Confused by POS Systems? A Brief Guide for UK Small Business Owners
December 11, 2024
We guide you through the key considerations and steps in choosing the best bank account for your business needs.
Compare Accounts
for your business today
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Compare The Best Business Accounts For Your Business
Promoted Accounts – January 2025
27 Products Compared
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Monthly Fee
FreeNo monthly fee for first 25 months, then £6.50 thereafter -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeNo fees for first 25 months, excludes international and CHAPS payments -
Overdraft
Rate is negotiable. -
Access
App/Online/Branch
Product Features
- Debit Card Cashback – automatically earn up to £500 per calendar year when using your Debit Card for purchases. Some exclusions apply
- If you’re a new business or just new to Virgin Money, you could qualify for 25 months free day-to-day banking when you open or switch to this business current account
- Digital Money Management Tools – helping you manage cash flow, budgets and invoices
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for eligible businesses with up to £6.5m annual turnover
- Must be based and operated in the UK (excluding Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland)
- All owners, directors, senior managers and account signatories must be over 18 years old
25 months’ fee free day-to-day banking
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
20p -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online- No cheque facilities
- Cash deposits via Post Office (0.5% fee, minimum £2.50) and PayPoint (3% fee)
Product Features
- Create and send invoices for free
- Multi-business – hold up to 5 business accounts
- Automated 30-day cash flow forecasts
Eligibility Criteria
- For registered business account: you must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership
- For sole trader account: you must be a UK based sole trader/freelancer
- For all accounts: you must be aged 18+, have a valid UK phone number and address, and hold compatible device registered to a UK App or Google Play store
*Complete the application and spend £500 within 60 days of opening your account to receive a £150 cashback from TIDE. Enter code 150BOOST when you sign up. T&C apply.
Show More Products From TideShow Fewer Products From Tide
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Monthly Fee
£15 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
20 free per month20 free per month, then 20p per transfer -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online- No cheque facilities
- Cash deposits via Post Office (0.5% fee, minimum £2.50) and PayPoint (3% fee)
Product Features
- Create and send invoices for free
- Multi-business – hold up to 5 business accounts
- 1 free expense card included
Eligibility Criteria
- For registered business account: you must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership
- For sole trader account: you must be a UK based sole trader/freelancer
- For all accounts: you must be aged 18+, have a valid UK phone number and address, and hold compatible device registered to a UK App or Google Play store
*Complete the application and spend £500 within 60 days of opening your account to receive a £150 cashback from TIDE. Enter code 150BOOST when you sign up. T&C apply.
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
5 free per month- 5 free local transfers per month, then 20p thereafter
- International transfers: £5
-
Overdraft
-
Access
App/OnlineNo cash or cheque facilities
Product Features
- Multi-currency accounts – recieve payments and exchange in 25+ currencies
- Control and monitor team spending with multiple debit and virtual cards, manage permissions and levels of access and more
- Various payment facilities including Tap to Pay on iPhone (fees apply)
- International payments – Send and receive money from 200 countries
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
- Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, UK and US
Revolut is not a fully licensed bank in the UK. Your money is held in a safeguarded account with a regulated bank or high quality liquid assets. Your savings are deposited with partner banks and eligible deposits are protected up to £85k per bank.
*Monthly plan subscription fees will automatically apply after the trial period.
*Monthly plan subscription fees will automatically apply after the trial period.
Show More Products From RevolutShow Fewer Products From Revolut
-
Monthly Fee
Contact Revolut -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Contact Revolut -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/OnlineNo cash or cheque facilities
Product Features
- Multi-currency accounts – recieve payments and exchange in 25+ currencies
- Control and monitor team spending with multiple debit and virtual cards, manage permissions and levels of access and more
- Various payment facilities including Tap to Pay on iPhone (fees apply)
- Earn annual interest daily with a linked business savings account
- Tailored for larger businesses
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
- Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, UK and US
Revolut is not a fully licensed bank in the UK. Your money is held in a safeguarded account with a regulated bank or high quality liquid assets. Your savings are deposited with partner banks and eligible deposits are protected up to £85k per bank.
*Monthly plan subscription fees will automatically apply after the trial period.
*Monthly plan subscription fees will automatically apply after the trial period.
-
Monthly Fee
£79 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
1,000 free per month- 1000 free local transfers per month, then 20p thereafter
- International transfers: £5
-
Overdraft
-
Access
App/OnlineNo cash or cheque facilities
Product Features
- Multi-currency accounts – recieve payments and exchange in 25+ currencies
- Control and monitor team spending with multiple debit and virtual cards, manage permissions and levels of access and more
- Various payment facilities including Tap to Pay on iPhone (fees apply)
- Earn annual interest daily with a linked business savings account
- 2 complimentary metal cards
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
- Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, UK and US
Revolut is not a fully licensed bank in the UK. Your money is held in a safeguarded account with a regulated bank or high quality liquid assets. Your savings are deposited with partner banks and eligible deposits are protected up to £85k per bank.
*Monthly plan subscription fees will automatically apply after the trial period.
*Monthly plan subscription fees will automatically apply after the trial period.
-
Monthly Fee
£19 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
100 free per month- 100 free local transfers per month, then 20p thereafter
- International transfers: £5
-
Overdraft
-
Access
App/OnlineNo cash or cheque facilities
Product Features
- Multi-currency accounts – recieve payments and exchange in 25+ currencies
- Control and monitor team spending with multiple debit and virtual cards, manage permissions and levels of access and more
- Various payment facilities including Tap to Pay on iPhone (fees apply)
- Earn annual interest daily with a linked business savings account
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
- Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, UK and US
Revolut is not a fully licensed bank in the UK. Your money is held in a safeguarded account with a regulated bank or high quality liquid assets. Your savings are deposited with partner banks and eligible deposits are protected up to £85k per bank.
*Monthly plan subscription fees will automatically apply after the trial period.
*Monthly plan subscription fees will automatically apply after the trial period.
-
Monthly Fee
£8.50*12 months free, £8.50 per month thereafter -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
100 electronic payments out free per month***- *UK Bank Transfers out – First 100 electronic payments out free.
- UK Bank Transfers in – Free.
-
Overdraft
Subject to status and credit checks -
Access
Full
Product Features
- Digital banking with no account fee for 12 months*
- Free invoicing and accounting software available to business account holders. T&Cs Apply**
- Bank in whatever way suits your business – online, with our mobile app, over the phone or in branch
- Support from our UK-based relationship team
Eligibility Criteria
- To qualify for this account you need to be a sole trader, partner or company director
- You must have a turnover of less than £25m
- Must be 18 years old or over
- Must not already have a Lloyds Bank business account for this business
- Credit facility: Debit interest is charged monthly and monthly usage or annual fees will apply depending on your credit limit. Unauthorised borrowing charges will apply.
- All lending is subject to status. Security may be required. A guarantee may be required for Limited Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships
*After 12 months, there’s a monthly fee of £8.50. Some fees and transaction charges will apply as soon as the account is open. This offer only applies to the business’s first current account
**You must be registered for Online for Business or Commercial Banking Online. UK based businesses only
***100 electronic payments out free per month, 20p thereafter
**You must be registered for Online for Business or Commercial Banking Online. UK based businesses only
***100 electronic payments out free per month, 20p thereafter
Show More Products From Lloyds BankShow Fewer Products From Lloyds Bank
-
Monthly Fee
£9 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online/Phone- Postal facility for cheques
- Cash paid in at PayPoint (£1 fee)
Product Features
- Automatically put money aside for tax
- Connect accounting tools
- Auto-export transactions, invoices and statements
- Virtual cards, access for 3 team members, invoicing and more
- Plus everything included in our Lite Account
Eligibility Criteria
- Only sole traders or limited company directors in the UK can apply.
- Monzo Business Pro is £9/month. Ts&Cs apply.
New Pro users get cloud accounting platform free for 6 months – worth up to £294. T&Cs apply.
Show More Products From MonzoShow Fewer Products From Monzo
-
Monthly Fee
£25 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online/Phone- Postal facility for cheques
- Cash paid in at PayPoint (£1 fee)
Product Features
- Expense Cards
- Bulk Payments
- Access for up to 15 team members
- Set payment approval limits
- Plus everything included in our Pro and Lite accounts
Eligibility Criteria
- First 6 team members are included with Team Account, then it’s an extra £5/month per team member.
- Only sole traders or limited company directors in the UK can apply.
- Monzo Business Team starts from £25/month. Ts&Cs apply.
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online/Phone- Postal facility for cheques
- Cash paid in at PayPoint (£1 fee)
Product Features
- Free, instant UK bank transfers
- 24/7 customer support
- Mobile and web access
- The Monzo banking essentials
Eligibility Criteria
- Only sole traders or limited company directors in the UK can apply. Ts&Cs apply.
-
Monthly Fee
Free*£19 p/month or £0 p/month if you deposit at least £10,000 per month or hold a minimum balance of £10,000. -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeSWIFT payments vary £10-£20 -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
Product Features
- Open multiple accounts per entity and collect and hold in 20+ currencies
- Free local transfers to 120+ countries and domestic transfers. Access to interbank FX rates and batch transfers
- Multi-currency company and employee cards with zero international fees
- Includes 5 free employee card users and up to 10 company cards
- Online card and local payment method acceptance globally
- Bank feeds sync with Xero. ApprovalMax, WorkflowMax by BlueRock integrations
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Be a sole trader, partner in a partnership, or company
- Your business is registered in the UK. More markets are available with different Airwallex entities. Details can be found on the Airwallex website.
*10% cashback on your first $1,000 USD equivalent in eligible international card spend.
Show More Products From AirwallexShow Fewer Products From Airwallex
-
Monthly Fee
Custom**contact sales for custom pricing -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeSWIFT payments vary £10-£20 -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
Product Features
- High-volume businesses
- Custom API implementations
- Embedded finance integrations to launch your own financial products
- Dedicated account management support
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Be a sole trader, partner in a partnership, or company
- Your business is registered in the UK. More markets are available with different Airwallex entities. Details can be found on the Airwallex website.
*10% cashback on your first $1,000 USD equivalent in eligible international card spend.
-
Monthly Fee
£999 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeSWIFT payments vary £10-£20 -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
Product Features
- Everything in Explore & Grow, plus:
- Central management of finances across global entities
- Single sign-on – coming soon
- Netsuite integration including expenses and bills sync
- HRIS platform integrations – coming soon
- Dedicated account manager and onboarding support
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Be a sole trader, partner in a partnership, or company
- Your business is registered in the UK. More markets are available with different Airwallex entities. Details can be found on the Airwallex website.
*10% cashback on your first $1,000 USD equivalent in eligible international card spend.
-
Monthly Fee
£49**One month free trial -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeSWIFT payments vary £10-£20 -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
Product Features
- Everything in Explore, plus:
- 5 free active spend users and 50 free company cards
- Track cards and reimbursements with Expense Management
- Manage domestic and international bills with Bill Pay
- Automated receipt and bill data extraction and customisable, multi-layer spend approvals
- Xero expenses and bills integration
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Be a sole trader, partner in a partnership, or company
- Your business is registered in the UK. More markets are available with different Airwallex entities. Details can be found on the Airwallex website.
*10% cashback on your first $1,000 USD equivalent in eligible international card spend.
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeFees apply CHAPS, SWIFT and SEPA transactions. -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
Product Features
- Up to 4.83% AER (variable) on integrated Instant Access Savings Pot.
- Up to 1.5% cashback on eligible card spend. View Business Rewards Account Terms and Conditions on Allica bank website
- UK based dedicated relationship manager
- Eligible customers are covered by FSCS up to £85,000
- Direct accounting integrations with Sage and Xero
Eligibility Criteria
- Businesses must be incorporated for at least 12 months
- Businesses keeping less than £50,000 in the account may earn a reduced rate of interest and incur fees
*Rate includes standard rate of 3.83% AER, plus a 0.5% boost each month if you make 15 bank transfers the previous month, and a 0.5% boost for six months if you complete a successful switch with the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Businesses keeping less than £50,000 in the account may earn a reduced rate of interest and incur fees
Businesses keeping less than £50,000 in the account may earn a reduced rate of interest and incur fees
Show More Products From Allica BankShow Fewer Products From Allica Bank
-
Monthly Fee
FreePlus a one-off card issue fee of £9.95 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
3 free per month3 free per month, then 30p thereafter -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online- No cheque facilities
- Cash paid in via Post Office (0.5% fee)
Product Features
- 24/7 app and online account facilities
- FSCS protection – up to £85,000
- UK-based customer services team
- Invoicing tools that allow you to create and send invoices easily
Eligibility Criteria
- Available to UK registered companies or UK-based sole traders
- Application made by UK Director
- UK Director 18 years old plus
Show More Products From ZemplerShow Fewer Products From Zempler
-
Monthly Fee
£12.50Plus one-off £55 application fee -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
From 30p- Direct Debits: 30p
- Faster Payments (next day online): 30p
- Faster Payments (instant online): £7.50
- CHAPS: £30
-
Overdraft
-
Access
App/OnlinePay in cash and cheques via Barclays branches
Product Features
- No credit checks or signatures required
- Up to 4 additional cards for business use
- UK-based customer support.
- International payments in a range of currencies
Eligibility Criteria
- Available to Limited Companies, Sole Traders and Partnerships
- Your business must be registered in the UK and have an annual turnover of less than £2m
- You must be 18+ and a UK resident. Card One Money need to be able to verify your identity & residency.
- Card One Money is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. See product FAQs for more info
Open an account on the same day you apply with no credit checks.
Show More Products From Card One MoneyShow Fewer Products From Card One Money
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
From 20p- Domestic: 20p per bank transfer
- International: £5 per SWIFT transaction (+1% currency conversion fee)
- Free direct debits
-
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online- No cheque facilities
- Cash accepted via PayPoint (1% commission fee)
Product Features
- 1 debit card included (£3 per extra card) – 1% cashback on selected categories
- Personal payment link for accepting payments online (1% commission)
- Instant invoice generator and savings pots facility (fees apply)
- Landlords / property investors get a free 12 month subscription to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)
- FastTrack to Credit – Boost your credit score and get access to credit after 3 months activity
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a Sole Trader, Director of a Limited Company (and listed on Companies House), or a Partner in a Limited Liability Partnership
- Business must be located within the UK and you also need to have a UK residential address
- Not available to charities
ANNA Business comes with invoice generator tools, HMRC recognised Tax calculator and filing. Automate your bookkeeping with ANNA.
Show More Products From Anna MoneyShow Fewer Products From Anna Money
-
Monthly Fee
£49.90
£49.90 + VAT per month
Or £499 a year +VAT if billed annually
-
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
From free- Domestic: unlimited free transfers
- International: 4 free SWIFT payments per month, then £5 per payment
-
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online- No cheque facilities
- Cash accepted via PayPoint with no fees
Product Features
- Unlimited free debit cards – 1% cashback on selected categories
- Personal payment link for accepting payments online with no fees
- Instant invoice generator and savings pots facility
- Landlords / property investors get a free 12 month subscription to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)
- FastTrack to Credit – Boost your credit score and get access to credit after 3 months activity
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a Sole Trader, Director of a Limited Company (and listed on Companies House), or a Partner in a Limited Liability Partnership
- Business must be located within the UK and you also need to have a UK residential address
- Not available to charities
ANNA Business comes with invoice generator tools, HMRC recognised Tax calculator and filing. Automate your bookkeeping with ANNA.
-
Monthly Fee
£14.90- £14.90 + VAT per month
- or £149 + VAT a year if billed annually
-
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
50 free per month- Domestic: 50 free per month, then 20p thereafter
- International: 1 free per month, then £5 per SWIFT transaction (+1% currency conversion fee)
- Free direct debits
-
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online- No cheque facilities
- Cash accepted via PayPoint (£300 per month free, then 1% commission fee)
Product Features
- Up to 5 debit cards included (£3 per extra card) – 1% cashback on selected categories
- Personal payment link for accepting payments online (£200 per month free, then 1% commission fee)
- Instant invoice generator and savings pots facility (fees apply)
- Landlords / property investors get a free 12 month subscription to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)
- FastTrack to Credit – Boost your credit score and get access to credit after 3 months activity
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a Sole Trader, Director of a Limited Company (and listed on Companies House), or a Partner in a Limited Liability Partnership
- Business must be located within the UK and you also need to have a UK residential address
- Not available to charities
ANNA Business comes with invoice generator tools, HMRC recognised Tax calculator and filing. Automate your bookkeeping with ANNA.
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
Product Features
- Apply in the app in under 10 minutes and open an account in days
- Open multiple current accounts in just a few clicks, each with a unique account number and sort code
- Add your entire team to your account and set roles and permissions for each user
- Get access to interest-bearing savings automatically when you open a current account
Eligibility Criteria
- Your company has a turnover of over £1 million or you want to deposit a minimum of £85k
- You are a Director at any one of the following company types: Limited Company, Private Unlimited company, PLC, LLP, Overseas Company or certain types of Private Limited companies
- Your company is registered in the UK with Companies House
- You are aged 18 years or over
Your company must have a turnover of over £1 million or you want to deposit a minimum of £85k
Show More Products From OakNorthShow Fewer Products From OakNorth
-
Monthly Fee
Free**£50 per year -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
Product Features
- Budgeting tools
- Manage multiple currencies
- Make tax preparation easy
Eligibility Criteria
- Available to Limited Companies, Sole Traders and Partnerships
- You must be 18+ and a UK resident.
Show More Products From Equals Money StartUpShow Fewer Products From Equals Money StartUp
-
Monthly Fee
Custom**Prices based on volumes. Contact Equals Money Sales to find out more. -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
Product Features
- Dedicated account management and compliance resource will support you through onboarding
- 38 different currencies
- Multi currency IBAN
- Faster settlements
Eligibility Criteria
- Available to Limited Companies, Sole Traders and Partnerships
- You must be 18+ and a UK resident.
-
Monthly Fee
Free**£50 per year -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
Product Features
- Use up to 100 physical cards
- Unlimited users, no monthly fees
- £10 per physical card – one-off fee but free virtual cards
- Free to use in 20 major currencies
Eligibility Criteria
- Available to Limited Companies, Sole Traders and Partnerships
- You must be 18+ and a UK resident.
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeDirect Debits, BACS, Faster Payments: Free
CHAPS: £25 via phone; £15 via online banking -
Overdraft
-
Access
Full
Product Features
- Ideal for start ups and growing businesses who bank digitally
- Free everyday digital business banking. No monthly fee. No charges for all automated credits, cash withdrawals and debit card purchases
- Integrate your accountancy software like Xero, Sage or Quickbooks within your online banking
- Online and in-person banking including mobile, instant secure messaging, UK based contact centre, and in branch
- Most receive their account details within three days
- Co-operative Bank business customers get free, unlimited access to the Go Get Paid app – the fast, simple and secure way to get paid
- Customers can also access selected Clover payment terminals for £1 a month for their first 12 months (fees apply).
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a UK resident with a business address in the UK
- Must be a sole trader or Ltd company that is owned or controlled by one person
- Must be 18 or over
Charges apply for cash and cheque transactions and other special services e.g. foreign and CHAPS payments. You can deposit cash in branch and in the Post Office for £1.50 per cheque or £1.50 per £100 of cash deposited.
An overdraft arrangement fee applies and where security is required, additional security fees may apply.
Application subject to status (including credit checks and an assessment of your financial circumstances), eligibility and T&Cs.
An overdraft arrangement fee applies and where security is required, additional security fees may apply.
Application subject to status (including credit checks and an assessment of your financial circumstances), eligibility and T&Cs.
Show More Products From The Co-operative BankShow Fewer Products From The Co-operative Bank
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeDirect debits, Faster Payments, BACS: Free | CHAPS and International payments: Fees apply -
Overdraft
Rate is negotiable. -
Access
App/Online/Branch
Product Features
- Free day-to-day online business banking (excluding CHAPS and international payments)
- Earn 0.25% Cashback on debit card purchases. Terms and exclusions apply
- Manage all your business data in one place using Virgin Money’s M-Track insights platform. Link up your business to market leading tools, such as Sage, Xero, Google, Shopify and more, to track them from one simple dashboard
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for eligible businesses with up to £1m annual turnover
- Must be based and operated in the UK (excluding Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland)
- All owners, directors, senior managers and account signatories must be over 18 years old
*excluding CHAPS and international payments
Show More Products From Virgin Money M AccountShow Fewer Products From Virgin Money M Account
Types of business bank accounts available
How to compare business bank accounts…
Step One
Understand your requirements
How you do business will effect the type of account you need. How many transactions will you have each month? Do you need to pay in cash? Do you need a local branch?
Step Two
Check eligibility
Most providers have a range of business accounts to suit different types of businesses. Check the eligibility of each account to make sure if suited to your business.
Step Three
Compare the latest deals and offers
There are numerous offers and deals to attract new customers which can be compared with our handy tool above. Always consider the cost of the account once the free period ends
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