Which Business Account ?

[Lumiere]

+2

-3

1. No interest ..

2. High charges once the free banking period is finished - some of my clients pay cash/cheques directly into my bank account - charges are in the region of £200+ per weekly invoice

3. I wasn't offered Phone Banking when I opened an account with them. Now I cannot do anything (add more users, activate phone banking, change address etc.) without visiting a branch first. The nearest one is 1hr drive away and open 9-5 Mo-Fr, that I cannot do without a day off (expensive!).

I wish I chose Halifax, at least they have branches everywhere in the UK and often open on Saturdays ..

[DiscoStu]

My local branch is open 10-3 on a Saturday

ETA: Where do you live that's an hour away from a branch?

[MikeC1408]

-3

1. No interest ..

2. High charges once the free banking period is finished - some of my clients pay cash/cheques directly into my bank account - charges are in the region of £200+ per weekly invoice

3. I wasn't offered Phone Banking when I opened an account with them. Now I cannot do anything (add more users, activate phone banking, change address etc.) without visiting a branch first. The nearest one is 1hr drive away and open 9-5 Mo-Fr, that I cannot do without a day off (expensive!).

I wish I chose Halifax, at least they have branches everywhere in the UK and often open on Saturdays ..

1. Get regular calls (once a month) checking all is OK and If I have any questions.

2. Business Direct (Internet Banking) completely free (including upto 20 cheques a month paid in)

3. Got it all at the time of setting up the account. New users can be added on-line.

Looks like you got a Tulip business manager when you went in and set up.

[Lumiere]

ETA: Where do you live that's an hour away from a branch?

Anywhere north of Newcastle and you are screwed ..

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&so...,30.585937&z=5

Can apply to Wales, Cornwall too ..

[FarmerPalmer]

Abbey for me too.

Was with Nationwide Business Investor - but it was limited - no direct debits etc as it was a cheque book deposit account.

I have Current & Deposit with Abbey with Internet banking so I just transfer back and forth of my company's rainy day fund

[SueEllen]

1. Get regular calls (once a month) checking all is OK and If I have any questions.

2. Business Direct (Internet Banking) completely free (including upto 20 cheques a month paid in)

3. Got it all at the time of setting up the account. New users can be added on-line.

Exactly the same except I told them to stop f***ing phoning me.

[kaiser78]

Abbey - no charges for life, easy to use.

Lots of previous posts on this.

[minstrel]

Cheers only issue I have with HSBC is that they appear to start charging after 18 months.

Another +1 for HSBC.

Their Business Direct is free and is suitable for most contractor type businesses.

Some branches can take a while to set up the account, but if you get one that is switched on you can be set up within a couple of days.

Use can apply to the Clerkenwell branch here and they are very good at setting up accounts quickly.

[ctdctd]

I'm with Cater Allen - no problems and no charges.
Credit interest has gone though - so lump sums go to Scottish Widows savings account.

You can open for £1 with good old CUK

HTH

[SueEllen]

Another +1 for HSBC.

Their Business Direct is free and is suitable for most contractor type businesses.

Some branches can take a while to set up the account, but if you get one that is switched on you can be set up within a couple of days.

Use can apply to the Clerkenwell branch here and they are very good at setting up accounts quickly.

To be fair all HSBC branches can set up accounts quickly.

Just make sure you phone them and ask them what bits of paper you need to open up an account.

Then take it all with you.

When I opened my account I was given an appointment an hour later. As I was in a shopping town I went shopping for that hour. (God I sound so female)