Business banking

my only gripes

with Cater Allen are :

Can only pay my customers cheques/cash into RBS branches, others major banks I've tried don't accept payments to 'Cater who?'
.. and they still don't provide online banking, though there is always someone available to answer their telephone calls.
.. and one more little hastle I bring on myself every now and then when I miskey my passcode and it takes about 3 days to get it replaced via the post.

If I was looking for another bank I'd give the HSBC business account a look at.

Re: Bank Accounts

> I've found Cater Allen OK, nothing flash but no hastles

Likewise but when we found Abbey for our non-incorported business activities we noticed that the interest rates were considerably higher than C&A (despite both being the same company) Not sure if that is still so after the sudden cut. I'll wait and see how the joint account goes before jumping in boots first with my ltd. co. business account.

Re: Bank Accounts

I've found Cater Allen OK, nothing flash but no hastles. My accountant is cheap and also doesn't make mistakes so I don't begrudge him 0.5%. If I fall out with him my attitude may change. Previously RBS weren't bad but I kept having to get in touch with my 'Business Manager' for routine bits and bobs which was a pain.

Re: Bank Accounts

Fiddle & Rhino enterprises have recently opened an Abbey account.

Early days yet but so far ...

A huge load of papers and pamphlets arrived at Rhino's in about half a dozen seperate mailings (he opened the account with me as co-sig) All I got was a couple of access cards - nowhere on the paperwork did it say which was for the reserve account and which was for the current account.

The phone number on my paperwork lead me into a bounce around (with me having to redial once) to find somebody who could tell me which was which.

They've cut the interest rate

We still can't access online banking despite sending off the required forms Monday last week.

The main advantage to us is that they offer free banking for non incorporated business entities. I suspect that once these teething problems are over it will all be ok but I'm holding fire on transferring my business acount from Cater Allen to them.

*UPDATE*

0845 nnnnnn
Br Br
To do this press 1 etc. etc through several long menus until ...
To enquire about internet access press 2
2
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr r

Brilliant.

*UPDATE 2*
Got through. They've lost the form and are sending me another one.

I forgot to mention how friendly their failed login screen is - totally blank and no toolbar. Right click refresh - sorry your login failed. Ho Hum. Maybe in a couple of weeks.

Bank Accounts

I think there was a thread on this a little while ago with the consensus of opinion be very positive towards HSBC, Abbey National and Alliance & Leicester.

Other alternatives include Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland (Part of HBOS Group).

4wiw - I moved from NatW when I kicked 360 into touch and they started charging me for breathing near cash. I ended up with Alliance & Liecester. No charges, no interest, online access and phone support. For me it works as I don't have masses of deposits/withdrawals.

Said it before, say it again - HSBC Business account has all the toys and the interest they pay covers the charges they make, especially if you use the internet banking options.

However, some don't like their offshoring policies (including me, but I run a business) and others will quite rightly shout for Abbey - who ISTR own Cater Allen so I'm not sure it's much in the way of progress!

I'm currently with Cater Allen and was wondering if anyone could suggest an alternative bank for my Ltd company account. I would like free banking and online access, if possible - not too bothered about the interest.

Have just found out that they pay 0.5 percent of my balances per annum in commission to my old accountant, who I hate !! You guys with Cater Allen accounts may be interested to know that these accountants/agencies who are so keen to introduce you to Cater Allen are in fact making substantial sums in commission off your back and have access to your bank statements, etc. This could also explain why my dividends and corp tax were always paid at the last minute - dividends were also too low as well. The introducers are apparently supposed to declare this commission but to my knowledge none do - why do you think that is ?

The have also just been taken over for the umpteenth time, have no online access and the interest rates have plummetted recently.

...apart from that they are just grrrrreat

I know this question on banking has been asked before but things change rapidly - any suggestions much appreciated.