recommend a business bank account

[purple]

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I need to set up a business bank account can you recommend one.

I presently have barclays personal account, but not sure how much they business accounts cost.

[ianm]

I;ve got a Lloyds account - its free for the first year and then reduced costs for a year or so after that.

You might also find that Barclays offer free banking - especially if you were to tell them that you'd been offered it elsewhere and were thinging of closing your personal account as well

[Shane]

Can't recommend one but can mention one to steer clear of and that's Natwest

Totally incompetent for me mate... lost cheques. lost account (honest ...I kid u not)

feckwitts tho lot of them

[Luca Brasi]

I've been using an Abbey National Account with no problems.

All transactions are free too so long as you dont go over certain limits...

No branch though which is a pain for cheques as you have to post them but they have always gone through fine so I am happy with them.

[Mogga]

Not bank of scotland.

The account manager is hard to get hold of and I've had to ring 4 times to get one form.

[999gi]

Id look for two things assuming you need them
- normal transaction fees
- costs of dealing with $ cheques

Abbey National are free but bad for $ checks
I believe Lloys are good for $ cheques

[justnozy]

I believe Lloys are good for $ cheques

At the moment I think they feckin magic !!!

T/T'd $51000 to USA 12 days ago, cash arrived USA 2 days later, but todate has not yet been taken out of my a/c !!!!

Know I cant use it - but at least I am not paying interest on my o/draft.

[Elaine]

The account manager is hard to get hold of and I've had to ring 4 times to get one form.

only 4 times!!!! I'm having major problems with them - reckon their uniform must consist of red noses and big shoes - they're a bunch of clowns. Waiting to hear back from the top men at the Halifax (used to work there so know who to contact) and the BOS - it will be interesting to hear what they have to say.

They do offer 'free banking' and I did look at moving to another bank a while ago but it would have proved very expensive - but may have to consider it again as the BOS customer service is non-existant.

[Mc661]

dont bother with any of the scottish banks

Royal Bank of Snotland (RBOS) and Bank of s**ts (BOS) lost money on my accounts. Only got it back 5 months later when i started praticising what I preeched.

Natwest is part of RBOS
Halifax is part of BOS
Barclays owns The Woolwich

Abbey is great thats who im using atm allthough they charge a tenner for $ cheques.
LTSB free for first year then 50% reduced charges in 2nd year, then 25% reduced charges in third year. I also got free accountancy software, "CashBook" yeah its not sage but it was free. Also LTSB charge a fiver for $ cheques under £100 then i think its a tenner above £100 up to certian amount then 1%

Natwest dont touch with a barge poll.

Alliance & Licester (yeah old Giro Bank) do a new Business Account, havent herd much about it.
Purley telephone, internet and postal account. Cant pay in at machines and cant pay in over counter.

[tomtomtomtomtom]

Never trust a Banker.

----


Money is safer in a hole in the ground, covered with leaves.
But mind the squirrels don't watch ya.

[Fraser]

I've been really happy with HSBC after being unhappy with Royal Bank of Scotland.

I wasn't so keen on the Bank of Scotland approach either as it's all call centre based instead of having a named contact I can phone or email.

[Matthew Wood]

Ive been very happy with Lloyds Bank... Everything seems to run smoothly, the account manager keeps in touch and rates and interest are good.

There are free business banking offers around, but in reality we're not like tradtional businesses, affiliates dont normally write out and pay in hundreds of cheques or have loads of BAC transactions each month so costs should remain low.

[tomj]

I decided to go for LTSB after reading peoples comments here.

So far so good.....

but, when sorting the initial paperwork...when asked the nature of business i said 'affiliate marketing'

LTSB Lady....right, marketing

me...............no, affiliate marketing

LTSB Lady......oh, ok. marketing

me..................no, no "affiliate" marketing, I'll explain in a minute

LTSB Lady......ok, so if it's not marketing, its sales?

me................


then, after explaining everything and telling her the hours involved, on my way out the door she says......

"well, good luck Tom, sounds like its really easy and you should just be able to sit there and make lots of money and not do anything....wish i could"

I just smiled, took my pack and left the building, please god I don't have a business manager like the admin lady...

[purple]

8 weeks later and barclays still not contacted me to open a business account,

Can anyone suggest a bank I can apply to online then of course send my ltd co stuff to them.

[justnozy]

As much as I hate to admit Lloyds/TSB seem a popular choice on the forum - I use them & in the early days they are very good.
Helpful & free charges first year then reduced 2nd & 3rd.

My only problem with them is now the charges - I bank very large amounts of cash & the fees are painful. From an affiliates point transfers & chq deposits should not hurt too much.