Reply to: Which Business Account ?

[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)

[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

[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.

[kaiser78]

Abbey - no charges for life, easy to use.

Lots of previous posts on this.

[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.

[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

[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 ..

[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.

[DiscoStu]

My local branch is open 10-3 on a Saturday

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

[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 ..

[Nixon Williams]

Hi Guys,

I wish to open a business account for my limited company.

But Carter Allen want a minimum of 5k balance even on opening, don't quite understand because a couple of years ago I manage to open one with a £1 cheque.

Most accountants (such as ourselves) in this sector use Cater Allen and can open an account for you, in which case the £5K minimum is waived.

[MikeC1408]

Been with HSBC for years and years. Does what is says on the tin. Highly recommended.

+2

[SuperZ]

You want to chase a better interest rate also. I`m with HSBC for Current Biz account and savings account and recommend them but the rates are sh*t. THere are better options around if you`re able to tie up decent sums of money for 6 to 12 months.

[Pondlife]

Cater Allen and Abbey are both Santander. I have been with Abbey for 6 years. Apart from the glitch when they launched a new website a few months ago, I have no complaints. They used to "guarantee" no charges on the account if in credit. Maybe they still do, I'm not sure. It is an OK, cheap and cheerful basic business account and I am happy with that. HTH.

+1

Only ever had an issue when trying to pay an invoice to a DE account.

They insisted I faxed them the form FFS.

Apart from that all is simple and dandy.

[Fred Bloggs]

Cater Allen and Abbey are both Santander. I have been with Abbey for 6 years. Apart from the glitch when they launched a new website a few months ago, I have no complaints. They used to "guarantee" no charges on the account if in credit. Maybe they still do, I'm not sure. It is an OK, cheap and cheerful basic business account and I am happy with that. HTH.