Free Business banking?

[EdT]

HSBC has changed policy & no longer offers this. My turnover is modest to say the least - never enough to earn any interest to speak of, so free banking attractive.
Do any banks still offer this??

[grumbas]

I've heard Metro Bank do, or at least much cheaper...

[billythekid001]

Santander do. I use them and they're fine. I never need to see them or borrow money though so it's not really an in depth review! Hopefully this link will work, their website doesn't seem to do 'human friendly' web addresses:

http://www.santander.co.uk/csgs/Satellite?appID=ab...

[anothernameitist]

Think if you move to the Coop its free for a while.

Coop is £3 a month where as HSBC is £5 a month, for me anyway

[SGirl]

Coop is free if you join the FSB.

Metro Bank is free too, except for a small number of transactions. But even though I do most of my business outside the UK, I've never been charged anything by Metro.

[V8mate]

I've just opened a business account with the Co-op. Free for 18 months then, as mentioned^, £3 per month.

[insurance_jon]

aren't coop in the middle of a bail out?

[insurance_jon]

yup http://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/436413/Co-op...

[MrAdaam]

Metro bank seem to offer a suitable service, checked them out off the back of this thread.

Believe they are well regarded in the personal banking world as well?

[nugget78]

I use Cater Allen, although part of Santander now...

http://www.caterallen.co.uk/

[williamp]

Most banks do a free banking period, however its unlikely as an existing business switching from one bank to another you will get it. Otherwise the banks will be swamped with businesses on a continuous merry go round every 6/12 months just to save a few quid, and offering no real value

[EdT]

williamp said:

Most banks do a free banking period, however its unlikely as an existing business switching from one bank to another you will get it. Otherwise the banks will be swamped with businesses on a continuous merry go round every 6/12 months just to save a few quid, and offering no real value

That's somewhat was I suspected.
Still, it rankles somewhat that they pay me 0.00000000000000000001% interest and now want to charge me.

[Patch1875]

Been with Santander for 3 years+? Still no charges other than if I bank over 100 cheques in a month.

[sumo69]

I was told that Santander charge £7.50 monthly for any new businesses transferring to their business banking.

I too am with HSBC and will be switching now they have stopped free banking.

David

[EdT]

sumo69 said:

I was told that Santander charge £7.50 monthly for any new businesses transferring to their business banking.

I too am with HSBC and will be switching now they have stopped free banking.

David

Any thoughts who you'll move to?

[sumo69]

EdT said:

Any thoughts who you'll move to?

I was down to Metro or Co-op - bearing in mind the current headlines looks looks like the former!

David

[Quattromaster]

sumo69 said:

I was told that Santander charge £7.50 monthly for any new businesses transferring to their business banking.

I too am with HSBC and will be switching now they have stopped free banking.

David

I've been with them 12 yrs using business banking and heard nothing,

[dalenorth]

I've got two accounts with Santander and just opened another. They are free unless your doing hundreds of transactions and have a big turnover.

[V8mate]

sumo69 said:

EdT said:

Any thoughts who you'll move to?

I was down to Metro or Co-op - bearing in mind the current headlines looks looks like the former!

David

Why on earth is the Co-op off your radar? Other banks get public money bailouts and their customers stay. The Co-op is in good enough shape to get support from private money and they're too hot to handle?

[Simpo Two]

Run by a vicar with no banking experience who takes drugs and downloads porn at work? And they call themselves ethical.

It makes simple greed and incompetence from the banks look normal. Oh, it is.