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Banking & Saving Business Accounts

Compare Business Bank Accounts

Choose from our range of business bank accounts and compare the features and benefits on offer, from high interest rates and no admin fees, to valuable support and advice from financial specialists, helping your business to grow.

Business Banking - Market beating offer!

Santander is offering a market leading 6.0% AER and FREE day-to-day business banking for life!
Call 0845 606 0875 to take advantage of this offer
(Calls charged at local rate)

Business Current Accounts

Provider Account AER Free Banking Duration Interest Paid Apply
Santander Business Account
FREE day-to-day banking forever
6%
for Unlimited
Monthly
Apply >
More Info
A&L Free Business Current Account
Free day to day banking and a market leading cash deal
0.25%
for Unlimited
Monthly
Apply >
More Info
A&L Business Builder Current Account
2 years FREE business banking with NO charges
0%
for 24 mths
Monthly
Apply >
More Info
Barclays Business Start-up account
Up to 2 years free banking & free automated transactions
N/A
for up to 24mths
Monthly
Apply >
More Info
Barclays Business Current Account
Get free automated transactions, plus a whole lot more
N/A
N/A
Monthly
Apply >
More Info
Santander Business Account
  • ***CALL 0845 606 0875 TO APPLY***
  • (This offer is only available over the phone).
  • 6.0% AER for the first 12 months on balances up to £2,500 when you use the Account Transfer Service
  • Free day to day banking includes:
    • Unlimited direct debits, standing orders and bill payments
    • Unlimited debit card payments
    • Unlimited automated BACS credit
    • Unlimited transfers between linked Abbey accounts
    • 100 cheque deposits per month
    • 100 cash and cheque withdrawals per month
    • £3,000 in cash deposited per month
  • Operate the account through the internet, by phone, by post and ATMs
  • Cheque book, paying in book, debit card and regular statements
  • No monthly charge
  • No minimum balances
  • No minimum amount required to be paid in each month
  • Monthly deposits of £1,000 or more are required to earn 6% AER / 5.84% gross
  • Free access to Relationship Managers as your business grows
  • Authorise others to operate the account on your behalf
A&L Free Business Current Account
  • Awarded ‘Best Business Current Account Provider’ for 7 years year running.
  • The rate of base +0.60% is applicable for 12 months from opening your account, then reverts to a rate of base -2.00% gross per annum. This rate will not to fall below 0.10% regardless of any downward movements in our base rate.
  • **Unrivalled access and convenience** - Pay in and withdraw money at any branch as well as at any Post Office Nationwide. That’s a bigger branch network than all of the big banks combined!
  • FREE & UNLIMITED day to day banking:
  • FREE & UNLIMITED Direct Debits
  • FREE & UNLIMITED standing orders
  • FREE & UNLIMITED automated transactions
  • FREE & UNLIMITED cheques issued and deposited
  • FREE cash deposits up to £3,000 each month, then it is just 50p per £100
  • Bank online, over the phone or via the post, plus you can pay in or withdraw money at any Alliance & Leicester branch or Post Office.
  • Free online practical business advice, in conjunction with BusinessLink.
A&L Business Builder Current Account
  • 2 years FREE business banking
  • **Unrivalled access and convenience** - Pay in and withdraw money at any branch as well as at any Post Office Nationwide. That’s a bigger branch network than all of the big banks combined!
  • No minimum balance of funding requirements
  • No standard transaction charges
  • FREE Internet business guidance service
  • FREE legal and tax advice
  • Bank by Internet, fax, phone or at 14,000 Post Offices
Barclays Business Start-up account
  • Up to 2 years free banking*
  • Free Automated Transactions Tariff as standard (at the end of the Free Banking Period)
  • Your own Local Business Manager – backed up by an Award Winning Telephony Team**
  • Bank in branch, online or by phone
  • We offer more than you’d expect from a bank…
  • Free CREDITFOCUS Classic - an award wining credit management tool***
  • We offer up to 45 minutes’ free consultation with local professional experts in accountancy, marketing and law.
  • Free Local Business seminars
  • Free - Securely back up 2GB of your business data
  • Access to unique business management software so that you can spend less time on admin and more time on what you love doing
  • * There is no charge for standard transactions for two years if the Barclays Business Essentials and CREDITFOCUS Pro or Barclays Business Essentials Plus and CREDITFOCUS Pro or Barclays Business Manager and CREDITFOCUS Pro are purchased at the time of opening the account. This is only applicable for new businesses opening their account with Barclays. This applies to everyday Sterling, debit and credit transactions and the maintenance fee. Please note: accounts must be active.
  • **Best Large Call Centre in 2007 European Call Centre Awards
  • ***Available to small businesses with a turnover below £1m
Barclays Business Current Account
  • Free Automated Transactions Tariff as standard
  • Your own Local Business Manager – backed up by an Award Winning Telephony Team**
  • Bank in branch, online or by phone
  • We offer more than you’d expect from a bank…
  • Free CREDITFOCUS Classic our award winning service to help cut out late payers and the risk of bad debt until 31st December 2009 *
  • Free advice from a local solicitor
  • Free Local Business seminars
  • Free - Securely back up 2GB of your business data
  • Free online skills training
  • Free advice from our Legal & Tax helpline
  • Plus, access to unique business management software so that you can spend less time on admin and more time on what you love doing
  • **Best Large Call Centre in 2007 European Call Centre Awards
  • *Available to small businesses with a turnover below £1m

Business Savings Accounts

Provider Account AER Deposit Interest Paid Apply
Min Max
Santander Business Reward Saver
2% AER (variable) on Business Savings if you make no withdrawals in 12 months, or 1.84% AER (Variable) if you make 1 withdrawal.
1.84%
 £30,000 £2,000,000
Annually
Apply >
More Info
Santander Business Direct Saver
Up to 1% AER/gross on Business Savings on balances over £10,000.
1%
 £1 £2,000,000
Annually
Apply >
More Info
Santander Business Reward Saver
  • **Call 0800 068 6433 to find out more..**
  • 1.84% gross/AER (variable) when you make one withdrawal in the first 12 months
  • 2% gross/AER (variable) when you make no withdrawals in the first 12 months
  • These rates include a 1% gross/AER variable rate bonus for the first 12 months. A reduced rate of 0.10% gross/AER will be paid on the full balance on the account for the month in which a withdrawal is made.
  • A rate of 0.10% gross/AER applies when the balance is less than £30,000.
  • Choose interest to be paid monthly or annually
  • Minimum Deposit = £30,000
  • Maximum Deposit = £2million
  • Instant access via internet, phone and ATM network
  • Authorise others to operate the account on your behalf
Santander Business Direct Saver
  • **Call 0800 328 0427 to find out more..**
  • 0.25% AER/gross on balances from £1 to £9,999
  • 1% AER/gross on balances over £10,000
  • Minimum Deposit = £1
  • Instant access via internet, phone and ATM network
  • Authorise others to operate the account on your behalf

Latest Business Bank Account News RSS Feed

Rise recorded in business account openings
Business account openings increased over the course of January. An increasing number of business accounts were opened in January.The British Bankers' Association (BBA) reports that ...
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Fri 12th Mar, 2010
Creative companies struggle to 'access business accounts'
Businesses operating in the creative sector often struggle to access finance. Companies in publishing and other creative industries are struggling to access business accounts and other ...
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Thu 11th Mar, 2010
Barclays Business Banking to offer contactless cards
Businesses will be able to use contactless-enabled cards to pay for goods and services. Companies are to find they are issued with contactless-enabled debit cards to use with their ...
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Wed 10th Mar, 2010
Business accounts 'buoyed by rise in exports'
New research has revealed an increase in business sentiment. Businesses are taking a more positive view about the short term future of their organisation, in part driven by reports that ...
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Tue 9th Mar, 2010
Budget 'needs to support businesses'
This year's Budget should ensure businesses get the help they need in driving economic growth. The last Budget to take place prior to this year's general election should ensure ...
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Mon 8th Mar, 2010

Business Bank Accounts Explained

  • What are Business Bank Accounts?

    Business bank accounts are tailored to accommodate all businesses financial needs, offering a range of helpful and convenient features for both savings and transactional purposes to help you to manage your business finances with ease.

    All businesses have their differences, but the one thing they all share is the need to manage finances effectively. Many businesses also require funding at some stage in their progression, so it may be wise to consider choosing a provider that not only offers great business banking, but also gives access to business loans.

    Whether you're looking to set up a new business, or you simply wish to find a new account, there are a number of options available to match your business needs, each offering assistance to help you spend less time worrying about your banking and more time building your business.

    Business banking provides you with more than just a place to store your funds, but a full business package that can help you to make your business a success. Many providers have business specialists on hand, allowing you to get professional advice in a number of areas, not just finance.

  • What type of accounts are available with Business Banking?

    The two main accounts that most businesses require are current accounts and savings accounts. Business current accounts can be used to house funds required on a day-to-day basis, and business savings accounts provide an effective place to keep the profits made from the business, while also accumulating interest.

    There are a number of business savings products to choose from, so whether you require instant access to your reserve funds, or you are in a position to be able to lock your cash away in a fixed rate business bond for an extended period of time in order to earn higher interest rates, Which4U can help you to find the right account for your business.

  • What features are offered with Business Bank Accounts?

    Most business current accounts come with an introductory free period, generally ranging from 6 – 24 months, but if you choose the right provider you can get free business banking for life. This means that you can reduce your outgoings while still benefiting from a great account.

    Santander offers a business current account with a number of useful features at no charge, so you never have to pay a penny. Some areas of the account are limited, for example up to 100 cash withdrawals per months and you are also limited to £3,000 in cash deposits per month.

    Other features available from a range of providers include free unlimited direct debits, standing orders, bill payments, debit card transactions and transfers. Some accounts limit the amount of free deposits that can be made per month, but there tends to only be a small fee when exceeding this, for example Alliance & Leicester allows £3,000 in free cash deposits per month, then charges 50p for every £100 above this.

    You may also be given access to free advice, from business to legal & tax advice, and in some cases a local business manager to provide a more personal level of assistance throughout the life of your account.

    Barclays offers its business banking customers an award winning service – 'CREDITFOCUS', which provides the facility to check out potential customers to see whether they have a sound credit score. This allows businesses to steer clear of people who have a history of late payments, or other unattractive qualities. On top of this, Barclays offers free secure data back-up, online skills training for employees and helpful legal & tax advice using its specialist helpline, and law, accountancy and marketing advice from it's pool of specialists. Barclays offers all this for up to 24 months at no charge.

    Many banks now provide customers with unique business accountancy software to make managing accounts, staff salary payments and administration easy. These packages can draw data from your online statements and insert them into the system, allowing you to manage your accounts with ease.
  • How easy is it to manage a Business Bank Account?

    Nowadays, the internet has made it very simple to manage you business finances online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. By gaining access to your providers online banking facility, at click of a button you can achieve a number of tasks, such as paying bills, transfer funds between accounts and viewing balances & statements. Most banks also offer telephone banking, as well as at ATM's, in branch and by post.

  • Will I be approved for a Business Account?

    If you own a business you are eligible for a business bank account, but it is down to your bank to make the final decision, which will be based on your a number of factors.

    If you are a relatively new company, some banks may ask you to provide some details and statistics regarding your business, such as financial forecasts together with a detailed business plan. However this is only usually required when you require some kind of credit facility, such as overdrafts, business credit cards and loans.

  • What will the bank want to know?

    If you are an existing company then you are likely to be required to provide details of how you have managed your finances up until now. The bank you apply to may wish to carry out a credit check based on your previous banking history in order to assess various criteria, such as outstanding debts or any other potential problems that could accompany risk.

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