Best Business Bank Account

[Lumiere]

I think you can also go through Contractor UK in order to get free banking and no minimum deposit - not just through an accountancy.

http://www.contractoruk.com/money/fr...k_account.html

Free personal banking available with Contractor Alliance membership. Membership costs just £25+VAT for the year.

[Freelancer Financials]

Cater Allen is great for Personal Banking too.

Once you've used them you will hard pressed to find a better service. I love the fact that you're dealing with human beings based in the UK. No stupid voice activated systems or overseas call centres wishing you a good day!

You can not apply directly. You have to go through an agent. You can apply for an account through accountants, IFAs or Contractor UK. A accountant and/or frinancial adviser will probably do all the leg work for you though.

Cater Allen provide free business banking and no minimum deposit.

The also have extended working hours so you can get them in the evening.

John

[FarmerPalmer]

Abbey - faultless and free banking

[norrahe]

Co-operative Bank is free for 18 months, and they have a third-world call centre based in Lancashire. Quite good though their internet banking service has it's moments ...

I left these guys for cater allen, I got fed up with not being able to access my accounts at the beginning and ending of each month online, if you go into a branch (they have one in the city) apparently I could not get any servce as a corporate customer at that branch, but i could use their free phone to call customer services at the branch.

World of warning , when you go to do your end of year accounts, they only hold 6 months online.

I like the idea of ethical banking but if i can barely bank online with a pants website that isn't what you would call secure and it breaks down most of the time and the you can't get customer service at your local branch.

[Contractor UK]

Cater Allen bank accounts through CUK

Thanks for the mentions everyone, just to confirm any visitor to CUK can apply for a business bank account by completing an application form and sending it in to us. (It's very straightforward, there are notes on the page to guide you through and you can email us if you're uncertain. We then deal with any queries with the bank on your behalf.)

Also if you want free personal banking then that's available to members of Contractor Alliance.

We've been referring IT contractors to Cater Allen for years now and all I ever hear is positive comments about their service. Any queries let us know: caterallen@contractoruk.com

[Freelancer Financials]

Abbey - faultless and free banking

Abbey and Cater Allen are both part of Santander Group.

John

[walterboy]

After being stung by Natwest charges, I moved to Alliance & Leicester Business Banking and now the most I pay in charges is £5 per month. This charge is only applied when I DONT use the account for anything incoming during that month.

[Advocate]

I'm thinking of switching to HSBC's business direct (where I bank personally) from Cater Allen, anyone got any reasons why I shouldn't do this?

[malvolio]

I'm thinking of switching to HSBC's business direct (where I bank personally) from Cater Allen, anyone got any reasons why I shouldn't do this?

None at all. HSBC does what is says on the tin. Their online business banking is very effective and pain free, unlike others I could mention

[Advocate]

None at all. HSBC does what is says on the tin. Their online business banking is very effective and pain free, unlike others I could mention

Cheers, I've initiated the change, of course it's all your fault if it goes wrong and I'll have to hunt you down