Can you get a free bit of company plastic on an HSBC business account?

[d000hg]

I have two business accounts for historic reasons - one with Santander which I had first, one with HSBC I opened due to better foreign currency facilities when I was working with overseas clients.

The Santander one has a free debit card but I don't use this account EXCEPT for buying stuff, all my invoices and stuff goes through the HSBC account which has the £5.50 monthly fee. I periodically transfer a few hundred quid to the Santander account so I can buy stuff with the card if needed.

Does HSBC offer a debit card on their business account? I recall asking when I opened the account several years ago and they wouldn't give me one.

Another option could be to close the HSBC accounts and revert back to my free Santander account but then I'd have to switch everything over and I prefer the HSBC online banking.

[vwdan]

I have two business accounts for historic reasons - one with Santander which I had first, one with HSBC I opened due to better foreign currency facilities when I was working with overseas clients.

The Santander one has a free debit card but I don't use this account EXCEPT for buying stuff, all my invoices and stuff goes through the HSBC account which has the £5.50 monthly fee. I periodically transfer a few hundred quid to the Santander account so I can buy stuff with the card if needed.

Does HSBC offer a debit card on their business account? I recall asking when I opened the account several years ago and they wouldn't give me one.

Another option could be to close the HSBC accounts and revert back to my free Santander account but then I'd have to switch everything over and I prefer the HSBC online banking.

Yes, I've got a standard HSBC Commercial account (£5.50 fee same as yours) and I got a Debit card with it.

Had my wallet nicked during a break-in and had no issues getting a new one issues. Also got a Credit Card, but that's £30 per year.

[SuperLooper]

What's better about HSBC's foreign currency offering?

I'm with Santander, and I invoice my client in US dollars. I'm losing several hundred £ on each invoice payment with Santander's USD-to-GBP rates and fees.

[jmann]

You can open a USD bank account via HSBC. I currently have USD and GBP accounts with HSBC. It allows my payment processor to settle the funds without converting it to GBP. I would highly recommend this if you deal with USD transactions.

You might also look into foreign exchange providers like https://www.worldfirst.com/uk/. You will get better rates when it comes to converting USD to GBP.

[GrumpyContractor]

+1 as vwdan said.

I have debit card only, no requirement for cc.

Switched from CaterAllen a few years ago as their payment process took days. HSBC payments are almost immediate..

[d000hg]

Yes, I've got a standard HSBC Commercial account (£5.50 fee same as yours) and I got a Debit card with it.

Ta, I'll see if they'll give me one. Then I can shut the Santander account (or just stop using it)

What's better about HSBC's foreign currency offering?

I'm with Santander, and I invoice my client in US dollars. I'm losing several hundred £ on each invoice payment with Santander's USD-to-GBP rates and fees.

Separate accounts for separate currencies, able to move money between them online without using the phone, HSBCnet makes sending foreign currency payments easy too.