

Mettle business bank account review
Mettle is a spin-off venture from parent bank NatWest - find out more about what this business bank account has to offer small businesses.

Mettle is the first standalone business banking app to be offered by one of the UK’s high street banks, in this case NatWest. Following a pilot phase, Mettle launched in November 2019, and is looking to rival the mobile app-based business accounts already offered by challenger banks. It stands out for its lack of monthly fees, free card use abroad and accounting software integrations. It won the Business Banking category in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards 2023, with 97% of customers saying they’d recommend it. It has also been recommended as one of our best business bank accounts.
- Apply in minutes for your free business account
- Create, track and send invoices from your app
- Seamlessly connect to accounting software such as Xero and FreeAgent
- Get FreeAgent for free - a saving of £150 a year (based on FreeAgent's lowest tariff).*
What is Mettle?
Mettle is a standalone business bank account offered by (but separate to) its parent company, high street bank NatWest. It has been featured in our best business bank accounts guide, with a standout mention for accounting software integrations. These include FreeAgent, Xero or QuickBooks.
This digital business account can be seen as a response to the challenger banks which have changed the face of banking in the last few years – reeling in customers by letting them open and manage app-based business bank accounts through their mobile phones, as well as offering great exchange rates for people who travel frequently. Mettle can also be accessed via the web.
Mettle lets business customers apply for an account in minutes, forecast business performance and create invoices. All of this is possible in its mobile app, which is designed to be easy to use, as well as free to use.
How does Mettle work?
Mettle offers its users a number of features, including:
- Fast application. Mettle will let customers open a business bank account in a matter of minutes.
- Invoicing. You can create and send customised invoices on the go. The app will let you know when you’ve been paid or if you need to chase.
- Reporting. You’re able to categorise business transactions and manage your expenses. You can then export your data and share it with your accountant.
- Accounting. Mettle can connect to accounting packages like FreeAgent, Xero and QuickBooks.
- Payments. You can schedule payments on the go and manage recurring payments directly from the app.
- Money pots. Set money aside from your main account into a “money pot”, where you can ringfence funds for future outgoings like corporation tax or VAT.
- No card fees abroad. There are no fees for using your card abroad and each transaction uses the exchange rates set by Mastercard.
- Freeze or unfreeze your card. You can lock your card in the app if you think you’ve lost it, then just unlock it if the card shows up.
What does the Mettle app look like?



How to open a Mettle account
These are the steps to open a Mettle account:
- Download the Mettle app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Complete the application – Mettle will ask questions about you and your business.
- Verify your ID and provide a business document.
- Once approved, you’ll get an account number and sort code to get started.
Mettle’s fees and features
Doing business overseas with Mettle
Compare the fees of popular business bank accounts
Mettle fees, limits and pricing
- Mettle is free to join – you won’t be charged to download the app or to open an account.
- Mettle is free to use – there are no charges for transactions or for using any of the account’s features.
- There is a maximum account balance of £1.1 million for sole traders and limited companies (£1 million in main account, up to £100k in Money Pots).
- There is a maximum payment out of the account limit of £10,000 per day.
Mettle customer reviews
In our independent 2023 Customer Satisfaction Awards, Mettle was our winner, with 5 out of 5 stars and 97% of users saying they would recommend the service. Survey respondents highlighted its easy integration with accounting software and user friendly functionality. Here’s what some of those Mettle customers had to say in our survey:
“Mettle is transparent and easy to use”
“They have always provided me with great support”
“They have been perfect for what I need – very helpful and easy to deal with at all times”
Mettle has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 from over 20,000 reviews on the App Store. Over on Google Play, Mettle has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 from more than 7,000 ratings on the Google Play Store (updated September 2023).
Is Mettle safe?
Mettle has now transitioned from an e-money account to a business bank account. This means that it is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) even though it is separate from NatWest. The FSCS protects money you’ve deposited in a bank up to £85,000 if it goes bust.
Pros and cons of Mettle
Pros
- Instant and easy application process.
- No fees to join or manage your account.
- Can create and send customised invoices.
- User-friendly app with expenses management and card control.
- Integrates with accountancy software.
- No fees to use your card abroad.
- FSCS protected.
Cons
- Maximum daily payment out limit of £10,000.
- Despite being part of NatWest, there is no branch banking for Mettle users.
Our verdict: Is a Mettle account worth it?
Mettle is an interesting digital play by parent company NatWest. But as it’s separate from the high street bank itself, unfortunately you can’t visit a NatWest branch to discuss your Mettle account. However, a digital-only business account with Mettle is free to open and use, and it has strong mobile banking features. It also comes with a useful invoicing system and the ability to integrate with accounting software like FreeAgent and Xero. Time will tell if it’s successful enough to take on similar business account offerings from the likes of challenger bank rivals Starling and Monzo.
Get started by visiting Mettle's website and sign up for an account. If you have read this review and decided that Mettle’s account is not for you, you can use our guide to compare other business bank accounts on the market. You can also read our review of NatWest’s own business accounts here.
Frequently asked questions
Business banking ratings
Our customer satisfaction scores ("Customers say") are based on a survey of 623 customers carried out in December 2022.
More guides on Finder
-
How to open a business bank account in the UK
Discover how to open a business bank account in the UK, from the documents you’ll need to whether you’re eligible for a business bank account, we’ve got it covered.
-
Revolut Pro review: A business account for freelancers
Our review explores the new Revolut Pro account designed specifically for freelancers, including its cashback offer and instant payment options.
-
Juni business account review
Learn more about Juni’s business account for ecommerce and online marketing entrepreneurs.
-
Wise business account review
Learn more about the benefits of opening a business account with Wise
-
SumUp business account review
Find out more about the SumUp business account, including its pros and cons.
-
Tide vs Revolut business: Which is the best business account?
Learn more about the key differences between the Tide and Revolut business bank accounts and which is likely to suit you better.
-
Cashplus business bank account review
Considering a Cashplus business account, which you can open without a credit check? We take a closer look at who it is best suited to.
-
Monzo business account review
Challenger bank Monzo now offers business banking. Check out what accounts it provides and whether they could be the right business banking solution for you.
-
Monese business account review
Monese offers a digital business account that you can open without a credit check. Our review looks at its fees, features, pros and cons.
-
Revolut Business account review
Considering a Revolut Business account? We take a closer look at the features and price plans available with these digital-only accounts.
Hi, unfortunately this article is incorrect in that it is still describing Mettle’s “e-money” account, and doesn’t mention that they now have a “mettle beta” product that does have FSCS protection. I was hoping to find review specifically on that new product. Hope you can update. Thank you.
Hi Dan,
Thanks for reaching out. We have added a section to our review about Mettle’s new bank account.
I hope this helps.
Thanks,
Kate