them. Spending time to find an account that has all the features you need at the right price point will benefit you in the long run.

Good for beginners and startups: Starling

Business Current Account
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Read review
Add the new Business Toolkit onto your free Starling account, and get the first month free of charge (RRP £7pcm).
The era of banking in its traditional form is being surpassed. Digital banking is on the rise, offering customers 24/7 access to their bank accounts via apps and other types of online accounts. Starling stands out for its user experience and its intuitive app. If you are just starting out, you can manage your money anytime you want and anywhere you are. What’s more, you can get instant notifications about the payments you’ve made or received and sort your invoices quickly and easily. If you’re looking for high service quality and features to help you manage your business costs, Starling may be the best option for you.
  • Add the new Business Toolkit onto your free Starling account and get the first month free of charge (RRP £7pcm)
  • Completely free UK current account opened and ready to use in 20 minutes
  • Safe and secure
  • Fully licensed by the FCA and PRA
  • Free to use your card abroad including ATM withdrawals, splitting the bill made easy with "settle up" feature, competitive and comprehensible overdraft fees
  • Decent interest rate paid on current account balances
  • Efficient app offering a range of good features such as budgeting tools and saving features
  • Has a marketplace offering competitive pensions
  • Mortgages and insurance from other growing fintech companies
  • Teen account options
  • 24/7 customer support (for all types of enquiries)
  • Relatively new so does not offer every feature, e.g. mortgages
  • No bank branches, all done via the web
  • Only available to UK residents
Account fee N/A
Bank transfers N/A
Accounting integrations FreeAgent
QuickBooks
Xero
Requires credit check N/A
Overdraft N/A

How can I find the best bank account for startups?

  • Is there any free banking on offer? If you’re going into business for the first time, some banking providers offer a decent period of free business banking with new accounts (although be mindful of what the costs may be after this free period ends).
  • What tools come with the account? As a startup, you might be after a “one-stop shop” type of business account, so take a look at what features it has. Many accounts can now integrate with your accounting software, create and track invoices for you and even help calculate your tax bill.
  • Are there any other financial services available? If you’re also looking for a business credit card, overdraft or loan, it’s worth checking which business banking providers offer those products as well.

Best business bank account for app and online banking

With bank branch visits on the decline and customers increasingly managing their money through digital channels, the range of features on offer through online banking has become a crucial part of any business bank account.

Best business bank account for app and online banking: Mettle

Mettle by NatWest - Mobile business bank account
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review
Save £150 a month with FreeAgent accounting software for free.
Mettle is the first standalone business banking app to be offered by one of the high street banks, NatWest Group. It lets business customers apply for an account in minutes, forecast business performance and create invoices. All of which can be done from its free to use app which rivals the mobile app-based business accounts already offered by challenger banks. Mettle’s app has some of the highest ratings in both the Apple App Store and Google Play store, showing it’s invested in a mobile-first customer experience.
  • Quick and easy application
  • Freeze your card if you lose it
  • Free, with useful features
  • Backed by the Natwest group
  • Sleek easy to use app
  • Overdrafts are unavailable
  • Daily payment limit of £10,000
Account fee N/A
Bank transfers N/A
Accounting integrations FreeAgent
QuickBooks
Xero
Requires credit check N/A
Overdraft N/A

How can I find the best bank account for online banking?

  • How can I access my bank account on the web? Although slick mobile banking apps are a big thing right now, even in business banking, if you’re specifically after online banking make sure you can access your account on the web via a desktop computer or a laptop, and not just through a smartphone.
  • What are the online banking features? There are lots of things you can do via online business banking, from making payments and setting up standing orders to calculating your expenses or sending out an invoice. Check that the account you select has all of the online banking features that you want.
  • Are there any transaction fees involved? With business banking, it is common to be charged small transaction fees, even for making or receiving online payments. When choosing an account, give consideration to your online banking usage to make sure those small individual fees don’t add up to one big cost for your business.

Best business bank account for invoice service

Issuing invoices and getting paid is obviously vital to running a successful business. It’s now possible to create, send and keep track of invoices directly from some business bank accounts.

Best business bank account for invoice service: ANNA Money

ANNA Free
Finder rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review
Earn 1% cashback for paying with your ANNA card in selected categories.
Invoices are crucial for keeping solid financial and accounting records. To invoice your company’s clients you can always do it the old-fashioned way and create them manually, using templates and sending the invoices out via email. It can be time-consuming though, and the last thing you want is to make a mistake while creating them, To avoid that, choose a digital bank that offers accounting software and services that automatically generate invoices you can send to your clients. One such company is ANNA Money which can help you save time and avoid the stress of chasing payments.
  • Ability to connect other provider accounts to the ANNA app through Open banking
  • 24/7 support through the app aiming to give a response within 10 mins
  • Fast set-up
  • Invoice and expense services within the app
  • No credit or overdrafts available
  • Still require a traditional bank account for majority of your business financial needs
  • No cash and cheque deposits
  • Cannot be used in web browser
Account fee N/A
Bank transfers N/A
Accounting integrations Sage
Xero
Requires credit check N/A
Overdraft N/A

How can I find the best bank account for invoicing?

  • What does the invoicing service include? Can you create and send invoices from the business account then track when payments come in and match them to your records? Will it chase unpaid invoices for you?
  • Is there 24/7 customer support? As a busy entrepreneur, you may be doing your invoicing in the evening or at the weekend, so if you run into any operational problems, it’s good to know there’s someone available to help you out.
  • Is there a full range of other banking features? It’s great being able to run your invoicing from your business account, but if that’s its main feature, you may need to weigh up if the account has everything else you might need, such as international banking or the ability to make cash deposits.

Good for international payments

If you have customers or suppliers based overseas, then the ability to make or receive international payments from or to your business bank account will be an important factor.

Good for international payments: Monzo Business

Monzo Business Lite
Finder rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review
Get a free business account with no monthly fees.
Monzo has teamed up with international money transfer company Wise to support international payments. Wise is a specialised money transfer service that shows its fees and exchange rates upfront. If you are keen to avoid any nasty surprises, then you can Wise’s calculator before making your payment to see how much you will be charged. Limits on how much you can send are the same as your daily and rolling 30-day transfer limits tied to your Monzo Business account.
  • Fee-free spending abroad
  • Custom payment links
  • Pots to separate money
Account fee N/A
Bank transfers N/A
Accounting integrations FreeAgent
QuickBooks
Xero
Requires credit check N/A
Overdraft N/A

How can I find the best business account for international payments?

  • International banking capabilities. A few of the newer or more basic business accounts don’t offer the ability to make or receive international payments, so if you need this functionally be sure to check before you sign up for an account.
  • Fees. How much will your bank charge to make or receive overseas payments? There could be upfront charges as well as currency conversion fees to pay.
  • Multi-currency accounts. A banking provider that lets you hold balances in different currencies, or one that offers different currency accounts linked to one another, might be a better bet if you’re going to be dealing with a high volume of international payments.

Good for cashback

Fancy earning something back for your business spending? Some business bank accounts allow you to earn cashback when you spend on your bank card. The money will then be paid into your bank account at regular intervals.

Good for cashback: Card One Money

Small Business Account
Finder rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review
No monthly account fee for the first three months.
Card One Money has designed its business bank account specifically for small businesses, and you can apply if you are a sole trader, partnership or limited company. You can set up the account through a speedy online process, with no credit check required. One of the biggest draws is that you can earn cashback for everyday use of your prepaid business card. Order up to 4 cards for your team and add money directly from your account.
  • Quick application process
  • No credit check required
  • Cashback rewards available on the associated Mastercard
  • No failed payment fees
  • Quite a few charges involved compared to some other business accounts, including the £55 application fee, £12.50 monthly account fee and various other transaction fees
  • No credit or overdrafts available
Account fee N/A
Bank transfers N/A
Accounting integrations FreeAgent
Sage
Wave
Xero
Requires credit check N/A
Overdraft N/A

How can I find the best bank account for cashback?

  • What are the fees? Many business bank accounts that offer perks such as cashback also charge a monthly fee. Consider whether you’ll earn enough in cashback to make the fee worth paying.
  • Are you eligible? To qualify for cashback you might need to meet certain conditions. Be sure to check these carefully before applying.
  • Is there a full range of other banking features? Earning cashback can be a great perk of opening a business bank account, but make sure the account offers everything else you might need. Don’t be swayed solely by the amount of cashback on offer.

The best business bank accounts in the UK for 2023

Finder’s best business bank accounts in the UK 2023

  • Revolut business: Best for small businesses, sole traders and freelancers
  • Cashplus: Best for bad credit
  • Mettle: Best for app and online banking
  • ANNA Money: Best for invoice service
  • Tide: Best for new business and best for accounting integrations

How did we rate our business bank accounts?

Kate Anderson
Finder money expert Kate Anderson shares our research

To come up with our Finder ratings and picks for the best business bank accounts in the UK, our team looked at the free or cheapest version of a provider’s business account range and scored them across 7 key areas.

We looked at their app scores in the Google Play Store and the App Store, their monthly fees, their transaction fees for things like ATM withdrawals or cash deposits, their customer satisfaction scores, the number of accounting software integrations they have available, their payment features and their extra features like additional employee cards or tax calculators.

We scored each category out of 5. For example, if a business bank account had all the payment features listed in our criteria, it would score 5 out of 5. To calculate our Finder rating, we averaged out all these scores and rounded them to the nearest half star.

You’ll also see accounts we picked as being outstanding in certain categories, such as the best business bank account for bad credit or the best business bank account for accounting integrations. What you want from a business banking account is down to you, so these picks are just a steer to help you with your choice.

Useful tips on how to choose the best business bank account for your business

There are many factors to consider when choosing a business account, many of which apply whether you are a foreigner or a UK resident. It’s important to do your research and think about the following:

  • Cost. Pricing structures can be complicated for business bank accounts. Some have monthly fees, some have transaction fees and many have both. So think about how you’ll use your account and what will work out to be the cheapest option for you.
  • Your type of business. It’s a good idea to look for something that’s as tailored to your business as possible. Some banks offer both startup accounts and ones that are designed for more established businesses.
  • Cash. If you take a lot of cash payments and need to deposit this cash into your business account, you’ll want to make sure that you have a bank branch or pay-in point nearby.
  • Ways to bank. Some business owners prefer to discuss banking in person, while others would rather have a great mobile app that makes banking slicker on the go. Not all banks will provide both.
  • Accepting payments. Do you need to set up card payment terminals as well as a business account?
  • Accounting software integration. If you’re managing a small business, being able to do banking and accounting from the same place makes life easier. Popular integrations include Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent.
  • Related financial products. Do you also need a savings account, insurance or a business loan, and does your chosen bank provide these?
  • International banking. Do you trade abroad or need to make a lot of international payments? Check if you can do this with the business account or if you can open an accompanying account in a different currency.
  • Bad credit. If you have a poor credit history, you might be more likely to have your business account application rejected, but some banking providers specialise in accounts for these type of customers.
  • Address checks. Some of the digital-only banking providers don’t ask for proof of address. This is particularly relevant if you have bad credit or are a foreigner without a UK address and are looking to open a business account here.

Business bank account fees explained

Unlike with most personal current accounts, many business accounts come with costs attached, which can range from a monthly fee simply for having the account, to a charge for paying in a cheque.

We outline the main types of business account costs below – bear these in mind when you’re looking at a bank’s pricing structure or an account’s terms and conditions:

How can I apply for a business account?

Once you’ve researched and chosen which business account you’d like to go for, you’ll need to apply to that banking provider to open it. Many applications can now be done online or through a mobile app (especially given the growing number of digital-only accounts), although some banks with a branch network might ask you to visit in person.

Every business bank account will have a slightly different application process, but here is a general list of information and documents that you should have to hand:

  • Your business name and address
  • Your own personal details and contact information
  • A form of ID
  • Proof of address
  • Estimated business turnover
  • Personal banking/financial statements
  • Companies House registration number, if you’re a limited company

Not every banking provider will ask you for all of this documentation, and on the flip side, there may be some who request even more detailed information about your business and its finances.

Most business bank account providers will also carry out some kind of credit check on you, although there are a few that will let you open an account without one (but be aware these products tend to come with higher usage fees). For more information on opening a business account without a credit check, check out our guide to opening a business account with a bad credit score. You can also check your credit score here.

Best business banks for customer satisfaction in 2023

Our customer satisfaction awards are decided by the only votes that really matter – yours. We asked customers of 11 major business banking providers to tell us about their experiences. Now we can reveal how they rated these UK banks. Learn more about the awards here including our ratings methodology.

Overall satisfactionCustomers who’d recommendIssuerReview
★★★★★97%Mettle logoMettle is a comparative newcomer to business banking and is a digital-only offshoot from parent company NatWest. It’s moved up the ranks this year to secure the top spot with a “would recommend” score of 97%. Read our review
★★★★★97.2%HSBC logoHSBC, the largest bank in the UK, also polled strongly in our survey, posting a rating of 4.5 stars. Like some of the other banks here, it offers a free banking introductory period for startups or businesses switching their account, after which fees apply. Read our review
★★★★★96.8%Santander logoRoyal Bank of Scotland finished a respectable third in this year’s business banking survey. It posted 4.5 out 5 stars and an 96.8% “would recommend” score. Its customers that we canvassed praised the “great customer service”. Read our review
★★★★★95%Barclays logoAnother high street veteran, Barclays, isn’t far behind. The bank operates different business accounts depending on company size, and our survey respondents praised its “helpful” customer service. Read our review
★★★★★94%Lloyds Bank logoLong-established Lloyds Bank recorded an impressive “would recommend” score of 94% in our survey. It offers business accounts for new and established businesses, as well as one for clubs and charities. Customers cited the bank’s customer service and clear pricing. Read our review
★★★★★91%NatWest logoIt’s a competitive table this year, so while NatWest may have finished in the middle, just over 9 out of 10 of the customers that we surveyed would recommend this bank to a friend, and were generally pleased with its level of customer support. Read our review
★★★★★91%Santander logoSantander operates a range of different business accounts, some of which come with discounted fees for startups or customers who are switching. Customers praised its reliable and “friendly” service. Read our review
★★★★★91%Starling logoDigital challenger bank Starling matched established high street bank’s “would recommend” scores in our survey, despite not having any branches. The customers we polled highlighted its easy to use app and low business banking charges. Read our review
★★★★★91%Virgin Money logoVirgin Money posted 4.5 out of 5 stars and a “would recommend” score of 91% in its first year in our survey. It offers 25 months’ free day-to-day banking to new business customers. Read our review
★★★★★91%Bank of Scotland logoAlthough its branch network is mainly confined to Scotland, Bank of Scotland offers accounts to businesses across the UK. It has several business account options to choose from, and there is a dedicated resource centre especially for business account holders. Read our review
★★★★★94%The Co-operative Bank logoThe Co-operative Bank is known for its ethical business banking and customers in our survey commended it on its reliable service. Over 9 out of 10 customers would recommend this bank to a friend. Read our review
★★★★★93%TSB logoTSB slipped down the table this but still posted a very respectible 93% “woule recommend” score. TSB relaunched on the UK high street in 2013, and is currently offering an initial period of free business banking for 30 months to startups and account switchers. Read our review
★★★★★91%Tide logoTide is a digital-only business banking provider, and its customers highlighted its easy account set up and clear to use online features as some its major plus points. Read our review

Customer satisfaction ratings methodology

We asked business account holders to rate their satisfaction with the service they had received from their banking provider, and also whether they would recommend that provider to a friend. Our independent survey of 623 business banking customers was carried out in December 2022 – read full details of our methodology here.

We have crunched the numbers and shown the results for the 13 banking providers listed in the table above. We used these ratings to decide the winners of our awards (if there was a draw on the star ratings score, we used the “would recommend” percentage as a tie-breaker).

Business banking ratings

★★★★★ — Excellent

★★★★★ — Good

★★★★★ — Average

★★★★★ — Subpar

★★★★★ — Poor

Our customer satisfaction scores (“Customers say”) are based on a survey of 623 customers carried out in December 2022.

Best UK business bank by customer service 2023

In August 2023, the results of the “Business banking service quality – Great Britain” survey were published by BVA BDRC, on behalf of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). SME customers with business current accounts were asked how likely they would be to recommend their account provider’s services to other SMEs in the following areas: overall service quality, online and mobile banking services, service in branches and business centres, SME overdraft and loan services, and relationship/account management services. The findings are below.

Finder whitepaper cover

Getting down to business: How banking is evolving to cater to SMEs in a new era

Finder published a paper in February 2022 exploring current trends, innovations and account switching within the business account sector. The report includes the findings of our survey of business account holders, and insights from experts at ANNA, the Federation of Small Businesses, Kent Business School, Savanta and Starling Bank.
Download your free copy

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The bottom line

When you’re choosing a business bank account, you need to think carefully about the features your business needs and how you’ll use them. Having an account with no monthly or annual fees may be important to you but one with fees could save you time and money in the long run. And if you often make cash deposits, you’ll need to be with a bank that has branches in your area. There are a range of accounts on offer so you’ll be able to find one that suits you and your business.

Frequently asked questions

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.

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