Best business banking

[MrCondiment]

Hi need to set up a business account for a limited company.

Now I'm sure for every person that has a good story to say about abbey/hsbc/lloyds there will be a bad story so personal experiences aside can anyone tell me how I can actually compare all the different accounts available? Is there a which site for example? Surprisingly mOneysavingexpert didn't have anything that helped

Just want to get an account opened asap really!

santander if you do not care about customer service
co op through the FSB if you do

I'd avoid Santander like the plague. They feature prominently in the financial problem pages and my experience of them was awful (a year to get two business debit cards with PINs that worked was just one example). Oh and you can't go in to a branch you have to do everything on the phone.

Co- op have a good reputation nut not many branches. I think the high street banks are much the same. My experience of HSBC has been good. My turnover is over £200k and I don't pay any bank charges.

I love this topic as people do have very strong opinions.

My first question would be - who do you bank with personally and do you get on with them? It is all about relationships at the end of the day.

Also, what will you be doing? If all your banking transactions are going to be electronic, then the chances are you can find a bank account with all the major banks that will not charge you.

Here is an article that might be of interest on this topic:

www.startuprevolution.co.uk/resources/business-articles/finding-the-right-business-bank-account

Because of my work I deal with business accounts from all the major and several of the minor banks.
They are all bar stewards

Try Handlesbanken. Banking how it used to be!

We have anecdotal evidence from many of our clients to go on. Based on that, I'd avoid Santander. We use HSBC and they are ok, as seem to be RBS.
They'll all rob you blind on charges is they can

I can't believe what you are all suing as guess go I opened an account with! Looked on moneysavingexpert website and it said Santander are cheapest. Opened the account-only given one years free banking, I had to open a personal account to get 18 months free banking and then find out my colleague opened a natwrst account and has got two years free banking

Arggh

Most transactions will be online so hopefully there won't be too much room for things to go wrong right??? Or should I change account now? (I haven't recieved any payment into it yet)

DHs company bank account is with Santander - migrated from Alliance & Leicester
it works for us because we use it purely to receive income, pay VAT, CT and a couple of suppliers and pay our expenses
BUT
I've just won against Santander on a personal matter taken to the Ombudsman. Compensation cheque arrives just before Christmas.

if you are aware that you have to keep it simple then Santander are probably fine