Reply to: Need a new Ltd Bank Account

[eek]

HSBC do this as well. Lt Co directors linked to personal accounts. Hence I no longer use HSBC for business accounts.

Easy solution to that move your personal account to First Direct....

[Paddy]

The downside of that is that some banks like Santander merge your online access together - so my online business banking can see my personal bank accounts, even though I never gave them permission or information to link the two together.

HSBC do this as well. Lt Co directors linked to personal accounts. Hence I no longer use HSBC for business accounts.

[TheFaQQer]

Go simple, use who ever your personal bank is with, much easier and quicker to setup (even though it shouldn't matter as the two entities are separate, it never is that simple)

The downside of that is that some banks like Santander merge your online access together - so my online business banking can see my personal bank accounts, even though I never gave them permission or information to link the two together.

[bluetoaster]

HSBC here. Easy and quick to open the accounts, never had an issue since.

[jamesbrown]

Oh and just because a bank is a clearing bank doesn't mean their services aren't tulip. Nationwide is a clearing bank...

Absolutely. Of course, I didn't say that. Rather, I said it's an advantage for international payments. Anyway, these threads always slide into an abyss of one or two good/bad personal experiences. Case in point; I've never had issues w/ NW business savings, but found their personal banking to be tulip following serial misinformation from untrained staff.

[Scruff]

HSBC for me. Been with NatWest and Cater Allen previously and they were Stone Age...

[ladymuck]

Have been with HSBC for years (business and personal). Never had a problem.

[barrydidit]

Nationwide is a clearing bank...

Building Society

[SimonMac]

Go simple, use who ever your personal bank is with, much easier and quicker to setup (even though it shouldn't matter as the two entities are separate, it never is that simple)

[SueEllen]

Er, OK. You seem rather exercised about them I don't have personal experience of them, so I couldn't comment either way. I do have experience of HSBC, and it has been good. For me, having a couple of locations with physical bank branches is a complete non-issue but YMMV, clearly. FYI, Metro Bank is not a clearing bank.

I have experience of HSBC as well .

They were fine until I decided to close my account.

They have difficulty getting into their heads when someone doesn't want to be a customer they simply don't want to be a customer.

Oh and just because a bank is a clearing bank doesn't mean their services aren't tulip. Nationwide is a clearing bank...

[jamesbrown]

Er, OK. You seem rather exercised about them I don't have personal experience of them, so I couldn't comment either way. I do have experience of HSBC, and it has been good. For me, having a couple of locations with physical bank branches is a complete non-issue but YMMV, clearly. FYI, Metro Bank is not a clearing bank.

[SueEllen]

Sure, if you're in London, that's perhaps a small advantage of Metro Bank,

Not sure what part of London Cambridge is in. Or Brighton or Tunbridge Wells or Eastbourne or Newbury - you can check if they have a "store" near you yourself - https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/ge...store-locator/

but I can't remember the last time I visited a bank in person .

I have to sign various documents and to pick up bank cards.

That said, it really depends on how you weigh the various services. For example, if you're dealing with international clients, you're better off with a clearing bank.

Like Metrobank perhaps? Anyway personally I like banks where the bank staff don't deliberately tell fibs...

[jamesbrown]

As someone who use Carter Allan for business and Metrobank personally I would recommend Metrobank. I wouldn't recommend HSBC.

Both banks have excellent customer service but Metrobank has the advantage that it actually has "stores" with long opening hours so you can talk to people face-to-face.

Sure, if you're in London, that's perhaps a small advantage of Metro Bank, but I can't remember the last time I visited a bank in person . That said, it really depends on how you weigh the various services. For example, if you're dealing with international clients, you're better off with a clearing bank.

[SueEllen]

Cater Allen are (or were) a popular choice for "free" banking; they're very good in terms of customer service, but very bad in terms of implementing FPS (takes 2-3 days for payments to execute).

All factors considered, I'd recommend HSBC (small monthly fee).

As someone who use Carter Allan for business and Metrobank personally I would recommend Metrobank. I wouldn't recommend HSBC.

Both banks have excellent customer service but Metrobank has the advantage that it actually has "stores" with long opening hours so you can talk to people face-to-face.

[jamesbrown]

Cater Allen are (or were) a popular choice for "free" banking; they're very good in terms of customer service, but very bad in terms of implementing FPS (takes 2-3 days for payments to execute).

All factors considered, I'd recommend HSBC (small monthly fee).