Business banking - can anyone recommend one ?

[Mum1369]

Hi - Staring up a new business (Ltd co) and need a bank account. Have seen some fairly good free banking deals around - but wondered if anyone has researched it more throughly and could recommend a good deal for a small business start up - don't require overdraft facility, just want a good deal with no charges !!!
Thanks

Bump

i'm with hsbc, only since february, but they do 18 months free banking, which is why i went with them.
my experiences so far have been positive.

Thanks - it's good to get a view from someone who has used them.

I have my limited Company bank account with Abbey (because it's free banking).
I've been with them over 3 years and not had any problems with them. pros- free cons-can't pay cheques or cash in over the counter, have to use machine or post (you do get freepost envelopes, though),and for some reason they are very reluctant to send out stationery such as paying in books.

We've used NatWest and while there have been no problems as such, nor has there been anything in the way of proactive "this is a new business, how can we help?" sort of stuff. Which has actually been fine by us, but we have both been struck by their very hands-off/disinterested approach. So if it's an account with no communication whatsoever, but no problems either that you want, NatWest is the way to go.

I use Abbey for my business - I've not had any problems, only use it for paying in cheques which I either post or deposit through the ATM (no counter functions available so if you have coins then not so useful). On line banking functions are fine and easy to use.

They don't offer any advice unless you ask for it so I suppose, like Hassled and NatWest, they're fine if you want somewhere to plonk your funds and then it's up to you to sort the rest out yourself.

I also use Abbey because they had the best free banking arrangements at the time I was looking and they didn't try to get me to go on loads of starting your business courses which Barclays tried to. I have a lot of business/marketing expereince before I started so didn't feel I needed it, but it would probably be quite useful for a complete novice.

I only receive payments by bank transfer so can't comment on paying cash/cheques in.

Ahh - that's really interesting. I suppose I am used to paying cheques over the counter - but can't see it being that much of an issue just to send them.
Does anyone/everyone have to pay for bounced cheques etc ? When they say 'free' banking - I presume it just refers to some of the normal costs not being passed on - but not all of them ?

Do you mean bounced cheques because of insufficient funds in your account, or bounced cheques because a cheque you've paid in has been returned?

Like all banks, if you don't have the cleared funds available, Abbey will bounce any payments you make out of your account. They will then charge you for returning the payment and any interest payable on being overdrawn.

If you pay in a cheque from a client, and it's bounced by their bank, then you don't pay any fees (unless this has taken you overdrawn), but you have to chase up your client to get the money.

So yes, you will still be charged fees if you don't fulfil their terms and conditions of operating their accounts.

Ah thanks - I meant bounced cheques from a clients (ie they do not have sufficient funds) - that's makes it a lot clearer - on balance (as it were !) I think I will go with Abbey.
Thanks for all the info