No frills Business Banking

[Cheib]

I need to set up a business bank account for a new company...it's a consultancy so very little will be required in the way of banking. Can anyone recommend a bank who are easy for start up's ?

Many thanks

[V8RAW]

Metro bank ?

Barclays = cr@p
Natwest = cr@p

Deciding factor may be down to if you need a local branch or just a simpel on-line account.

I use Lloyds business banking all on-line without any major issues.

[Cheib]

There's a Metro Bank localish....I'll try them. Thanks!

[Flooble]

Just be aware it'll take about three hours to get everything setup.

[trickywoo]

Flooble said:

Just be aware it'll take about three hours to get everything setup.

Unless its Barclays when it will be more like three weeks, which is what they told me in branch when I went in to open an account.

Went to Lloyds (who I wouldn't recommend) who opened one the same day.

Have another account with Santander who have been OK.

[V8RAW]

trickywoo said:

Unless its Barclays when it will be more like three weeks

More like 3 months They kept asking me for proof of ID over and over again.. idiots..

[TheBogFlogger]

I set up a Santander business account a few weeks ago, opened very quick. Also not much ID needed and relatively straight forward. They have also recently introduced the 1-2-3 on the business accounts, not much benefits yet but more features will be added.....so they say....

[Crasher242]

If you have an accountant, check with them as they often have an "easy in" for a given bank (or range of banks).

My accounts offered easy set-up with Cater Allen (Part of Santander group). I had my bank account, plus business debit card set-up within 24 hours. All painless
I've been with them for almost 15 years now, and still think their service is pretty good compared with the hassles i get with mainstream "joe public" banking.

[So]

Cheib said:

I need to set up a business bank account for a new company...it's a consultancy so very little will be required in the way of banking. Can anyone recommend a bank who are easy for start up's ?

Many thanks

If you want no frills I am assuming you want cheap. My experience is that all the banks are crap unless you're paying for private banking. We've just made a choice between banks based upon who had the best banking app.

[Cheib]

So said:

Cheib said:

I need to set up a business bank account for a new company...it's a consultancy so very little will be required in the way of banking. Can anyone recommend a bank who are easy for start up's ?

Many thanks

If you want no frills I am assuming you want cheap. My experience is that all the banks are crap unless you're paying for private banking. We've just made a choice between banks based upon who had the best banking app.

No frills because banking transactions aren’t going to be frequent. It’s a Consultancy Company, myself and one other person. No employees/payroll etc

[SlimRick]

Starling bank - all done online and they have a decent app. Took me all of 5 minutes to setup the business bank account. I had already set up a personal one which may have helped - that took around half an hour for them to review the documentation and open the account.

[QuartzDad]

TheBogFlogger said:

I set up a Santander business account a few weeks ago, opened very quick. Also not much ID needed and relatively straight forward.

This. Apart from twice being asked to confirm I really didn't intend to trade in cryptocurrencies I was impressed at how painless and straightforward the process was.

[Cheib]

SlimRick said:

Starling bank - all done online and they have a decent app. Took me all of 5 minutes to setup the business bank account. I had already set up a personal one which may have helped - that took around half an hour for them to review the documentation and open the account.

Funnily enough one of my mates works for the guy that owns Starling....unfortunately they only accept companies with one beneficial owner.

[cashmax]

I found Metrobank to be shocking. They took much longer than any other bank to do stuff and because they clear through a 3rd party transactions were more difficult to track if they went wrong. I also really, struggled with anything involving foreign transactions. If you need to send or receive anything out of the UK I would look elsewhere.

[option click]

Cashplus

[Stella Tortoise]

TheBogFlogger said:

I set up a Santander business account a few weeks ago, opened very quick. Also not much ID needed and relatively straight forward. They have also recently introduced the 1-2-3 on the business accounts, not much benefits yet but more features will be added.....so they say....

Not so great when scammers open an account in your name.

[Ikemi]

I’m using Yorkshire bank. Activating online banking required a telephone call, but the creation of the account was fast and straightforward. No monthly fees for 25 months either! They also have an banking app too!

[RM]

If you don't need to bank cheques or cash take a look at anna.money

[48k]

TheBogFlogger said:

I set up a Santander business account a few weeks ago, opened very quick. Also not much ID needed and relatively straight forward. They have also recently introduced the 1-2-3 on the business accounts, not much benefits yet but more features will be added.....so they say....

This. Santander business banking were recommended to me in 2008 when I started a business and was looking for free business banking and I've been with them ever since. Started a second business and also used Santander and it was quick and relatively painless albeit having to go in to a local branch to prove who I was which felt a bit weird since I was an existing business customer.

[Bikesalot]

Currently with Metro.

Walked into my local branch and about 2 hours later walked out with an open account and a bank card ready to go.

App is good.