In April 2026, Finder contacted the following banking brands to ask how long it would take to open an account. Below we have listed the responses and detailed the fastest and quickest way to open a business account. Note that if you are applying from abroad as a non-UK resident, business account providers may have different application requirements. We have a separate guide for non-UK residents applying for a business account.
| Business account provider | Logo | How long it takes to setup an account | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tide |  | Tide said applications can take a few minutes to a few hours but can vary depending on business type. In some cases, it can take a few days. | Visit Tide |
| Zempler Bank |  | Zempler stated that accounts can be opened within 4 minutes. | Read our review |
| Monzo |  | Monzo said that more than 80% of customers are able to open an account the same day they apply. | Read our review |
| MyGuava |  | MyGuava stated that accounts can typically be opened within 1 day. However, as of September 2025, accounts have been suspended. | Read our review |
| Revolut |  | Revolut stated that it depends on region and circumstances but accounts are generally opened and verified within 24 hours of submitting an application. More complex businesses can take up to 5 business days to be verified. | Visit Revolut |
| Counting Up |  | Counting Up stated it takes less than 5 minutes to open an account. | Visit CountingUp |
| ANNA Money |  | ANNA Money stated it takes as little as 10 minutes to set up an account. | Read our review |
| Mettle by NatWest |  | Mettle responded that it aims to open most business accounts within 72 hours, but due to current high demand, this might take slightly longer. | Read our review |
| NatWest |  | NatWest told us that it usually takes up to 10 working days. However, smaller simpler businesses typically take less time, and larger, more complex businesses typically take a little longer. | Read our review |
| Danske Bank |  | Danske Bank said 99% of accounts are opened within 4 days, with the average opening time being 3 days. | Read our review |
| Starling |  | Starling provided no time frame but said it would be easy to open an account. | Read our review |
| HSBC |  | HSBC said it takes around 22 minutes to apply for an account and an average of 9 days to open it. | Read our review |
The SumUp Business Account can be opened in under 10 minutes. All you need to do is download the SumUp app and verify your ID. Once open, you’ll also get a virtual Mastercard that you can use instantly while you wait for a physical card to arrive. A SumUp Business Account makes it really easy to integrate with its card readers, ensuring payments arrive in your account the next day. Having both your payment processing system and business account with the same provider can simplify your set-up and save you time.
The Zempler Bank Business Extra account (formerly known as Cashplus) can be opened in a matter of minutes and doesn’t require a credit check, so it’s a great option if you need to open a bank account straight away. It’s a digital-only account with no monthly fee attached, and you can open one of these accounts if you’re a sole trader or the owner of a limited company or partnership. Perks of the Zempler account include cashflow tracking, invoicing tools and integrations with accounting software. There are also options for loans and an overdraft facility if you need to use these.
Tide is a fintech app that offers business accounts to small businesses and freelancers, hoping to relieve 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.
Revolut is now a fully licensed UK bank, meaning your funds are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Its business banking account is fast and easy to open – accounts are usually up and running within hours, not days. Revolut Business supports more than 25 currencies and can be used in more than 100 countries. You can get physical or virtual cards for you and your team, set up automated payments, and add spending caps, all within the app. Plus, you can integrate your Revolut Business account with software like Xero to keep things running smoothly.
It only takes a few minutes to open a Countingup account. Designed for sole traders and small businesses, Countingup offers built-in accounting software and you can share access with your accountant too. It doesn’t charge a maintenance fee for the first 3 months, which could be a good chance to try out the account before you commit. It only has 1 type of business account, which has 3 tiers with different pricing depending on how much you deposit in the account each month. But it’s not a bank so your money isn’t protected by the FSCS if it collapses.
This bank account enables businesses to collect, hold and send money in multiple currencies. There are no monthly fees and accounts can be opened in a matter of minutes. Users will be able to transfer funds in more than 34 currencies into over 130 countries at competitive exchange rates. What’s more, you’ll be able to create virtual employee and expense cards for your business which will enable you to track spending and set spend limits. You can also use your multi-currency debit card to pay for expenses online or in person in different currencies with no transaction fees, provided you have the right currencies in your account. Further benefits include the option to connect your currency accounts with platforms like eBay, Shopify and PayPal, and the ability to sync your account with Xero to ensure your Xero transaction records are up to date for your accountant or bookkeeper.
An instant bank account is one that can be opened quickly, though the process is unlikely to be immediate.
While the application form might only take a few minutes to fill in, you then have to wait for the bank to approve your application. How long this process takes depends on the bank and your business.
Many high-street banks might take a week or more to open a business account, but some smaller banks and e-money providers take less than a day.
Yes, it is possible to open an account in a day. But it depends on the bank’s processes and what information you need to provide about your business.
If it’s a busy period, like the end of the tax year, it may take longer for a bank to review your application.
It also depends on whether anything is missing from your provided information. If the bank has to get in touch to ask for more details, this could slow things down.
Bear in mind that if your business has a complex ownership structure, that could also increase the time it takes to open an account.
Usually, the newer challenger banks make it quick and easy to open a business bank account.
For example, most Starling or Monzo customers have been able to open an account in less than a day. Mettle, a bank owned by NatWest, aims to review applications within a matter of days.
While they are not banks, some e-money providers like Tide let you open a business account quickly, too. For example, Tide reviews most applications in a couple of hours.
Banks are allowed to use customers’ deposits to lend and earn interest. They also have to abide by strict requirements to make sure they have enough available cash if a customer suddenly wants to withdraw their money.
However, e-money providers aren’t allowed to lend customers money, so they might segregate deposits into a special account. Compared to banks, the regulations around e-money providers are less restrictive, and their cash reserves don’t have to be as high.
This can have advantages for customers. For example, e-money providers are often more flexible and might be able to process an application quicker than a bank would.
Unlike deposits held with banks, money held with e-money providers won’t be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
This means that if the e-money provider goes bust, you won’t automatically be reimbursed under the FSCS. Instead, you might have to wait while the business goes through insolvency, which can be long-winded.
But that’s not to say that e-money providers aren’t safe. They are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, which means they have to abide by rules and regulations.
With that said, some e-money providers hold money with other companies that are regulated banks, which means that your deposit would be covered under the FSCS. For example, Tide is a financial technology company, but its deposits are held by ClearBank.
It’s always good to check where your money is being held and what protection you are entitled to if the business runs into trouble.
This varies between banks, but generally speaking, you need to provide this information:
Some banks might ask for information about what the business does and how you intend to use the account.
Depending on your business sector, the bank might ask for details about things like qualifications or registrations.
If your company has shareholders and directors, the bank might want to carry out an identity check on them too.
Speed isn’t everything when it comes to choosing a bank account, so make sure you compare the other features that the banks offer.
While some more established banks can take a week or longer to set you up with a business account, it might be worth the wait if they offer extra support.
But, of course, if you’re in a hurry to open an account, the banks and e-money providers mentioned above might be worth considering. To start comparing, head to our best business bank accounts guide.
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